Chapter 2 - Behind the Gates of Iron
An hour later, a black armored SUV swept through the grand iron gates of an estate in Westchester. The contrast between our cold, cramped apartment and this massive stone mansion was staggering.
When the car door opened, I burst into tears of relief: sitting in a wheelchair in the grand foyer, wrapped in a cashmere blanket and looking color in her cheeks for the first time in weeks, was Grandma Rose.
"Lily! Eli!" she cried out, her voice trembling.
I rushed forward, holding Eli tight, and sank to my knees beside her chair. "Grandma! You’re okay!"
"A doctor came to the apartment, sweet child," Rose sobbed, stroking my hair. "They gave me my medicine, packed our things, and brought me here."
Vincent walked into the foyer, removing his long wool coat. A middle-aged woman in a crisp uniform took it from him.
"Mrs. Carter," Vincent said respectfully, bowing his head slightly. "My name is Vincent Moretti. Your granddaughter showed immense courage today. You are safe under my roof."
"Mr. Moretti," Rose said, her sharp teacher's eyes inspecting him through her glasses. "I know who you are. The news speaks of your family."
"Then you know I have many enemies," Vincent replied plainly. "But you also know that no one under my protection is ever harmed. The man who robbed you... my people are already tracking him down."
"Why are you doing this for us?" I asked, gathering the courage to look him in the eye.
May you like
Vincent paused, his dark eyes softening briefly as he looked at Eli, who had fallen fast asleep against my chest.
"Years ago, I had a little sister," Vincent said, his tone heavy with old grief. "I was too young and too powerless to save her when hard times fell upon us. I swore on my life that if I ever saw a child fighting that hard to survive, I would never look away."
