Chapter 4 - The Penthouse Sanctuary
I froze in the blinding light, terrified that any sudden movement would cost me my life.
The corrupt officer stepped forward, aggressively reaching for my crying daughter.
Before his hands could grab her, a sleek black SUV careened into the alleyway, its tires screeching against the wet pavement.
The vehicle’s bright headlights blinded the officer, forcing him to momentarily lower his weapon.
The rear door flew open, and Alexander yelled for me to get inside immediately.
I didn’t hesitate for a single second.
I dove into the backseat with Paige, and the SUV sped away before the officer could even raise his radio.
I collapsed against the plush leather seats, sobbing uncontrollably as the adrenaline finally began to fade.
Alexander handed me a warm towel and quietly ordered his driver to take us to the secure penthouse.
He explained that he had easily bought off the officers inside the restaurant, but Eleanor had clearly stationed backups outside.
As we drove through the glowing city streets, my cell phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket.
It was a text message from Mrs. Gable, the neighbor who was supposed to babysit Paige.
The message read that she was incredibly sorry, but Eleanor’s men had threatened to burn her house down if she didn’t fake her illness this morning.
I showed the message to Alexander, realizing that Eleanor had orchestrated every single agonizing moment of my day.
We arrived at a towering glass skyscraper, and a private elevator took us directly to the top floor.
The penthouse was a fortress of marble and steel, completely isolated from the chaos of the city.
I finally laid Paige down on a massive velvet sofa and turned to thank the man who had just saved my life.
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As I looked up, I noticed a massive oil painting hanging above the fireplace.
It was a family portrait featuring a much younger Alexander, a wealthy older man, and Eleanor.
