CHAPTER 30: JUST A TEST! 1

Elias smiled and nodded at Clara. She had just finished fussing over the seating plan and then asked him, quietly and indirectly asking him to stay away from the engagement party. She had said it as if she wanted him to understand without him saying anything. Elias had heard her clearly. He understood what she wanted.

He did not want to be near Viktor either. Not after what had happened. Not after the way Viktor had pressed himself into his space

"Thank you, Clara, for the seat." He spoke with a calm voice, because Clara’s jaw tightened when he thought about turning down favours.

She looked surprised to see him being the quiet person she had asked for. She wanted the engagement to be perfect, and just as she wanted, Elias kept his mouth shut and accepted the seat.

’I guess heaven’s on my side,’

.

.

That evening, the designers delivered the twins’ outfits, boxes of crisp fabric and tailored suits arriving in the foyer. Elias carried them to the twins’ room, where Dante and Dario were building a pillow fort, laughing as they stacked cushions.

"Outfits are here," Elias said, setting the boxes on the bed. "Try them on. We need to make sure they fit for Monday."

Dante jumped up, ripping open the first box.

"Yes! Let’s see if they look cool!"

Dario dove in, pulling out a small suit jacket.

"This is mine! Blue, like my eyes!"

"We both have blue eyes, Dario," Dante rolled his eyes.

Elias helped them change, buttoning shirts and adjusting ties, the fabric soft and expensive. The suits fit perfectly, the designers’ work impeccable.

"You two look like little bosses," Elias said, grinning as they posed in the mirror.

Dante flexed, striking a pose. "I’m the king! Bow down, Dario!"

Dario rolled his eyes, shoving him. "You’re the king of bad hair. Look at your tie... It’s crooked!"

Elias laughed, fixing Dante’s tie.

"You both look great. But we need to iron them for Monday. Can’t have wrinkles."

The twins groaned but helped, laying the suits on the ironing board. Elias showed them how to steam the fabric, the iron gliding smoothly.

"You two need to learn how to iron your clothes in case I’m no longer here,"

"What? Are you thinking of leaving us?"

"What? Leaving you? No way!" He said and immediately changed the topic.

"Careful," he said, guiding Dante’s hand. "Too much heat, and it burns."

Dario watched, his face serious.

"Nanny, you think Dad will like our outfits?"

Elias paused, the iron hovering.

"Of course. He’ll be proud of you two,"

Dante frowned, folding his jacket.

"He’s been weird lately. Always staring at you."

Elias’s cheeks heated.

"He’s just... making sure I’m doing my job."

Dario tilted his head.

"You think he likes you? Like, likes you?"

Elias’s heart skipped, and he busied himself with the iron.

"Don’t be silly. He’s your dad. And he’s getting engaged in less than forty-eight hours."

The twins exchanged looks, whispering. "We need to make him like Nanny more," Dante said.

"Yeah," Dario agreed. "Before Clara gets him."

Elias pretended not to hear, folding the suits carefully.

"All done," he said, hanging them in the closet. "Now, bedtime."

The twins pouted but climbed into bed, Elias tucking them in.

"Night, Nanny," Dante mumbled, yawning.

"Night, guys," Elias said, kissing their foreheads. He left the room, his mind on tomorrow... one day left before the engagement. His phone buzzed as he walked down the hall. It was a message from Jace.

J: Found a private hospital. Off the grid, no Drago ties. How about we meet tomorrow to talk about the details.

Elias’s heart raced, relief mixing with guilt.

"That was quick," He texted back.

E: Thanks. Tomorrow works.

He reached his room, locking the door, and sat close to the bed. He pulled his bag, checking his packed clothes... jeans, shirts, the few things he owned. It was light, easy to carry.

.

.

The next morning, Elias dressed in clothes that could hide him... simple jeans and a hoodie... and left before dawn. At the gate of the estate, the cab stopped. The driver told him he could not go further. He had to walk from the gate to the main house, thinking he would be late.

