I arrived unannounced at my luxury hotel and found security throwing out a hungry 13-year-old girl for asking for leftover bread. I brought her inside for breakfast. After one bite, she whispered, “My mom worked here. She discovered they were stealing from you and sent you a warning letter.” I had never received it. They didn't know the man they had been stealing from was a Mafia boss. I quietly ordered four years of records reviewed. That night, someone started deleting them.

The concussive force of the blast threw me violently off Silas.

The fire alarm instantly began screaming, flashing blinding strobe lights into the smoky room.

I scrambled to my feet, coughing as thick gray dust fell from the cracked ceiling.

"That was your private server room in the basement," Silas laughed, clutching his bruised ribs.

"Every piece of digital evidence you ever had is burning to ashes right now."

I realized Victor was systematically destroying every tie he had to the embezzlement scheme.

I brought the heavy steel handle of my revolver down hard against Silas's skull.

He collapsed instantly into an unconscious heap on the floor.

I didn't have time to secure the hotel or comfort the panicked guests flooding the hallways.

I had to get to the shipping yards before Victor executed an innocent child.

I sprinted down the emergency stairwell, taking three steps at a time.

When I reached the underground parking garage, the heat from the server room fire was already unbearable.

My armored SUV was parked in its reserved spot, seemingly untouched by the chaos.

I reached for the door handle but suddenly paused.

A faint, high-pitched electronic whining sound was coming from beneath the vehicle's chassis.

Victor had wired my car with C4 explosives.

I slowly backed away, stepping into the shadows of a concrete pillar.

Three heavily armed mercenaries stepped out from behind a utility van, pointing assault rifles at my vehicle.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

"Light it up," the lead mercenary ordered coldly.

They pressed a detonator, and my SUV erupted into a massive ball of orange hellfire.

Chapter 3 - Blood on the Velvet