Someone Attacked My Estate Minutes After I Recognized the Baby’s Locket—Then We Found Her Photo Had Been Sent From Inside My Own House.

The air inside the master study turned so cold it felt as though the winter storm had breached the walls.

Before Victor could speak another word, a thunderous explosion shook the entire estate.

The heavy glass panes of the study windows rattled violently as a blinding orange flash illuminated the dark courtyard outside. Alarms began to blare across the seventy-acre property, their high-pitched sirens echoing through the halls.

Outside, the heavy iron front gates were blown inward off their hinges.

In an instant, Marcus Hale drew his sidearm from his shoulder holster, barking rapid tactical commands into his earpiece as six armed security men sprinted down the corridor toward the front perimeter.

Victor didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, grabbing Hannah by the waist and pulling her and baby Lily away from the tall glass windows just as a second shockwave rattled the glass. He backed them into the alcove behind his heavy mahogany desk, covering Hannah and the infant with his muscular, broad frame.

Lily whimpered softly against Hannah's shoulder, and Victor reached out his tattooed hand, gently cupping the back of the baby's head to shield her from falling plaster.

Marcus burst back through the study doors, his face dark and tight. "Boss! Primary gate was breached by a remote device! Our perimeter team is engaging two black sedans at the tree line!"

Victor stood up slowly, his face setting into a mask of pure, lethal steel. His voice was low, alarmed, and heavy with realization.

"They didn't come for me," Victor said quietly.

He looked straight down into baby Lily's large, expressive brown eyes.

Marcus stepped closer, holding an encrypted smartphone recovered from the snow near the breached gate. "We took down the lead drone operator outside. His device was live-streaming a local feed."

Marcus turned the phone screen toward Victor.

Displayed on the bright display was a high-resolution photograph of eight-month-old Lily wearing the silver locket—a picture taken from inside the Moretti mansion only ten minutes earlier.

Victor slowly raised his eyes toward the hallway outside the study, where several household staff members had gathered in fear.