Chapter 4 - THE UNBREAKABLE BOND
Dawn broke over the estate in shades of pale violet and silver.
Naomi woke at 6:00 AM, her body accustomed to the brutal early hours of her waitress schedule. She wore a simple grey sweater and dark jeans provided by the estate staff. When she opened her bedroom door, she found Titan lying directly across the threshold, his tail giving two slow, heavy thumps against the floor the moment he saw her.
"Morning, boy," she murmured, kneeling down to let him press his cold nose into her neck.
She spent the next two hours conducting a full behavioral baseline assessment of the dog. She walked him through the sprawling enclosed gardens, observing his posture, his response to environmental triggers, and his stress indicators.
When Titan spotted a perimeter guard adjusting an assault rifle near the north gate, his body immediately coiled, his coat rising along his spine.
"Titan, reset," Naomi called out softly, stepping into his line of sight without blocking him, using a calm body block technique. She offered him a small piece of freeze-dried beef from her pocket. "Focus."
Titan looked up at her, swallowed the treat, and his shoulders visibly dropped. The elevated breathing subsided within three seconds.
Standing on the second-floor stone balcony overlooking the garden, Belvin watched them through a pair of high-powered binoculars. Leo stood at his shoulder.
"She’s incredible, Boss," Leo remarked quietly. "That dog hasn't let anyone except you within ten feet of him for three years. She has him eating out of her hand in four hours."
"It's not magic, Leo," Belvin said, lowering the binoculars. "It's authority without force. Titan spent his life being controlled through pain. Naomi controls him through trust. There's a big difference."
"Vance’s people are making moves," Leo reported, his tone shifting into business mode. "Our intelligence sources in Midtown report that Vance met with Deputy Director Miller of the FBI two hours ago. They're trying to fast-track a civil seizure warrant against your estate, citing Titan as a 'dangerous biological hazard'."
Belvin’s mouth curved into a cold, cruel smile. "A hazard? They want the dog put down because Titan’s collar camera recorded Castellano’s full confession before he threw the glass."
Leo blinked. "Titan's collar has a camera?"
"Custom military-grade hardware concealed in the platinum studs," Belvin revealed smoothly. "Castellano admitted on audio that Vance paid him two million dollars to set up the hit at Corso. Vance knows that footage exists. That's why he's frantic to destroy the dog before we can enter the recording into federal court."
Down in the garden, Naomi walked Titan back toward the patio. As she approached the grand French doors, she noticed a black sedan parked near the main security station.
Three men in tailored grey suits stepped out, accompanied by an attorney holding a thick manila folder.
"Belvin Santoro!" the lead man shouted, his voice amplified by a megaphone as he stood near the security gate. "This is Agent Harris, Federal Marshal Service! We are executing a judicial seizure order for the canine asset known as 'Titan' under Section 4 of the Public Safety Act!"
Titan immediately let out a deep, gut-wrenching growl, stepping in front of Naomi, his jaws set, every muscle in his body straining against the air.
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Naomi’s blood ran cold. She saw the tactical holsters beneath the agents' jackets. They hadn't come to seize the dog.
They had come with orders to shoot him on sight.
