Chapter 15 - The Storm Approaches
Thunder cracked violently outside, shaking the massive windows of the Caldwell estate.
Claire froze at the top of the stairs, her maternal instincts overriding her terror.
"Where is he?" Claire demanded, her voice echoing loudly in the empty hall.
Damian took a slow step forward, tapping the iron poker against the palm of his hand.
"He is somewhere safe, somewhere you will never find him."
"My mother spent years taking care of that ungrateful brat, and this is how your husband repaid her."
"She died in the prison infirmary two days ago, Claire."
Claire gasped, realizing the true depth of Damian's unhinged grief.
"Damian, I am so sorry about your mother, but Noah had nothing to do with that."
"She poisoned him for years!"
"She was securing our future!" Damian screamed, his face twisting into an ugly mask of rage.
Suddenly, the massive crystal chandelier above them flickered and died.
The entire estate plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness.
Damian had cut the main power line to the house before coming inside.
The emergency backup generators did not kick on, meaning he had disabled those as well.
"You have absolutely nowhere to go," Damian’s voice floated up from the darkness.
"The gates are locked from the inside, and I took the spark plugs out of your cars."
Claire didn't waste a single second listening to his monologue.
She turned and ran silently back down the carpeted hallway toward the nursery.
She had to protect Lily first, then she had to find Noah.
She slipped into the nursery and locked the heavy oak door behind her.
She grabbed her cell phone, intending to call the police, but the screen displayed a dreaded message.
No Service.
Damian had installed a cellular jammer somewhere on the property.
They were completely cut off from the outside world.
Claire scooped the sleeping baby into her arms, pressing Lily tightly against her chest.
She grabbed a heavy bronze bookend from the shelf, her only makeshift weapon.
She could hear Damian's heavy boots slowly walking up the grand staircase.
He was not rushing.
He was enjoying the hunt, savoring the fear he was causing the woman who had ruined his mother's perfect scheme.
"You can't hide forever, Claire," Damian called out, his voice echoing in the dark hallway.
Claire took a deep breath, forcing her mind to remain entirely calm and analytical.
May you like
She was not a helpless victim.
She was a mother fighting for her children, and she was going to survive this night.
