Chapter 3 - the upper sanctuary
The third-floor master suite of the Vale Estate was a private fortress overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Velvet couches, warm amber lighting, and floor-to-ceiling reinforced glass gave the space a sense of quiet, untouchable luxury.
Clare sat nervously on the edge of a silk sofa, holding a cup of chamomile tea provided by the estate's private culinary team. Ellie sat on the thick Persian rug nearby, happily coloring on a notepad with a fresh box of markers Vincent had brought up for her.
The heavy suite doors clicked open. Dominic stepped inside, having removed his ivory suit jacket. He wore only his white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his broad forearms, exposing the dark, swirling ink of his tattoos. He had discarded his cane, walking with a subtle, disciplined limp as he made his way toward the glass fireplace.
"Arthur has been isolated in the library under the guise of an emergency financial audit," Dominic said softly, looking over at Clare. "He has no idea we know what he did."
Clare looked down at her tea, her mind racing. "Mr. Vale... I'm terrified for Ellie. If Arthur Voss realizes she saw him—"
"Arthur Voss will never get within ten feet of your daughter again," Dominic stated firmly. He walked across the room and sat down on the leather ottoman directly across from her. Up close, his rugged masculine beauty and intense presence were overwhelming. "You've worked here for eight months, Clare. Yet I've barely seen you in the main halls until today."
"I... I try to stay invisible, sir," Clare admitted softly, her fair cheeks flushing rosy under his intense gaze. "My ex-husband was a dangerous man in Chicago. When I took Ellie and ran, I needed a place where no one would look for us. I took the maid position here because the security was impenetrable."
Dominic’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly. "Your ex-husband... was he connected to the Vance Syndicate?"
Clare blinked, surprised. "Yes... his name was Marcus Vance. He was a low-level captain."
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Dominic’s jaw tightened into rigid steel. The pieces of a far larger puzzle were suddenly falling into place with terrifying speed. Arthur Voss hadn't acted alone—he was working directly with the Vance family from Chicago, the very same crew Clare had fled from two years ago.
"You didn't come to my estate by accident, Clare," Dominic realized softly, his tone filled with deep, protective fury. "The Vance family sent you here as a housekeeper, expecting you to be a blind spot... but they didn't count on your courage, or your daughter's mind."
