Chapter 2 - THE GATES OF THE DELUCA ESTATE AND THE GHOSTS INSIDE
The black armored SUV pulled through wrought-iron gates that loomed like the ribs of an ancient beast against the gray Chicago morning sky. Natalie sat in the back seat beside Ava, who was quietly piecing together a wooden puzzle on her lap. In the front, a driver named Victor kept his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, tracking every shadow outside.
The DeLuca estate sat on four acres of heavily wooded land in Winnetka, surrounded by a perimeter wall topped with motion sensors and security cameras. It looked less like a family home and more like a fortress designed to withstand a siege. When the vehicle rolled to a stop beneath the grand portico, Natalie drew a slow breath. Her checking account balance was fixed, her sister's tuition deadline was met thanks to the staggering signing bonus Damian had wired into her account that very morning, but her instincts were screaming.
The heavy front doors opened before they even stepped out. A woman with silver-streaked hair pulled back into a severe bun stood in the foyer. Her name was Mrs. Gable, the head housekeeper, and her gaze scanned Natalie from shoes to hair with an intensity that felt surgical.
“You're the retail clerk,” Mrs. Gable stated, her voice devoid of warmth.
“Natalie Carter,” Natalie corrected smoothly, stepping out of the car and keeping a protective hand near Ava's shoulder. “I'm Ava's new caregiver.”
“We have had six caregivers in eight months, Ms. Carter,” Mrs. Gable said, turning and leading them into a cavernous, marble-floored hall that echoed with every footstep. “None of them lasted two weeks. Mr. DeLuca's lifestyle attracts a very specific brand of chaos. If you cannot handle noise, disruption, or sudden visitors, you will not survive forty-eight hours here.”
“I have an autistic cousin and a retail manager who fired me on a whim,” Natalie replied evenly. “I'm used to chaos.”
Mrs. Gable paused, her sharp eyes flickering with a fraction of respect before she nodded. She led Natalie to the east wing, where Ava's specialized sensory-friendly suite was located. The rooms were soundproofed, lit with adjustable warm amber LEDs, and filled with tactile toys, heavy blankets, and quiet reading nooks.
As Natalie helped Ava settle in, a heavy shadow fell across the doorway.
Damian stood there in shirtsleeves, his cuffs rolled up, revealing the heavy muscle of his forearms and a jagged scar running along his wrist. He didn't look like a corporate executive in this light; he looked like a general inspecting the front lines.
“How is she settling in?” Damian asked, his voice low so as not to startle his daughter.
“Better than expected,” Natalie said, standing up and dusting off her skirt. “She likes the lighting adjustments. But Mr. DeLuca... Mrs. Gable mentioned past caregivers leaving.”
“They quit because they were afraid of me, or because they couldn't handle the phone calls,” Damian said flatly. He walked into the room, crouching down to Ava's eye level to check her puzzle. “My business invites enemies. People who want to hurt me realize very quickly that my family is my only point of vulnerability.”
Natalie swallowed hard. “Is that what you meant yesterday? That boutique was safe compared to this house?”
Damian stood up, towering over her. His dark eyes locked onto hers with terrifying clarity. “Yesterday, a foolish manager yelled at a child. In my world, people don't yell. They send messages. Last month, a rival syndicate left a burning car at my commercial depot three miles from here. Two weeks ago, someone tried to intercept Ava's school transport. I hired you because you protected her without hesitation. But protecting her here means keeping your eyes open, your mouth shut when strangers visit, and never assuming anything in this house is normal.”
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“You're running a criminal enterprise,” Natalie said, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
Damian didn't flinch. He didn't deny it. A dark, dangerous smile touched the corner of his mouth. “I protect what is mine by any means necessary, Natalie. If that makes me a monster in the eyes of the law, so be it. Just make sure you remember which side of the wall you're standing on.”
