Chapter 11
The heavy metal pipes slammed repeatedly against the side panels of the car, creating a deafening cacophony of shattering glass and crushed metal. Sarah screamed, curling into a tight ball on the passenger seat as the windshield spider-webbed under a brutal blow from a crowbar. Julian’s instincts took over instantly. He threw the transmission into reverse, stepping hard on the gas pedal, but the rear tires spun uselessly against a thick steel cable that the attackers had secretly looped behind the axle.
One of the masked men lunged forward, smashing the driver’s side window with a heavy iron wrench. Shards of safety glass rained down over Julian’s face and shoulders, drawing thin lines of blood along his jawline. Before Julian could unbuckle his seatbelt, a gloved hand reached through the broken window, grabbing him by the collar of his tuxedo shirt and violently yanking him outward.
Julian fought back with every ounce of strength he possessed, driving his elbow backward into his attacker’s ribs with a sickening crunch. The man groaned, releasing his grip, but two more assailants rushed forward, pinning Julian’s arms behind his back and slamming him hard against the side of the car.
"Stop moving, or the girl gets it right now!" a harsh, raspy voice growled directly into his ear.
Julian froze instantly, his chest heaving as he stared up through the damp fog. One of the masked men pulled down his balaclava just enough to reveal a jagged scar running across his chin, grinning maliciously as he pulled out a small walkie-talkie.
"We have the target secured," the man spoke into the device. "Bring out the kid."
From behind one of the black SUVs, a third figure emerged, dragging a small, struggling blonde figure wrapped tightly in a thick gray blanket. Lily. Her face was pale, but her bright blue eyes flashed with fierce defiance as she fought against her captor’s grip.
"Daddy!" Lily cried out, her voice cutting sharply through the roar of the ocean waves crashing against the nearby cliffs.
"Lily!" Julian roared, straining against the heavy grip of the men holding him, but the restraints only tightened, biting painfully into his wrists.
May you like
The scarred man laughed, stepping closer to Julian and patting his jacket pockets down with rough efficiency until his hand struck the heavy brass key. He pulled the key out, holding it up triumphantly under the amber glow of the hazard lights.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Julian," the man sneered, pocketing the key before signaling his team to pull back toward the SUVs.
