She almost smiles back. Almost.
Then her face shutters again, the wall between us reasserting itself.
The car slows as we approach the front gates. Two armed guards step forward, hands resting openly on their holstered weapons. I watch Rowan tense at the sight.
“This is a bit excessive, isn’t it?” she asks. “What’s this place guarding, Fort Knox?”
“Something far more valuable.” I catch her eye. “My family.”
The guards recognize the car and wave us through, but not before conducting a thorough check of the undercarriage with mirrors and scanning devices. Standard procedure.
For me, at least. For Rowan, it’s her first glimpse of just how serious this world is.
“Why bring me here?” Rowan asks as we pull up to the main house. “Why not just take me to your penthouse?”
“Because this is w
