Chapter 2 - The Iron Gates
The next morning, a sleek black sedan was idling outside Natalie’s modest apartment building twenty minutes before eight. The driver, a broad-shouldered man introduced as Thomas, held the door open without a word, his expression unreadable. Natalie’s heart hammered against her ribs as the city skyline faded into the gated, tree-lined suburban sanctuary of Lake Forest.
The DeLuca estate was less a home and more an impenetrable fortress. High stone walls topped with security cameras surrounded manicured grounds, and steel gates parted only after a rigorous biometric check at the guardhouse.
When Natalie stepped into the grand foyer, the silence was striking. There were no booming shouts or classic mafia stereotypes—just marble, warm wood, high-end art, and an atmosphere thick with tension.
"Ms. Carter."
Damian DeLuca descended the winding staircase. He wore a crisp white shirt without a jacket, sleeves rolled up to reveal forearm tattoos that disappeared beneath his cuffs. Up close, his dark eyes carried a weariness that contrast sharply with his cold reputation.
"Mr. DeLuca," Natalie said, tightening her grip on her leather satchel. "I brought some sensory tools—tactile cards, quiet fidgets, and weighted lap pads—just in case."
A rare spark of approval crossed Damian’s face. "Ava has been waiting in the library. But before you go to her, you need to understand the rules of this house."
He motioned toward a sunlit study lined with leather-bound books. On the desk lay a thick stack of non-disclosure documents.
"My business creates enemies," Damian said plainly, standing by the window. "Some operating in the dark, others wearing expensive suits in city halls. People will try to find a weakness. Until yesterday, they assumed Ava was hidden away because she was a liability. Now, after the incident at Michigan Avenue, they know she exists, and they know she is my entire heart."
Natalie swallowed hard. "You think someone will try to use her."
"I know they will," he replied, his voice dropping an octave. "Your job is to educate her, comfort her, and protect her mind. My men will protect her life. But if I ever suspect you are passing information to anyone outside these gates, the salary I offered won't be enough to save you."
It was a direct threat, delivered without heat, which made it all the terrifying. Yet, Natalie thought of Ava’s frightened blue eyes in the jewelry store and held Damian’s gaze without flinching.
"I am here for Ava, Mr. DeLuca. Not your enemies, and not your money."
Damian studied her for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Sign the papers. Then go see my daughter."
When Natalie entered the library, Ava was sitting under a massive mahogany desk, her knees pulled to her chest just as they had been the day before. But the moment she saw Natalie’s shoes, she peeked out.
"Natalie?"
"Hi, Ava," Natalie said softly, sitting on the plush rug a few feet away. She pulled a weighted lap pad wrapped in velvet from her bag. "I brought something soft. Would you like to try it?"
May you like
For the next three hours, there were no demands, no high-pressure tests, and no scolding. Natalie simply met Ava at her level. By noon, Ava was sitting beside Natalie on the sofa, quietly tracing letters on an iPad while listening to the calm vibration of a white-noise machine Natalie had set up.
Standing outside the partially open door, Damian watched through the crack. For the first time in three years—since his wife had passed away in a tragic car accident—the unbearable tension in his shoulders began to loosen.
