Chapter 2 - The Mother Who Begged the Mafia Boss to Fire HerGrace Bennett had never intended to stay at Cross Manor.
She had planned to work six months.
Save money.
Find a small apartment.
Move Sophie somewhere normal.
Somewhere without armed guards.
Somewhere without men who carried concealed weapons and spoke about violence as casually as other people discussed weather.
But then Sophie became attached to Adrian.
And Adrian became attached to Sophie.
Grace didn't know when it happened.
Perhaps it was the night Sophie had fallen asleep against Adrian's chest.
Perhaps it was when Adrian quietly repaired Mr. Bunny's broken ear with a needle and thread.
Or perhaps it was the morning Grace discovered Adrian sitting on the floor of the nursery because Sophie had insisted he attend her tea party.
There were three plastic cups between them.
Adrian held a pink toy teapot.
Grace stood in the doorway.
He looked at her.
She looked at him.
“Not a word.”
“I wasn't going to say anything.”
“You were.”
“I was thinking.”
“That is worse.”
Sophie clapped.
“Daddy Adrian!”
Silence.
Grace froze.
Adrian froze.
Sophie smiled proudly.
“I made him daddy.”
Grace immediately crossed the room.
“Sophie.”
But Adrian stopped her.
“It's okay.”
Grace stared at him.
He looked uncomfortable.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Just shaken.
“You don't have to call me that,” he told Sophie.
She tilted her head.
“Why?”
“Because I'm not your daddy.”
“My daddy is in heaven.”
Adrian swallowed.
“I know.”
“Then you can be daddy here.”
Grace's eyes filled.
She turned away.
Adrian watched her.
Something in his chest hurt.
That afternoon, Grace approached him in his office.
“I need to talk to you.”
He looked up from his paperwork.
“Sit.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to ask you to fire me.”
His pen stopped.
“No.”
“You haven't even asked why.”
“I don't need to.”
“Adrian.”
“You're staying.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
Grace took a breath.
“Because Sophie is becoming too attached to you.”
His expression tightened.
“Is that bad?”
“It is when you're involved in our lives.”
“I already am.”
“That's what scares me.”
He leaned back.
“Do I scare you?”
Grace hesitated.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised him.
She continued.
“Not because of what people say.”
“Then why?”
“Because you're becoming someone Sophie trusts.”
Adrian said nothing.
“You live in a world I don't understand,” Grace whispered.
“You have enemies.”
“Yes.”
“People who would hurt Sophie?”
“Yes.”
“Exactly.”
“You think leaving protects her.”
“I know it does.”
“No.”
Grace looked at him.
“You don't.”
He stood.
“If you leave, you become easier to reach.”
“What?”
“You and Sophie are protected because you're here.”
“Protected by you.”
“Yes.”
“That isn't protection. That's a cage.”
His jaw tightened.
“I would never cage you.”
“Maybe not intentionally.”
Grace stepped closer.
“She deserves a normal life.”
Adrian looked at her.
“So do you.”
Her eyes filled.
“Then let us go.”
He wanted to say yes.
Instead, he said:
“I can't.”
She whispered:
“Why?”
He didn't answer.
Because the truth was humiliating.
Because the house had become different with them inside it.
Because he had begun looking forward to footsteps in the hallway.
Because he had started imagining Sophie growing up.
Because he had started imagining Grace beside him.
And because the thought of them leaving made the enormous mansion feel empty.
Grace left without another word.
That night, Adrian stood outside Sophie's room.
He watched her sleep.
Grace entered behind him.
“You should stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Looking at her like she's yours.”
He turned.
“She isn't.”
Grace looked at him.
“No.”
A pause.
“But you love her.”
Adrian's expression changed.
He had never said the word.
Not about anyone.
But Grace had said it.
And neither of them could pretend afterward.
“I don't know what love feels like,” he admitted.
Grace's voice softened.
“I think you do.”
Then she walked away.
Adrian remained in the doorway.
For the first time in twenty years, he wondered whether a man could be dangerous and still deserve something gentle.
Three days later, the answer came violently.
A car belonging to Grace disappeared from the estate.
The security cameras had been disabled for exactly seven minutes.
And Sophie was found standing alone in the driveway.
Holding Mr. Bunny.
Crying.
“Mommy?”
Adrian ran toward her.
His heart stopped.
“Where is your mother?”
Sophie pointed toward the trees.
“They took her.”
Adrian's entire world narrowed.
“Who?”
“Bad men.”
“How many?”
She held up three fingers.
Adrian turned toward Marcus.
“Lock the estate.”
May you like
Then he looked at Sophie.
“I'm bringing your mother home.”
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