Chapter 4 - The Purple Dinosaur
Two weeks later, a delivery truck arrived at the estate.
Claire was in the kitchen chopping carrots when Arthur Bell walked in, looking profoundly confused.
"Mrs. Carter," Arthur said smoothly. "There is a delivery for Ellie in the main foyer. Mr. Moretti's orders."
Claire dried her hands and walked to the foyer, Ellie trailing behind her. When Claire saw it, her jaw dropped.
Sitting in the center of the grand marble entrance was a six-foot-tall plush purple dinosaur. It was absurdly large. It had a giant red bow tied around its neck.
"DINO!" Ellie shrieked, running toward the monstrosity and throwing her tiny arms around its massive leg.
Julian wheeled out of the elevator, a rare, faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Mr. Moretti," Claire said, crossing her arms. "What is this?"
"It's a purple dinosaur," Julian said, as if stating a business fact. "She drew one fighting me on my wall last week. I thought she should have a real one."
"It's bigger than my car!"
"I don't know the dimensions of your car, Claire."
Claire sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You can't just buy her things like this. You're spoiling her."
Julian’s smirk faded. He wheeled closer, keeping his voice low so only Claire could hear. "She brought me a broken sugar cookie when the rest of the world thought I was a monster, Claire. I'll buy her the moon if she asks for it."
Claire looked into his dark eyes. They weren't cold anymore. When he looked at Ellie, they were incredibly warm. And when he looked at Claire... her breath caught in her throat.
"Julian," Claire whispered, using his first name for the very first time. "You don't owe us."
"I owe you my life," Julian replied, his voice rough. "Because before you two walked in here, I wasn't living. I was just waiting to die."
Before Claire could respond, Dante burst through the front doors, his face pale, a handgun drawn and held at his side.
"Boss," Dante barked. "We have a problem. Marcus didn't just talk. He made a move."
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Julian’s warmth vanished. The crime boss returned in a split second.
"Get Claire and Ellie into the panic room," Julian ordered, his voice like cracking ice. "Now."
