CHAPTER 4
741 Words
The Safe House
Siege moved Brielle to a secluded mansion outside the city. It sat behind ten foot gates, surrounded by trees and armed guards she wasn’t supposed to notice.
Brielle walked through the enormous living room and stopped.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Siege looked up from checking the security monitors. “What?”
“This is a safe house?”
“Yes.”
“It has a swimming pool.”
“Yes.”
“A movie theater.”
“Yes.”
“Six bedrooms.”
“Eight.”
“Why?”
“In case we have guests.”
“Who are these guests?”
“People who need hiding.”
Brielle stared at him. “You say things like that’s normal.”
“In my life, it is.”
She sank onto the leather sofa and folded her arms. “Tell me the truth.”
“About?”
“Your enemies.”
Siege went quiet. “I have many.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“I built an empire.”
“Legally?”
He met her eyes. She raised an eyebrow.
“Okay. Stupid question.”
He almost smiled. “I’m not proud of everything I’ve done.”
“Are you a mafia boss?”
Silence. Brielle’s heart pounded.
Finally, he answered. “Yes.”
She stood. “I knew it.”
“Brielle.”
“You lied to me.”
“I didn’t.”
“You avoided the question.”
“Because I wanted you safe.”
“You don’t get to decide what I can handle.”
He approached her slowly, like she was a patient he didn’t want to spook. “You don’t understand what my world is.”
“Then explain it.”
“My father was murdered.”
She went still.
“I inherited his business,” he continued. “And the mafia.”
“Why stay?”
“Because leaving would get innocent people killed.”
She studied him. “You’re protecting people.”
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“I’ve done terrible things.”
Brielle saw something raw in his eyes. Not the ruthless billionaire. Not the tyrant. Just a man carrying weight he never asked for.
“Why tell me?”
“Because you keep asking.”
She smiled faintly. “Fair.”
The lights flickered.
Siege was on his feet instantly, weapon in hand.
“What?”
“Someone breached the perimeter.”
Brielle’s heart raced. “Again?”
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Brielle.”
“I can defend myself.”
“With what?”
She grabbed the nearest lamp. “This.”
Siege stared. “That’s a lamp.”
“It has emotional value.”
Despite the danger, he laughed once, low. Then the window exploded.
Men in black poured in. Gunfire ripped through the room. Siege fired back, moving between cover and pulling her down with him.
Brielle crawled toward the kitchen, heart hammering. She grabbed a fire extinguisher. An attacker rounded the corner. She didn’t think. She sprayed.
The man choked and dropped.
Siege glanced over, breathing hard. “Again?”
“It works!”
“You’re insane.”
“You’re welcome.”
They ran. Siege hit a hidden panel and a door slid open beneath the rug. A tunnel.
“Move.”
The tunnel ended in an underground garage. Siege started a black SUV and peeled out. Brielle jumped in beside him.
Only when they were on the highway did she notice the blood on his shoulder.
“You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Pull over.”
“No.”
“Siege.”
“No.”
She grabbed the first-aid kit from the glove box. “If you bleed out, I’m going to be extremely annoyed.”
He laughed, pained. “You care.”
“I’m a doctor.”
“You care.”
She looked away. “Don’t make this complicated.”
“Too late.”
His hand found hers on the center console. Their fingers laced. Neither spoke.
Outside, the city lights grew closer.
But miles behind them, one of the attackers crawled from the wreckage and made a call.
“The doctor is still alive.”
A woman’s voice answered, smooth and pleased.
“Good. And Valentino?”
“Let him believe he’s protecting her.”
The woman smiled on the other end.
“He doesn’t know who she really is.”
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