Chapter 2 - Behind the Iron Gates of the Ravalini Estate
The Ravalini mansion looked less like a home and more like a medieval fortress disguised as modern luxury.
High iron gates guarded by armed men opened slowly as Lucas's black bulletproof Maybach drove through.
Hannah sat in the back seat with Matteo resting his head heavily against her shoulder.
She had packed her single battered suitcase containing only three changes of clothes.
The stark contrast between her meager belongings and the opulent leather interior of the car was suffocating.
When they stepped inside the massive foyer, Head Housekeeper Mrs. Gable greeted them with a scowl that could curdle milk.
Mrs. Gable made it abundantly clear that commoners from the outer boroughs had no business in the Ravalini household.
Lucas vanished into his private study upstairs without uttering another word to Hannah.
He left her standing in the cavernous hallway with a stack of rigid house rules as thick as a telephone book.
Matteo refused to let go of her hand even for a second.
Hannah led the boy up the grand curved staircase to the nursery wing.
The nursery was larger than Hannah's entire rented apartment in Queens.
Yet, despite the walls lined with expensive toys and gadgets, it felt bitterly cold and devoid of genuine warmth.
While unpacking her few items, Matteo pulled her toward a heavy oak bookshelf in the corner.
He pressed a hidden brass latch behind a vintage globe.
The bookshelf clicked and swung open to reveal a secret alcove.
Inside sat a dusty wooden box filled with old polaroids and a delicate silver music box.
Matteo told her this was where his mother used to hide when the bad men came to the house.
Hannah felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she realized the shadows hanging over this family were far darker than she imagined.
She gently held Matteo and promised him she would never let anything bad happen to him.
Little did she know, Victoria Vance was already watching them through a hidden security feed connected to the estate's compromised network.
Victoria smashed her crystal wine glass against her kitchen wall in absolute fury.
She swore on her family name that Hannah Cooper would not last forty-eight hours inside that fortress.
May you like
Midnight fell over Manhattan like a heavy velvet shroud.
Hannah woke up to the sound of whispering footsteps echoing outside the nursery door.
