Chapter 3 - A HEARTBEAT AT THE ROURKE ESTATE
The Rourke estate stood on thirty wooded acres north of the city.
It was less a mansion than a stone fortress pretending to be a home.
Mara arrived at four in the morning.
Marcus showed her a suite overlooking a garden.
“No cameras inside,” he told her. “The bedroom locks from this side. No one enters without permission.”
“Including you?”
“Especially me.”
He turned to leave.
“Marcus.”
He stopped.
“Thank you.”
His shoulders lowered slightly.
“You don’t owe me gratitude for a danger attached to my name.”
She thought about that sentence long after he left.
Over the next week, Mara discovered that Marcus Rourke was full of contradictions.
Men twice his size looked nervous when he entered a room.
But he spent ten minutes one morning arguing with a toaster.
He conducted terrifyingly quiet business calls from his library.
Then personally replaced a loose stair rail after seeing Mara grip it.
He knew exactly how many armored vehicles were positioned around the estate.
He did not know babies could hear before birth.
Mara found that out when she discovered him in the library reading a pregnancy book.
He snapped it shut.
She leaned against the doorway.
“Are you studying?”
“No.”
“The book literally says Pregnancy and the First Year.”
Marcus looked down at it.
“Unfortunate title.”
She laughed.
His mouth curved.
“I dislike being unprepared.”
“Then fatherhood is going to ruin your life.”
“So I’ve gathered.”
She walked closer.
His eyes drifted toward her belly.
“Can I ask something?”
“Sure.”
“Does she move often?”
“After dinner. Especially if I drink orange juice.”
Marcus nodded with absurd seriousness.
“You don’t need to memorize that.”
“I remember useful information.”
“Useful for what?”
He frowned.
“I haven’t decided.”
That evening they sat on the terrace.
The baby kicked.
Mara inhaled sharply.
Marcus immediately stood.
“What happened?”
“Sit down.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Mara.”
“She’s kicking.”
He froze.
“Oh.”
Mara looked at him.
Then at his hand.
Slowly, she reached across the space between them.
“Come here.”
Marcus sat.
She guided his palm onto her stomach.
For several seconds nothing happened.
He looked vaguely betrayed.
Mara smiled.
“She’s stubborn.”
“That trait is clearly maternal.”
She gave him a look.
Then the baby kicked.
Marcus went silent.
Another small movement pressed against his palm.
The expression on his face made Mara’s throat ache.
Wonder.
Fear.
Love so new he didn’t yet know what to call it.
“That was her?”
“Yes.”
He bent slightly closer.
“Hello.”
Mara laughed softly.
Marcus kept his hand where it was.
“I’m your father.”
His voice nearly broke on the word.
“And I’m sorry I’m late.”
Mara looked away because suddenly she was crying.
That fragile peace lasted exactly thirty seconds.
Owen entered.
“Marcus.”
Something in his voice changed the atmosphere.
Marcus stood.
“What?”
“We identified the car outside Mara’s building.”
“Who?”
Owen glanced at her.
“Company registration traces back through two holding firms. Final ownership is connected to Cole Meridian.”
Mara’s stomach tightened.
“Tristan?”
Marcus’s face became unreadable.
May you like
Owen nodded.
But Tristan was only the beginning.
