Chapter 2 - The Mansion Under Siege
Mark did not care about the terrifying threats echoing in his ears as he carried Lily out of the church.
He strapped his crying daughter into the back seat of his car and sped away from the disastrous wedding.
The drive back to their sprawling estate was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence.
Mark's cell phone rang endlessly, vibrating against the console with calls from angry investors and confused family members.
He ignored all of them, focusing entirely on getting Lily to the safety of their home.
Once they arrived, he immediately locked the massive iron gates of the driveway and activated the perimeter security system.
"Are we safe now, Daddy?" Lily asked, rubbing her tear-stained eyes as they walked into the grand foyer.
"Yes, sweetheart, no one is ever going to hurt you again," Mark promised, kissing the top of her head.
He carried her upstairs, gently washed the scratch on her arm, and tucked her securely into her warm bed.
After she finally fell asleep, Mark went into his home office to assess the inevitable financial damage.
Richard was an incredibly powerful man who owned half the politicians and judges in the city.
When Mark turned on his computer, his heart sank into his stomach.
His corporate bank accounts were already completely frozen due to a sudden, highly suspicious federal injunction.
Richard was clearly making good on his promise to completely destroy Mark's livelihood.
Mark poured himself a glass of whiskey, his hands trembling as he realized the sheer magnitude of the war he had just started.
He picked up his phone to call his private security firm, requesting a team of armed guards for the estate immediately.
The dispatcher assured him that an elite team would arrive within the hour to secure the grounds.
Mark paced the floor, staring out the massive window into the dark, rainy night.
Suddenly, the power grid to the entire mansion violently shut down, plunging the estate into absolute, terrifying darkness.
The backup generators failed to kick in, which meant someone had manually severed the main power lines.
Mark dropped his glass, the expensive crystal shattering loudly against the hardwood floor.
He sprinted up the sweeping staircase in the pitch black, using the flashlight on his phone to navigate.
He burst into Lily's bedroom, his heart hammering violently against his ribs.
The bed was completely empty, the sheets tossed aside in an obvious, desperate struggle.
The large window leading out to the balcony was wide open, allowing the cold rain to blow wildly into the room.
Mark ran to the balcony, shining his light down onto the dark lawn below.
Lying unconscious in the wet grass was the estate's night watchman.
Pinned to the window frame with a massive hunting knife was a handwritten note sealed in a plastic bag.
May you like
Mark ripped the note down with trembling hands and read the chilling words written in elegant, familiar cursive.
"You ruined my special day, Mark, so I am taking the one thing that is special to you."
