Chapter 1 - The Ghost in the Rearview
The siren’s wail was a jagged knife cutting through the Chicago night, but inside the ambulance, Julian Sterling could only hear the frantic beeping of Elena’s heart monitor.
“Victor died in a plane crash off the coast of Monaco,” Julian said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. He gripped Elena’s pale hand, his thumb tracing the knuckles. “I identified his personal effects. I buried the empty casket. Elena, look at me. What are you saying?”
Elena winced as another contraction ripped through her abdomen. The paramedic in the back cursed under his breath, applying pressure to the growing stain on her apron. “Her blood pressure is tanking, sir. We need to get to Mercy General, now.”
“No!” Elena screamed, a feral, terrifying sound that made the paramedic jump. She locked her eyes on Julian. “Mercy General is owned by the Vanguard Group. Vanguard is a shell company. It’s his shell company, Julian! If we go there, they will take the baby. They will kill me.”
Julian didn’t ask questions. He didn’t demand proof. He saw the absolute terror in the eyes of the woman he loved more than his own life. He pulled a platinum phone from his tailored suit jacket and dialed a number that bypassed his corporate switchboard, connecting directly to his private head of security.
“Marcus,” Julian barked. “Divert my ambulance. Not Mercy General. Bring us to the underground surgical suite at the Sterling Tower. Have my private medical team waiting in the loading bay. And Marcus? We have a tail. A charcoal sedan. Disable it. With extreme prejudice.”
“Consider it done, boss,” Marcus replied.
Julian looked out the small back window of the ambulance. Through the rain-streaked glass, he saw the charcoal sedan keeping pace, two car lengths back.
Suddenly, a massive black SUV—one of Julian’s tactical escort vehicles—blew through a red light, T-boning the sedan with a sickening crunch of metal. The sedan spun out, crashing into a concrete barrier.
Julian pulled the curtain shut. He looked back at Elena, whose face was covered in a cold sweat.
May you like
“You’re safe,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “But if my brother is alive, why did he threaten you? Why didn’t you just tell me?”
Elena squeezed his hand, her breathing shallow. “Because you would have fought him. And he wasn’t alone, Julian. He’s working with the cartel he stole money from. He told me if I stayed with you, he’d blow up the Sterling Tower with you inside it. Leaving you was the only way to keep you alive.”
