Chapter 4 - Sanctuary
The drive to the Appalachian safe house took six agonizing hours.
The armored Cadillac Escalade was built like a tank, completely bulletproof.
Beatrice sat in the back, squeezed into the corner of the luxurious leather seat
.
Lily was asleep with her head in Beatrice's lap.
Leo sat across from them, staring out the tinted windows.
He hadn't spoken more than three words since they left Chicago.
Beatrice felt suffocated by the tension.
She was wearing the expensive clothes Leo had ordered for her—a soft cashmere sweater and dark designer jeans.
She felt like an imposter.
She kept tugging at the hem of the sweater, trying to hide her curves.
"Stop doing that," Leo said suddenly.
Beatrice jumped, her hand freezing on the fabric.
"Doing what, sir?"
"Hiding."
Leo shifted his gaze from the window to her.
"You keep pulling at your clothes like you're ashamed of taking up space in my car."
Beatrice flushed furiously, looking down at her hands.
"I'm just... not used to clothes like this."
"Get used to it."
His voice was gruff, but not unkind.
"You're not a maid anymore, Beatrice."
"Then what am I?" she whispered.
It was the bravest question she had ever asked.
Leo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
He looked at her with an intensity that made her heart race.
"You are the woman who protected what is mine."
He reached across the space between them.
His large, warm hand gently wrapped around her bruised fingers.
"In my world, loyalty like that is priceless."
Beatrice's breath caught in her throat.
No man had ever looked at her like this.
They looked at her with pity, with disgust, or with absolute indifference.
But Leo Rossi looked at her like she was the most valuable thing in the room.
The SUV suddenly swerved onto a hidden dirt road.
Tall pine trees swallowed the vehicle in deep shadows.
"We're here," Leo announced, pulling his hand back.
The safe house wasn't a cabin.
It was a modern fortress built into the side of a mountain, surrounded by steel gates and cameras.
As they stepped out into the crisp mountain air, Beatrice shivered.
Leo noticed instantly.
He took off his heavy black overcoat and draped it over her shoulders.
It smelled like expensive cologne and danger.
"Inside," Leo ordered.
Before Beatrice could take a step, the sound of a roaring engine echoed through the valley.
May you like
Mateo yelled from the front seat.
"Boss! We've got company!"
