Chapter 1 - The Panic Inside the Grand Hallway
The heavy oak doors of the grand hallway seemed to close in from all sides, suffocating the air out of the room. Lily stood trembling in her little pink dress, the plastic toy stethoscope bouncing against her chest with every frantic, shallow breath she took. Her long blonde hair clung to her damp forehead as tears spilled over her eyelashes, cutting tracks through the dust on her cheeks. She pointed a small, shaking finger toward the courtyard outside, her voice cracking into a desperate sob that echoed off the marble pillars.
"She is in there! You have to open the door right now!" Lily screamed, her small body shaking with a terror no child should ever have to experience.
Jax took a heavy, involuntary step back, his massive frame suddenly feeling fragile. The dark tattoos wrapping around his muscular arms tightened as he clenched his fists in pure disbelief. He wore his usual black shirt and heavy silver necklace, but tonight, the weight of the silver felt like a lead anchor pulling him down. His dark, wavy hair fell across his furrowed brow, framing a face twisted in agonizing tension.
"Lily, stop running. Calm down and tell me what you are talking about," Jax muttered, his deep voice thick with a sudden, paralyzing dread.
"No time! You are wasting time!" Elena shouted from the top of the marble staircase, her white blazer immaculate against the dark wood of the manor. Her eyes were wide, the pupils dilated with a sickening realization. In her trembling hand, she clutched the pink car key remote like it was a live grenade.
"You locked her in manually, Elena! You had the override switch!" Jax roared, turning on her with a fury that made the chandelier above them rattle.
"I didn't mean to! The security system reset itself!" Elena shrieked back, her voice climbing an octave in sheer panic.
"Quiet! Both of you!" Jax barked, his face darkening with absolute rage. He grabbed Elena by the arm, his fingers digging into the fabric of her white blazer. "Where is the physical backup key?"
May you like
Elena stared at him, her face draining of all color as she whispered, "It is inside the glove box."
---
