Chapter 2 - Behind Golden Gates
The Vane Estate was a fortress of limestone and iron, tucked away in the exclusive enclave of Lake Forest. Security guards with earpieces and semi-automatic weapons patrolled the snow-dusted grounds. To the rest of Chicago, Stellan Vane was a reclusive billionaire philanthropist. To the criminal underworld, he was the undisputed kingpin who controlled the ports, the unions, and the streets.
"This is insane," Norah muttered as a maid led her and Danny down a hallway lined with priceless oil paintings. "We don't belong here, Danny."
"We just need to keep our heads down," Danny whispered back, his voice incredibly tight. "Just... don't talk to anyone, Norah. Please."
"Are you okay? You've been acting weird since the hospital."
"I'm fine. Just stressed about you jumping into a frozen river."
They were shown to a lavish two-bedroom suite. In the adjoining room, a private doctor was already setting up Danny’s dialysis equipment. Norah wanted to feel relieved, but the opulence felt like a gilded cage.
Later that evening, a knock came at her door.
Norah opened it to find Stellan. He had discarded his suit jacket, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms covered in dark, intricate tattoos.
"Mia wants to see you," he said simply.
He led her to a bedroom at the end of the hall. It was a wonderland of toys and books, but the little girl sitting in the center of the bed looked incredibly small. When Mia saw Norah, her eyes lit up. She quickly began moving her hands in rapid, graceful gestures.
Stellan translated, his voice softening in a way that shocked Norah. "She says... thank you for being my mermaid."
Norah smiled warmly, sitting on the edge of the bed. She didn't know sign language, but she took Mia's small hand and pressed it to her heart, then pointed to Mia, nodding. We're okay.
Stellan watched them, his intense gaze fixed on Norah's face. "She hasn't smiled since her mother died three years ago."
"What happened to her mother?" Norah asked gently.
"A car bomb," Stellan said, his voice turning deadly cold. "Meant for me. The Syndicate—the rival cartel trying to take over my territory—doesn't care about collateral damage. Today was their second attempt to destroy me by taking what I love."
"And you think they have help? Someone on the inside?"
"I know they do," Stellan said, his eyes narrowing. "The nanny's route today was confidential. Only five people knew where Mia would be. I am hunting the rat down. And when I find them, I will make them beg for the river."
A chill ran down Norah's spine.
As they walked back out into the hallway, Stellan paused, standing close to her. "You are a brave woman, Norah. Most people run from the fire. You jumped right into the ice."
"I didn't think about it."
"That is what makes you dangerous," he murmured, his eyes dropping to her lips for a fraction of a second. "Or highly valuable."
Before Norah could process the sudden, electric tension between them, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was an unknown number.
She stepped away from Stellan to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Norah," a harsh, disguised voice whispered through the receiver. "If you want your brother to live, you will do exactly what we say."
Norah’s breath hitched. "Who is this?"
"Look out your window."
May you like
Norah walked to the heavy glass of the hallway window, looking down at the snowy driveway. Standing near one of the security booths, Danny was speaking to one of Stellan's guard captains.
"Your brother owes us three hundred thousand dollars in gambling debts," the voice sneered. "He paid off his first installment by giving us the kid's schedule today. But the kid survived. Which means Danny's debt is still active. If you want him to survive his next dialysis treatment, you are going to find Stellan Vane’s private ledger. It’s in his office vault. Get it for us, or Danny dies tonight."
