Chapter 5 - The Hostage
Madeline frantically twisted the doorknob, but it was completely jammed.
The lights in the nursery suddenly flickered and turned on.
A voice crackled through the baby monitor resting on the changing table.
"Did you really think I wouldn't upgrade the security system?" Jeffrey mocked.
Madeline realized she had walked directly into a carefully planned trap.
"Let me out of here, Jeffrey," she demanded to the small plastic speaker.
Jeffrey laughed a cold, humorless laugh.
"You have the DNA test in your hands, don't you?"
Madeline looked down at the medical document she was holding.
"You are laundering money for Victor Rossi," she deduced aloud.
"I am doing what is necessary to build an empire," Jeffrey corrected her.
"Victor pays me millions to hide his heir in plain sight."
"And your company provides the perfect legitimate cover for his dirty cash."
Madeline felt a sickening wave of disgust wash over her.
She had built an ethical, honest business to support her family.
Jeffrey had twisted it into a criminal enterprise while she was halfway across the world.
"The police have the video of you abusing my son," Madeline threatened.
"I already paid the police chief to delete that file from the evidence server," Jeffrey replied.
The sound of heavy boots echoed from the hallway outside the nursery.
Madeline realized Jeffrey had called Victor's hitmen to finish the job.
She grabbed a heavy brass lamp from the bedside table.
She smashed the large window of the nursery, sending glass raining down onto the lawn below.
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She climbed onto the ledge, preparing to jump to the soft grass.
A strong hand suddenly grabbed her ankle from the darkness of the yard below.
