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Yet, one question burned too brightly to remain unasked. "What country are we in?" she ventured, a part of her afraid to know the answer. This was like a dance they were doing. How much would Mick reveal if she was careful with her questions?
"Italy," Mick replied, the word hanging in the air.
Italy. The word resonated within her, stirring disbelief. Never in her wildest dreams had Rose imagined setting foot in such a storied, beautiful country. The very idea seemed like a fantasy, a stark contrast to the gritty reality of their lives.
Could this be the place where they would start anew? Would she learn to speak Italian, to navigate the intricacies of a culture so different from her own? Would Nathaniel grow up here, his childhood memories painted with the hues of this foreign land? She could picture it.
Her mind raced with questions, each more fantastical than the last, but before she could voice them, the car slowed to a stop. Before them stood an imposing building, its architecture a blend of elegance and mystery, surrounded by water and guarded by a large gate. Men stood watch at the entrance, their presence both a warning and a welcome. They did not look like the kind of men you’d cross, but certainly the kind you’d want on your side in a fight.
Rose held her breath, her heart caught between hope and apprehension. The estate before them was like something from a storybook, its beauty veiled by secrecy and the whisper of untoldstories. It was the kind of place she had only imagined. The word enchanted popped into her mind. Ivy climbed the walls. It was somehow both perfectly manicured and intentionally overgrown and guarded.
As they approached, Rose couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the cusp of something extraordinary. If safety could not be found within these walls, perhaps it existed nowhere.
In that moment, as they crossed the threshold into the unknown, Rose held her breath as if she were in space suddenly. The car moved down another long path and pulled under the protection of a large brick tunnel.
“Don’t wake Nathaniel,” Mick said quietly. “I’ll carry him and take him to a room. Let him sleep. There are people here who need to talk to you.”
“To me?” she asked, blinking away the tears that had formed. It was the first time in her life she wasn’t sure why she was crying. Was it fear? Happiness? Sheer overwhelmed?
“This place has that effect on people.” Mick whispered. “You’re okay. You’ll be safe here. The people who want to talk to you... they’re solid.”
She wiped at her eyes and nodded. A moment later Mick leaned into the back seat, lifting Nathaniel out. Another man stood outside the car. If he was who she was meant to speak with, he certainly didn’t seem happy to see her. He was stoic, almost pained, until he saw little Nathaniel sleeping in Mick’s arms. That seemed to bring a small bit of relief to his face.
“Rose?” he asked, the Irish accent a surprise. “You must be tired from the trip. I’m sorry you had so little warning. I expect you’ve grown used to that pace though?”
“I have,” she answered, shocked how shaky her voice was. “This place. It’s stunning.”
“Verde Lago,” was all he answered. No explanation. Just a wave of his hand for her to join him inside.
“Um, Mick said we were coming here to help someone,” Rose began. “I want to help. So many people have been there for me. Given me a shot at life I never thought I’d have. If there is a chance I can do that for someone else, I want to.”
She still didn’t know his name. Where she was. Or what this place was. Yet it felt imperative to tell him about her intention to give back what she’d gotten.
“I appreciate that.”
The man led Rose into a small library that seemed to defy the modesty of its size with the richness of its contents. The room was bathed in the warm glow of the sun, filtering through a stained-glass window that cast colorful patterns across the polished wooden floor. Tall, dark oak bookshelves lined the walls, each one crammed with books of all sizes and ages, their spines displaying a tapestry of titles in various scripts and languages.
This was the kind of room she could lose herself in for days at a time. Reading had been her refuge as a child. For the last decade life had left no time or energy for such things. She missed how books had taken her from her life and into another world. Greedily she wanted to start pulling books from their shelves and flipping the pages, but she thought better of it.
A large, intricately carved wooden desk sat in the center of the room, its surface cluttered with piles of papers.
The air was filled with the subtle scent of aged paper and wood polish, a testament to the care taken to preserve the knowledge housed within these walls. A few plush armchairs were strategically placed near a stone fireplace, where a fire crackled. He gestured for them to sit.
“My name is Kenan and like I said, this is Verde Lago. It’s a sanctuary. Hidden. Special. Created by a woman who understood it was vital. Sometimes the only way to break from the danger in life is to disappear from that life completely.”
“Are we in that much danger still?” Rose asked, not wanting so sound ungrateful. “Mick mentioned there was some chatter on the dark web but?—”
“That’s not why you’re here.”
“Then why?” she asked, knowing she sounded a bit impatient now.
“I needed Mick. I suggested that someone else in our organization would take on your protection but he said no. The only way he’d come here is if you came too. You and Nathaniel. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. If you could be...”
“Trusted?” Rose asked, wounded by the accusation.
“You cannot imagine the secrecy required to make Verde Lago continue working the way it does. I’m not trying to impugn your integrity. I’m trying to protect people with nowhere else to go.”
She nodded. “Of course. I understand. But you decided to let us come?”
