Chapter 10 - New Horizons
Three weeks after the fall of the Syndicate, the Long Island estate looked more like a home than a fortress.
The heavy iron perimeter gates remained open during the day, letting the salt air and the sound of crashing waves drift freely across the manicured lawns. The harsh security cameras hidden in the crown molding had been disabled, replaced by simple, bright window boxes filled with blooming geraniums and trailing ivy.
On a warm Saturday afternoon, Dominic stood on the back patio watching Noah and Grace run across the grass, chasing a golden retriever puppy that Dominic had finally agreed to adopt.
Footsteps approached softly from behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"The structural engineers finished repairing the nursery door," Mara said, stopping beside him at the stone railing. She held a cup of tea in her hands, her expression calm and relaxed. "It's solid oak now. Even a Vanguard operative would need a chainsaw to get through it."
Dominic chuckled, taking a sip of his own coffee. "Good. Though I'm hoping we won't need to test its durability anytime soon."
Mara looked out across the lawn toward the children, a soft, genuine warmth softening her pale green eyes. "Peace tends to last longer when you stop inviting wolves into the yard."
Dominic turned to face her, leaning his forearms against the stone ledge. The informal, professional barrier that had existed between them since her first day had quietly dissolved into something deeper—something built on shared survival, mutual respect, and an unspoken understanding of the futures they were choosing to build together.
"The agency called yesterday," Dominic said quietly, watching her reaction. "They wanted to know when your contract as a private security asset was officially expiring."
Mara took a slow sip of her tea, her gaze shifting to meet his. "And what did you tell them?"
"I told them the position had been permanently filled," Dominic replied, his voice steady and low. "I told them Mara Keene is no longer available for field assignments."
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Mara smiled—a real, radiant smile that reached all the way to her eyes. She set her teacup down on the ledge, reached out, and gently rested her hand over his calloused fingers.
"Good," she whispered, the wind carrying her words away toward the sea. "Because I was just about to tell you... I'm terrible at quitting a job before the garden starts blooming."
