Chapter 12 - CLARA DISAPPEARS
The room emptied instantly.
Security officers ran toward the parking garage.
I grabbed Clara.
“Stay with me.”
She nodded.
But the lights went out.
Three seconds.
That was all it took.
When they came back on, Clara was gone.
I felt my heart stop.
“CLARA!”
No answer.
The cameras had been disabled.
Every exit locked.
Marcus ran toward me.
“Sir, there was a vehicle.”
“Which one?”
“Black sedan.”
“License plate?”
“Fake.”
I couldn't think.
Then I saw something on the floor.
Clara's wedding ring.
My knees almost gave out.
She never took it off.
Not once.
I picked it up.
Adrian stood beside me.
“This is my fault.”
“No.”
“It was my family's war.”
I looked at him.
“It's our war now.”
We traced the vehicle.
It led to an abandoned hotel.
I went inside with Adrian and Marcus.
The building was empty.
Too empty.
Then we heard a voice.
“Julian.”
Evelyn stepped from the shadows.
She held a knife.
Clara stood behind her.
Unharmed.
Terrified.
“Let her go.”
Evelyn smiled.
“You sound like your father.”
“I am nothing like him.”
“You're exactly like him.”
“No.”
I stepped forward.
“Because he abandoned the people he loved.”
I looked at Clara.
“I won't.”
Evelyn's expression changed.
“Then sign the transfer.”
She held out documents.
I laughed.
“You kidnapped my wife for paperwork?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“I kidnapped your wife to make you understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That money isn't power.”
She looked at Clara.
“Love is.”
May you like
Then Evelyn lowered the knife.
And someone behind me fired a gun.
