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.

is being held in what appears to be a basement or lower level," Jason reported. "Thermal imaging shows one guard at the exterior cellar entrance." "That's our way in," Alexander said. "Road team, begin distraction on my mark." The seconds stretched like hours. Stefan's heart hammered in his chest, a mixture of fear and determination driving his

"Mark."

of fire rose above the treeline near the main road. The guards outside snapped to attention, their movements suddenly

they

low to the ground, following a path Stefan had described from Camille's stories, a narrow deer trail that led to the old stone garden. The fire burned bright in the distance, drawing the attention of the

side, report," Alexander

moving toward the

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

"There."

security team. Two men stepped forward, shifting the heavy stone to reveal

guard at the bottom of the stairs," reported Jason, checking a handheld thermal device.

take

of static cut

team under fire! Multiple armed tangos emerging from the

He turned to Jason. "We need to move.

disappeared down the steps, followed by two of

came Alexander's voice. "Stefan, get down

down the steps into a dimly lit storage area. A guard

pointed to a metal door across the room. "Thermal shows two

sound of gunfire echoed

reported the team leader.

his breath. "She was ready for

side," Jason reminded

up. Breach on

the door. Stefan pressed himself against

pressed to the door.

through faintly. "They've found us. I don't know how, but they're here." A pause. "No, I'm

lit up, showing a thermal image of the

still there," Alexander whispered.

guards the entire property had been rigged with motion-activated defenses. Hidden cameras.

wired to the foundation," reported a team member from the west side. "This

wasn't just hiding, she'd

routes. Always. Margaret said she used to panic if she didn't know exactly how

for hidden exits,"

voice growing more agitated. "I don't care

the door, followed by a mechanical sound, something sliding

signatures moving through the woods toward the lake," reported the team watching

a quick decision. "Change of plans. We breach now, before

team readied for entry. Whatever lay beyond

"Go!" Alexander ordered.

door burst open as the team

with computer monitors displaying every angle of the property. In the center sat a chair with cut

of Alexander's men, sweeping the room. "No targets!" Alexander strode to

noticed a hidden panel standing ajar in the back wall. "There! Secret

into a narrow tunnel lit by emergency lights. "They've moved

the monitors, exterior cameras showed Rose's men rushing toward the lake, taking defensive positions around