Chapter 14 - The Quiet in the Nursery
By midnight, peace had finally settled over the second floor of the mansion.
Baby Leo slept deeply in his crib, his small chest rising and falling in a rhythmic, comforting pattern under the warm star-shaped nightlight.
Ethan sat in the rocking chair beside the crib, wearing a simple gray sweater and dark trousers, a soft book resting open in his lap.
Thomas stood near the doorway, holding a hot mug of coffee which he offered to his employer.
THOMAS: "The perimeter security is fully restored, boss. We installed secondary motion sensors along the sub-basement stairwell."
Ethan accepted the coffee mug, taking a warm sip as he looked over at his sleeping son.
ETHAN: "Thank you, Thomas. For everything you did tonight."
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THOMAS: "It's my job, Ethan. Your father hired me to protect this family... but you're the first one who actually cared about protecting the child."
Ethan smiled faintly, setting the mug down on the side table as he stood up to tuck Leo's blanket around his little shoulders.
