Chapter 5 - THE PRICE OF BETRAYAL
The burly man's hand shook.
The steel barrel pressed against Sophie's temple.
"Daddy..."
Luca emerged into the harsh overhead light.
His sleeves were rolled up.
His face was devoid of expression.
"Let her go."
"Drop your weapon!"
Luca's right hand moved with blinding speed.
A heavy hunting knife flashed through the air.
*Thud.*
It buried itself into the doorframe beside the man's ear.
The man flinched.
His grip slipped for a fraction of a second.
Luca lunged across the ten-foot gap.
He slammed his shoulder into the man's chest.
*CRASH!*
They smashed through the glass partition wall.
The man tumbled over the edge.
"Claire!" I dove forward, grabbing Sophie.
The burly man hit the concrete below.
Marcus and his tactical team swarmed in.
Luca stood up from the shattered glass.
He walked over and dropped to his knees.
Sophie threw her arms around his neck.
"Daddy... I thought you didn't want me."
"Never," Luca whispered fiercely.
Vanessa stood against the back wall.
She pulled a small derringer from her garter.
She pointed it at Luca's back and pulled the trigger.
*Click.*
The chamber was empty.
Marcus tossed brass bullets onto the floor.
Vanessa bolted for the fire escape.
"Let her run," Luca said softly.
"Without my protection, Chicago will chew her up."
He extended a calloused hand to help me up.
"Can you walk?"
"I can walk," I whispered.
May you like
Luca looked at me with profound gratitude.
"Take your things, Claire. You're not a maid anymore."
