Chapter 3 - The Sanctuary
Within twenty minutes, Dante’s reinforced SUV pulled through the gated courtyard of his hillside villa. The estate was a fortress—perimeter motion sensors, bullet-resistant glass, and armed security patrols. Yet inside, warm hardwood and soft amber lighting offered a quiet refuge from the violence below.
Dante carried Elena upstairs to the guest suite while his private physician, Dr. Chen, examined her injuries. Mia refused to leave her mother’s side, gripping Elena’s hand until the sedative took effect.
“Two cracked ribs and severe bruising,” Dr. Chen reported quietly outside the door. “No internal bleeding, Dante. She’s tough. But she needs rest and zero stress.”
“She’ll get both,” Dante said.
He found Mia sitting on an oversized leather armchair in the hallway, clutching a glass of warm milk the housekeeper had brought her. Her large, observant eyes tracked every movement he made, lingering on the intricate tattoos etched across his bare chest and throat.
“Are you a superhero or a bad guy?” Mia asked innocently.
Dante paused, resting his hands on his hips. “A little bit of both, kiddo. But tonight, I’m on your team.”
Mia set her cup down. “Mom told me about you once. She said you were like an iron wall. Nothing could ever get past you.”
Dante looked toward the closed bedroom door, a bitter pang tightening his throat. “She left because walls keep things out, but they also trap people inside.”
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“She never hated you,” Mia added softly, rubbing her tired eyes. “She kept a blue box on top of the wardrobe. Inside was a dried rose and a photo of you two in Italy.”
Dante froze. Five years had passed since Elena had disappeared without a trace. He had always believed she left out of disgust for his violent world. But now, another truth lingered beneath the surface.
