The night was too quiet.
Austin Montgomery stood at the heart of the compound, staring at the security screens lining the west wall. His jaw was tight, eyes sharp, heart beating with the tension of war. Clair sat beside him, hand resting on her slightly rounded stomach, her fingers cool against his skin.
"They're coming tonight," Austin said, voice low.
"How do you know for sure?" Clair asked.
"Because my brother signed off on it." His mouth twisted. "Elias is working with them. And I let him get close."
Clair reached for his hand. "Then we use that closeness against him."
Austin turned to her. Her courage still stunned him. She had gone from a quiet nurse to a queen standing beside a king at war.
"The moment I give the signal, you go to the vault room. You'll be safe there."
"I'm not hiding," she said firmly.
He leaned closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You're not hiding. You're holding the line. If anything happens to me..."
"Nothing will." Her voice was firm, fire threading through each syllable. "You're not dying on me, Austin Montgomery."
Outside, the compound's perimeter lights began to flicker.
"They've cut power to the outer grid," Daniel reported from the control center. "Multiple heat signatures moving toward the gates."
Austin's hand found the side holster beneath his jacket. "Put the compound on lockdown. Seal the north, east, and west wings. Leave the south passage open."
Daniel paused. "You want to let them in?"
"I want to feed them what they came for."
A mile away, black SUVs rolled toward the estate in complete silence. Inside the lead vehicle, Director Reeves checked his earpiece.
"All teams in position?"
"Copy that. Perimeter secure. East entry cleared."
Elias Montgomery sat in the backseat, calm as a monk. The agent next to him eyed him carefully.
"You sure you're not catching feelings for your brother's girl?"
Elias smirked. "Feelings? Please. I just know how to play the game."
Inside the compound, Clair pulled on a black tactical jacket and adjusted the small earpiece Austin had given her.
"I'm heading to the vault," she said through the comms. "But if you need me on the floor..."
"No," Austin interrupted. "You're my priority. We stick to the plan."
Clair's heart pounded as she moved through the hallway. The familiar walls looked darker now, thicker with threat.
Then she saw her.
Isadora.
Walking straight down the hallway in a crimson silk dress, barefoot and smiling.
"You," Clair hissed.
Isadora raised a brow. "Me."
"How did you get in?"
"Your husband opened the gate. Didn't you know?" She tapped the side of her head. "The south wing was never sealed. That's how rats enter."
Clair didn't back down. "You're not walking away this time."
"Oh, I'm not walking." Isadora reached into her dress and pulled out a small detonator. "I'm making an exit."
Before Clair could react, Isadora threw the device into the air. Smoke burst around them in a flash of gray.
"Clair!" Austin's voice came through the comms.
"I'm fine," she coughed. "Isadora's here. South hall."
"Lock it down. I'm coming to you."
Clair dropped low, crawling through the smoke until she reached the panic switch in the wall and slammed her hand on it.
Thick steel doors slammed down behind Isadora, cutting off her retreat. She was trapped.
The smoke began to clear.
"You underestimated me," Clair said as she stood, coughing through the last of the fumes.
Isadora's face twisted with rage. "You think a door will stop me?"
Clair stepped forward. "No. But I will."
Before Isadora could respond, Austin appeared from the opposite hallway. Gun drawn, face unreadable.
"Game's over, Isadora."
She laughed. "I missed you too, darling."
Austin's voice was ice. "You should have stayed gone."
"Where's Elias?" Clair asked quickly.
"Leading the FBI right to our trap," Austin said.
They moved together, taking Isadora into custody and locking her in the interrogation room beneath the compound.
Austin turned to Clair. "Now we finish this."
In the woods behind the compound, the FBI squad moved fast, until the mines went off.
One by one, the black SUVs exploded into fireballs. Agents scattered, shouting commands, but the chaos was complete.
From a nearby ridge, Austin's men opened fire with precision. No deaths. Just a message.
You do not storm a kingdom without bleeding for it.
Inside the SUV, Elias cursed as smoke filled the air.
"What the hell is this?"
"You led us into a trap!" Reeves roared.
Elias opened the door and stepped out, hands raised, showing no weapon.
"Let me talk to him. He'll listen to me."
"You think you can talk your way out of this?" Reeves demanded.
"No," Elias said. "I think I can end it."
Back in the compound, Clair stood in the control room watching the burning convoy through surveillance.
She touched her stomach.
"You hear that, little one? Daddy's making sure you're born into a world where no one owns us."
Austin entered quietly.
"It's done," he said.
"Isadora?"
"She's not going anywhere. She'll answer for what she's done."
Clair turned. Her eyes met his, and something in her heart softened again.
"You really would burn the world down for me," she said.
Austin stepped closer. "I'd burn it to ash if anyone touched you again."
Clair reached up, brushing his cheek. "Then let's make sure the fire doesn't burn us too."
He kissed her then, slow and deep. There was nothing gentle about the war surrounding them, but their kiss was a promise that their love would survive it.
Outside, Elias arrived at the compound gates. Alone.
Austin met him at the threshold, guarded by two men with rifles.
"Why should I let you in?"
Elias raised his hands. "Because we both know this ends one of two ways. And you don't want your son born with blood on your hands."
"You don't know anything about my son," Austin snapped.
"I know Clair's pregnant. And I know you're becoming the kind of man who might actually be worthy of her."
Austin's hand twitched near his holster.
"She doesn't need me to be worthy. She just needs me to be present. And I am."
Elias stepped forward. "Let me help you."
"Help me?" Austin laughed. "You led the FBI to our door."
"And I can lead them away."
Austin stared hard.
"You've got one chance. Walk through that gate, and your loyalty is tested. Fail me again, and I'll shoot you myself."
Elias smirked. "Fair."
Later that night, Clair stood on the balcony of their bedroom, watching the flames in the distance. The city felt far away. The world seemed quieter, even if just for a moment.
Austin joined her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"You should be resting," he murmured.
"I will. I just wanted to see the stars first."
"They're beautiful tonight," he said.
"So are you."
He chuckled, burying his face in her neck.
"You scare me sometimes," he said.
Clair turned. "Why?"
"Because you're everything I never thought I deserved."
She kissed him again. And for the first time in weeks, it was just the two of them.
No war.
No enemies.
Just love.
And the fire between them.