Chapter 20 - Breakfast in the Sanctuary
Back in Room 347, the morning routine of the hospital began to gently intrude upon their private world. A quiet knock sounded at the heavy oak door before it swung open to reveal a senior maternity nurse pushing a small stainless-steel cart laden with fresh fruit, warm oatmeal, and a steaming pot of herbal tea.
"Good morning, Mrs. Mercer. Good morning, Mr. Mercer," the nurse greeted with a warm, professional smile, carefully avoiding any mention of the heavily armed guards standing watch outside in the corridor. "How are we feeling today?"
"Better," Elena said, sitting up straighter and offering a genuine smile that made the nurse’s eyes light up. "Much better."
"Excellent. Dr. Hayes will be by for his morning rounds around nine to review your vitals, but everything from the overnight telemetry looks textbook perfect. The baby is resting comfortably, and so are you." The nurse arranged the breakfast tray neatly across the rolling over-bed table before quietly slipping out of the room, closing the door behind her with barely a sound.
Luke stood up, stretching his stiff muscles with a low, gravelly groan. He walked over to the table, inspecting the meager hospital breakfast with mild amusement.
"They call this gourmet?" Luke raised an eyebrow, picking up a small carton of milk.
"It beats eating cold protein bars in the back of an SUV while dodging cartel snipers," Elena countered with a soft laugh, picking up her spoon.
"That's a very low bar, darling," Luke smiled, pulling a chair closer to the bed and sitting down. He poured her a cup of herbal tea, making sure it wasn't too hot before handing it to her. "Eat. You need to regain your strength. Once Dr. Hayes clears you, we're moving you out of this sterile box."
Elena paused, blowing gently across the surface of the tea. "Where are we going, Luke? Back to the brownstone?"
Luke’s expression hardened for a fraction of a second—a fleeting shadow of the cold strategist who had ordered Moretti’s execution just hours earlier—before softening instantly as he looked into her eyes.
"No," Luke said firmly. "The brownstone is compromised. Even with the security systems we installed, it carries too many memories of that night. I bought a secure estate up in Westchester yesterday afternoon. Private acreage, reinforced perimeter, underground safe room, and miles away from the noise of the city. You and our child are going to live like royalty where nobody will ever reach you."
May you like
Elena stared at him, her amber eyes wide. She didn't protest. She didn't argue about leaving the city. She saw the absolute, unyielding protective instinct burning behind his gaze, and she knew that arguing with Luke when it came to her safety was an exercise in futility.
Instead, a soft, radiant smile touched her lips. She reached across the tray and placed her hand over his. "As long as you're there with us, we can go anywhere."
