Chapter 118 Safe House {Rosie}

Chapter 118 Safe House {Rosie}
Keiran Ferrara was a mafia boss.

I seemed to forget he’s a monster, just like every mafia man that exists. I became so enveloped in his love and devotion that I let the fact that he is dangerous slip my mind, but seeing it in play like this made me tremble.

One of Berlo’s largest establishments. I once accompanied him to one of the evening parties. It was swarming with people. The once glorious and exotic building was engulfed in flames. The fire department was trying to put it off, but it just kept increasing, windows exploding. 

The reporter’s shaky voice echoed through the cabin. "Authorities suspect this may be linked to ongoing organized crime conflicts—"

I muted the television immediately. Cold rushed through my veins so violently my fingers began trembling around the remote, so I released it.

My stomach twisted. I got up from the chair and absentmindedly paced with my arms wrapped around myself. 

Was this a retaliation? Heaven knows how many innocent people died in that explosion. Kieran wouldn’t bomb innocent people.

Would he? What if he did?

Is that why he wanted me to go to a safe house? My body wouldn’t stop trembling. This was really bad. Berlo wouldn’t take this lying down. I wanted Berlo to be punished, but now like this? Not this way. I needed to speak to Kieran. 

I abruptly stopped pacing and turned to face the twins sitting stiffly across each other. They didn’t seem affected by the news, or probably they were masters at masking expressions. Did Kieran send assassins to guard me? 

“I need to speak to Kieran.”  

Neither twin moved. My hands slowly curled into fists at my sides. They were simply choosing to ignore me.

"Maya," I called calmly but received only silence. 

“Anya.” My eye twitched.

Something hot and reckless snapped inside me. Before either of them could react. I reached for the champagne bottle sitting in the ice bucket and slammed it hard against the edge of the table. Glass shattered across the floor with a sharp crack.

That got their attention. They jumped out of their seats, alert.

Breathing hard, I lifted the broken neck of the bottle and pressed the jagged edges against my throat. “Now,” I said shakily, glaring between the twins, “are you going to get my Kieran on the line….” I pressed the glass a little deeper against my skin until Maya took a cautious step forward. “Or would you rather explain to him how I bled to death under our care?

“It’s ringing,” Anya said with her phone screen facing me to convince me. 

“Put it on speaker.” I ordered as my eyes flickered over to Maya, watching her just as carefully as she was watching me, ready to take the jump if I indeed tried to slit my own throat.

The phone only had to ring once for Kieran to pick up, and the words that left his mouth went thus, “Tell me she’s safe.” 

Normally, his concern would have melted my anger, but I felt nothing but dread. I snatched the phone from Maya, quietly seething.

“What the fuck, Kieran?”

“Darli–”

“Please tell me you aren’t responsible for blowing up Berlo’s place?” The hand holding the broken bottle shoots slightly. 

The line went silent, and that was all I needed as confirmation. I sank into the seat next to me and gently placed the bottle on the carpeted floor. “You can’t just do that, Kieran," I said softly; the adrenaline was starting to wear off.

“I warned Berlo the first time he touched you.” Kieran sounded distant like he was busy with something else while he spoke to me. “There’s no need to panic; I would never allow anything to happen to you.”

“If you keep going at Berlo like this, this war won’t end!”

“I will put an end to it," he spoke with a tone of finality.

“Do you trust me?”

I hesitated. This was getting out of hand, but John was still held captive, and arguing with Kieran like this wouldn’t ensure his safety.

“Elizabeth?”

“Yes, Kieran," I sighed in defeat. “I trust you.”

“Thank you, Elizabeth," he sounded exhausted. “I’ll handle this quicker than you know. You will love Eden Cove; it’s perfect," he rushed.

“What about Bra–”

“I need to go now, love. I’ll be late; no need to wait up.” The call ended before I could protest.

The sun was starting to set when we reached our destination. I saw the estate from above. It was on an island. It looked like a private neighborhood with modern villas lining winding roads, each hidden behind high walls, trimmed lawns, and layers of security.

There was even a place to land the plane. The palm trees swayed as we got closer to the ground. I watched expensive cars glide through the compound while some even raced the grassland on horses.

My villa sat at the far end of a quiet curve separated from the others by thick hedges and towering palms. It was just as magnificent as the others. It looked like something from a futuristic palace. We were scanned by a robotic camera lens before we could get in. This was what Maya meant by safer.

“Why don’t I give you a quick tour of the house while Anya prepares dinner?” Maya offered. “Or do you rather we go straight to your room?”

"Room," I replied curtly. I was too exhausted for a tour.

I found a new phone waiting to be unboxed on the king-sized bed when we entered my massive room, and next to it was a box of chocolate with a note taped to it. A small smile stretched my face. Kieran had a way of turning a bad day into a good night.

The note was short, but it was handwritten, and that alone warmed my heart. 

“My Queen, I apologize for this sudden change. You looked so peaceful that I couldn't wake you this morning. You might think this is extreme, but baby, I saw the marks he left on your perfect skin, it kills me to know you went through that at the hands of that coward. I need you to understand that I love you, and I would rather die than have Berlo take you and put you through another series of torture. Every time I close my eyes, I see that wire around your wrists. I want you happy, I want you free to do what you want, and it won’t happen unless I serve Berlo’s head to you on a silver platter. Love, Kieran.”

I read it twice. My face was flaming hot, and by the time I finished, my anger had dulled into something softer. Maybe Granny was right when she said Kieran would save me. There was no escaping the mafia life, so why not be with the one that placed me front, back, and center? Maybe I just needed to trust him. Maybe for once, things would finally get better. Maybe I could build a life here with my child without fear.

I should have known that was delusional thinking.

That night, Kieran came home bleeding to death.