The rain had escalated into a full deluge by the time Stefano escorted me out of the parish hall. Two dark SUVs idling near the curb flicked their headlights twice as we approached. A heavily built man with a scarred jaw stepped out of the lead vehicle, holding a massive black umbrella over Stefano and me.

"This is Marco, my head of security," Stefano introduced as he held the rear door open for me. "Marco, make sure the hall is swept and secure. Tell Father Thomas we’ll be making a generous donation to the roof repair fund for his hospitality."

I climbed into the plush leather interior of the armored SUV, my red silk dress rustling softly against the seats. Stefano slid in beside me, closing the door, instantly sealing us into a quiet, climate-controlled sanctuary away from the storm.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, clutching my handbag tightly against my lap. "I have work tomorrow. I have a cat. I have a life."

"Your cat has already been collected by my associates and taken to a safe location," Stefano replied, pulling out a secure tablet to review a stream of encrypted surveillance feeds. "As for your work at the library, you will be taking an indefinite leave of absence starting tonight. A call has already been made from your doctor's office stating you’ve contracted a severe case of pneumonia."

"You can't just manage my life like this!" I snapped, the adrenaline finally overriding my shock. "I didn't ask for any of this! I sent a text message to a wrong number!"

Stefano paused, turning his head to look at me. In the passing glare of the streetlights, his profile looked as carved and unyielding as granite, but his eyes carried an unexpected softness.

"You didn't send a text to a wrong number, Clara. You sent a call for help to the only phone line on earth bound by blood to protect you. My father swore an oath on his deathbed that if Francesca's bloodline ever activated that phone line, the Visconti family would defend it with everything we own. I am honoring my father's promise."

The SUV navigated through the winding suburban roads, eventually pulling up to a hidden iron gate tucked away in a heavily wooded estate outside the city limits. The gates swung open automatically, revealing a sprawling stone mansion surrounded by high security walls and armed guards stationed in the shadows.

As we stepped inside the grand foyer, warmth radiated from a grand fireplace. A housekeeper quietly took our coats, lingering just long enough to glance curiously at my striking crimson dress.

Stefano turned to me, offering a hand. "Welcome to the estate. You will be safe here while we clean up the mess the Valentis are making."

"And if they find me here?" I asked softly, looking up into his dark eyes.

Stefano’s expression hardened, the gentle air he had maintained at the parish hall evaporating to reveal the cold, formidable boss beneath. "Then they will learn why my family has survived three generations in this business."