Chapter 7 - The Aftermath
The ride back to the estate was charged with adrenaline. Harper sat in the back of the armored SUV, staring at Enzo. Her chest was heaving. She had just seen her father—the terrifying boogeyman of her entire life—brought to his knees in front of the entire city.
"Are you okay?" Enzo asked, his dark eyes scanning her face for signs of a panic attack.
Before she could think, Harper unbuckled her seatbelt, crossed the space between them, and threw her arms around his neck. Enzo went rigid with shock. She had flinched at his shadow for weeks, and now she was clinging to him.
Slowly, hesitantly, Enzo’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. He buried his face in her blond hair.
"Thank you," she sobbed into his shoulder. "Thank you."
May you like
"I told you," he murmured, his hands tracing soothing circles on her spine, tracing the scars not with disgust, but with reverence. "You're safe. I've got you."
That night, Enzo didn't leave her in the master suite alone. He slept in the bed beside her, keeping a respectful distance, but his presence was an anchor that kept the nightmares at bay.
