Chapter 2 - The Mafia Boss Who Refused to Return Me
The plane landed in Chicago just after sunrise.
I had chosen Chicago because I thought Damian's network was strongest on the East Coast.
I had been wrong.
The moment we entered the terminal, I saw them.
Three men.
Black coats.
Earpieces.
Standing too still.
Waiting.
My heart dropped.
Adrian noticed them too.
He didn't even look directly at them.
He simply said,
“Walk beside me.”
I obeyed.
“What happens?”
“Nothing.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they haven't reached us.”
We continued.
One man stepped into our path.
“Mrs. Voss?”
I stopped.
Adrian didn't.
His shoulder brushed mine.
“Keep walking.”
The security man tried again.
“Mrs. Voss, your husband is waiting.”
I turned.
“No.”
The man grabbed my arm.
Adrian stopped.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't make a scene.
He simply looked at the man's hand.
“Take it off her.”
The man laughed nervously.
“This doesn't concern you.”
Adrian glanced at him.
“It does now.”
Two other men approached.
Passengers began looking over.
The first man released me.
Good choice.
Adrian stepped forward.
“You can return to Damian and tell him this.”
The man's face went pale.
“What?”
“His wife is under my protection.”
The three men exchanged looks.
One said,
“Mr. Moretti, this is a family matter.”
Adrian smiled.
It was not a pleasant smile.
“Then explain to your employer why his family matter required three armed men in an airport.”
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Adrian placed one hand lightly against the center of my back.
“Come.”
We walked away.
Only when we entered a private corridor did I realize I had been holding my breath.
“What happens now?”
“You leave the city.”
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“I don't understand.”
“You don't need to.”
I stopped.
“You keep saying that.”
He turned.
“Because you're used to men demanding explanations before they let you breathe.”
I stared at him.
“You don't know me.”
“No.”
He paused.
“But I know Damian.”
That answer made me trust him more than it should have.
We reached a waiting car.
Inside, the seats were black leather.
The driver didn't look back.
I asked,
“Where are we going?”
“To a safe house.”
“Whose?”
“Mine.”
I hesitated.
Adrian noticed.
“You can leave the car at any time.”
That sentence was so foreign to me that I almost laughed.
“Why are you like this?”
“Like what?”
“You keep giving me choices.”
He looked out the window.
“Someone once took all of mine.”
I wondered who.
I didn't ask.
The safe house was not what I expected.
It wasn't a dark warehouse.
It was a large house surrounded by trees.
Quiet.
Warm.
There were flowers in the kitchen.
Books in the living room.
A piano in the corner.
It felt less like a criminal hideout and more like someone's home.
An older woman greeted Adrian.
“She's beautiful.”
I looked at him.
He sighed.
“Rosa.”
“What?”
“You're frightening her.”
Rosa smiled at me.
“I'm Rosa. I make food and ask too many questions.”
Despite myself, I smiled.
Adrian disappeared into another room.
Rosa gave me tea.
“You should sleep.”
“I don't know if I can.”
“You can.”
“How?”
“Because nobody locks this door from the outside.”
I looked at her.
She understood immediately.
“You've been through something.”
I looked down.
She didn't press.
That mattered.
Hours later, I woke from a nightmare.
I was back inside the mansion.
Damian stood over me.
I couldn't breathe.
Then I heard a voice.
“Isabella.”
I opened my eyes.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
He didn't enter.
“Nightmare?”
I nodded.
He brought me a glass of water.
Then left.
No questions.
No touching.
No demands.
I had never met a man like him.
That afternoon, he called me into the study.
He placed a folder on the desk.
Inside were photographs of Damian.
Contracts.
Bank transfers.
Shipping records.
“I don't want you dragged into this.”
“Why show me?”
“Because Damian is going to accuse you of stealing from him.”
“I didn't.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because the money was moved before you left.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Three accounts were emptied at 3:42 a.m.”
“I didn't know about those accounts.”
“Exactly.”
He pointed to one document.
“There is a corporation registered under your name.”
My blood ran cold.
“That's impossible.”
“It exists.”
“I've never seen it.”
“Damian created it two years ago.”
I felt sick.
“What is it for?”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“Money laundering.”
I stared at him.
“And he planned to blame it on you.”
My entire body went cold.
Suddenly the escape made sense.
Damian hadn't just wanted control.
He had wanted a scapegoat.
My disappearance had created the perfect story.
He would tell the world I had stolen millions and fled.
Nobody would believe me.
I whispered,
“He was going to make me disappear.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't he stop me?”
“He didn't know you had discovered the accounts.”
I looked up.
“How would he know?”
“You left a clue.”
My heart stopped.
“What clue?”
Adrian opened the cheap phone I had brought.
A note.
I had written it to myself.
A list of account numbers.
He had found it.
“You're smarter than you think.”
I laughed bitterly.
“I was just trying to survive.”
“That is often where intelligence begins.”
He closed the folder.
“Stay here for now.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“My daughter—”
The words slipped out.
Adrian froze.
“What daughter?”
I didn't answer.
I had not told him.
He waited.
Finally I whispered,
“Amelia.”
“Where is she?”
“With my sister.”
“Why?”
“Because Damian believed children make women obedient.”
Adrian stared.
“And your daughter?”
“She's six.”
Something changed in his face.
“Damian knows?”
“No.”
“You're certain?”
“Yes.”
Adrian sat back.
“Then we need to move her tonight.”
Panic rose.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“No?”
“I can't risk Amelia.”
“You're not risking her.”
“I can't involve her in your world.”
“My world is not what puts her in danger.”
“What is?”
“Damian.”
The word landed heavily.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression hardened.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“How many?”
Another pause.
“Twenty minutes.”
He hung up.
I stared.
May you like
“What happened?”
“Damian found your sister.”
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