Chapter 3 - The Sanctuary
The Calder estate in Towson was silent when the convoy of black SUVs tore through the iron gates at 2:00 AM.
Staff members who had worked for Roman for years stood in the grand foyer in hushed shock as their terrifying master walked through the front doors carrying the kitchen maid in his arms, wrapped in his personal coat.
Dr. Harrison, Roman’s private physician, was already waiting upstairs in the master wing.
“Place her on the bed, Roman,” Dr. Harrison said, snapping on medical gloves as Roman carried Nora into his own bedroom—a room no member of the staff had ever been permitted to enter.
Roman laid her gently onto the crisp white Egyptian cotton sheets. He stood at the foot of the bed, his arms folded across his chest, refusing to leave the room while the doctor administered IV fluids, treated the rope burns on her wrists, and checked her core temperature.
“Severe dehydration, mild hypothermia, and extreme exhaustion,” Dr. Harrison reported an hour later, stepping out into the hallway with Roman. “Physical recovery will take a week or two. The emotional trauma... that will take longer. Who did this to her?”
“A mistake I am currently correcting,” Roman replied coldly.
At that moment, the double doors at the end of the hallway burst open.
A tiny, breathless nine-year-old boy ran down the corridor, flanked by two of Roman’s largest security guards, who were struggling to keep up with him without hurting him.
Caleb was wearing his oversized winter coat, holding his dented metal baseball box tightly against his chest.
“Where is she?!” Caleb yelled, his voice echoing off the marble walls. “Mrs. Adler said she was here! Where is my sister?!”
Silas stepped in front of the boy, but Roman held up a single hand, stopping his lieutenant.
Roman walked down the hallway, dropping down onto one knee so he was at eye level with the frightened, furious boy.
Caleb glared at him, his tiny fists trembling. “You’re the man from the house. The man who makes her work too much.”
Roman looked at the boy. He saw the same fierce, unyielding loyalty in Caleb’s eyes that he had seen in Nora’s when she lay on that concrete floor.
“I am,” Roman admitted quietly. “And I made a terrible mistake, Caleb. But your sister is inside that room. She’s sleeping, but she’s safe.”
Caleb’s eyes welled with big, heavy tears. “Is she hurt?”
“She’s tired,” Roman said gently. “She fought very hard to come back to you.”
Caleb looked at the large, intimidating man in front of him. Slowly, the boy lowered his tin box and took three small steps forward, looking directly into Roman’s eyes.
“Did she tell you about the note?” Caleb asked in a small voice.
“What note?”
“She leaves notes beside my bowl every morning,” Caleb whimpered, wiping his nose with his sleeve. “She didn't leave one on Tuesday. That’s how I knew she didn't leave on purpose. Nora never forgets the note.”
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Roman felt a deep, tightening ache in his chest. He reached out and touched Caleb’s shoulder with a gentleness that surprised even Silas.
“Go see her,” Roman said softly. “She’s waiting for you.”
