Chapter 7 - The Journey North|
At two in the morning, a heavy black armored SUV pulled out of the rear gates of the DeLuca estate, cutting through the dense Chicago rain.
Sophie was asleep in the backseat, wrapped in a fleece blanket, her head resting on my lap. I sat beside her, staring out the rain-slicked window as the city skyline faded into the dark expanse of Interstate 94.
Two armed security guards sat in the front—Daniel was driving, his dark eyes constantly checking the side mirrors for trailing headlights.
My phone buzzed in my apron pocket.
It was a text from an unknown number:
The room on the second floor has a balcony overlooking the lake. Sophie likes the sound of the water. Stay inside the perimeter. I’ll call you at dawn. — G.
I stared at the screen, a strange, warm sensation settling in my chest. Even in the middle of preparing for a war with a rival crime family, Gabriel DeLuca was thinking about his daughter’s comfort—and mine.
I typed back a brief reply:
We're safe. Daniel is driving carefully. Be safe, Gabriel.
Three minutes passed. Then my phone buzzed again:
I’m always safe, Hannah. Protect my girl.
I held the phone against my chest, watching the rain streak across the window.
Two hours later, as we crossed the Wisconsin state line, Daniel’s voice broke the quiet cabin.
“Miss Brooks,” Daniel said, his tone sharp and alert. “Keep your head down.”
May you like
I looked up instantly. “What is it?”
“A gray sedan has been keeping a three-car distance behind us since we passed Milwaukee,” Daniel said, reaching down to unholster his sidearm. “They aren't passing. And they aren't dropping back.”
