Chapter 6 - The Rain on Iron Street
Rain lashed against the black asphalt of the alleyway behind the hotel. Julian’s sleek town car was parked near the dumpster bay, his driver slumped unconscious over the steering wheel, a bloody gash across his forehead.
"Get in the back!" Julian ordered, opening the rear door and shoving Lily inside onto the leather seat. He checked the driver’s pulse—weak, but alive. Julian dragged his unconscious chauffeur into the passenger seat, jumped behind the wheel, and hit the ignition.
Clara scrambled into the back seat beside Lily just as two armed men stepped into the alleyway, raising semi-automatic pistols. Julian slammed the car into reverse. The tires squealed violently on the wet pavement, throwing plumes of spray as the vehicle smashed through the alley's iron security barrier.
Bullets shattered the rear window, spraying tempered glass across the floorboards. Lily let out a sharp cry and curled into a ball, while Clara covered her ears, screaming in terror. Julian spun the steering wheel, throwing the heavy sedan into a hard drift onto the bustling city avenue, slipping into the sea of evening commuter traffic.
Julian breathed heavily, watching the rearview mirror. No pursuit vehicles had pulled out yet, but in a city owned by the Vance family, surveillance cameras were ubiquitous.
"Clara," Julian said, his voice cold as ice through the roaring rain outside. "Talk. Right now. Why does Lily have Elena’s eyes?"
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Clara looked down at the trembling child beside her, her voice barely a whisper. "Because Lily isn't just Elena's daughter, Julian. She's yours."
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