Chapter 3 - The Sanctuary in the Shadows
Twenty minutes later, a fleet of three black armored SUVs pulled up outside a crumbling apartment complex in one of Chicago’s poorest districts.
Zo walked beside Tessa up four flights of dimly lit stairs, four heavy armed guards following closely behind.
Inside the tiny, cold apartment, a sweet four-year-old girl with golden curls sat on a worn rug, playing with a set of wooden blocks while an elderly neighbor sat nearby.
"Mommy!" Lily squealed, her eyes lighting up as she ran across the room, throwing her small arms around Tessa’s neck.
Tessa held her daughter tightly, burying her face in the girl's soft hair. "Lily, baby... Mommy's home."
Lily looked past her mother's shoulder, her big blue eyes widening as she saw the towering figure of Zo Rossi standing in the doorway, clutching the thermal food boxes and the faded one-eared rabbit.
"Are you the giant from Mommy's story?" Lily asked innocently.
A faint, rare smile touched Zo’s lips. He stepped into the small room, kneeling down until he was at eye level with the little girl. He held out the stuffed rabbit. "I brought Mabel back to you."
Lily gasped, taking the rabbit and hugging it against her chest. "Thank you, mister giant!"
Zo looked around the cold apartment—the dripping radiator, the peeling wallpaper, and the bare refrigerator. His jaw tightened.
"Pack their clothes," Zo commanded his guards. "They're moving into the east wing of the estate tonight."
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Tessa gasped. "Mr. Rossi, we can't accept that—"
"It wasn't a request, Tessa," Zo said, standing up and looking down at her softly. "Your enemies might not know who you are yet, but mine do. And anyone who steps out of my estate carrying my protection needs to be behind my walls."
