Chapter 2 - The Black Van
Thick black smoke poured from the exhaust pipe of the mysterious van.
The heavy sliding doors ripped open before the vehicle even came to a complete stop.
Four men wearing dark suits and tactical vests poured out onto the pavement.
Claire heard the terrified screams of the gala guests scattering in all directions.
She looked desperately toward the spot where the woman had been standing just seconds ago.
The woman was completely gone.
"Where is the boy?" one of the men in suits barked loudly.
Claire looked down at the barefoot child standing frozen beside her.
Pure survival instinct immediately took over her body.
She grabbed the boy's small hand and pulled him behind a massive stone pillar.
"Who are those men?" Claire whispered urgently to the child.
The boy did not cry or panic like a normal kid would.
"They are my father's hunters," the boy replied with chilling calmness.
Claire peered around the edge of the stone pillar to assess the danger.
The men were flipping over expensive catering tables and kicking chairs out of their way.
They were systematically searching the outdoor patio for the child.
"We cannot stay here," Claire told him.
She scanned the perimeter and spotted a narrow service alley behind the kitchen tents.
She tightened her grip on the boy's hand and prepared to run.
"When I say go, we sprint for that tent," Claire instructed.
The boy simply nodded his head in silent agreement.
One of the suited men turned his head and locked eyes directly with Claire.
"There they are!" the man shouted, drawing a heavy weapon from his jacket.
"Go!" Claire screamed.
They bolted across the manicured lawn as fast as their legs could carry them.
Bullets tore through the fabric of the catering tents right behind them.
Claire shoved the boy through the narrow gap between two brick walls.
They squeezed into the dark, damp alleyway and kept running without looking back.
They finally stopped to catch their breath behind a rusted dumpster three blocks away.
Claire dropped to her knees, panting heavily as she checked the boy for injuries.
"Are you hurt?" she asked frantically.
The boy shook his head and opened his small hand.
He was still clutching the old ribbon tightly in his palm.
"Who is your father?" Claire demanded, needing to know what kind of danger they were in.
The boy looked directly into her eyes with a somber expression.
"My father is Julian Sterling," the boy answered quietly.
Claire felt the blood freeze completely in her veins.
Julian Sterling was the most powerful and ruthless billionaire in the city.
More importantly, Julian Sterling was the man convicted of murdering her twin sister seven years ago.
Before Claire could process this impossible truth, her cell phone began vibrating violently in her pocket.
May you like
She pulled it out and stared at the glowing screen in sheer horror.
The caller ID displayed the name of her dead sister, Maya.
