Chapter 606:

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Shanna was her usual bubbly self, complaining dramatically about her job. “Seriously, Amelia, when are you coming back? The New York social scene is so boring without you,” she joked.

Amelia managed a weak smile. “Soon.”

After hanging up, her anxiety only grew.

That evening it was time for her video call with Garrett, the one comfort in her day. He looked to be in good spirits, and told her he could now walk short distances without a cane.

They talked as they usually did, but Amelia’s mind was elsewhere.

с𝗁𝗂nе𝘀𝗲 𝘯о𝘷𝘦𝗅s 𝘁𝗿а𝘯ѕl𝖺t𝗲𝘥 𝗼𝗻 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝗻𝗈𝗏𝖾𝘭𝘀.с𝗼𝗺

Garrett sensed it immediately. “What’s wrong, baby? You seem unhappy.”

Amelia hesitated, then decided against telling him her suspicions about Nina. She didn’t want to distract him, not now.

Instead she said firmly, “Garrett, promise me you won’t tell anyone my exact address. Anyone. Not even my friends, okay?”

Garrett was puzzled by her seriousness, but he agreed instantly. “Of course. No one knows that address except Clarence and the security team. I promise.”

His assurance eased her mind, though only slightly.

She looked at her husband’s face on the screen, and a sudden, sharp longing pierced her. She missed his embrace, the scent of his skin.

“Garrett,” she whispered, “I’m waiting for you to come back.”

The words cut into him like a knife. He wanted so badly to tell her that tomorrow he was walking into a party he might not return from.

But he couldn’t. He forced a smile. “Soon. I just have to wrap up one last thing.”

It was their last conversation before the party. Neither of them knew what kind of storm was about to break.

After the call, the smile vanished from Garrett’s face.

Clarence entered the room, his expression grave. “Everything is ready. Tomorrow night, at the Langley estate, there’s going to be quite a show.”

Garrett nodded, his eyes filled with an icy killing intent. He was going to make Brice Langley pay for everything he had done. In blood.

Garrett was on the phone with Amelia one last time, the conversation a sweet, ordinary argument about their baby’s name.

“What about Leo for a boy? Brave, like a lion,” Garrett suggested.

Amelia laughed. “Too common. I like Aiden better. It means ‘full of passion.'”

They debated back and forth like any ordinary expectant couple, forgetting for a moment all the danger and conspiracies that surrounded them.

That brief peace only made the coming storm seem more menacing.

After hanging up, Garrett began preparing for the evening. Clarence had sent over a custom-tailored suit. The cut was brilliant, artfully designed to conceal the micro-protective gear and communication devices he would be wearing beneath it. He also received a pair of specially made cufflinks, one of which contained a high-frequency panic button.

Casey Henderson sent through a final intelligence summary. “All invited guests have been vetted. No suspicious individuals found. The Langley estate’s security is handled by their own team. Our perimeter is in place.”

Everything seemed to be going according to plan.

Then an unexpected piece of news threw the entire operation into chaos.

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