Chapter 5 - The Black Fortress of Long Island
The armored Mercedes Maybach sped through the Midtown tunnel, leaving the glittering grid of Manhattan behind to race toward the mist-shrouded shores of Long Island. The interior of the car remained silent, save for the low, rhythmic hum of the engine and the faint sound of rain tapping against the bulletproof glass.
I sat pressed against the opposite door, wrapping my arms tightly around myself. My mind was a chaotic storm of shock, fear, and a terrifying, magnetic curiosity that drew me toward the man sitting inches away.
"You're shivering," Adrian said, his voice cutting through the quiet. Without waiting for my permission, he shrugged off his heavy wool overcoat and draped it over my shoulders.
The coat was still warm from his body, carrying an overwhelming concentration of cedar, cigar smoke, and pure authority. I pulled it tighter around myself, letting the fabric swallow me whole.
"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"My home," Adrian replied simply. "A place where Arthur Bennett and his associates cannot reach you. A place where the ledger will finally be balanced."
Forty-five minutes later, the car turned through a pair of towering wrought-iron gates guarded by armed men who saluted smartly as we passed. The vehicle wound its way up a long, tree-lined driveway before halting before a massive stone estate that looked less like a modern home and more like a nineteenth-century European fortress.
When we stepped out, the Atlantic wind whipped my hair across my face. Adrian extended a hand, and though every instinct told me to keep my distance, I placed my cold fingers into his warm palm. He didn't let go as he led me up the grand marble steps and through the heavy oak double doors.
"Mrs. Higgins," Adrian called out into the cavernous foyer.
May you like
An elderly woman in a neat gray dress appeared instantly from the hallway, her expression serene and disciplined. "Yes, Mr. Moretti?"
"Prepare the east guest suite for Miss Parker. Have a fresh set of clothes brought up, and see that she is given anything she requires." Adrian turned his gaze back to me, his dark eyes softening. "Get some rest, Ella. Tomorrow, we open the archive."
