Chapter 3 - The Blood Tie
I spun around in the library chair, ready to fight for my life.
A rough-looking man in a trench coat was staring down at me.
"You're sitting in my reserved computer seat, lady," the stranger grumbled, pointing at his watch.
I exhaled a shaky breath, apologizing as I quickly pulled the USB drive free.
I grabbed Ellie and hurried out of the library into the pouring rain.
We had to hide, but I had no money and nowhere safe to go.
I drove to a cheap roadside motel on the edge of the city and paid for a room with my emergency cash.
I locked the deadbolt, pulled the curtains shut, and sat on the edge of the stained mattress.
The realization of the video weighed on me like a concrete block.
Vincent's own brother had orchestrated the murder of his wife.
The entire mafia family was compromised, meaning there was no one Vincent could trust.
I needed to warn him, but I didn't know if he was even still alive.
I turned on the small motel television, keeping the volume low.
The local news flashed a breaking story about a shootout at the Moretti estate.
The reporter stated that Vincent Moretti had escaped, but a massive manhunt was underway.
A picture of my face suddenly flashed across the screen.
Dominic had given the police my photograph, framing me for the murder of the security guards.
I was now a wanted fugitive, and every cop in the state would be looking for me.
Ellie sat on the floor, quietly playing with her gray stuffed rabbit.
"Mommy, Mr. Bunny feels heavy today," Ellie said softly.
I frowned, walking over to inspect the old stuffed animal.
I felt a hard, unnatural lump inside the rabbit's torn ear.
I used a motel pen to rip the stitching apart.
A small, blinking black GPS tracker fell into my palm.
Dominic had planted it on my daughter while we were in the therapy room.
The loud screech of tires outside our window made my heart stop.
Three black SUVs had just surrounded my tiny Honda Civic in the parking lot.
Heavily armed men began pouring out of the vehicles, racking their shotguns.
They were already kicking down the door of the motel room next to ours.
We had less than thirty seconds before they found us.
May you like
I grabbed Ellie and ran toward the tiny bathroom window at the back.
Just as I pushed the glass open, the main door of our room exploded off its hinges.
