It took them a little bit more than two hours to fly from Chicago to New York. The flight had been uneventful, just a quiet stretch of sky filled with steady engine hum and the occasional clink of beverage carts. As they waited near the baggage carousel, the loudspeakers overhead announcing arrivals and transfers in multiple languages, Hendrix turned to her with a firm expression.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7Pp3f6dIX
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“They want to see you immediately,” he said, not bothering to hide the seriousness in his voice.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH4GcRMK0g
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“Yes, sir,” Valentina replied without hesitation, her fingers already moving to switch on her phone.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXMFzv2fNq
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Roger had made sure she understood how to use it well, taking time to explain each application, how to keep it charged, and most importantly, how to keep it on her at all times. But airplane rules were strict—she had powered it down during the flight like everyone else.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNmEaNPQUn
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Her duffel bag, too large for the overhead compartment, had been stowed away in the plane’s cargo hold. She waited quietly beside Hendrix until it arrived, the worn green canvas marked with patches from countries most civilians had only seen in the news. The moment she spotted it, she grabbed the strap and followed Hendrix outside to the waiting car.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxjBL4heml
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“We’ll stop by your dormitory first,” Hendrix explained once they were seated inside the vehicle. “Drop your bag, and then we go straight to the Romano estate.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulvcXcqUP5
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“Aye, sir.” Her response was crisp, automatic. She didn’t ask questions, didn’t need to. She simply stared out of the window as the car moved through the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5pHWP2XFw
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The dormitory for the bodyguard duty is located only a block from the Romano's manor, a simple three-story building with many single rooms. There is one bathroom for three rooms, and every room is equipped with an air conditioner, a heater, a single bed, a cupboard, a small kitchen corner with an old sink, and a table.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnqopymBFY
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Her room is far better than the one in the military camp or mercenary camp. She smiled, admiring her new room and putting the duffel bag on the bed. She locked the door on her way out and quickly got inside the car.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtinODyK3H
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The city pulsed with energy even at this late hour. It was just past 9 p.m., and December’s early nightfall had already turned the skyline into a constellation of neon lights and towering silhouettes.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeC9ZYfTJB
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Raindrops danced across the car’s windows, blurring the streetlights and storefronts into watercolor streaks. Despite the traffic, the chaos of honking horns, and the constant buzz of urban life, Valentina sat quietly. Her eyes traced the shifting lights and unfamiliar buildings with calm detachment.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXrqJ36I2D
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To her, this city, this loud, messy, vibrant city, is really peaceful. There were no air raid sirens, no mortar shells, no children screaming in the distance. No smoke rising from burning rooftops. No blood-soaked streets. She watched a street performer juggling fire under an overpass and found herself thinking, No one is dying here tonight. No one is hiding in the dark.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRkcoJR0P9
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“What are you thinking?” Hendrix asked, breaking the silence between them.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSS7KOOCrB
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Valentina didn’t turn her head. Her voice was quiet. “It’s so peaceful here.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1knBi93Wae
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Hendrix blinked, turning to look out the same window. A woman was yelling at a taxi driver on the sidewalk. A couple argued loudly by a bus stop. Traffic blared in all directions, horns and voices tangling in an impatient orchestra of urban frustration. He raised an eyebrow, baffled. “Peaceful?”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFYHgMOB6Q
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She didn’t respond. She didn’t need to explain. Peace was relative. And Roger already told her that it would be better if no one knows about her background or where she come from.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtwrdI3Ed0
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Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Romano estate, tucked into a gated corner of Manhattan that somehow felt older than the city around it. The moment their vehicle approached the wrought-iron gate, another uniformed guard—dressed identically to both her and Hendrix—stepped forward to verify their identities before waving them in.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu7rOuUIrA
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Most first-time visitors were stunned by the sheer grandeur of the estate. The Romano manor stood like something out of a forgotten time, its towering gothic architecture looming against the dark sky. Black spires and pointed arches defined its silhouette, with intricate iron railings and stone gargoyles perched like watchful sentries along the rooftop.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK4MbblUnZ
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The building was the centerpiece of over 3,000 acres of land—an astonishing amount of space in the heart of Manhattan—complete with dense trees, a private lake, and walking paths lit by antique lanterns. It was both beautiful and foreboding, a monument to old wealth and quiet power.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCT5KhJFf5
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"Why isn’t there a dormitory for workers on this enormous estate?" she asked, genuinely curious as her eyes swept across the vast grounds.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZy0CRxbAT
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Hendrix gave a small nod, as if he had been expecting the question. “Only those who are fully trusted are allowed to live inside the manor. The new hires—what we call the outer ring—stay off the premises until they've proven themselves.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgozAySzQDs
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Valentina simply nodded at the answer and back staring at the sight. She observed the details—tall windows, the steep rooflines, the slick shine of rain on old stone—but said nothing. No wide eyes. No admiration. Just silent acknowledgement.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0YxKp4fOV
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A sharply dressed man greeted them at the front steps, his demeanor formal but respectful. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked neatly back, and his voice carried the authority of someone who had worked in the household for many years. “Mr. Romano is expecting you. Please, follow me.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b7OILyxDj
