Chapter 6 - The quiet promise
Calder returned to the estate just before dawn. The massive mansion was silent, save for the crackling of the fireplaces. He went straight to the guest suite where Emma was sleeping.
She was awake, sitting up in the middle of the massive bed, clutching a plush velvet pillow to her chest. Her rosy cheeks were pale with anxiety, her wide eyes watching the door. When Calder stepped into the room, her small shoulders relaxed instantly.
Calder walked over and sat on the edge of the mattress. His towering, muscular frame could have been terrifying, but he moved with deliberate, gentle care.
“Did you find my mommy?” Emma asked, her voice trembling with hope.
“I found the men who took her,” Calder answered truthfully, his deep voice soothing the frantic fear in the room. “And I am going to bring her home to you today.”
Emma looked at him, her innocent eyes searching his rugged, handsome face. She reached into the pocket of her dark pants and pulled out one of the dull copper coins she had kept from the bakery.
She held her small hand out, offering the coin to him.
“My mommy says you have to pay people when they help you,” Emma whispered shyly.
Calder looked at the small, worthless coin in her hand. A profound, heavy emotion tightened in his chest. He, a billionaire who controlled millions in untraceable assets, reached out and gently took the copper coin from her tiny fingers. He closed his large fist around it, sliding it into the pocket of his tailored black suit.
“Thank you, Emma,” Calder said softly. “This is exactly what I needed.”
He stood up, adjusting his cuffs with precise, controlled movements. He looked down at his niece, knowing he would burn the entire city to ash to ensure she never shed another tear.
“Marco will stay outside your door,” Calder instructed gently. “You are safe here. I will be back soon.”
As Calder walked down the grand marble staircase to the foyer, he pulled the titanium flash drive from his pocket. He handed it to his lead tech specialist, who was waiting by the door.
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“Copy the files,” Calder ordered coldly. “Then rig the drive with a high-voltage thermal charge. If Victor plugs this into a computer, I want it to fry his entire mainframe.”
The tech nodded silently, hurrying away. Calder stepped out into the freezing morning air, pulling on his long black overcoat. The final confrontation was set.
