Chapter 3 - The Sanctuary
My heart completely stopped as the cold barrel of the gun stared me down in the dim light of the SUV.
I couldn't even breathe, instinctively curling my body over Leo to protect him from the impending bullet.
Luca moved faster than my human eyes could even comprehend.
He lunged forward, grabbing the traitor’s wrist and snapping it backward with a sickening crunch.
The gun fired harmlessly into the reinforced roof of the vehicle as the man screamed in agonizing pain.
Luca didn't hesitate for a single fraction of a second.
He pulled his own weapon and shot the betrayer squarely in the chest, ending the deadly threat instantly.
The driver slammed on the brakes, throwing us violently forward as the SUV skidded to a halt in an abandoned industrial park.
Luca dragged the dead man's body out onto the concrete and ordered the driver to keep moving immediately.
I was sobbing quietly, rocking Leo in my arms as the horrific reality of the night settled deep into my bones.
“You just killed a man right in front of me,” I whispered, my voice shaking with absolute terror.
“I just saved your life, Avery,” Luca replied coldly as he reloaded his weapon in the dark.
We drove in absolute silence for another forty minutes until massive iron gates appeared in the distance.
The gates swung open, revealing a sprawling stone mansion surrounded by high walls and heavily armed guards.
This was the hidden fortress of a king, built entirely on blood, money, and secrets.
The vehicle parked near the grand entrance, and Luca finally took his sleeping son back into his arms.
“I want to go home now,” I pleaded, staying firmly glued to my leather seat.
“Your apartment is no longer safe, because my enemies saw you holding my heir,” he stated matter-of-factly.
He reached out a large hand, demanding that I step out of the car and into his dangerous world.
Having absolutely no other options and nowhere else to hide, I reluctantly took his hand and stepped onto the driveway.
The inside of the mansion was breathtakingly beautiful, decorated with priceless art and imported marble statues.
An older housekeeper rushed forward to take the baby, whisking him away to a secure nursery upstairs.
Luca led me into a massive study that smelled perfectly of expensive leather and dark whiskey.
I walked over to the fireplace to warm my freezing hands, desperately trying to stop my body from violently trembling.
That was when I looked up and saw the massive oil painting hanging directly above the mantle.
May you like
I gasped and stumbled backward in shock, knocking over a crystal glass on a side table.
The beautiful woman in the portrait had my exact same eyes, my exact same nose, and my exact same smile.
