Chapter 7 - Dawn’s Early Warning
The morning sun broke over the snow-dusted lawns of Whitmore House, casting long, sharp shadows across the estate. Naomi was already awake, having completed her morning inspection of the ground floor rooms before the rest of the household stirred.
She stood by the large bay window in the sunroom, holding a steaming mug of black coffee, watching the robins flutter across the frozen garden. But her mind wasn't on the garden. Her instincts—honed by years of high-stakes security work—were screaming that the storm was far from over. Humiliating Vanessa Sterling in public was a victory, but the Stirlings were not the type of family to accept defeat quietly.
Footsteps echoed softly on the parquet floor behind her.
Ethan walked into the sunroom, holding two cups of coffee, wearing a comfortable cashmere sweater. He smiled gently, holding one cup out toward her.
"You're up early," Ethan noted softly.
"Habit," Naomi replied, accepting the mug with a polite nod. "In my line of work—in my past life—sleeping late was a luxury I couldn't afford."
Ethan leaned against the window frame beside her, looking out at the frost-covered grass. "You've never really talked much about your past, Naomi. Just that you needed a quiet place to heal."
Naomi looked down at the dark coffee swirling in her cup. "Some pasts are better left buried, Ethan. When you carry the weight of lives lost and violence unleashed, you realize that peace is the most fragile thing on earth. I'm afraid that by stepping in last night... I might have exposed this place to the very demons I ran away from."
Ethan turned his head, looking at her with an intensity that made her breath hitch. He reached out, gently placing his hand over hers on the window sill.
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"Whatever demons are out there, Naomi, you don't have to face them alone anymore," Ethan said quietly.
Before Naomi could answer, the heavy oak front doors of the mansion rattled violently. Loud, aggressive pounding echoed through the grand foyer, followed by the muffled voices of estate security attempting to block an uninvited entry.
