Chapter 4 - Secrets and Silk
The morning sun broke through the heavy velvet curtains of Julian’s old room, casting warm gold light across the polished wood floors. I woke up slowly, my body aching, but the horrific tightness in my chest was gone. Beside me, Lily was still sound asleep, her breathing deep and even, her fever finally broken thanks to proper rest and medicine.
I carefully slid out of bed, trying not to disturb her. On a chair near the wardrobe sat a fresh stack of clothes—not a maid’s pale blue uniform, but an exquisite dark green silk sweater and tailored trousers that looked like they had been delivered straight from a high-end boutique in Newbury Street. A note rested on top of the pile, written in elegant, sharp handwriting:
Wear these. We have much to discuss. — D.
I washed up in the luxurious marble bathroom, staring at my reflection in the massive mirror. The heavy, exhausted girl in the uniform was fading. The silk sweater fit my curvy frame perfectly, wrapping me in softness I hadn't felt in years.
When I stepped out into the hallway, two armed guards posted at the door immediately straightened up and nodded respectfully.
“Good morning, Miss Chloe,” one of them said. “Mr. Gallion is waiting for you in the main dining room.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling strange being addressed with such respect.
I walked down the grand staircase. Halfway down, I met Mrs. Higgins, the head housekeeper. She was holding a tray of polished silver. When she saw me—dressed in silk, walking like a guest—she stopped dead in her tracks, her sneer instantly forming.
“What do you think you’re doing out of uniform, Chloe?” Mrs. Higgins snapped, dropping her voice to a harsh whisper. “And why were you sleeping upstairs? If Mr. Gallion sees you—”
“If Mr. Gallion sees her,” a voice boomed from the bottom of the stairs, “he will be pleased that she is well-rested.”
Mrs. Higgins spun around, turning pale as paper. Damien stood at the foot of the stairs, wearing a dark gray suit, looking imposing and breathtakingly handsome.
“M-Mr. Gallion,” Mrs. Higgins stammered, her hands trembling on the tray. “I was just... I was telling her that—”
“I know what you were doing, Martha,” Damien cut her off, his voice ice-cold. “And I explicitly warned the staff last night. Pack your things. You have one hour to vacate my property.”
Mrs. Higgins gasped, her eyes flying open in utter disbelief. “Sir! I’ve served the Gallion family for fifteen years!”
“And for three years, you treated the woman who saved my brother’s child like dirt,” Damien replied without a shred of mercy. “You’re lucky I’m letting you walk out of here alive. Go.”
Mrs. Higgins dropped her head, terror choking back any further argument, and scurried away down the hallway.
I reached the bottom of the stairs, looking at Damien with a mixture of awe and concern. “You didn't have to fire her, Damien. I’m used to people like her.”
Damien stepped closer to me, his green eyes scanning my face, taking in the silk sweater that matched his eyes. A soft, genuine smile appeared on his face.
“You don't have to be used to it anymore,” he said quietly, offering me his arm. “Breakfast is served.”
I took his arm, feeling the solid, terrifying strength of his muscles under the wool suit. He led me into the grand dining room, where a massive spread of fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, and hot coffee awaited. Tommy Callahan was already sitting at the far end of the table, looking clean-shaven and dressed in fresh clothes, sipping black coffee while examining a map of Boston spread out before him.
“Morning, Chloe,” Tommy said, giving me a rare, genuine smile. “You look like a human being again.”
“Thanks to you two,” I said, sitting down at the place setting Damien pulled out for me.
Damien sat at the head of the table. The warmth in his eyes faded slightly as he tapped the map on the table.
“We went through the flash drive last night,” Damien began, his voice dropping into business mode. “The footage from the Mass General ambulance bay proves that O’Rourke’s enforcers were there within ten minutes of the blast. They had inside info.”
“And the cops in the video?” I asked, pouring myself a cup of coffee.
“Captain Miller and Detective Vance,” Damien said coldly. “Both on O’Rourke’s payroll. I had Valen locate them this morning. They won't be talking to anyone ever again.”
A cold chill ran down my spine, a stark reminder of the deadly world Damien operated in. But surprisingly, I didn't feel afraid of him. I felt protected.
“What about O’Rourke himself?” I asked.
“O’Rourke knows something went wrong last night,” Tommy chimed in. “His men lost your trail at Fields Corner. They know someone picked you up. By now, O’Rourke is suspecting that Damien knows.”
“Let him suspect,” Damien said, his eyes blazing with dark promise. “Tonight, I’m hosting the annual North End Harbor Gala. O’Rourke will be there. All the families will be there.”
I looked at him in shock. “You’re going to a public event while O’Rourke is actively hunting us?”
“I’m going to the gala because O’Rourke expects me to hide,” Damien said, leaning forward, resting his chin on his steepled fingers. “And more importantly, I need him to see that I am not broken. But I am not going alone.”
He looked directly at me.
“Chloe... I want you to come with me.”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “What? Damien, I’m a nurse! I scrub floors! I don't belong at a mob gala!”
“You belong by my side,” Damien said, his voice dropping to a fierce, undeniable whisper. “I want O’Rourke to see the woman he couldn't break. I want him to know that the maid he overlooked was the architect of his downfall. And I want Boston to know who holds my heart.”
The room went dead silent. Tommy slowly lowered his coffee cup, looking between the two of us with raised eyebrows.
My heart hammered against my ribs like a thunderclap. Holds my heart. The words echoed in my mind, sending a wave of fiery heat straight to my cheeks.
May you like
“Damien...” I whispered, breathless.
“Think about it,” Damien said softly, reaching across the table to lay his hand over mine. “You protected Lily in the dark, Chloe. Now let me protect you in the light.”
