At 9:17 on a rain-soaked Tuesday night, Aleandro Vitali ordered his dog out of the kitchen for the third time.

By 7:00 AM, the storm had cleared, leaving behind a crisp, radiant autumn sunrise that painted the estate in pale gold light.

Repair crews were already at work replacing the broken bay windows and restoring the shattered entryways. The utility shaft beneath the kitchen floor had been completely sealed with three feet of reinforced concrete, the tap line removed and analyzed by Aleandro's cyber-security specialists.

Hannah sat on a plush velvet sofa in the grand library, wrapping her hands around a hot mug of sweet coffee Mrs. Gable had brought her. Her cuts had been cleaned and bandaged, and she was wearing a warm, oversized black cashmere sweater that belonged to Aleandro.

Beside her sofa, lying on a massive sheepskin rug, was Maximus. A fresh white bandage was wrapped around his chest, and he was currently enjoying a bowl of scrambled eggs and warm chicken broth.

The heavy mahogany doors of the library opened softly.

Aleandro walked in. He had showered, shaved, and changed into a fresh suit, though his dark eyes bore the unmistakable signs of a man who hadn't slept in twenty-four hours.

He walked over to the fireplace, leaning his elbow against the marble mantle, looking down at Hannah.

"Your daughter is safe," Aleandro said first, his voice gentle. "I had two of my private security detail posted outside her school since three this morning. She’s currently in her classroom eating breakfast. She has no idea anything happened."

Hannah let out a deep, trembling breath, setting her coffee mug on the side table. "Thank you, Mr. Vitali."

"Aleandro," he corrected her softly. "You saved my life twice in twelve hours. You don't call me Mr. Vitali."

Hannah offered a small, tired smile. "Thank you, Aleandro."

Aleandro reached into his pocket, pulling out the small black leather notebook she had left in the gatehouse. He looked down at the cover, tracing the leather with his thumb.

"You read the last page," he noted.

"I did," Hannah admitted, meeting his gaze. "How did you know my daughter's name? Why was it written in your private book?"

Aleandro walked over to the sofa, sitting down on the opposite end. The broad, powerful presence of the man filled the space, but there was no fear left in Hannah's heart—only a deep, unspoken trust.

"Three months ago, when you applied for the housekeeping position," Aleandro explained, "Gabriel brought me your background check. He wanted me to reject your application because you were a single mother with zero corporate security clearance."

Hannah blinked. "And why didn't you?"

"Because I looked at your references," Aleandro said, his dark eyes locking onto hers with intense sincerity. "Your former employer said you were the only person who stayed behind during a gas leak at a local clinic to help evacuate four elderly patients before thinking of yourself. I didn't want a security operative, Hannah. I wanted a human being with a conscience in my home."

He looked down at Maximus, who reached over and placed his heavy paw on Aleandro's knee.

"And when I wrote the override code for my private files," Aleandro continued, "I chose Lily because I knew that if the worst ever happened, the only person in this house who wasn't driven by greed or power was the woman working to build a future for her daughter."