Chapter 5 - The Sanctuary of the Grand
While Cade confronted Sterling on the North Ridge, the atmosphere inside the executive penthouse suite of the Harbor Grand Hotel was like something out of a fairy tale for Juny and Miles.
The suite was vast, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glowing harbor, plush velvet sofas, a fireplace roaring with warm heat, and a massive dining table loaded with roasted chicken, fresh vegetables, warm pastries, and pitchers of sweet juice.
Miles was currently sitting on a fluffy fleece rug near the fireplace, playing enthusiastically with a brand-new set of wooden building blocks and dinosaur toys that Nico’s team had brought up. His cheeks were rosy, his belly was full, and his small face was free of the pale, pinched exhaustion that had gripped him for days.
Ms. Darlene sat in a velvet armchair, sipping tea from a china cup, watching the children with tears of relief flowing down her cheeks.
Only Juny remained standing near the window, her small arms crossed over her chest, staring out at the falling snow. She had eaten half a chicken roll—forcing herself to chew slowly—but she refused to play with the toys or relax onto the soft sofa.
Dr. Vance walked over to her, holding a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. "Juny? Would you like some cocoa?"
Juny looked at the cup, then up at the doctor. "When is Mr. Cade coming back?"
"He's handling some business, sweetheart," Dr. Vance said gently. "He'll be back soon."
"He went to look for my mom, didn't he?" Juny asked, her sharp ten-year-old mind cutting through the sugar-coated comfort.
Dr. Vance paused, surprised by the girl's intuition. "Yes. He did."
Juny looked back out the window. "People like Mr. Cade don't help people like us for free. My mom told me that rich people in this city only look down when they want to step on something."
The door to the suite clicked open softly.
Cade stepped inside. He had removed his snow-dusted coat, his expression tired, but his eyes lit up the moment he saw the children safe and warm.
Miles immediately scrambled up from the floor, running over to Cade with his little wooden dinosaur held high. "Mr. Cade! Look! It's a Tyrannosaurus! It has sharp teeth!"
Cade instinctively dropped down onto one knee, catching the little boy safely, a rare, genuine smile softening his strong features. "That's a very powerful dinosaur, Miles. Is he keeping the room safe?"
"Yes! And the chicken was yummy!" Miles beamed.
Cade patted the boy's head, then stood up and walked over to Juny at the window. He stood beside her, looking out at the city lights.
"Did you find her?" Juny asked, her voice small, fragile, and desperate beneath her brave facade.
Cade looked down at her, refusing to lie to a girl who had suffered so much truth. "Not yet, Juny. But I found out where she went. And I have my best people tracking her down right now. I promise you, I will not stop until she is back in this room holding you and Miles."
Juny looked at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deceit. Slowly, the heavy, defensive wall she had built around her young heart began to crumble. Her shoulders trembled, and a single tear slipped down her cheek.
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"I was so scared, Mr. Cade," she whispered, her voice cracking for the first time. "I was so scared they were going to take Miles away."
Cade bent down and gently pulled the brave little girl into a warm, protective embrace. Juny wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder, finally allowing herself to cry like the ten-year-old child she was supposed to be.
