Page 60 of A Wife's Duty

“Yeah, I like the name, and she is so lovely. When I look at her, I think Betty.”

The dog had lifted her head, and Boone laughed. “Betty it is.”

“That is your new name. Betty Grinder.” Lucia kissed the top of her head. “You’re going to have a wonderful life, and I am going to give you so many treats, and I’m going to take such good care of you.”

Betty was already having a good life.

He pulled off the main road, going down a secluded driveway, where he came to the security fence. Reaching out, he typed out the code and the gates opened up, letting them inside.

The old farmhouse he had bought, renovated, and updated was the most secure safe house. No one would ever get within breathing distance of Lucia. Not only did he have the security fence, anyone who climbed the fence would set off sensors, alerting anyone in the house to a possible intruder.

Once inside the house, he had multiple panic rooms, with supplies that would last several days of a possible home invasion, as well as weapons to fight back. He didn’t hold back with this house.

Parking the car, Frank joined them, and Lucia opened the door, allowing Betty out and sniffing the yard before heading toward the front door.

“Wow,” Lucia said. “This is ... incredible.

The house looked like the old farmhouse, surrounded by trees, and beyond there were endless fields far and wide. It was a beautiful place to raise a family, which is why he’d created it. Although having a family had been the last thing on his mind. Men like him didn’t get the option of a family.

After Betty had finishing sniffing around and sat dutifully by Lucia’s side, he took her hand and led her into the house.

Most of the furniture was covered in protective sheeting, and he didn’t have people coming to clean this place. This was his private place, and he didn’t want anyone involved, but those he trusted with his life.

“Damn, this is a pretty nice place,” Frank said.

Lucia giggled. “Can I take her off the leash?”

“Sure.”

He watched as Lucia bent down and removed the leash from the collar. The dog didn’t scurry off but stayed by Lucia’s side.

He was going to have to grab some dog food. Then, he remembered the guard, and he pulled out some cash, handing it to Frank. His guard nodded and left. Now, it was just him and Lucia.

“Let me show you the place.”

The tour wasn’t extensive. A sitting room, game room, dining room that led onto the main kitchen. There was a back porch leading out to a garden, as well as a small vegetable patch that hadn’t been worked.

Taking her inside, he led her upstairs to the five bedrooms. All with en-suites. The master bedroom the biggest.

All of the rooms were stark. No memories. Nothing. He’d renovated this house, but he had yet to live in it.

Once she had seen the whole house, it was time to take her to the panic rooms.

“Panic rooms?” Lucia asked.

“Consider them safe rooms.” He went into the main bedroom, going toward the closet, sliding the column open, and clicking the code in. The door opened. It was not a large space, enough to fit Lucia, and if necessary, a couple of kids.

They stepped inside, and Betty continued to sniff the space. He pointed out the security cameras spread across two screens that showed every room in the house.

“Wow,” Lucia said, which seemed to be saying a lot.

“It’s a lot to take in.”

“No, it’s just that you are so prepared. I don’t think my dad was ever this prepared.” Lucia turned to look at him, and there was a question in her eyes.

Boone didn’t say a word. “I’m going to protect you.”

“You built all of this before you even knew me.”

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