Chapter 5 - The Estate in the Pines
An hour later, a heavy armored black sedan rolled through the towering iron gates of the Moretti estate in Lake Forest.
The property was breathtaking—a massive stone manor house built in the European style, surrounded by acres of ancient pine trees, rolling green lawns, and a high stone wall outfitted with discreet, state-of-the-art security cameras.
Hannah looked out the tinted window as the vehicle came to a smooth stop beneath the grand stone portico. Armed men in crisp charcoal suits stood at various posts around the grounds, their posture alert, professional, and deadly silent.
"Welcome to Lake Forest, Miss Brooks," Marco said, opening the door for her from the outside.
Damen stepped out first, offering his hand to help her down from the elevated seat. Hannah hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing her small fingers into his wide palm. His grip was warm, solid, and instantly reassuring.
An elderly housekeeper with silver hair and a kind face stood waiting in the grand marble foyer.
"Miss Brooks, this is Mrs. Gable," Damen introduced as they stepped inside. "She manages the estate. Anything you need—food, clothing, medical supplies—you ask her."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, child," Mrs. Gable said warmly, taking Hannah's coat. "Your suite is fully prepared on the second floor. Fresh linens, quiet garden views, and a warm bath drawn."
"Thank you, Mrs. Gable," Hannah murmured, still feeling like she was walking through a dream.
"I have business to attend to in the city this afternoon," Damen said, turning to face Hannah in the foyer. "Marco will remain on the property. You are free to roam the house, the gardens, and the library. Do not feel confined."
"Mr. Moretti," Hannah said, stopping him as he turned to leave. "About Dr. Vance... what are you going to do?"
Damen’s expression didn't change, but his gray eyes hardened into polished slate.
"I am going to have a conversation with him," Damen replied softly. "A conversation he should have had with a man nine years ago."
Before Hannah could ask anything more, Damen turned and walked back out the front doors, his heavy leather shoes echoing against the marble floor as his armored motorcade sped off into the afternoon fog.
Upstairs, Hannah was shown into a breathtaking private suite. The room featured a king-sized canopy bed covered in silk sheets, a stone fireplace roaring with a warm fire, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a secluded pine forest.
On the bed lay several gift boxes from high-end Chicago boutiques—soft cashmere sweaters, tailored trousers, silk pajamas, and sturdy leather boots, all precisely tailored to her size.
Hannah sat down on the edge of the bed, trailing her fingers over the soft fabric of a cream-colored sweater. For two years, she had lived in a cramped, noisy one-bedroom apartment, terrified every time a car door slammed in the street below, waiting for Julian's footsteps outside her door.
Now, surrounded by stone walls and an army of silent guardians, she felt something she hadn't experienced in years.
May you like
Safety.
She lay back against the plush pillows, closing her eyes as the warm crackle of the fireplace washed over her. Within minutes, the deep, overwhelming exhaustion of her body claimed her, and for the first time in months, she slept without nightmares.
