Chapter 6 - The Sanctuary in the StudyUpstairs in the executive study, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The heavy mahogany doors were locked from the inside. A warm fire crackled in the stone fireplace, casting dancing golden light across the leather armchairs and towering bookshelves.
Grace sat on the edge of a velvet sofa, holding a steaming cup of chamomile tea that Marco had kindly brought up before heading down to the cellars.
Emma sat on the floor nearby, happily coloring in a large sketchpad with brand-new crayons that Isabella had insisted on sharing before being taken to the panic room.
The door unlocked, and Lorenzo stepped into the room.
He had changed into a clean dark shirt and trousers. The traces of blood and rain were gone, but the intense, formidable energy around him remained.
Grace immediately stood up, bowing her head nervously. “Mr. Duca... is everything... is everything alright?”
“The threat has been neutralized,” Lorenzo said evenly, walking over to the fireplace. He looked down at Emma, who was busy coloring a blue elephant with yellow polka dots.
Grace wrung her hands. “I’m so sorry, sir. If I had known she wandered off... If I had known she would cause such a scene... Please, don’t fire me. We have nowhere else to go. I’ll pack our bags tonight—”
“Grace,” Lorenzo interrupted.
She stopped, holding her breath.
“You are not fired,” Lorenzo said quietly. “In fact, your employment contract has just been upgraded.”
Grace blinked, stunned. “Sir?”
“An ordinary housekeeper cleans rooms,” Lorenzo said, walking over and kneeling down beside Emma. He gently reached out and picked up one of her crayons, turning it over in his hand. “A true protector sees things others choose to ignore. Your daughter saved my family tonight. That makes you family now.”
Emma looked up from her drawing, tilting her head. “Are you still sad, Mr. Guard?”
May you like
Lorenzo let out a rare, genuine chuckle—deep and resonant.
“No, Emma,” he smiled, gently tapping the tip of her little nose. “I’m not sad anymore. Thanks to you.”
