Chapter 4 - THE SAFE HOUSE
They drove for an hour into the deep woods outside the city limits.
The SUV finally passed through massive iron gates and pulled up to a sprawling stone mansion.
"Welcome to my private estate," Victor said as a team of guards opened the doors.
"Nobody outside my inner circle knows this place exists."
Lena and Daniel were escorted to a luxurious guest wing overlooking a private lake.
For the first time in months, Lena slept without the crushing weight of debt on her chest.
The next morning, she found Victor in the garden, drinking coffee and looking over a pile of security reports.
He looked less like a ruthless mafia boss and more like a tired, lonely man.
"How is your mother doing?" Victor asked without looking up from his papers.
"The doctor called me an hour ago," Lena smiled, feeling a genuine spark of hope.
"She is breathing on her own, and they are starting a new treatment today."
"Thank you, Mr. Romano."
Victor finally looked up, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
"Call me Victor," he said, his voice unusually soft.
"You don't belong in a maid's uniform, Lena."
"You possess more courage than most of the men who work for me."
Lena blushed, suddenly hyper-aware of how handsome he was in the morning light.
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The dangerous mafia kingpin was treating a poor maid like royalty, and it terrified her.
But what terrified her more was how safe she felt standing next to him.
