Chapter 4 - Shadows at the Perimeter
The dinner was interrupted by a sharp, vibrating sound—not a phone, but a security alert on Julian’s wrist device. His face hardened instantly. The charming venture capitalist vanished, replaced by the man who owned a shark tank.
"Stay here," he ordered, standing up. "Do not open the door. Do not look out the window."
"Julian, what is—"
"I said stay!" he barked, his voice vibrating with authority.
He left the room, his movements silent and predatory. Nia watched through the dining room doors as he met the woman from the first day—the one in black. They spoke in rapid-fire codes, and then Julian drew a handgun from a hidden holster.
Nia didn't stay. She ran to the library window, hiding behind a heavy velvet drape. Outside, the mansion's perimeter was being swarmed by drones—small, blinking lights that weren't for delivery. They were surveillance drones.
Julian ran out into the courtyard, Thor at his side. He didn't look like a rich man; he looked like a soldier. He fired his weapon into the air, disabling the lead drone in a single shot. Nia gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
Julian’s eyes snapped toward her window. He knew she was watching. He didn't look angry; he looked horrified.
He signaled the woman in black, and she began a defensive sweep of the grounds. Nia could hear the distant roar of engines and the muffled sounds of shouting. They were under attack. The mansion, which she had thought was a fortress, was clearly a target for something much bigger than a neighborhood dispute.
Nia retreated into the darkness, her heart pounding. She had to do something. She couldn't just sit in the dining room and wait for them to die. She found a heavy iron poker by the fireplace and crept toward the back exit.
She saw Julian in the kitchen, his back to her, as he communicated on a secure channel. "The encryption is failing," he shouted. "Get her out of here! If she gets caught in this, I’m finished."
Nia stepped into the light. "I’m not leaving, Julian."
Julian spun around, his eyes wide. "Nia! I told you to stay put!"
"I don't take orders from neighbors," she said, her voice steady. "What’s going on?"
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Julian looked at her, his expression a mixture of fury and despair. "These people... they’re professionals. And they’re here for the drive. The one I told you about."
"Then we fight back," Nia said, handing him the poker. "I’ve had enough of people scaring my neighbors."
