Chapter 5 - The Glass Cage
The Vance estate in Lincoln Park looked like a fortress built from black granite and reinforced glass.
When the heavy iron gates closed behind Delaney’s sedan—which was being driven by one of Dante’s guards—she felt as though the world she knew had vanished entirely.
The SUV carrying Dante pulled up right beside her. Before Delaney could even open her own car door, Dante was there, opening it for her and extending his hand.
"Welcome," he said quietly.
Delaney ignored his hand and stepped out onto the cobblestone driveway under her own power, her wet uniform clinging cold against her skin. She looked up at the massive three-story mansion, surrounded by manicured lawns, tall security walls, and armed guards patrolling the perimeter with dogs.
"Where is Nora?" Delaney demanded, turning on him. "You said she was coming here!"
"She is inside," a soft, familiar voice called out from the grand mahogany front doors.
Delaney turned and gasped. Mrs. Alvarez was standing on the lit porch, wearing a warm coat, holding a sleepy, thumb-sucking little girl wrapped in a pink fluffy blanket.
"Mommy!" Nora squeaked, rubbing her eyes as she saw Delaney.
"Nora!" Delaney ran up the marble steps, taking her daughter into her arms and lifting her high against her chest, burying her face in the girl's soft, warm neck. Tears spilled down Delaney’s cheeks. "Oh baby, I'm here. I'm so sorry."
"Mommy, the big man in the black suit gave me a toy car," Nora whispered sleepily into her mother's shoulder, pointing a tiny finger at Salvatore, who was standing near the door looking hilariously out of place while holding a bright red toy vehicle.
Mrs. Alvarez stepped closer to Delaney, leaning in to whisper rapidly. "Delaney, three men in dark suits showed up at our building twenty minutes ago. They told me you were in an accident, paid me two thousand dollars in cash to accompany Nora, and brought us here in a bulletproof car! What is happening?!"
"I don't know, Mrs. Alvarez," Delaney whispered back frantically. "I don't know."
Dante stepped up the stairs, his heavy footsteps drawing the attention of both women. Nora peeked out from behind Delaney’s shoulder, her big, curious green eyes locking onto the tall, dark man standing over them.
Dante stopped dead in his tracks.
When he saw Nora’s face in the bright light of the porch, his breath caught in his throat.
The girl had Delaney’s green eyes, but everything else—the shape of her dark eyebrows, the subtle cleft in her jawline, and the sharp, intelligent curve of her nose—was a mirror image of Dante Vance when he was a child. There was no need for a DNA test. The Vance blood was unmistakable.
Dante slowly dropped to one knee on the cold marble porch, bringing his dark head down to Nora’s eye level.
Delaney instinctively tightened her grip on her daughter, stepping back. "Don't."
Dante raised his hands slowly, showing empty palms. His gray eyes were remarkably soft, filled with a deep, reverent awe as he looked at the little girl.
"Hello, little one," Dante murmured, his gravelly voice dropping to the gentlest tone Delaney had ever heard from a man.
Nora looked at him, completely unbothered by his intimidating size. "Are you the prince of this castle?"
A rare, beautiful smile broke across Dante’s hard face, transforming his features entirely. "No. I'm just the man who guards it. What is your name?"
"Nora Cole," she said proudly. "I'm five and a quarter."
"It is an honor to meet you, Nora Cole," Dante said, his voice thick with unspoken emotion. He looked up at Delaney, his gray eyes burning with an intensity that made her breath stop. "Your mother is a very brave woman. She saved my family tonight."
"I know," Nora said matter-of-factly. "Mommy is the bravest girl in the whole world."
Dante stood up slowly, turning to his head housekeeper, an older woman standing in the foyer. "Mrs. Gable, show Mrs. Alvarez to the guest wing. Prepare the master suite for Delaney and the child."
"Wait!" Delaney said, clutching Nora tight. "We can't stay in the master suite! We just need a place to sleep until morning, and then we're leaving!"
Dante stepped close to Delaney, leaning down until his lips were inches from her ear, ensuring neither Mrs. Alvarez nor Nora could hear his next words.
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"You are never sleeping in a slum again, Delaney," he whispered, his warm breath sending a shiver straight down her spine. "And as long as Chad Whitmore is breathing, you and our... your daughter do not leave this house without my guards."
Delaney stared at him, caught in the trap of his gaze, unable to answer as he turned and walked into his study, leaving the doors wide open behind him.
