Chapter 4 - Someone Inside the House
The darkness lasted three seconds.
Three seconds was enough.
A window shattered upstairs.
Victor shouted.
"DOWN!"
Roman grabbed Naomi and pulled her behind the dining table.
A bullet struck the wall.
The triplets woke simultaneously.
Their cries filled the house.
Roman moved toward the nursery.
Victor grabbed him.
"No."
"My sons—"
"We'll get them."
Victor ran upstairs.
Naomi followed.
Roman cursed and went after them.
When they reached the nursery, the babies were gone.
The cribs were empty.
Roman stopped dead.
"No."
Victor stared at the open window.
"No one came through here."
Naomi noticed something.
A blanket lay on the floor.
She picked it up.
There was a small red mark.
Blood.
Roman's face turned murderous.
"Find them."
Every guard in the house moved.
Naomi suddenly heard crying.
Not from upstairs.
From beneath them.
She looked at the floor.
"Roman."
He turned.
"Listen."
The crying was faint.
Coming from below.
A hidden room.
They found the entrance behind a bookshelf.
Inside were the triplets.
Alive.
A woman was holding them.
She wore a nurse's uniform.
Roman aimed his gun.
"Put my children down."
The woman turned.
She was crying.
"I was trying to save them."
Victor stared at her.
"Elise."
Roman's personal nanny.
Roman lowered the gun slightly.
"Why?"
Elise shook her head.
"Because I was told the house was compromised."
"By whom?"
She looked at Naomi.
"Her."
Naomi froze.
"What?"
Elise whispered:
"Your mother."
Naomi stepped forward.
"My mother has been dead for years."
Elise shook her head.
"Not according to the messages."
She pulled out her phone.
There were dozens.
All from an unknown number.
The latest message had arrived five minutes earlier.
Bring Naomi to the old station. Alone.
Roman took the phone.
His face became expressionless.
"She's alive."
Naomi couldn't breathe.
"What?"
May you like
Roman looked at her.
"Your mother may still be alive."
