Chapter 5: Sanctuary on Four Wheels
Arthur reached across the center console as soon as Elena tumbled into the passenger seat, pulling her close in a fierce, protective embrace that immediately melted the last traces of her defensive armor. He didn't say a word for a long minute, simply holding her while she buried her face in his wool coat, letting out a long, shuddering sigh. The scent of his familiar aftershave and worn leather interior felt like stepping back in time a decade, back to a life where safety was guaranteed and mistakes were correctable.
"I've got you, sweetheart," Arthur murmured finally, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head before shifting the car into gear and pulling smoothly out of the alley. He kept his eyes fixed on the road, his jaw set in a hard, unyielding line, but the slight tremor in his hands betrayed the fury boiling beneath his calm exterior. "We're going straight to the house upstate. No stops, no detours."
Elena pulled back, wiping her eyes with a tissue Arthur handed her from the glove compartment. She looked at her reflection in the dark side window, noting the faint pink swelling still visible along her cheekbone. "He's going to wonder where I went," she said, her voice small but steady. "His phone must be blowing up with my missed calls, or maybe he doesn't even care."
"Let him wonder," Arthur replied coldly. "Let him call whoever he wants. Right now, your only job is to breathe and let me handle the logistics. I’ve already contacted Marcus Vance."
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Elena turned her head sharply, staring at her father in the dim dashboard light. Marcus Vance was the most formidable divorce litigator in the tristate area—a man notorious for dismantling high-net-worth husbands who underestimated their wives. "Marcus? Dad, we didn't even talk about..."
"We didn't need to," Arthur interrupted firmly, glancing sideways at her with fierce determination. "You don't stay married to a man who raises his hand against you, Elena. And you certainly don't let him sweep it under the rug with a society laugh. Grant built his entire public persona on his spotless reputation and his wealthy benefactors. We are going to dismantle that foundation piece by piece until there is nothing left of his precious empire."
