Chapter 14
When Kieran walked back into the Ashbourne mansion, the bright, airy light of the atrium felt momentarily foreign after the grim reality of the docks. He had washed the blood and soot from his face and hands in the subterranean armory, changing into a fresh, tailored dark suit. He projected the immaculate, terrifying image of a billionaire CEO preparing for a hostile takeover.
He walked purposefully toward the secure residential wing. He needed to see his daughter before he flew into the heart of the enemy's territory.
He pressed his thumb to the biometric scanner, and the heavy steel door of the panic suite hissed open.
Annie was sitting on a plush velvet sofa, reading a storybook to Flora. The little girl was nestled comfortably against Annie’s side, completely insulated from the violence that had just raged across the city. When the door opened, Annie looked up, her beautiful, heart-shaped face reflecting a sudden, intense relief at seeing him unharmed.
"Daddy!" Flora cheered, scrambling off the sofa and running to him.
Kieran caught her, lifting her effortlessly, his cold eyes softening instantly. "Hello, my little bird."
He kissed her forehead, then looked directly at Annie. The profound gratitude he felt for this woman was immeasurable. She had successfully maintained a fortress of peace for his child while the world outside burned.
"Are we safe now, Mr. Ashbourne?" Annie asked quietly, standing up, her expressive brows drawing together.
"The immediate threat... has been neutralized," Kieran replied smoothly, setting Flora down. "But I must travel out of state tonight. To ensure the finality of our peace."
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Annie stepped closer to him, her eyes searching his angular face. "Please, be careful."
"Will I ever allow myself to fail, Annie... when I know what is waiting for me to return?" Kieran asked softly, the deeply intimate, terrifyingly intense question hanging in the quiet air of the panic room.
