Chapter 15 - The Breach
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The first retaliation from Sterling was petty, but it served as a clear message that he was not backing down without a fight. Late the following night, the sound of shattering glass echoed near the eastern boundary of the foundation's estate.
David and his security team responded within seconds. I arrived shortly after, finding the heavy reinforced windshield of one of our transport vans completely smashed. A large brick lay on the driver’s seat. Wrapped tightly around the brick was a typed note.
I carefully removed the paper and unfolded it under the harsh glare of a tactical flashlight. The message was brief and explicitly threatening.
"Return what belongs to me, or the next brick goes through the nursery window."
My jaw tightened so fiercely that my teeth ached. A cold, lethal fury settled deep into my bones.
"David," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerously calm whisper. "Double the night patrols. I want infrared sensors installed along the entire perimeter wall by tomorrow afternoon. No one sleeps until this estate is a fortress."
"Yes, sir," David replied immediately, sensing the immense danger radiating from my posture.
I walked back to the main house and found Ellen sitting in the kitchen, pouring a warm bottle of milk for Clara’s toddler. She looked up as I entered, immediately reading the dark tension etched into my face.
"What happened?" she asked, handing the bottle to Clara, who quickly retreated to her room.
"Sterling sent a message," I said, handing her the note.
Ellen read the threat, but instead of trembling with fear, her eyes narrowed with absolute defiance. She crumpled the paper in her fist and tossed it into the trash can.
"He thinks a broken window will make us surrender?" she scoffed, crossing the kitchen to stand before me. "He has no idea what we have survived, Robert. He doesn't know that we were forged in fire."
"He threatened the nursery, Ellen. I will not tolerate this."
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"And we will not back down," she said firmly, placing her hands on either side of my face. "We protect these women. Whatever it takes."
I nodded slowly, feeling the terrifying, beautiful weight of her trust. The war had officially escalated.
