Chapter 7 - Blood and Water
Dominic froze completely, the color draining rapidly from his strong face.
His younger brother, Leo, was the only family he had left in the world.
"They are bluffing," I whispered, hoping to keep him focused on our escape.
Dominic shook his head, his dark eyes filled with absolute terror and rage.
"The Falcones never bluff about taking hostages."
He turned away from the ventilation shaft and looked down through the dusty office window.
The leader of the mercenary team was standing on the factory floor, holding a phone up high.
"We will trade Leo for the accountant's wife and the stuffed rabbit," the leader shouted.
Dominic looked at me, and I saw the impossible choice breaking him in half.
He could save his own flesh and blood, or he could save a woman he met an hour ago.
"You have to go save him," I said softly, tears burning in my eyes.
"I swore to protect you, Elena," Dominic replied, his jaw clenched so tightly it trembled.
"Lily and I will take our chances in the vents, just go," I urged him.
Dominic pulled a small, silver tracking device from his expensive watch and pressed it into my palm.
"Keep this in your pocket, I will find you no matter where you hide," he promised.
He threw the office door open and walked out onto the metal catwalk with his hands raised.
"Let my brother go, and I will surrender my territory to your boss," Dominic yelled down to the mercenaries.
The men laughed, raising their weapons toward his broad chest.
I pushed Lily into the dusty ventilation shaft and crawled quickly behind her.
We shimmied through the tight, dark space, the sounds of shouting echoing behind us.
We finally kicked open the grate on the other side and tumbled out onto the wet, freezing roof.
I scooped Lily into my arms and ran blindly toward the fire escape stairs.
Suddenly, a massive spotlight flicked on, blinding me completely in the darkness.
A tall figure stepped out of the shadows, holding an umbrella in one hand and a gun in the other.
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"You always were too stubborn for your own good, Elena," Mark smiled cruelly.
He reached forward and violently ripped the stuffed rabbit right out of Lily's tiny hands.