Elias walked all the way deep into the estate. He swallowed hard when he stopped in front of a big house... mansion-style, quiet, and guarded.

’Where the hell is this place? It definitely does not look like a hospital,’

When the butler opened the door, Elias felt sick and hopeful at the same time. The butler led him through a long hall with soft rugs and heavy curtains. They reached a room with a glass door. Beyond the glass Elias saw machines and monitors and a bed where Lila lay, breathing softly.

Elias could not move at first. He pressed his palms to the glass and stared. He could see the rise and fall of his sister’s chest, the thin line of an IV, the bright, small face. A doctor checked her on the other side.

"Where is Jace? Where is he?"

"The young master would be out soon,"

Then Jace appeared from a side door. He walked up to the glass with a steady, quiet stride. He looked at Lila the same way Elias did, then turned to Elias.

"Don’t panic." His voice was low. "She’s safe. She’s in private care. We moved her last night."

Elias felt his knees go weak. He put his palm to the glass again and felt a cold that had nothing to do with the room.

"Why is she... here? Why not a hospital?"

"This is what I could think of," Jace replied calmly. "The doctors belong to my family and they’ll keep quiet about her. Nobody in Viktor’s circle will find her in here."

Elias shook his head. He wanted to run into the room and hug Lila, but he did not. He couldn’t. He had learned to keep his hands from reaching out when things were fragile. He stepped back and braced his shoulders.

"Thank you, Jace" Elias heaved a breath of relief. "I couldn’t have escaped without you."

Jace did not flinch. He was excited to hear that word from Elias.

"It’s nothing to be grateful for. I help you because I .." he paused, a flash of something like regret in his eyes, "... I can keep a secret. Consider this one returned."

He couldn’t tell Elias about how he felt now, not now.

Elias wanted to ask more. He wanted to know how Jace had arranged everything, who paid for Lila’s care here, and what kind of deal had been made. He could see that the doctors were top-notch. They wouldn’t just agree to work in a place that was private and secure.

But he kept his mouth shut, knowing that if he did, he’d owe Jace a lot more than the two thousand.

"But, this place is far from school and my house," he said something else, scratching the back of his neck.

"You should move closer," Jace said quietly. "It’s safer for her if you are nearby."

Elias shook his head. He did not like the idea of being a burden.

"I can’t just move in and become a burden to you and your family and..."

"You’re not a burden." Jace’s voice had a strange insistence. "Let me put it another way. If she is near you, you’ll see her more. You’ll be able to go to school without rushing, and you’ll know she’s safe. It’s the simplest thing."

Elias looked at Lila once more. He thought of the long commute, the guards, the twins, of Gerald and the house where he worked. He knew that if Viktor was after his life, he definitely would find him in Jace’s house.

"Let me think about it," he said.

"Think quick." Jace smiled once. "Tell me by tomorrow. I’ll ask the staff to pick you up if you want."

.

Elias left with a strange lightness and a heavy heart. He sat back in the cab and stared out at the city lights. He felt both hope and fear. He had to tell Gerald at least about his leaving since Gerald knew his secret.

When he alighted from the estate gate, he saw Viktor’s car pull up beside him. A huge black vehicle. Viktor rolled down the window and smiled weirdly at Elias.

"Hop in,"

Elias looked at the driver’s car, then at his own tired feet. He could walk the rest of the way. He didn’t want to be close to Viktor now.

"I’ll take a walk instead,"

The door suddenly opened, and Elias thought Viktor would grab him and shove him into the car like they do in movies, but that didn’t happen.

Viktor stepped out with his coat over his arm. The door closed, and Viktor ordered the driver to leave, and he obeyed.

"What are you doing?" Elias asked.

Viktor smiled, adjusting his coat in his arms.

"I’m going to walk... With you,"

Elias furrowed his brows. He had met a record number of crazy people and he had no idea where to place Viktor. Number one? Definitely number one.