Chapter 4 - The Safe House on the Ridge
By dawn, Ethan and I finally left the federal building.
Instead of returning to the lake house—which was still a active crime scene—Ethan drove his black heavy-duty pickup truck up into the Santa Monica Mountains. High above the smog and noise of the city sat a modest, single-story ranch house surrounded by high oak trees and heavy iron security fencing.
"This is my place," Ethan said as the gates swung shut behind us. "Not the military quarters. My personal home. Nobody knows about this location except my team and the department."
He parked the truck in the gravel driveway. The morning sun was breaking through the fog, casting a warm golden glow across the mountain ridge.
I stepped down from the truck, my wedding dress hem dragged through the damp gravel. The silence of the mountain was deafening compared to the chaos of the night.
Ethan walked over, unlatching the front door. He carried my small overnight bag inside, turning on the soft warm lights of the rustic living room. Exposed timber beams, a broad stone fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the valley made the space feel like a sanctuary.
I stood in the center of the living room, suddenly overwhelmed by the weight of the last twenty-four hours.
My wedding was ruined. My sister was in federal custody. My family was destroyed. And my father looked at me not with love, but with bitter resentment.
Tears finally spilled over my eyelashes, burning my cheeks.
Ethan set the bag down, walked over to me, and wrapped his arms around my waist. He pulled me close against his chest, letting me rest my forehead against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Ethan whispered against my hair. "I wanted to give you a perfect day."
"It wasn't your fault," I sobbed, clutching his linen shirt. "You saved me. You saved us."
"We're a team now, Maya," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. "Your battles are my battles. Whoever tried to use your family to get to me just made the biggest mistake of their lives."
He lifted my chin gently, wiping away a tear with his thumb. "Now, let's get you out of that dress."
He helped me unfasten the long row of pearl buttons trailing down the back of my gown. The heavy satin fell to the floor, leaving me in a simple silk slip. Ethan picked up a soft cotton hoodie from his closet and slid it over my head, engulfing me in his warm, pine-and-leather scent.
He led me to the bedroom, pulling back the thick duvet.
"Sleep," Ethan instructed gently. "My boys are setting up a watch rotation down at the main gate. Nothing gets up this hill without my permission."
I climbed into the large, comfortable bed, pulling the blanket to my chin. "Where are you going?"
May you like
"Right here," Ethan said, removing his shoes and sliding into bed beside me. He pulled me into his arms, resting his broad chin on top of my head.
For the first time in my life, surrounded by the threat of federal trials and corporate ruin, I felt entirely, undeniably safe.
