Chapter 2 - The Iron Gates
The black SUV's bulletproof glass made the Chicago streets look dark and blurry.
Sophie sat in the back seat, holding the sleeping baby tightly against her chest.
Dominic sat opposite her, his dark eyes watching her every move in total silence.
They pulled up to a massive stone mansion surrounded by electrified iron gates.
Heavily armed men patrolled the perimeter with large, vicious attack dogs.
"Welcome to your new home," Dominic said as the heavy vehicle doors swung open.
Sophie stepped out into the freezing wind, pulling the baby's blanket higher to protect him.
She was led up a grand marble staircase to a nursery that looked exactly like a fortress.
The windows were barred with steel, and high-tech security cameras blinked in every corner.
A stern woman in a grey uniform walked in holding a silver tray with a warm bottle.
"I am the head housekeeper, Miss Lane, and I will feed the child now."
Sophie reached out to take the bottle, her old nursing instincts flaring up instantly.
She noticed the warm milk had a faint, unnatural blue tint swirling at the bottom.
She suddenly smelled the sharp, unmistakable scent of bitter almonds coming from the liquid.
"Who prepared this?" Sophie demanded, stepping away from the older woman.
The housekeeper's eyes darted nervously toward the open hallway.
"I did, exactly as Mister Moretti instructed."
Sophie smashed the glass bottle onto the hardwood floor with all her might.
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The liquid hissed violently as it burned a hole straight through the expensive Persian rug.
The housekeeper pulled a silenced pistol from her apron and aimed it directly at Sophie's head.
