Page 77 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

"Jesus fucking Christ," she muttered, craning her neck to see the full extent of the structure. "When you said 'safe house,' I was expecting something a little less..."

"Ostentatious?" Darius offered, his tall frame materializing beside her.

The estate stretched before them like something out of a billionaire's fever dream—limestone walls, gothic spires, and floor-to-ceiling windows that gleamed in the setting sun. Security cameras disguised as ornate fixtures dotted the perimeter. A fountain featuring marble wolves dominated the circular driveway, water cascading from their open maws.

"I was going to say 'compensatory,'" Serenity replied, arching an eyebrow.

She felt the vibration of low chuckles from the Alphas flanking her—three predators in designer suits, each radiatingan aura of danger that made her Omega instincts both wary and inexplicably drawn. Their combined scents—sandalwood, whiskey, and something uniquely male—wrapped around her like an invisible claim.

So this is what it feels like to be in the middle of a walking testosterone triangle,she thought.

Darius's lips quirked slightly. "Security is never compensatory, little Omega."

His gray eyes scanned the perimeter with practiced efficiency, reminding Serenity that beneath his immaculate Tom Ford suit and perfectly styled dark hair was a man who had clawed his way through the ranks of the East Coast's most feared crime syndicate.

And now I'm walking into his den. Voluntarily. What the hell am I doing?

But she knew exactly what she was doing. Survival. The Vale name she'd only recently discovered was hers had painted a target on her back large enough to be seen from space. These Alphas—dangerous as they might be—were currently her best chance at staying alive while she figured out how to claim her inheritance without getting a bullet between her eyes.

"Can we move this along?" she asked, adjusting the strap of her designer bag. "Standing out here feels like we're posing for a 'Most Likely To Be Assassinated' yearbook photo."

As they approached the entrance, Darius moved ahead with fluid grace, punching a complex sequence into a state-of-the-art keypad disguised within an antique brass fixture. The heavy oak doors—at least ten feet tall and probably bulletproof, Serenity guessed—swung open with silent precision.

The foyer that greeted them made the exterior seem almost modest by comparison. Serenity's eyes darted around, cataloging details with the efficiency her business background had instilled in her. Marble floors polished to a mirrorshine. Vaulted ceilings with hand-painted murals. Discreet surveillance cameras tucked into the corners, disguised as decorative elements but unmistakable to her trained eye.

Opulence meets paranoia,she thought.Fitting.

"Welcome to Castellano East," Darius announced, his voice carrying in the cavernous space. "One of five properties I maintain for... contingencies."

Serenity took a few steps forward, her heels clicking against the marble. The sound bounced off the walls, amplifying the sensation that she was walking into something far bigger than herself. The weight of the decision pressed on her—to align herself, however temporarily, with these men.

"Five properties just for 'contingencies'?" she asked, unable to keep the cynicism from her voice. "What's your portfolio like for actual living?"

Darius's expression remained impassive, but something in his eyes darkened. "When you command what I do, Miss Vale, survival and comfort are not separate considerations."

The use of her recently discovered surname jolted through her. Vale. Daughter of Marcus Vale. Heir to billions in illicit empire. The identity still felt like an ill-fitting coat she'd been forced to wear.

"Fair enough," she conceded, running her finger along a nearby marble pedestal supporting what appeared to be an authentic Ming dynasty vase. "Though I'm wondering if the interior decorator got paid by the gold leaf."

The sound of the entrance doors closing behind them with a heavy thud made her stomach tighten. She was now effectively sealed inside with three apex predators—men who controlled territories, fortunes, and private armies.

What other choice did I have?she reminded herself.The alternative was lying in a ditch somewhere, courtesy of my father's many enemies.

"The security features might interest you more than the decor," Darius noted, gesturing to what appeared to be a normal-looking section of wall. At his touch, a panel slid back to reveal a sophisticated control center. "The entire property is on a closed system. Nothing connects to external networks. Motion sensors cover every inch of the grounds. Bulletproof glass, reinforced walls, and enough supplies to withstand a six-month siege."

Serenity crossed her arms, taking in the information with a clinical detachment that belied the rapid beating of her heart. "You've thought of everything."

"It's my job to think of everything," Darius replied simply.

She studied his profile—the sharp angle of his jaw, the intensity in his gray eyes as he reviewed something on the security panel. Power radiated from him in waves, a mixture of Alpha pheromones and the unmistakable confidence of a man who commanded billions and expected absolute obedience.

Yet something else lurked beneath that controlled exterior—something that made her inner Omega both apprehensive and curiously... interested. A connection she couldn't fully explain or dismiss.

"You'll be safe here," he assured her, his voice dropping to a timbre that seemed to vibrate through her bones.

"Safe is relative," she countered, maintaining eye contact. "I'm still trying to figure out if I'm a guest or a prisoner in this arrangement."

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Let's just say you're under Castellano protection."

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