Chapter 36 - The Unexpected DeliveryThe crisp autumn breeze rustled through the canopy of towering pines surrounding the Vascari home, carrying with it the sharp, clean scent of the approaching Maine winter.
Roman was helping Maya build a sprawling wooden block castle in the living room when the crunch of tires on gravel signaled the arrival of the afternoon mail truck.
He didn't think much of it until the heavy screen door didn't just rattle—it received a firm, respectful double-knock. Usually, Arthur the mail carrier simply tossed parcels into the box at the end of the driveway.
Roman stood up, dusting off his jeans, and pulled the door open.
Standing on the porch was a courier wearing a navy-blue uniform bearing a private logistics emblem. He held a flat, heavy wooden crate sealed with industrial wax and stamped with a wax imprint Roman hadn't seen in over a decade—a simple, elegant crest of a rook chess piece.
"Roman Vascari?" the courier asked, holding out a digital signature pad.
Roman stared at the crest, his jaw tightening slightly. "Depends on who's asking."
"Sign here, Mr. Vascari. It's from Chicago. Hand-delivered via private freight."
Roman signed the tablet with a sharp stroke of his finger. The courier handed over the heavy crate, offered a polite nod, and walked back down to his van without another word.
Celeste walked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a linen apron, her dark eyes immediately latching onto the wax seal on the wooden box.
The atmosphere in the hallway instantly shifted from warm domestic tranquility to absolute, frozen vigilance.
May you like
"What is that?" she asked quietly.
"From Chicago," Roman replied, his voice dropping an octave as he carried the crate into the living room and set it down on the coffee table. "Let's find out."
