My three-year-old daughter tugged on the trousers of one of New York’s most feared mafia bosses and asked him for a stuffed dog before tomorrow. Julian Hail almost smiled until Ivy whispered, “It’s not for me. It’s for a boy who doesn’t have anybody.” Then she told him where that six-year-old boy lived, and the man who frightened half the city suddenly went completely still.

My blood ran absolutely freezing cold as Marcus gripped my wrist tighter.

I tried to pull away, but his strength was completely overwhelming.

I whispered the emergency code word into my hidden earpiece, praying Julian would hear me.

Marcus laughed softly and pulled a small, crushed earpiece from his own pocket.

He told me that his men had jammed all outgoing frequencies in the building an hour ago.

The Mayor simply straightened his tie and walked back out to the party, ignoring my struggle.

Marcus forced me out a side exit and dragged me into a waiting black sedan.

He zip-tied my hands together and confiscated the data cloner from my clutch.

I sat in the back of the car, completely terrified for my daughter and Toby.

If Julian was truly dead, the children were completely unprotected at the safehouse.

Marcus drove us to an abandoned industrial shipyard on the edge of the city.

He marched me into a massive, empty warehouse smelling strongly of rust and ocean water.

Sitting comfortably in an expensive leather chair in the center of the room was Silas Hail.

Silas looked exactly like Julian, but his eyes were entirely devoid of human empathy.

He smiled and welcomed me to his temporary headquarters.

He proudly announced that his elite strike team had successfully breached Julian's safehouse.

Silas signaled to one of his mercenaries standing in the dark corner.

The mercenary stepped forward, roughly dragging a crying child by the arm.

My heart shattered into a million pieces when I saw Ivy's tear-stained face.

I screamed her name and fought desperately against the plastic zip-ties binding my wrists.

Silas casually explained that Julian had managed to escape the safehouse with Toby.

However, Silas knew that capturing my daughter would easily bring Julian directly to him.

He pulled out a heavy handgun and aimed it lazily at Ivy's small head.

Silas told me to call Julian right now and arrange a direct trade for the boy.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

Before I could even answer, the metal roof of the warehouse groaned violently above us.

A massive black helicopter suddenly crashed directly through the skylight in an explosion of glass and steel.

Chapter 6 - The Hostage