Chapter 8 - The Safe House in Lake Forest and the First Time Luca Moretti Held My Hand
Three hours later, the rain had slowed to a steady drizzle, and the armored black SUV raced northward along the empty highway toward Lake Forest.
The ambush at the estate had been decisively neutralized. Within ten minutes of the breach, Luca's primary security detail—backed by federal agents alerted by the financial fraud evidence—had cornered the three mercenaries and the traitorous guard in the grand foyer. Not a single shot had touched Noah or me.
Now, sitting in the leather-trimmed backseat of the SUV, Noah was fast asleep against my shoulder, his small breathing steady and calm.
Luca sat directly across from us in the dim cabin light, his shirt cuffs stained with soot from a smoke grenade, his dark eyes fixed entirely on his son—and then on me.
"Are you shaking, Hannah?" Luca asked quietly, leaning forward.
I looked down at my hands, which were indeed trembling slightly as I held the edge of Noah's jacket. "I... I guess I'm just realizing how dangerous your world really is, Mr. Moretti."
Luca reached across the gap between the seats. His large, warm hand gently covered mine, silencing the shaking instantly. His fingers were calloused and strong, carrying the undeniable weight of a man who ruled an empire, yet his touch was remarkably gentle.
"This world is dangerous," Luca said, his voice deep and steady. "And I brought it to my front door by letting Vanessa into our lives. But I swear to you, Hannah—from this night forward, nobody will ever threaten you or my son again."
I looked up into his dark, piercing eyes, feeling a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with the car's heater.
"Thank you, Luca," I whispered, using his first name for the very first time.
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A faint, rare smile touched the corner of his lips. "Get some sleep, Hannah. We'll be at the safe house by dawn."
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