SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 169

Rain pelted the black waters of Cedar Lake as Alexander and Stefan crouched in the underbrush. The angry sky rumbled above them, lightning flashing in the distance. Through night-vision goggles, Alexander scanned the cabin that held Camille.

What had once been a rustic family retreat now resembled a fortress. Motion sensors dotted the tree line. Cameras swept the property in careful arcs. Two men with rifles patrolled the perimeter, their movements precise and military.

"She's turned it into a damn compound," Alexander whispered, his jaw tight with tension.

Stefan wiped rain from his face. "Rose never does anything halfway."

They'd left the boats hidden behind the split pine tree Margaret had called the "twin tree," the water team of six men now spread through the woods. The road team waited on the other side of the property, ready for Alexander's signal.

"Talk me through it again," Alexander said, his voice barely audible over the rain. "Every entrance. Every weak point."

Stefan closed his eyes, picturing the cabin he'd never visited but had heard described so many times.

"Front door faces the road. Back door opens to the lake. There's a cellar entrance on the east side, hidden under a fake rock garden." His hands shook as he pointed. "Kitchen window has a broken lock, or it did when the Lewis family owned it. Margaret always complained about it letting in cold air."

Alexander relayed the information through his earpiece to the teams. The rain grew heavier, a blessing that muffled their approach and blinded the cameras.

A guard passed just fifteen feet from their position. Alexander tensed, hand moving to his weapon, but the man continued his patrol, unaware of their presence.

"Six minutes until the road team creates their distraction," Alexander murmured. "Then we move."

Stefan nodded, clutching the small fishing lure Margaret had given him. The wood felt rough against his palm, a connection to a time when Camille had been happy, before he and Rose had destroyed everything.

Thunder crashed overhead as lightning lit the sky. In the brief flash, Stefan saw Alexander's face, not the controlled businessman he knew, but something primal and dangerous.

"If anything happens to her..." Alexander's words trailed off.

"It won't," Stefan said, trying to believe it himself.

Alexander checked his watch. "Two minutes. Jason, position report."

"East side secure," came the whispered reply through their earpieces. "We've identified three motion sensors and a trip wire. All disabled."

"West team?"

"In position. Guard approaching. Hold."

Tense seconds ticked by. Rain drummed against the leaves sheltering them.

"Guard passed. West side ready."

Alexander turned to Stefan. "You stay behind me at all times. If I say run, you run. If I say hide, you hide. No heroics."

Stefan wanted to argue, but the steel in Alexander's eyes stopped him. This was a side of Alexander Pierce that few ever saw-the man beneath the tailored suits and boardroom smiles.

"Thirty seconds," Alexander said.

Stefan tucked the lure safely in his pocket and checked his own equipment one last time. Unlike the others, he carried no weapon. Alexander had been clear about that.

shows one guard at the exterior cellar entrance." "That's our way in," Alexander

"Mark."

of fire rose above the treeline near the main road. The

and they were moving through

a narrow deer trail that led to the old stone

side, report," Alexander

guards moving toward the road. Main house

reached the stone garden, now overgrown but still recognizable. Stefan pointed to a large flat

"There."

the heavy stone to reveal a set of concrete steps descending

reported Jason, checking a handheld thermal device.

weapon. "I'll take point. Stefan, you

crackle of static

Multiple armed tangos emerging

face hardened. "Rose has backup." He turned to

of his men.

Alexander's voice. "Stefan, get

scrambled down the steps into a dimly lit storage

"Thermal shows

sound of gunfire echoed

the team

his breath. "She was ready for

have surprise on this side," Jason reminded

nodded. "Stack up. Breach

around the door. Stefan pressed himself against

ear pressed to the door.

found us. I don't know how, but they're here."

pressing a small device against the door. A tiny screen lit

whispered. "Rose

earpiece came a flurry of urgent reports. Their teams had discovered more than just guards the entire property had been rigged with

to the foundation," reported a team member from the west side. "This entire place is

blood ran cold. Rose wasn't just hiding, she'd prepared for

used to panic if she didn't

for hidden exits," he

care what it takes. I'll be there in two

beep echoed through the door, followed by a mechanical sound,

the woods toward the lake," reported the team watching the

"Change of plans. We breach now, before she can move

for entry.

"Go!" Alexander ordered.

door burst open as the team rushed in,

the property. In the center sat a chair with

targets!" Alexander strode to the chair, touching the restraints. "Still warm. She was

ajar in the back wall.

to the opening, peering into a narrow tunnel lit by

Rose's men rushing toward the lake, taking defensive positions around