Chapter 4 - SHADOWS OF THE EX
By dawn, the estate was a fortress once more. Lorenzo's loyal men had locked down the perimeter, but Silas and Marcus had vanished into the city. I sat in Lorenzo's private quarters, a lavish suite of dark wood and leather, holding a sleeping Leo. The baby had eaten twice more, his color returning from a pale, translucent gray to a warm, healthy pink. For the first time since I lost Lily, the crushing weight in my chest felt manageable.
Lorenzo stood by the window, watching the sun rise over the heavily guarded gates. "Silas knows my every move. He knows our patrol routes, our safe houses, our allies." He turned to me, his tailored shirt stained with soot and blood. "He also knows you saved my son. You are no longer just a maid in this house. To them, you are a vulnerability they can exploit to get to me."
I swallowed hard, stroking Leo's soft hair. "I can't outrun Marcus. He took everything from me. He took my baby girl." The words spilled out before I could stop them, raw and bleeding. Lorenzo crossed the room, kneeling beside the armchair. He didn't offer hollow pity. He offered a vow. "He will never touch you again. I will tear this city apart brick by brick until Silas and Marcus are ashes. But until then, you do not leave my sight. You sleep in my wing. You eat at my table. You are under my protection."
