Chapter 6 - The Private Clinic
"Drive faster!" I screamed at Marcus as the radio update echoed in the car.
My mother and Julian had clearly moved Lucía before I could reach her.
"Where would they take her?" Marcus asked, swerving through heavy city traffic.
I forced my panicked brain to think like the legal strategist I was.
Julian had paid off the initial fake paramedics, which meant he had medical connections in the city.
"Sterling's father-in-law owns a private, unlicensed cosmetic surgery clinic on the edge of town," I realized suddenly.
"They do illegal procedures for the wealthy elite."
Marcus immediately punched the address into the GPS.
We arrived at a heavily gated, unmarked building surrounded by high concrete walls.
Two armed guards stood at the front entrance, looking extremely alert.
"We can't just storm the place without a federal warrant," Marcus cautioned.
"I don't have time for a warrant!" I yelled, grabbing a tire iron from the backseat.
I climbed out of the SUV and ran toward the back alley of the clinic.
Marcus cursed but followed closely behind me with his federal badge ready.
I found a reinforced steel door near the loading dock and smashed the electronic keypad with the tire iron.
The lock sparked and gave way, allowing us to slip inside the dark corridor.
The smell of strong antiseptic and bleach filled the air.
We crept down the hallway until we heard the faint sound of a woman crying.
I kicked open the heavy wooden door at the end of the hall.
Lucía was strapped to a medical bed, pale and terrified, while a shady doctor prepared a massive syringe.
Julian was standing in the corner, holding a duffel bag full of cash.
"Get away from my wife!" I roared, charging into the room.
Julian dropped the bag and pulled a pistol from his waistband.
Before he could aim, Marcus stepped in and drew his federal weapon.
"FBI! Drop the gun now!" Marcus ordered loudly.
Julian froze in panic and slowly lowered his weapon to the floor.
I rushed to the bed and rapidly unbuckled the leather straps holding Lucía.
She collapsed into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably against my chest.
"I am so sorry, Mateo," she cried.
"We need to get out of here right now," I told her, kissing her forehead.
May you like
"It is too late for that," a cold voice said from the doorway.
I turned around and saw my mother standing there, holding an assault rifle aimed directly at Marcus.
