Chapter 3 - The Broken Sanctuary
Our vehicle was forced to abandon the main highway. The driver took violent turns down narrow, unlit alleyways to shake our pursuers. Vincent stared blankly at his dead phone screen. His brother, Carlo, had always been ambitious. But trying to assassinate Vincent and take over the family syndicate was a level of treason no one expected. "Where are we going now?" I asked, my voice trembling. Vincent did not look at me. "To the only place Carlo doesn't know about," he replied coldly. We arrived at an abandoned subway maintenance tunnel hidden beneath the city. The rusted gates shrieked as the SUV pushed through them into the darkness. Once we were safely inside, Vincent ordered everyone out. The damp air smelled of mold and old iron. Noah clung tightly to my hand. He refused to let go, even when his father tried to carry him. Vincent watched this interaction with a mixture of jealousy and profound gratitude. "He trusts you," Vincent said quietly. "I just gave him a sandwich," I replied defensively. "You gave him his voice back," Vincent corrected me. I sat on a wooden crate and pulled Noah onto my lap to keep him warm. The boy was shivering uncontrollably from the dropping temperature. Vincent began speaking to his wounded driver, planning their next tactical move. I gently stroked Noah’s hair. "You are very brave," I whispered to the little boy. Noah looked up at me with his large, sorrowful blue eyes. He leaned in close to my ear. "My uncle Carlo didn't just take the house," Noah whispered faintly. I froze, confused by his words. "What do you mean, sweetheart?" I asked. Noah’s eyes filled with fresh tears as he looked toward his father. "My uncle Carlo is the one who pushed my mommy down the stairs two years ago," Noah breathed. Before I could process this horrifying confession, the tunnel doors exploded inward with blinding light.
