Chapter 7 - The Fortress of Lawson Ridge
By noon the next day, the penthouse suite of Lawson Ridge Holdings had been transformed into an impenetrable command center.
I had moved Liam and Noah into my private residential quarters on the top floor—a sprawling, secure apartment connected directly to my office via a private elevator. I had brought in a team of professional pediatric specialists and private tutors to ensure the boys were comfortable, fed, and entertained while I managed the impending storm.
Yet, despite all the luxury surrounding them, the twins refused to leave my side for more than a few minutes at a time.
I sat at the massive oak dining table in my residence, reviewing the latest security schematics on my tablet, while Liam and Noah sat cross-legged on the floor beside my chair, quietly building an elaborate skyscraper out of wooden blocks.
"Mr. Everett?" Noah asked softly, looking up from his tower with those piercing pale blue eyes.
I immediately lowered the tablet, softening my expression—a look I reserved exclusively for them. "Yes, Noah? Do you need anything? More juice? Another toy?"
"Are we staying here forever?" Liam asked, carefully placing another block on top of their tower. "In the glass house?"
I reached down, picking up Liam and lifting him effortlessly onto my lap. He didn't flinch or pull away; instead, he rested his small head against my chest, right over my heart.
"Not forever," I murmured, wrapping my arms around him while Noah scrambled up to join us on my lap, creating a warm, tangled pile of blond hair and small limbs. "Just until I make sure the bad people can never hurt us again. Once the storm passes, we can go wherever you want. Beaches, mountains, anywhere."
"Can we get a dog?" Noah asked eagerly. "A big one? Like a lion?"
A genuine, warm laugh escaped my lips—the first real laugh I had shared in years. "A dog. Yes, Noah. We can get a dog. As big as you want."
Just then, the secure intercom on the wall buzzed.
"Sir," Marcus’s voice came through, sounding tense and hurried. "We just intercepted an encrypted data packet originating from Zurich. Marcus Sterling has accepted the invitation. His private Gulfstream just filed a flight plan for O'Hare International Airport. Estimated arrival time: midnight tonight."
I tightened my grip on the boys, feeling a surge of cold adrenaline course through my veins.
"Very good, Marcus," I replied evenly. "Mobilize Viktor and his teams. Have our private hangar at O'Hare secured under federal customs clearance. When Sterling’s plane touches down, I want a welcoming committee waiting for him."
"Understood, sir. And the boys?"
"They stay right here in the penthouse, guarded by our elite detail," I commanded. "No one gets in. No one gets out. If anything happens to me, Viktor takes control of Lawson Ridge Holdings and ensures my sons are placed safely in Geneva under my personal trusts."
"Nothing is going to happen to you, Mr. Lawson," Marcus said firmly.
May you like
I cut the comms and looked down at Liam and Noah. Both of them had fallen silent, their small hands clutching my shirt as if they sensed the gravity of the impending confrontation.
"Time for a nap, boys," I whispered, kissing the top of Liam's head. "Tomorrow, the world is going to look a lot safer."
