Chapter 8 - THE SAFEHOUSE
By dawn, Gianni drove us in a backup vehicle to an isolated estate deep in the Idaho mountains.
It was a fortress built of stone and iron, guarded by dozens of heavily armed men loyal to the DeLuca family.
Carmine brought me inside, locking the iron gate behind us just like he had done in the kitchen weeks ago.
"You'll be safe here," he said, taking off his wet suit jacket and tossing it onto a chair.
I looked around the rustic, warm living room, feeling the overwhelming exhaustion finally crash over me.
"You can't keep running from Moretti forever," I murmured, sitting down on the edge of the stone fireplace.
Carmine walked over and knelt down in front of me, taking my ice-cold hands into his large, warm palms.
"I'm not running, Ivy," he said softly, looking directly into my eyes. "I brought you here so I don't have to hold back."
"What are you going to do?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"I'm going to eliminate every single man loyal to Moretti in this state," he replied without a hint of remorse.
I looked at this dangerous, violent man who had treated my bruised skin with warm water and soft towels.
"Don't die," I whispered, pressing my forehead against his.
May you like
Carmine closed his eyes, leaning into the contact. "I have something worth coming back to now."
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