Chapter 3 - The Threat In The Dark
The hand over my mouth smelled heavily of expensive cologne and stale cigarette smoke.
I twisted violently and managed to break free from the powerful grip.
I spun around to face my attacker in the dim light of the hotel room.
It was a tall man I had never seen before in my life.
He wore a sharp linen suit that looked completely out of place at a tropical beach resort.
"You have a very beautiful little daughter," the stranger said with a sickening smile.
"If you want to keep her safe, you need to stand still and listen to me."
My blood ran ice cold at the direct mention of Lily.
"Who are you and what do you want with my family?" I demanded.
"Your brother owes my employer three million dollars," he explained calmly.
"He promised to deliver the cash during this little family vacation."
I realized with horror that Jim had used our trip as a cover for a criminal handoff.
"My husband has nothing to do with this mess," I pleaded desperately.
The man laughed sharply in the quiet, air-conditioned room.
"Your husband is the one who used his accounting firm to steal the money from our cartel."
My knees nearly buckled under the weight of his words.
Bruce was not an innocent victim caught in Jim's web of gambling debts.
He was a willing participant who had orchestrated the entire theft.
"They missed the drop time this afternoon," the suited man warned.
"You have until midnight to bring the black bag to the loading dock."
He stepped backward out onto the balcony and effortlessly climbed over the railing.
He vanished into the dark shadows of the resort grounds below.
I rushed to the front door to go find Lily and get her to safety.
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When I grabbed the brass handle, it refused to budge even a millimeter.
Someone had jammed the lock from the outside, trapping me inside the room.
