Chapter 4 - Ambush in the Library
Grant Vance was a man constructed entirely of power and posture. He wore a gray cashmere sweater, his silver hair perfectly styled, a glass of expensive bourbon resting casually in his right hand.
His eyes swept over Claire before settling on Ethan.
“Ethan Reed,” Grant said smoothly, stepping into the room. “The carpenter. I recognized your beat-up truck parked down the street on the security feed. I must admit, Claire, I expected better of you. Taking refuge with the maintenance staff?”
“He’s not maintenance, Grant,” Claire said, taking a sharp step forward, placing herself partially in front of Ethan. “He’s twice the man you’ll ever be.”
Grant laughed—a dry, cutting sound. “Is that so? Well, 'twice the man' is currently committing felony burglary on private property.” He gestured to the two guards behind him. “Call the Franklin County Sheriff. Tell them we caught two intruders red-handed attempting to steal valuable assets from my residence.”
“This house is marital property, Grant!” Claire snapped. “I have every legal right to be here!”
“The temporary occupancy order granted me exclusive use of these premises as of noon yesterday,” Grant replied, pulling a folded legal document from his pocket and tossing it onto the coffee table. “You are trespassing, Claire. And your little woodworker friend here is an accomplice.”
Grant turned his cold eyes toward Ethan.
“You have a daughter, don't you, Reed? Sophie, is it? It would be a terrible shame if a felony record resulted in a sudden review of your parental fitness by the state of Ohio. A single father involved in breaking-and-entering operations... I don't think Judge Miller would take kindly to that.”
Ethan felt a surge of adrenaline hit his bloodstream, hot and violent. The threat against Sophie was unmistakable.
“Leave my daughter out of this, Vance,” Ethan said, his voice dropping an octave, dead and dangerous.
“Then drop the charter and get on your knees,” Grant commanded, setting his glass down. “Both of you. Right now.”
Ethan looked down at the red leather document in Claire’s hands, then back at Grant.
He calculated the distance between himself and the nearest guard: six feet. He calculated the weight of the bronze statuette resting on the side table next to him: four pounds.
“Claire,” Ethan said softly. “When I say run, you run to the service door.”
“Ethan, no—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Ethan grabbed the heavy bronze statuette and slammed it against the glass patio doors behind the fireplace mantle. The tempered glass shattered into a thousand glittering pieces, the alarm system immediately wailing with a deafening, high-pitched screech.
The sudden detonation of sound and flying glass shocked the guards.
Ethan lunged forward, throwing his weight into the first guard, sending him crashing into Grant. Bourbon glasses shattered, furniture overturned, and Grant let out a furious curse as he hit the hardwood floor.
“Run, Claire! GO!” Ethan yelled, grabbing the second guard by his collar and shoving him backward into the library shelves, sending a cascade of heavy encyclopedias raining down on him.
Claire didn't hesitate. She clutched the red leather charter to her chest and sprinted through the shattered glass door out into the rainy garden.
May you like
Ethan broke free from the scuffle, vaulted over the overturned coffee table, and dove through the broken window frame into the cold night air right behind her.
“Get them!” Grant’s voice screamed over the blaring security sirens. “Don't let her leave with that document!”
