Chapter 3 - The Burning Tower
The voice on the phone belonged to Marcus, her late husband's former business partner.
Victoria’s blood ran completely cold as the memory of his smug face flashed through her mind.
He was supposed to be serving a twenty-year sentence in a federal prison for embezzlement.
"Marcus?" she gasped, clutching the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"Send the brat down, Victoria, or you both burn," the voice sneered before the line went dead.
The elevator chimed cheerfully, announcing their arrival at the luxurious penthouse level.
The doors slid open to reveal a massive, dimly lit hallway lined with expensive modern art.
Victoria knew Marcus was absolutely not making an empty threat.
He was a diagnosed sociopath who had always possessed a terrifying talent for explosives.
She grabbed Maya’s hand and sprinted down the hall, avoiding her own suite entirely.
Instead, she kicked open the heavy metal door to the emergency stairwell.
"We have to walk down very fast, Maya," Victoria instructed, keeping her tone completely level.
The little girl nodded, her small bare feet padding softly against the cold concrete stairs.
They had only made it down three flights when a massive shockwave hit the building.
The explosion was deafening, vibrating violently through the steel foundation of the hotel.
Dust and plaster rained down on them as the emergency lights flickered and died.
Victoria shielded Maya with her own body, coughing through the thick cloud of gray smoke.
The penthouse, her secure home for the last three years, had just been vaporized.
Sirens began wailing in the distance, cutting through the rainy New York night.
They navigated the dark stairwell, descending fifty floors in agonizing, exhausting silence.
When they finally pushed through the ground-floor exit, they stumbled into a deserted back alley.
The freezing rain soaked Victoria’s ruined evening gown instantly.
A sleek black SUV suddenly screeched around the corner, its headlights blinding them.
The passenger door flew open, and Victoria’s trusted head of security, Thomas, leaned out.
"Ms. Hale, get in, quickly!" Thomas yelled over the raging downpour.
Victoria felt a surge of immense relief and moved toward the vehicle.
But Maya dug her heels into the mud and let out a bloodcurdling scream.
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"No!" the child shrieked, pointing a shaking finger directly at Thomas.
"He's the one who shot my mommy!"
