THE ARCHITECTS OF OUR RUIN: HOW ONE CRUSHED CAKE UNRAVELED A DECADE OF DECEPTION

The impact with the manicured lawn knocked the wind completely out of Julian’s lungs. Wet mud filled his mouth and soaked through his expensive black tuxedo, instantly ruining the fabric. He rolled twice, ignoring the sharp stabs of pain in his ribs, and scrambled to his feet. The armored van’s tires were spinning furiously in the mud, throwing up clumps of grass as it fought for traction near the courtyard gates.

Julian sprinted toward the vehicle, his dress shoes slipping on the wet turf.

“Lily!” he screamed into the roaring wind and driving rain.

The rear doors of the van flew open. Marcus tumbled out onto the wet pavement, thrown unceremoniously from the vehicle as it accelerated. A gloved hand reached out from inside the cabin, firing a non-lethal stun dart that zipped past Julian’s ear, burying itself into a nearby oak tree with a sharp thwack.

Julian didn't stop. He lunged forward, catching the bottom edge of the closing rear door just as the van surged forward onto the main street. The momentum dragged him across the slick asphalt, tearing the fabric of his sleeves and shredding his palms. Through the narrow gap in the doors, he saw Lily sitting inside, bound securely to a seat, her eyes wide with terror, wearing her ruined pink dress.

“Daddy!” her muffled cry pierced the storm.

Inside the cabin, a hooded figure shoved the doors shut with brutal force, catching Julian’s fingers in the latch. A sharp crack of bone echoed in his ears, and Julian lost his grip, tumbling backward onto the wet street.

The van roared into the night, its taillights bleeding red streaks into the rain.

Julian lay on the asphalt, cradling his broken fingers, the agony burning up his arm. Footsteps splashed heavily through the puddles beside him. Arthur stood over him, breathing heavily, rain plastering his dark hair across his forehead.