Chapter 6 - The Safehouse Reunion
At 8:00 PM, Nora stepped out of the elevator on the ground floor of a secure residential building in Tribeca.
Dante insisted she go down to check on Liam personally, refusing to let her spend another minute separated from her son, even though Dante himself was confined to medical bed rest in the penthouse.
She rushed down the carpeted hallway of Safe House Delta and pushed open apartment 4B.
“Mom!”
A streak of brown hair and blue denim collided straight into her stomach.
Nora dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around her ten-year-old son, burying her face in his hair as sobs of pure, unadulterated relief broke through her chest.
“Liam, oh sweetie, are you okay? Did they hurt you?” she asked frantically, checking his hands, his face, his shoulders.
“Mom, I’m fine!” Liam protested, laughing as he hugged her back. “A really nice man named Vance bought me three chocolate chip muffins and let me play video games on a giant screen TV. It was awesome!”
Nora let out a wet, watery laugh, pulling him close again. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.”
“Is everything okay?” Liam asked, sensing the tension in her voice. “Did we have to move again?”
“No, baby,” Nora whispered, kissing the top of his head. “We didn't have to move. And we’re never running away again.”
From the doorway, Vance stood quietly, leaning against the frame with a polite smile. “Everything is secure, Ms. Walsh. The apartment has been swept by our sweep team. You and Liam can stay here tonight, or return to the penthouse whenever you feel comfortable.”
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“Thank you, Vance,” Nora said sincerely. “Tell Mr. Moretti... tell him thank you.”
“I’ll tell him,” Vance nodded. “Though I suspect he’d rather hear it from you.”
