Chapter 3 - SAFEHOUSE SECRETS
By midnight, Emma found herself riding in the back of an armored black SUV, flanked by two heavily armed guards. Ahead of them was Luca’s private car. They drove through the rain-slicked streets of Chicago, leaving the glittering lights of the Gold Coast behind and heading toward a secluded, heavily fortified estate nestled in the dark woods near Lake Forest.
When they arrived at the hidden safehouse, Emma was shown into a spacious, elegant study lined with leather-bound books and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the misty grounds.
Luca entered a few minutes later, having removed his suit jacket and unbuttoned his collar. He handed her a hot cup of tea.
“Drink this. It will help with the shock,” he said gently, a far cry from the terrifying mob boss who had commanded the dining room hours earlier.
“Thank you, Mr. Moretti,” Emma said, holding the warm ceramic mug. “I... I called my brother Leo. Your men arranged for two guards to watch over my father’s house tonight.”
“Your family is completely safe, Emma. You have my word on that,” Luca reassured her, sitting on the edge of the large mahogany desk across from her. “Now, tell me everything you noticed tonight. Every small detail. You see things that others miss.”
Emma took a sip of tea, gathering her thoughts. “Vanessa was nervous all evening. But she wasn't acting alone. Before dinner started, I saw her whispering to Senator Vance in the corridor. He handed her a folded note, which she burned in the service sink. And when the plates were being brought out, the chief security guard on the floor—the guy named Rick—deliberately walked away from the service station.”
Luca’s expression darkened. “Rick. I trusted him for five years.”
“He checked his watch three times in two minutes right before Vanessa made her move,” Emma added precisely. “He was waiting for a signal.”
Luca looked at her with a blend of intense admiration and curiosity. “You have a remarkable eye for detail, Emma. Most people in your position would have looked away to keep their heads down.”
“My father taught me that details keep you alive,” Emma said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice. “When you work on heavy machinery, if you ignore a loose bolt, someone dies. I guess it’s the same in your world.”
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A subtle, genuine smile touched Luca’s lips for the first time. “It seems we share more in common than I thought.”
Suddenly, the study door burst open. Marco stepped in, his expression grim. “Boss, we have a problem. Rick just tried to slip past the outer gate. And we intercept a radio transmission—someone just leaked the coordinates of this safehouse.”
