Chapter 5 - The Night of the Storm
The rain didn't fall; it assaulted the earth. As I stood at the edge of the forest bordering the estate, the darkness was absolute, save for the rhythmic, strobing beams of security lights sweeping the perimeter. Marcus was a shadow beside me, his movements fluid and silent.
"The East Wing is isolated," he whispered, his voice barely cutting through the howl of the wind. "We have a three-minute window between the patrol rotations. We go now."
We moved like ghosts. I didn't feel the cold or the mud that soaked through my tactical gear; I felt only the terrifying, electric pull of Mia being just a few hundred yards away. We reached the stone wall, and with a grunt of exertion, Marcus hoisted me up. I dropped onto the manicured grass of the courtyard, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.
The glass door to the East Wing was locked, but Marcus had a bypass tool. With a soft click, the lock gave way. We slipped inside. The house smelled of expensive wax and cold, dead silence.
I ignored the plush carpets and the art-lined walls, heading straight for the stairs. I knew the layout by heart, thanks to the blueprints I’d pulled from the firm’s server. I reached the nursery door, my hand shaking as I touched the handle. I pushed it open.
Mia was there. She was sitting on a plush rug, clutching a stuffed bear that wasn't hers. When she looked up, her eyes were wide, blinking in the dim light.
"Mommy?"
The sound of that single word shattered my composure. I fell to my knees, scooping her into my arms, burying my face in her hair. She smelled of soap and fear.
"I've got you," I sobbed, rocking her back and forth. "I've got you, baby. We’re going home."
May you like
But as I stood up to leave, the doorway darkened. Daniel was standing there, his face a mask of cold, hard calculation. He wasn't crying, and he wasn't mourning. He was holding a pistol, his finger poised on the trigger.
"You really couldn't let it go, could you, Sarah?" he said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "You were supposed to be the perfect widow. You were supposed to walk away."
