Chapter 2 - No Safe Haven
The three men at the bottom of the stairwell stared up at me with cold, emotionless faces.
I clutched Lily so tightly against my chest that she let out a small gasp.
I recognized these men from the numerous times they had visited Adrian Vale's private estate.
They were supposed to be Adrian's most loyal enforcers, but now their guns were aimed at my heart.
Mason Reed burst into the stairwell above us, breathing heavily and wiping blood from his shattered nose.
"Do not let the housekeeper and her brat leave this hospital alive," Mason barked from the top landing.
My mind raced desperately for any possible way out of this deadly trap.
There were no windows in this concrete stairwell, and the only two exits were completely blocked by armed killers.
I stepped backward slowly, pressing my spine against the cold cinderblock wall.
"Please, she is just a little girl," I begged the men below me.
The lead enforcer, a huge man named Dante, stepped forward and slowly raised his heavy pistol.
I closed my eyes and turned my body to shield my daughter from the inevitable bullets.
A deafening series of gunshots echoed through the narrow, enclosed space.
I waited for the burning pain to hit me, but nothing happened.
I cautiously opened my eyes and looked down at the landing below.
Dante had turned his weapon on the other two enforcers, dropping them instantly to the concrete floor.
He looked up at me with a fierce, unwavering loyalty burning in his dark eyes.
"Mr. Vale saved my life ten years ago, and I am not betraying him today," Dante declared firmly.
He aimed his gun up at Mason and fired twice, forcing the traitor to dive back into the hallway for cover.
"Get down here right now!" Dante shouted to me over the ringing noise in my ears.
I ran down the remaining steps as fast as my trembling legs could possibly carry me.
Dante grabbed my arm and dragged us out of the stairwell into the underground parking garage.
The air smelled heavily of exhaust fumes and damp concrete.
We sprinted toward a black armored SUV parked near the rear exit of the facility.
"We need to get Mr. Vale out of that operating room before Mason finishes the job," Dante said as he unlocked the doors.
"Dr. Brooks is loyal, she locked the surgical wing down the moment you threw that tray," I replied breathlessly.
Dante nodded and started the massive engine of the vehicle with a loud roar.
Suddenly, Lily pulled on my collar and pointed her tiny finger toward the back seat of the SUV.
"Mama, the back seat smells like fireworks and hot metal," Lily whimpered anxiously.
Dante slammed on the brakes before the vehicle even moved an inch.
He unbuckled his seatbelt and practically threw himself into the back row to inspect the area.
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He pulled up the heavy floor mats and cursed loudly under his breath.
Wired directly beneath the passenger seat was a blinking block of plastic explosives counting down from ten seconds.
