Chapter 6 - The Sanctuary Estate
Two weeks later, a sleek black transport van pulled up beneath the grand wrought-iron gates of the Caruso estate in the rolling hills outside Philadelphia.
The estate was breathtaking—an expansive property of native stone, rolling green pastures, and dense pine forests. But what caught Maeve’s eye as she stepped out of the vehicle wasn't the manor house; it was the brand-new, state-of-the-art veterinary facility nestled just a hundred yards away, designed with heated floors, spacious recovery runs, and large glass windows overlooking the valley.
Dante met her at the bottom of the stone steps, dressed casually in an open-collared shirt and a dark wool jacket. Behind him walked two handlers, carefully guiding Argos down the ramp of the transport van.
The Cane Corso's coat was sleek and glossy once more, his burns completely healed, leaving only faint silver lines across his dark fur. Though his eyes remained clouded, his ears pivoted sharply as he caught the familiar scent of the mountain air—and Maeve’s footsteps approaching.
Argos broke away gently from the handlers, trotting across the gravel path with surprising agility until he reached Maeve. He bumped his massive head against her knee, letting out a deep, rumbling welcome.
Maeve knelt down, wrapping her arms around his thick neck and smiling broadly. "Look at you. You look like a king."
"He always was," Dante said, stepping closer and looking down at them with a quiet sense of peace. "He just needed the right doctor to remind him."
The transition had been seamless. The regional underworld, once threatened by the exposure of Julian's syndicate, had undergone a massive restructuring under Dante’s absolute authority. The corrupt elements had been purged, leaving behind a streamlined, legitimate commercial empire that left no room for cruelty or betrayal.
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"The equipment arrived from Germany this morning," Maeve said, standing up and brushing the dust from her jeans. "The hydrotherapy tank is fully calibrated. He's going to start water rehabilitation tomorrow."
"Good," Dante replied, gesturing toward the gleaming new clinic. "Because I intend to make sure he lives to a very old, very spoiled age."
