Chapter 80: The Invitation of Death

With a stark, startling sound, the cold steel door of the detention center clanged open, After the oppressive injustice, the air outside, despite its pollution, felt liberating, Isaac came out with his dark suit rumpled but his intimidating demeanor unaltered, The burden of the last several days, the arrest, the betrayal, the media crucifixion, was lifted the instant his eyes met Evelyn across the tiny parking lot,

She separated from Marcus, her athletic, slender frame moving with a frenzied quickness, With her heels tapping wildly on the asphalt, Evelyn dashed into his arms, Isaac grabbed her, his powerful arms encircling her at once, drawing her to the unwavering warmth of his chest, Their embrace was a profound, quiet assertion of survival,

Sobbing against his neck, Evelyn said, "You're free," her voice muffled by the silk of his jacket, "My dear, we succeeded, You're at liberty, "

"You succeeded, dove, Isaac buried his face in her flaming hair and breathed in her familiar aroma as he rasped, "You saved me, " The world vanished for an intense instant, leaving only the pressing reality of their entwined bodies, A tacit recognition of their enduring, rebellious relationship, the visceral relief of the moment melted away the total tension between them,

Isaac took Evelyn's face in his hands and backed away a little, His eyes were blazing with a furious, protective brightness as his thumbs tenderly brushed the tears off her cheekbones, He was the richest, most capable, and most influential man she had ever met, yet right now he was just a wounded guardian,

"Were you harmed by them? Are you secure? "The infant?" Isaac questioned in a deep, low voice while examining her face for any wounds,

"Thanks to you and Marcus, we're doing well, "As usual, just battered and bruised," Evelyn said, holding onto his hands, "But you, you were framed for the most sickening crime, "

"And after being pronounced dead, you almost got shot while attempting to save my life, "Vivienne has gone too far," Isaac said in a determined voice that was as deadly and frigid as iron, "She tried to destroy our lives, our name, and our corporation, "

Intimate yet horrifying, he drew her closer as he spoke into her hair, "She pursued you, Our household, She is aware of the child, Evelyn, this isn't a corporate battle anymore, It's primal, Now it's over, I refuse to spend any more time glancing over my shoulder,

Evelyn concurred, her rage mirroring his, "We move now," she said, "While she is the center of the media frenzy, Marcus discovered where she had fled to,

The anxiety gave way to a coiled, deadly intensity once they were back in the anonymous shelter of the getaway SUV, Their new offensive was spearheaded by Marcus, who was stooped over his high, tech console in the backseat,

"The press is currently camped outside Blackwell Manor, but she's not there," Marcus said, pointing to the fiber keyboard with his fingers, "I tracked her personal jet’s flight plan and cross referenced it with private land deeds, "

Isaac clutched at the steering wheel, his eyes on the road, Marcus, where did she run? Give me the address,

Marcus said, "She didn't leave the country, surprisingly," as he enlarged a satellite map, "She arrived at a small, upstate regional airport, I've located the ground transportation to a private, opulent cabin located deep in upstate New York that is heavily gated,

Leaning forward, Evelyn gazed at the screen's isolated, forested scenery, "She is receding, not running, She believes that if she is absent for a few days, the tension will subside,

"Exactly," Marcus said in a somber tone, Before launching her last counterattack, most likely against the board or the police head, she is waiting for the chaos to subside, Evelyn, the stakes are getting higher, Despite her isolation, she poses a serious threat,

Isaac slammed his foot on the accelerator and remarked, "She just gets desperate when she is isolated, " "Give her the impression that she is superior, We're going to visit Mother, "

Finally, under the cover of dense, tall pines, the SUV came to a stop, Built of thick, dark wood, the opulent lodge appeared massive and silent amid the untamed scenery of upstate New York, The forest sounds were muffled by a gentle drizzle that started to fall,

Evelyn and Isaac made precise movements in unison, with Marcus trailing a few paces behind, his pistol kept low and ready, The place looked abandoned, No security was immediately apparent, and the gates were closed but unlocked, a horrifying indication of a possible trap,

"Too easy," Evelyn scanned the dark windows and whispered, "Where is everybody? She never travels by herself,

"Vivienne despises the woods, Isaac kicked open the heavy front door and retorted, "This is a staging, not a retreat,

The interior was spotless, with pricey leather furnishings, a roaring fireplace, and the aroma of pricey wine and fine cedar, However, the lack of people seemed unsettling, The quiet was deafening,

"Look for any movement, Isaac walked across the spacious living area and ordered, "She could have snipers, "

Marcus said, "No heat signatures," from his portable scanner, "No communication equipment are in use, She either fled quickly or is really good at hiding, "

They swiftly swept the main floor, The study was organized, and the kitchen was spotless, Evelyn then arrived at the formal dinner table, On the polished wood, a single sheet of thick, cream, colored paper was lying dead center,

Isaac, Evelyn whispered, "Wait," her voice tense with growing fear, The silence was suddenly oppressive as she walked slowly over to the table,

With their swords lifted and their eyes searching the darkness, Isaac and Marcus immediately shifted to her flank, Evelyn took the paper in her hands, Vivienne's graceful, expansive script was used to handwrite the note,

"You took everything from me," Evelyn said, her voice shaking as she read the sentences out loud, My reputation, my business, and my son, I take everything away from you now, Examine the nursery,

Isaac's face drained of blood, His eyes widened in horror as he turned to face Evelyn, "She is aware, Evelyn, she is aware of the baby,

With a shaky voice, Evelyn said, "It's the only thing she knew she could steal that we valued more than the empire," and she dropped the note,

Isaac took hold of her hand, "We must relocate, Now, with their feet thumping the wooden steps, they dash upstairs to the nursery, all of their repressed fears exploding into a single, desperate run for the last, horrific encounter,

They rushed into the tiny nursery, which was beautifully furnished, The solitary, huge window is open, allowing the wet, cold air to enter, A gorgeous black wooden bassinet sits empty in the middle of the room, but for Evelyn's ultrasound photo, which is wedged between the covers, Was Evelyn's unborn child abducted by Vivienne, or is this just another deranged psychological trick meant to ruin them both?