Chapter 16

Lucian leaned against the cold concrete pillar of the parking garage, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The phone in his hand felt radioactive.

Silas.

The name alone brought back memories Lucian had spent two decades burying under money and success. The cane striking his knuckles when he missed a piano note. The cold, windowless room where he was locked when he "showed weakness." The day the car crash report came in, and a twenty-year-old Lucian had felt the first breath of freedom he’d ever known.

"Marcus," Lucian barked into the phone, his voice shaking with a rage that masked his terror. "Code Black. Now."

"Sir?" Marcus’s voice was confused. "We just cleared the threat. Serena is—"

"I’m not talking about Serena!" Lucian roared. "I want the penthouse locked down. I want a sweeping team in the lobby. I want biometric scanners on the elevators changed today. And I want you to find out who authorized a reinstate of the 'Alpha-One' security clearance."

There was a pause on the other end. "Alpha-One? Sir, that clearance code was retired when your father passed."

"Someone is using it," Lucian hissed. "Find them. And Marcus... hire two more shadows for the twins. I don't care if they have to dress up as playground equipment. I want eyes on my children every second of every day."

He hung up. He straightened his tie, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and practiced his smile in the reflection of the car window.

He had to go upstairs. He had to face Elara. And he had to lie to her.

---

The Penthouse – 12:30 PM

When Lucian walked through the door, the smell of vanilla and laughter hit him. It was a stark, painful contrast to the darkness swirling in his mind.

Elara was in the living room, sitting on the floor with Mia, braiding the ears of the stuffed rabbit. Leo was on the sofa, watching the news replay of Lucian’s speech on the muted TV.

"You went viral," Leo said without looking up. "T*****r calls you the 'Simp CEO.' It means you’re weak for a girl."

"It means I love your mother, Leo," Lucian said, forcing his voice to remain steady. He walked over and kissed the top of Leo’s head, inhaling the scent of baby shampoo. I won't let him touch you. I swear it.

Elara looked up, her smile bright. "You were amazing, Lucian. I’ve already had three investors call ScentTech apologizing for believing the rumors."

She stood up and walked toward him, her arms open. But as she got closer, she stopped. Her smile faded.

"Lucian?" She reached out, touching his cheek. "You’re freezing. And you’re... vibrating."

Lucian grabbed her hand, perhaps a little too tightly. "It’s just the adrenaline, Elara. The press, the lights. It’s a lot."

"You’re lying," she whispered. She knew him. She knew the Shark mask. "What happened downstairs?"

"Nothing," he lied, looking her straight in the eye. "Just a board member trying to give me a headache about the stock price. It’s handled."

He couldn't tell her. Not now. Not when she finally looked at him without fear. If he told her Silas was alive, she would run. She would take the kids and vanish to protect them, and he couldn't lose them again. He would handle Silas alone.

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang.

Lucian spun around, placing his body between the door and his family. His hand drifted to the small of his back, wishing he was carrying a weapon.

"I’ll get it," the housekeeper called out.

"Don't touch it!" Lucian shouted, startling everyone. Mia dropped her rabbit.

Lucian walked to the door, checking the camera. It was just a courier—a confused-looking teenager in a uniform. Lucian opened the door a crack.

"Package for Master Leo Vance-Thorne," the boy squeaked. "Priority delivery."

"From who?" Lucian demanded, snatching the small box.

"No name, sir. Just said 'Grandfather' on the note."

Lucian slammed the door shut.

"Grandfather?" Elara asked, stepping forward. "My father passed away ten years ago, Lucian. And yours is..."

"A mistake," Lucian said quickly. "Probably a prank from the media."

He walked into his study and locked the door. He placed the box on his desk and opened it with a letter opener, half-expecting anthrax.

Inside, nestled in black velvet, was a single chess piece.

It was a Black King.

But it wasn't just any chess piece. It was hand-carved from obsidian. Lucian recognized it instantly. It was from the set Silas used to force him to play for hours without food until he won.

There was a note tucked underneath.

Check.

Lucian stared at the piece. In chess, the King is the most important piece, but also the most vulnerable. It requires the other pieces to protect it.

Silas was telling him the game had started.

Lucian gripped the obsidian King until the sharp edges cut into his palm. He watched a drop of his own blood fall onto the desk.

"You want to play, old man?" Lucian whispered to the empty room. "Fine. But this time, I’m not the scared little boy you locked in the cellar. I’m the one who knocks over the board."

He took out his lighter and burned the note. Then he washed the blood from his hand, put the smile back on his face, and went back out to play "Simp CEO" for his family.

But as he sat on the floor building blocks with Mia, his eyes never left the front door.