Chapter 6 - The Freezing Wind
I screamed and lunged forward as Eleanor lost her footing near the dangerous edge of the roof.
The violent wind from the helicopter blades whipped my hospital gown around my freezing legs.
Arthur grabbed my arm to stop me from running directly into the spinning tail rotor.
Eleanor teetered on the very edge of the ten-story drop, her eyes wide with sudden terror.
She clutched my baby desperately, dangling one foot over the terrifying abyss.
"Help me!" Eleanor shrieked over the deafening roar of the aircraft engine.
The helicopter pilot realized the extreme danger and quickly pulled the aircraft higher into the dark sky.
The sudden loss of the downward wind pressure caused Eleanor to stumble forward onto the gravel roof.
She fell hard onto her knees, dropping her designer handbag but keeping a tight grip on my daughter.
Marcus and the tactical team immediately surrounded her with their weapons drawn.
"Hand the child over peacefully, Eleanor," Arthur commanded with a deadly, booming voice.
Eleanor looked around at the armed men and realized she was completely out of options.
She slowly stood up and held my baby out toward me.
I sobbed with profound relief and rushed forward to take my beautiful daughter back into my arms.
The moment my hands touched the warm blanket, a sharp sting pierced my neck.
Eleanor had hidden a small syringe inside the baby's blanket, and she had just injected me with a powerful sedative.
My vision immediately began to blur, and my legs felt like heavy lead weights.
I collapsed onto the cold gravel, fiercely wrapping my body around my baby to protect her from the fall.
Arthur roared in anger and tackled Eleanor to the ground before she could move another inch.
The world around me began to fade into dark, swirling shadows.
I heard the sound of police sirens approaching the hospital from the city streets below.
I felt warm, strong hands gently lifting me and my baby off the freezing roof.
I faded into complete unconsciousness, praying that my nightmare was finally over.
When I opened my eyes again, the bright fluorescent lights of a hospital room blinded me.
Arthur was sitting in a chair beside my bed, holding my hand with a gentle, loving grip.
"You are safe now, Vivienne," my father whispered softly.
I looked around frantically, ignoring the heavy grogginess in my brain.
"Where is Sophia?" I demanded.
Arthur's expression darkened, and he looked away from me with a heavy sigh.
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"Sophia is in the neonatal intensive care unit," he answered quietly.
"The doctors discovered something incredibly concerning in her routine blood work."
