Chapter 10 - The Trap is Sprung
Emma’s heart dropped instantly. "What is it? What happened?"
Julian held up a tablet displaying a live security feed from St. Jude’s Children’s Clinic. "Ten minutes ago, an unauthorized vehicle pulled into the back alley of the clinic. Two men posing as family transport agents bypassed the front desk and escorted Liam Carter out through the emergency exit."
Emma jumped to her feet so fast her chair screeched against the marble floor. "Liam?! No! No, that’s impossible! He was supposed to be resting at home until his afternoon appointment!"
"His neighbor called an ambulance an hour ago because he had an acute asthma attack," Julian reported rapidly. "He was transported to the clinic. But before our team could secure the perimeter, these men intercepted him."
Emma’s phone began to vibrate violently in her pocket.
With shaking hands, she pulled it out. An unknown number flashed on the screen. She pressed answer and put it on speaker.
"Emma Carter?" Victoria Sterling’s voice purred through the speaker, dripping with sickening triumph.
"Victoria!" Emma screamed, her voice cracking with terror. "Where is my brother?! What did you do to Liam?!"
"He’s right here, darling," Victoria laughed coldly. In the background, the faint, wheezing sound of a child gasping for air could be heard, followed by a weak, terrified cry: *"Emma! Emma, help me!"*
"Liam!" Emma sobbed, clutching the phone against her ear. "Victoria, please! He can't breathe without his machine! Please don't hurt him!"
"If you want your little brother to survive the hour, you will listen to me very carefully," Victoria snarled, dropping the polite facade. "You will come alone to Warehouse 42 at Pier 42 on the south docks. No cops. No Moretti bodyguards. You will sign a sworn confession stating that you assaulted me at the gala, that you framed me, and that you are an extortionist. If I see a single patrol car, I will throw his inhaler into Lake Michigan and leave him in the cold."
The line went dead.
Emma stumbled backward, her vision blurring with panic. "I have to go. I have to save him—"
Before she could take another step, a strong, warm hand gripped her shoulder firmly.
May you like
She looked up into the blazing, furious eyes of Vincent Moretti.
"You are not going alone," Vincent said, his voice rumbling like impending thunder. He looked at Julian, his jaw set in iron. "Mobilize the tactical team. Lock down every exit from Pier 42. If a single hair on that boy’s head is harmed, Victoria Sterling will learn what true ruin looks like."
