Chapter 5 - THE INTRUDER IN THE NURSERY
I didn't listen. I couldn't stay in the basement. Not when Sofia was upstairs. I ran up the concrete steps. My heart hammered against my ribs. I burst through the basement door into the main hallway. Guards were shouting. “Securing the second floor!” “Intruder in the West wing!” I sprinted toward the nursery. The heavy oak door was wide open. Max was on the floor, holding his shoulder. Blood seeped through his fingers. “Max!” I cried, dropping to my knees. “I'm fine,” he gritted his teeth. “She took the girl.” “Who?” “Vanessa.” My blood ran cold. “She came back?” “She had a gun,” Max gasped. “She slipped through the servants' entrance.” I didn't hesitate. I ran into the nursery. The window was shattered. Cold Chicago wind whipped through the room. Sofia's favorite blanket lay on the floor. Empty. Gone. “No,” I whispered. I ran to the balcony. Below, in the courtyard, a black SUV sped away. Tailights vanishing into the rainy night. Footsteps thudded behind me. Luca rushed into the room. He took in the shattered window. The blood on the floor. Max leaning against the doorframe. Luca didn't scream. He didn't curse. His face turned completely white. Then his eyes turned dead. “Where is she?” Luca asked. His voice was barely a whisper. “Vanessa,” Max panted. “She took Sofia.” Luca walked slowly to the balcony. He looked down at the tire tracks in the mud. He raised his phone. “Dispatch all units,” he commanded. “Block every bridge out of the city.” “Close the airport.” “If that car crosses county lines, I want every man in the syndicate hunting them down.” He hung up. He turned to me. Emily. “Yes, sir?” “She doesn't have much time.” “Why?” “Because Vanessa doesn't want ransom.” Luca gripped the railing so hard his knuckles turned white. “She wants to finish what she started.”
