Chapter 4 - The Rules of the Estate
Stepping out of the vehicle felt like stepping into another century. Hallowmere Manor loomed against the gray Atlantic sky like an ancient sentinel, its stone walls draped in ivy and its tall windows reflecting the churning gray sea.
Inside, the manor was a breathtaking labyrinth of dark oak paneling, velvet drapery, and priceless antiques. But I had no time to admire the art.
Kalin led me through a grand foyer where a severe-looking older woman with sharp dark eyes and a crisp white apron stood waiting.
"Rosa," Kalin said. "Get Miss Parker settled in the second-floor south suite. Ensure her security detail is stationed at both stairwells."
"Right away, sir," Rosa replied, her gaze shifting to me with a mixture of stern efficiency and unexpected warmth. She stepped forward, offering a reassuring nod. "Come along, child. You look like you haven't slept in a week."
"I haven't," I muttered, but I followed her down the wide, carpeted hallway.
As we walked, I looked back at Kalin. He was already surrounded by two of his men, pouring over tactical maps and encrypted comms. The illusion of him as merely an annoying, nocturnal neighbor was entirely gone. He was a warlord in a bespoke suit, commanding an empire hidden in plain sight.
"Is he always like that?" I asked Rosa as she unlocked the heavy oak door to the south suite.
"Like what? A thunderstorm wrapped in expensive wool?" Rosa chuckled, pushing the door open to reveal a magnificent, sunlit bedroom overlooking the crashing surf. "He is a man who protects what he claims. And right now, whether you like it or not, he has claimed this house as your shield."
May you like
"I didn't ask for a shield," I murmured, walking over to the tall bay window.
"Nobody ever asks for the storm, chica," Rosa said softly, setting a steaming cup of chamomile tea on the bedside table. "They only learn how to stand when it hits. Get some rest. The real work starts tomorrow."
