Chapter 9 - THE WINTER SANCTUARY
The private ambulance arrived within eight minutes, escorted by two black Voss security sedans.
Dr. Harrison, the chief of pediatric medicine at Northwestern and a lifelong personal friend of the Voss family, personally oversaw Leo’s transfer.
“The boy is stable, Adrien,” Dr. Harrison said, closing the ambulance doors.
“The hypothermia is mild.”
“We’re taking him straight to our private VIP wing.”
“He will have twenty-four-hour nursing and the newest immunotherapy protocol starting tomorrow morning.”
Isabella stood beside the vehicle, clutching a warm fleece blanket around her shoulders.
She looked at the doctor, then at Adrien.
“How... how can we afford this?” she whispered, her voice still trembling.
“The hospital bills were millions of dollars.”
Adrien stepped up beside her.
He gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
His fingertips were warm against her cold skin.
“You don't owe anyone a single dollar, Isabella,” Adrien said softly.
“Your father was a hero.”
“The state government just released his sealed pension and life insurance trust.”
“Along with twenty million dollars in seized Moretti assets awarded to his heirs.”
Isabella’s breath caught in her throat.
“Twenty million?”
“You and Leo are completely independent,” Adrien said.
His voice dropped, tinged with a quiet, painful gravity.
“You don't have to clean anyone’s floors.”
“You don't have to make midnight coffee for a mafia boss.”
“You are free to go anywhere in the world.”
Isabella stared at him.
The snow was falling thicker now, dusting his broad shoulders with white flakes.
He looked majestic, dangerous, and completely alone.
“Is that what you want, Mr. Voss?” she asked quietly.
She used the formal title, but her eyes held a soft, teasing challenge.
“Do you want me to leave?”
Adrien looked down at the snow between their boots.
For thirty years, he had been taught that love was a weakness.
In his world, attachments were targets.
Feelings were leverage.
Yet in the thirty minutes she was missing, his empty house had felt like a tomb.
He looked back into her dark eyes.
“No,” he confessed, the word torn from the deepest part of his soul.
“I have never wanted anything less in my life.”
Isabella reached out from beneath her blanket.
Her small, bruised hand took his large, calloused fingers.
She laced her fingers through his.
“Then take me home, Adrien,” she whispered.
May you like
A rare, breathtaking smile touched Adrien’s lips.
“Let’s go home.”
