Chapter 7 - THE ESCAPE
Victor's escape made national news.
The story was everywhere.
A violent husband.
A wealthy family.
A pregnant woman attacked in her own home.
A missing prisoner.
But the public didn't know the truth.
Victor wasn't running from the police.
He was running toward the second key.
And toward me.
Alessandro moved me to a secure property outside the city.
There were guards everywhere.
For the first time in my life, I slept without locking my bedroom door.
But I couldn't sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the cane.
I heard Helena laughing.
I heard Nora recording.
Then I remembered the baby.
I placed my hand on my stomach.
“Mommy's here.”
A tiny kick answered.
I smiled through tears.
“You're stronger than all of them.”
A knock came.
Evelyn entered.
She sat beside me.
“You need rest.”
“I can't.”
“I know.”
“Why did my mother trust Adrian?”
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“Because he was the only person who ever stood up to her.”
I looked at her.
“Did she love him?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Yes.”
My heart hurt.
“What about my father?”
“She loved him too.”
“Then why did everything fall apart?”
“Because sometimes love isn't enough to defeat fear.”
A security alarm suddenly sounded.
Evelyn stood.
The guards rushed down the hallway.
Alessandro appeared.
“Stay here.”
“What happened?”
“Someone breached the outer perimeter.”
My blood went cold.
“Victor?”
“We don't know.”
The lights went out.
Darkness.
Then a gunshot echoed somewhere outside.
I screamed.
Alessandro grabbed my arm.
“Move.”
We ran through a hidden corridor.
Another shot.
Then another.
A guard shouted.
Alessandro opened a steel door.
We entered a basement.
He locked it.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“I'll come back.”
He disappeared.
I stood in darkness.
Then I heard breathing.
Not Alessandro's.
Someone was already inside.
I turned.
A shadow moved.
I backed against the wall.
“Who's there?”
The figure stepped forward.
Victor.
My blood froze.
He looked terrible.
Blood covered his shirt.
But he was smiling.
“Hello, wife.”
I couldn't move.
He raised his hand.
“Give me the ring.”
“No.”
He took another step.
“Don't make me hurt you again.”
I placed both hands protectively over my stomach.
Victor looked at my belly.
Then smiled.
“That baby belongs to my family.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
He lunged.
Before he reached me, the door exploded open.
Alessandro and two guards rushed in.
Victor turned.
A struggle followed.
Victor was forced to the ground.
Alessandro pulled the ring from my finger.
He examined it.
Then he looked at me.
“We have it.”
Victor laughed.
“You think that's enough?”
Everyone froze.
Victor looked at me.
“You still don't know what your mother put inside the account.”
“What?”
His smile widened.
“Your mother didn't leave you money.”
May you like
He paused.
“She left you a weapon.”