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They were led inside, past heavy wooden doors carved with intricate patterns. The interior was dim and warm, lit by chandeliers and wall sconces that gave off a soft amber glow. The air smelled faintly of old books and cedarwood.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV0nSZKydZ
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They were ushered into a large office lined with tall shelves overflowing with books, leather-bound and dusted with age. A thick carpet muffled their steps, and the walls were adorned with oil paintings and antique weapons. Two men, both tall and muscular, stood guard near the entryway, their gazes sharp and unwavering.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqqTxbIi2M
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Behind a massive oak desk, in a high-backed chair, sat the man they had come to see. Mr. Romano did not rise. He did not need to. His presence filled the room before he even spoke. He glanced up from a folder laid open on his desk and gestured for them to come closer.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsAOlOG5hb
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Valentina straightened her back the moment she stepped into the room. Her hands moved instinctively behind her back, her posture firm, her chin slightly raised—not in arrogance, but in discipline. Her eyes, sharp and focused, swept across the room for a second before landing respectfully on the man behind the large oak desk. She didn’t let them linger. She knew better than to make direct eye contact unless instructed.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjE62mruJv
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Hendrix stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of her, acting as both her guide and shield. His voice was calm and steady as he offered a formal greeting, “Evening, sir.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXW89GfUdb
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The man at the desk looked up from the swirling amber liquid in his crystal glass. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed, his tailored suit creased in all the right places. Despite the relaxed appearance, the intensity in his eyes was unmistakable—this was a man used to power, and even more used to being obeyed.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL8knoVvb6
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“Ah, Peterson. Finally. I’ve been waiting for weeks,” he said with a tone that was both amused and impatient. He lifted the glass to his lips and downed the remaining whiskey in a single, practiced motion. Then he motioned with the glass. “Is she the one?”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tFiY2mnuT
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“Yes, sir,” Hendrix confirmed with a small nod.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM2ErDF7w7
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The man—clearly Mr. Romano himself—set the glass aside and reached for the decanter, filling it again, the sound of the pour a brief, elegant interruption. “Is it true then?” he asked, tilting the decanter slightly before placing it back. “About the news? That she lasted an hour with you?”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5LZbuut0c
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“It’s true,” Hendrix replied, a note of pride in his voice. “We have the full recording, if you’d like to review it.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcmKfMINM8
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Mr. Romano waved a hand, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “No need. I saw the footage just minutes ago. Impressive, to say the least.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2hXwf4uqc
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“She’s the best,” Hendrix added, glancing at Valentina with the satisfaction of someone who had chosen wisely.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjDh8YA1ZC
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Romano leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took a moment to really look at her. He studied her face, her slight frame, her quiet poise. A woman like Valentina didn’t look dangerous at first glance. Her body was lean, her arms slender, and her features delicate. But there was something else beneath the surface—an edge in the way she stood so still, the way she didn’t fidget or blink too often. She looked older than her own age, but she stood like she belonged there.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK53JYfUTDY
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“And where did you find her?” he asked, almost to himself.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJXxByMYv1
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“My friend Roger brought her in,” Hendrix answered without hesitation.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevuFlSTi4Q
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“Ah… the army man.” Romano’s gaze flicked briefly to the door. “Archie,” he called out, his voice raised only slightly, “bring my daughter. Bring Luiza.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJunq85hKo
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As he waited, he returned his attention to Valentina, his tone sharpening. “You’ll be responsible for my daughter. Protect her with your life. Make sure she is safe and sound at all times. Listen to what she says, and fulfill whatever she asks—within reason. The only thing you cannot agree to is if she tells you to leave her. That is the one request you must refuse. Is that understood?”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ184MSkgbcu
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“Yes, sir,” Valentina answered without hesitation. Her voice was steady, her eyes holding his for a moment before she gave a short, firm nod.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglc4gtFeF9
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Romano studied her again, and this time there was the faintest flicker of curiosity behind his calm expression. “You’re not going to ask why? Why I need someone like you to guard her? Why I’m telling you to follow her whims as if she were royalty?”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHR3a63wwl
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“You gave me an order,” Valentina said simply. “That’s what I follow.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak8C4aUPwy
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Romano let out a low chuckle, amused by her simplicity and absolute clarity. “And if I told you to kill someone in order to protect her… would you do it?”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM66YIE0Zlu
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There was no pause, no flicker of emotion, not even the twitch of a muscle. “I would,” she replied.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFDa0CBFXo
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Romano’s smile deepened—not out of joy, but satisfaction. Most of the women he’d interviewed for this kind of work faltered at that question. Some tried to dodge it, a few even flat-out refused. But not Valentina. She didn’t flinch.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc94aTCQpnZ
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He leaned back, the leather chair creaking softly beneath him. “Good. Then let’s see how long you last, Miss Smith.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz2Gk2QqBL
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