Chapter 7 - The Vanishing Act
Police sirens blared outside as federal agents and local police swept the hospital. Adrian was handcuffed to a gurney, under heavy armed guard, charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and corporate embezzlement.
For two days, it felt like the nightmare was finally dissolving. The child, little Lily, survived the operation thanks to Dr. Lin taking over the surgery in time. The press flipped dramatically, praising Ethan’s heroic intervention and condemning Adrian as a clinical psychopath.
I stayed at Ethan’s estate, recovering physically and mentally. The bruises on my ribs had faded to a light yellow. For the first time in a year, I breathed without feeling a hand around my throat.
Then, at 3:00 AM on the third night, the estate’s high-decibel alarm system screamed.
Red lights flashed down the corridors. I sat up in bed, my heart instantly leaping into my throat. The door to my bedroom flew open. It wasn't Ethan. It was Vance, his face covered in sweat.
"Miss Bennett, we have a breach! The transport carrying Vaughn to the federal holding facility was ambushed on the highway! He’s escaped!"
Before Vance could finish his sentence, the power to the entire estate vanished. Pitch darkness swallowed the room.
A sharp heavy thud echoed from the hallway outside, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor. Vance turned, drawing his weapon, but a shadowy figure stepped out of the darkness, driving a heavy taser into Vance’s neck. Vance collapsed, unconscious.
Out of the gloom walked Adrian.
May you like
He was dressed in dark tactical gear, his face bruised from his fight with Ethan, his eyes burned with an unholy, maniacal light. In his hand, he held a silenced pistol.
"Hello, my love," Adrian purred, his voice dripping with venomous affection. "Did you really think prison could hold me away from what's mine?"
