Chapter 3 - Safe Harbor
The crisp night air hit Elena’s face the moment they stepped out of the gala doors, cooling the stinging heat still radiating on her cheek. An imposing black SUV was idling at the curb. Caleb opened the door, and Elena slid into the leather backseat.
As the doors closed, shutting out the flashing lights of the confused paparazzi gathered outside, the adrenaline finally left her system. Elena began to shake. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders heaving in the pale blue dress.
She wasn't crying because she was sad. She was crying because she was finally safe.
Marcus slid in beside her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her head to his chest, uncaring as her tears stained his expensive suit. "I've got you, El. You're safe. I promise you, you are never going back there."
"How did you find me?" she sobbed into his coat. "He told me you stopped looking. He told me you didn't want me anymore."
Julian, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around, his eyes softening for the first time that night. "We never stopped looking, Ellie. Not for a single day. He forged emails, he paid off private investigators to feed us false leads. He built a fortress around you."
"It was Caleb who cracked it," Marcus explained softly, stroking her hair. "He noticed an irregularity in the Vale Foundation's tax filings. A shell corporation funneling money to a private security firm—the men Adrian hired to keep you locked up. We flew in this morning."
"I'm so sorry I didn't reach out," Elena whispered.
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"Don't," Caleb said from the driver's seat, looking at her through the rearview mirror. His voice was thick with emotion. "You survived. That's all that matters. Now, it's our turn to go on the offensive."
They drove to a highly secure penthouse owned by Julian. As Elena washed her face in the marble bathroom, staring at the red mark on her cheek, she realized the frightened girl who had walked into that gala was dead. With her brothers by her side, she was untouchable.
