Chapter 3 - THE GOLDEN CAGE
The SUV sped through the dark highway, leaving the bustling city behind and climbing up into the misty, heavily wooded hills that overlooked the bay.
I held the baby tightly, gently rocking him back and forth until his frantic cries slowly ebbed into soft, shuddering sighs. He nestled his small head right under my chin, his warm breath fanning across my skin. Despite the terrifying chaos we had just escaped, he seemed completely calm now—because he was in my arms.
"He's asleep," I whispered, breaking the heavy silence in the car.
Lorenzo sat across from me, his long legs stretched out, his arms folded over his chest. He hadn't stopped watching me for a single second.
"He hasn't slept a full hour without waking up screaming in six months," Lorenzo noted, his tone filled with a mix of awe and deep suspicion. "Yet in your arms, he sleeps like an angel."
"He's exhausted," I said defensively. "He's just a baby, Lorenzo. He was terrified."
"His name is Leo," Lorenzo said softly. "And he is not 'just a baby.' He is the heir to the Vance Syndicate. Which makes him the target of every criminal family from here to Chicago."
The car finally pulled up to a massive iron gate flanked by high stone walls topped with security cameras and armed guards. The gates swung open automatically, and the SUV drove up a long, winding driveway lined with ancient oak trees.
At the end of the driveway stood a colossal manor—a grand, gothic-style estate made of dark stone and floor-to-ceiling glass, glowing like a fortress in the night sky.
"Welcome to the Vance Manor," Lorenzo said quietly as the car came to a smooth stop. "Your new home."
"Home?" I gasped, panic rising in my throat again. "No, you don't understand! I have a life! I have rent to pay! I have a cat!"
"Your apartment is already compromised," Lorenzo said calmly, opening his door. "The men who attacked the restaurant tonight are part of the Moretti cartel. They saw Leo reach for you. By tomorrow morning, your photo will be distributed to every hitman in the state. If you walk out those gates alone, you will be dead within three hours."
My heart hammered in my chest. "You're keeping me prisoner!"
"I am keeping you alive," Lorenzo corrected, his voice dropping into a stern, unquestionable authority. "And in return, you will take care of my son."
He stepped out of the car and offered me his hand. I stared at his palm—at the dark, Intricate black dragon tattoo spanning across his skin. The exact dragon my mother warned me about.
With no other choice, I ignored his hand, carefully stepped out of the SUV while clutching Leo, and walked into the grand foyer of the manor.
Inside, the house was a blend of cold luxury and modern security. Dozens of armed guards stood at attention along the marble corridors. An elderly woman in a crisp black uniform stepped forward, bowing her head slightly.
"Welcome back, Boss," she said. She glanced at me and her eyes widened in absolute shock. She stumbled back a step, clutching her chest. "Sweet Lord in heaven... Elena?"
"She is not Elena, Mrs. Gable," Lorenzo commanded coldly. "This is Mara. Prepare the master guest suite on the second floor. She will be staying here indefinitely."
May you like
"Yes, sir," the housekeeper stammered, her hands trembling as she looked at me as if she were seeing a ghost.
"Follow her," Lorenzo told me, stepping close. He looked down at Leo, who was still fast asleep in my arms, then looked up into my eyes. "Get some rest, Mara. Tomorrow, we get answers."
