Chapter 4 - The Breach
The glass of water slipped from my hands and shattered on the hardwood floor.
Damian moved faster than I thought humanly possible.
He drew his weapon and pushed me and the girls behind the heavy kitchen island.
"Lock down the floor!" Damian shouted into a radio strapped to his belt.
Alarms instantly blared through the penthouse.
Red emergency lights bathed the luxurious room in a sinister glow.
"Stay here," Damian whispered to me, his eyes burning with lethal intent.
"Do not make a sound."
I wrapped my arms around Mia and Lily, burying their faces in my chest.
I listened to Damian's heavy footsteps moving across the marble floor.
Silence stretched for what felt like an eternity.
Every shadow in the room looked like a man holding a gun.
Then, a voice echoed from the grand foyer.
"Drop the gun, Damian."
It was the stranger from the park.
I peeked around the edge of the marble counter.
The stranger was standing in the doorway, holding a pistol to the head of Damian's chief of security.
The security guard looked battered and bloody.
"You slipped through my perimeter," Damian said, his gun still aimed at the intruder.
"I have friends in high places," the stranger smiled.
"And one of your own men left the service elevator unlocked for a heavy price."
Damian did not blink.
"What do you want?" Damian demanded.
"The Falcones want the nurse dead," the stranger replied.
"But I am an independent contractor, and I found a more lucrative offer."
The stranger pressed the barrel harder against the guard's temple.
"Send Chloe out here right now, or your best friend dies."
Damian's jaw clenched.
I knew he would never trade my life for his guard's.
But I also knew I could not let an innocent man die for me.
Before Damian could stop me, I stood up from behind the island.
"I'm right here," I said, my voice surprisingly steady.
Damian turned to me in absolute horror.
The stranger laughed and lowered his weapon from the guard's head.
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"Good girl," the stranger sneered.
"Now, tell Damian the truth about who really hired me, or I will tell him myself."
