Chapter 212: A Promise of Protection
Luca had no idea what wild thoughts the was going through the drivers mind.
For the rest of the trip, he simply rested his chin against one hand, gazing quietly out the window as the city rolled by.
The moment the car pulled up at the airport and he stepped outside, several staff members were already waiting.
Without wasting a second, they escorted him through a private entrance toward the jet Morgan Mertens had arranged.
The spectacle left Carl and plenty of passengers waiting for their own flights completely stunned.
None of them had ever seen someone board a plane with such an impressive entourage.
Only after the private jet disappeared into the evening sky did Carl finally snap out of it. He climbed back into the Porsche and headed to the hotel to report.
…
By the time Luca landed at Ashford Airport, Mason Reid was already waiting outside.
As the current general manager of Stone Free Grand Hotel and one of Luca’s closest friends, Mason had come personally.
Luca patted him on the shoulder before climbing into the passenger seat.
Mason started the engine and laughed.
“Shouldn’t a big boss like you be sitting in the back?”
Luca shot him a sideways glance.
“What? You trying to become my chauffeur?”
Mason stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“Oh, get lost.”
Luca laughed before his expression gradually turned serious.
“How’s the investigation?”
Stone Free Grand Hotel was the only business he had in Ashford, which meant his local connections were limited.
The only thing Mason could do on such short notice was gather information about the accident and keep an eye on the situation at the hospital.
“Nothing concrete yet.”
Mason kept his eyes on the road.
“But the other family already brought people to the hospital demanding compensation. I’ve stationed a few men there to make sure no one causes trouble.”
“There wasn’t any violence, was there?”
“Not yet.”
Not yet.
Which meant it could still happen at any moment.
Luca frowned.
He wasn’t particularly worried about Sophie. Mason’s people were there.
What bothered him was something else.
Why were they so eager to demand compensation?
Normally, the police would investigate first, and both families would be busy handling the funeral arrangements.
Were they really so unaffected by the deaths of their own relatives?
“Send someone to dig into their background.”
Luca turned toward Mason.
“I want everything. Family history, finances, relationships… all of it.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Mason nodded immediately.
“Understood.”
He picked up his phone and began arranging it before the car had even reached the next intersection.
…
As they drove into Ashford, the setting sun painted the streets in shades of orange and gold.
A few minutes earlier, Sophie had called to say they had returned home.
Twenty minutes later, Luca finally saw her.
She stood quietly outside the apartment building, surrounded by the security personnel Mason had arranged.
Despite her petite frame, she was doing her best to remain composed.
But Luca knew this girl well.
She was gentle.
Kind.
And braver than most people gave her credit for.
The instant she spotted him, she ran over like a frightened little rabbit and buried herself in his arms.
“Luca…”
Her voice trembled.
“…you’re finally here.”
Holding her close, Luca could feel her entire body shaking.
She must have been terrified today.
He gently rubbed her back.
“It’s alright.”
“I’m here now.”
“I’ll protect you.”
Sophie’s tense shoulders slowly relaxed.
She looked up at him, her eyes red from crying, though no tears remained.
“Mmm…”
Only after seeing Luca did she finally feel safe.
He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
“Where’s Daisy?”
“She’s asleep.”
Sophie pointed upstairs.
“In my room.”
“She cried herself to sleep.”
“And her parents?”
“They’re still at the hospital.”
“I see.”
Luca nodded quietly.
“Leave everything else to me.”
“For the next few days, all of you will stay at Stone Free Grand Hotel.”
Sophie’s eyes widened.
“You think they’ll actually do something?”
“I don’t think they have the courage.”
He shook his head.
“But being careful never hurts.”
Experience had taught him one lesson above all else.
It was better to prepare for danger that never came than regret being careless after tragedy struck.
He refused to leave anything to chance.
…
Sophie led him upstairs.
After explaining the situation to Diana Kennedy, she readily agreed.
She had been frightened by the other family’s aggressive behavior at the hospital earlier that day.
She also understood Luca was only thinking about their safety.
“But won’t we be troubling you?”
Diana asked apologetically.
“So many of us…”
Luca smiled.
“Don’t worry.”
“My hotel is more than big enough.”
“Then… thank you.”
“Sophie,” Diana said, “let’s pack a few days’ worth of clothes.”
She paused.
“Oh, and Rachel’s still in my room.”
“Let me guess.”
Sophie sighed.
“Playing games again?”
Diana looked both helpless and amused.
“Ever since the college entrance exams ended, she’s been completely addicted.”
Sophie pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I’ll go get her.”
Hearing that, Luca raised an eyebrow.
Rachel was a phone addict?
Trish had never mentioned that.
Curious, he followed Sophie over.
The bedroom door opened, revealing a girl in a pale yellow dress sitting cross-legged on the bed.
Large headphones covered her ears as she happily played games on her phone.
“Rachel.”
Sophie walked over and pulled the headphones off.
“Huh?”
The girl turned around.
Her face resembled Sophie’s by nearly seventy percent.
“Sis? What’s wrong?”
There wasn’t even a hint of annoyance at being interrupted.
Rachel had always been sensible.
She knew exactly how much her sister had sacrificed for the family.
Sophie had carried the household’s expenses almost single-handedly.
Her tuition.
Their mother’s medical bills.
Even most of the housework.
Rachel could never bring herself to get angry with her.
“We’re staying at Luca’s hotel for a few days.”
Sophie smiled.
“Pack some clothes.”
“Okay.”
Rachel glanced toward Luca, who was standing in the living room, before smiling brightly.
Then she immediately put away her phone and began packing.
Sophie was the fastest.
Within minutes, she came out carrying a small plastic bag.
“Luca, can you carry this for me?”
“I’m going to get Daisy.”
“I’ll do it.”
Luca took the bag from her.
“You don’t need to carry her downstairs.”
Sophie weighed barely eighty pounds.
Asking her to carry a sleeping child down several flights of stairs would have been far too much.
She didn’t argue.
Instead, she simply smiled gratefully.
A few minutes later, Diana gently carried the still-sleeping Daisy out of the bedroom.
Rachel had also finished packing.
“Bro Luca.”
Rachel greeted him with a cheerful smile.
“You’ve gotten prettier.”
Luca returned the smile.
“Hehe.”
“And you’re still as handsome as ever,” Rachel returned the complement.
Luca couldn’t help chuckling.
The first time he’d met Rachel, she’d barely dared to speak.
Now she was much brighter and more outgoing.
Perhaps the pressure of the college entrance exam was finally gone.
Or maybe Diana’s recovery had lifted the weight off her shoulders.
Either way, seeing her so lively made him happy.
“Where’s Trish?”
Rachel asked curiously.
“Didn’t she come back with you?”
Luca laughed.
“She’s having far too much fun with her sisters over in San Fierro.”
“She hasn’t thought about coming home at all.”
Diana and Rachel naturally assumed he was exaggerating.
Only Sophie puffed out her cheeks ever so slightly.
She already knew Luca had a girlfriend waiting for him in San Fierro.
Judging from what he’d just said…
There was clearly more than one.