Chapter 6 - The Hostage
The self-driving police cruiser came to a slow, creeping halt in front of Julian Sterling.
The doors unlocked with a sharp click, and armed men immediately ripped them open.
Rough hands grabbed Claire by the arms and dragged her out onto the wet pavement.
Another man pulled Leo from the passenger seat, ignoring the child's kicks and screams.
Julian Sterling stepped forward, wearing an immaculate gray suit and a cruel smile.
He looked exactly like the charming billionaire the media portrayed, but his eyes were pure evil.
Julian walked over to Claire and stared at her face with dark fascination.
"It is truly amazing," Julian whispered, gently tracing her jawline with his finger.
"You look exactly like her, down to the very last detail," he sneered.
Claire violently turned her head and spat directly into Julian's face.
Julian wiped his cheek calmly, signaling his men to hold her tighter.
"Check her pockets," Julian ordered his head of security.
The massive guard searched Claire and quickly found the tiny black microchip.
He handed the evidence over to his billionaire boss.
Julian held the chip up to the dim streetlight and laughed a cold, soulless laugh.
He dropped the chip onto the concrete and crushed it into dust beneath his expensive leather shoe.
"There goes your proof, and there goes your sister," Julian mocked.
"Why are you doing this?" Claire screamed, tears of absolute rage in her eyes.
"Because Maya found out about my illegal weapons trading seven years ago," Julian explained casually.
"I could not let my perfect wife ruin my perfect empire, so I locked her away," he added.
"And now, I am going to bury both of you together," Julian promised.
He turned toward his men and pointed toward the dark industrial warehouse behind them.
"Take the woman to the incinerator room," Julian commanded.
"What about the boy, sir?" the heavy guard asked.
Julian looked down at Leo with absolute disgust.
"Put the boy in the trunk, I will deal with him on the yacht," Julian decided.
Claire screamed and fought with every ounce of strength in her body as they dragged her away.
She watched in pure horror as they locked her nephew in the trunk of a black sedan.
The guards dragged Claire inside the dark, dusty warehouse and threw her onto the cold concrete floor.
One of the men pulled out a heavy metal chain and prepared to tie her hands.
Suddenly, all the lights in the massive warehouse went completely pitch black.
A terrifying, high-pitched alarm began blaring from the building's security system.
The heavy steel door of the warehouse slammed shut, locking the guards inside with Claire.
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From the darkness, a single red flare ignited, illuminating a woman standing on the steel catwalk above.
It was Maya, and she was holding an automatic assault rifle.
