Chapter 7 - The Christmas Attack That Nearly Took Kate Away Again Forced Julian to Choose Between His Empire and His Family
Everything changed two weeks before Christmas.
The Cross family received a threat.
Not from the Ardens.
Not from the Vales.
From someone inside Julian's own organization.
A former lieutenant named Raymond Pike.
He had lost everything when Julian returned the stolen trust funds.
Now he wanted revenge.
The threat was simple.
Give me the trust documents.
Or Kate dies.
Julian read it once.
Then burned it.
Kate noticed the smoke.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
She frowned.
He had promised.
“No lies.”
He looked at her.
“Threat.”
Her face tightened.
“Against me?”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Protect you.”
“With guards?”
“Yes.”
Kate stared.
“Julian.”
“I won't control you.”
“You're about to.”
He closed his eyes.
She was right.
“I don't know how to protect you without becoming controlling.”
“Then ask me.”
He looked at her.
“Will you stay inside the house for two days?”
She thought.
“Only if you stay too.”
He nodded.
“Deal.”
For two days, they stayed together.
They decorated the nursery.
Wrapped gifts.
Cooked badly.
Laughed.
It was the closest they had ever come to an ordinary Christmas.
Then the power went out.
The house fell dark.
Julian stood.
“Stay here.”
Kate grabbed his hand.
“No.”
“I need to check.”
“We check together.”
He nodded.
They moved downstairs.
The security system had been disabled.
A door was open.
Julian's instincts exploded.
“Marcus.”
No answer.
He pulled Kate behind him.
A figure emerged.
Gun raised.
Julian moved.
A shot fired.
He pushed Kate down.
The bullet struck his shoulder.
He collapsed.
“Julian!”
She crawled toward him.
“I'm okay.”
Blood soaked his shirt.
“You were shot.”
“It's not bad.”
The attacker fled.
Security flooded the room.
Julian grabbed Kate.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Good.”
Then he fainted.
At the hospital, Kate refused to leave his side.
The bullet had missed the artery.
He would recover.
But something else had changed.
The attack had been allowed by someone with internal access.
Marcus eventually identified the traitor.
It was Julian's oldest friend.
Thomas.
Julian looked at him through the interrogation glass.
“Why?”
Thomas cried.
“Pike threatened my family.”
“So you threatened mine?”
“I didn't know he would shoot you.”
“You knew Kate was the target.”
Thomas lowered his head.
“Yes.”
Julian closed his eyes.
He could have ordered him killed.
Years ago, he would have.
Instead, he said:
“Call the police.”
Thomas stared.
“What?”
“You're going to testify.”
And that decision broke the last part of Julian's old empire.
He dissolved the organization entirely.
No more weapons.
No more illegal operations.
No more secret accounts.
No more men disappearing.
The legitimate businesses stayed.
The rest vanished.
People called him weak.
His enemies called him finished.
Julian didn't care.
He returned home from the hospital with his arm in a sling.
Kate was waiting.
“You changed everything.”
“Yes.”
“Because of me?”
“Because I finally understand what my life is worth.”
She touched his face.
“And what is it worth?”
He smiled.
“Coming home.”
She kissed him.
Their first kiss after the separation.
It was not passionate.
It was better.
It was safe.
Outside, snow began falling.
May you like
Christmas was only days away.
And for the first time, they planned it together.
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