Courage

The estate was eerily quiet after the attack, the tension hanging in the air like a heavy fog. The remains of the skirmish—shattered glass, bullet casings, and scorch marks—were quickly being cleaned up by Alexander's security team. The once-pristine grounds were now a stark reminder of how close danger had come to their sanctuary.

Mia sat in the study, her son nestled in her arms, his tiny fingers clutching at her blouse. She had yet to fully process what had happened, the adrenaline that had carried her through the ordeal now replaced by a profound exhaustion.

Alexander entered the room, his expression a mixture of relief and concern. He crossed the space between them in seconds, crouching in front of her. "How are you holding up?"

She looked at him, her eyes heavy with unshed tears. "I'm... I don't know. It all happened so fast."

"You were brave, Mia," he said, his voice steady and full of pride. "You protected our son. You protected yourself. I can't tell you how much that means to me."

Mia swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she brushed her son's soft hair. "I didn't feel brave. I was terrified. But I couldn't let them hurt him... or you."

Alexander leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. "You were everything I needed you to be. And I swear to you, Mia, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you never have to face something like that again."

In a hidden warehouse on the outskirts of the city, The Coalition was regrouping. Their leader, a shadowy figure known only as Marcus Wolfe, paced in front of a large table littered with maps and blueprints.

"This was a failure," he snapped, his voice cold and unforgiving. "How did they anticipate our move?"

One of his lieutenants, a wiry man named Declan, stepped forward. "The Steele estate is practically a fortress. We underestimated their defenses... and their resolve."

Marcus slammed his fist on the table. "Resolve doesn't matter. Results do. I want every resource at our disposal focused on dismantling Alexander Steele and his empire. No more half-measures."

Another lieutenant hesitated before speaking. "What about his wife and child? They're his weakness."

Marcus smirked, his eyes glinting with malice. "Precisely. If we can't destroy Alexander directly, we'll destroy everything he holds dear."

Back at the estate, Alexander gathered his most trusted allies in the war room. Selena, as always, stood by his side, her sharp mind already analyzing the data they had collected from the attack.

"We've identified the men who breached the estate," she began, tapping on a tablet. "Two of them are confirmed Coalition operatives. The third... well, this might interest you."

She turned the screen toward Alexander, showing a grainy photo of the third man. His face was familiar—too familiar.

Alexander's jaw tightened. "That's Anthony Doyle. He used to work for me."

Selena nodded. "Exactly. He defected to The Coalition six months ago. He knows a lot about your operations."

Mia, who had been quietly listening from the doorway, stepped forward. "What does that mean? Are we in more danger because of him?"

Alexander looked at her, his expression grim. "It means The Coalition knows more about us than I'd like. But it also means we have a lead. If we can track down Doyle, we might be able to unravel their plans."

Mia's hands tightened into fists. "Then let's find him. I don't want to live in fear, Alexander. Not for me, and not for our son."

Later that evening, Mia found herself in the nursery, watching her son sleep. His peaceful expression was a stark contrast to the chaos of the day, and it filled her with a fierce determination.

She thought about how far she had come—from the girl who had been betrayed and abandoned to the woman who had built a new life and fought to protect it. The attack had shaken her, but it had also solidified her resolve.

When Alexander joined her, his arms encircling her from behind, she leaned into him, finding strength in his presence.

"We'll get through this," she said softly. "Together."

He kissed the top of her head. "Always."