Chapter 9 - The Safe Harbor
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The gates of the Gold Coast estate swung shut behind the black town car with a heavy, metallic thud that sounded like safety itself.
The morning mist had burned off, leaving behind a crisp, pale blue sky that washed the limestone courtyard in winter light.
Vivien stepped out of the car, her legs trembling with the delayed shock of the morning’s events.
The front doors of the mansion were open.
Standing on the top terrace, wrapped in an oversized shearling jacket that clearly belonged to Sebastian, was Daniel.
“Viv!” Daniel yelled, sprinting down the stone steps two at a time.
“Daniel!”
Vivien broke into a run, her boots slipping slightly on the damp pavers before she threw her arms around her brother’s neck.
She buried her face in his shoulder, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of cheap laundry soap and spearmint gum.
“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Daniel asked frantically, pulling back to inspect her face, his young eyes wide with confusion and fear.
“Two guys in black suits showed up at my grocery store at six in the morning! They told my manager I was resigning, handed him two thousand bucks for my final two weeks, and brought me here!”
“I’m fine, Danny,” Vivien whispered, tears finally escaping her lashes and tracking down her cold cheeks.
“I’m okay. It’s over.”
“What’s over? Who is that guy?” Daniel asked, pointing a trembling finger toward Sebastian Cross, who was walking up the driveway behind them with Paul.
Sebastian stopped three feet away, his hands buried in the pockets of his dark trousers.
He studied Daniel for a moment, his gaze assessing the young man’s posture, his broad shoulders, and the sharp, protective anger flashing in his eyes.
“Your sister made a business arrangement to ensure your college scholarship remains unmolested, Mr. Adler,” Sebastian said smoothly.
“An arrangement?” Daniel bristled, stepping between Sebastian and Vivien.
“What kind of arrangement? Vivien, who is this guy? People at school talk about the Cross family. They say—”
“Daniel, stop,” Vivien ordered gently, grabbing her brother’s forearm.
“Detective Gallagher had drugs planted in your car. He had an open felony file ready to send to the grand jury.”
Daniel went completely white. “What?”
“Mr. Cross had Gallagher arrested this morning,” Vivien explained, holding up her left hand.
The emerald-cut diamond caught the morning sun, flashing brightly.
Daniel looked at the ring, then at Sebastian, then back at his sister, his mouth opening and closing in stunned disbelief.
“You’re... you’re getting married?” Daniel stammered.
“For three months,” Vivien said quietly, lowering her voice so only her brother could hear.
“Until the federal investigation clears the precinct. We are safe here, Danny.”
Sebastian walked past them, heading up the grand stone steps toward the open double doors.
“Paul will show your brother to the east wing guest quarters,” Sebastian called back over his shoulder.
“There is a private study with high-speed fiber internet and access to the university research library.”
“Your tuition for the remainder of your degree has been cleared through the bursar’s office as of eight-thirty this morning.”
Daniel stared at the billionaire’s retreating back, his voice catching in his throat.
“Viv... this is insane,” Daniel whispered.
“You don't know what kind of world these people live in.”
“I know what kind of world Ryan Gallagher lived in,” Vivien replied, looking at the stone walls surrounding the courtyard.
“At least here, the monster is on our side.”
She followed Sebastian up the terrace stairs, stepping across the threshold into the quiet, imposing halls of the estate.
In the grand foyer, Paul was waiting with a silver tray holding two steaming porcelain mugs of black tea and a small crystal vase containing a single white orchid.
“Mr. Cross requested this for your private suite on the second floor, Miss Adler,” Paul said, bowing his head.
Vivien picked up the vase, looking at the delicate, unblemished white petals.
Beneath the vase was a small, cream-colored card written in crisp, elegant calligraphy:
May you like
Rule number one of the Cross house:
Nobody touches what belongs to me.
