Chapter 9 - THE MIDNIGHT RAIDThe heavy pounding on the front door downstairs echoed like hammer blows through the quiet Brooklyn brownstone.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
"Open up! Child Protective Services and New York Police Department! Open the door immediately!"
Amelia froze, color draining entirely from her face. "They're here," she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Grayson—they're going to take her. Based on Jonathan's lies, they have the legal right to place her in temporary state custody until a Monday hearing!"
Grayson didn't panic. In the crucible of corporate warfare, panic was fatal. His mind shifted into overdrive, cold, calculating, and ruthlessly efficient.
"They don't have jurisdiction without a verified signature from a family court judge," Grayson said, his voice steel-hard. He turned to Amelia, grabbing her by the shoulders to anchor her fear. "Amelia, listen to me. Where is the secondary exit?"
"Through the kitchen, down the fire escape into the alley—"
"Pack a bag. Now," Grayson commanded, pulling his phone from his pocket with one hand while unbuttoning his suit jacket with the other. He dialed a direct, encrypted number that bypassed his corporate switchboard entirely. "Harold? Get up. I need an emergency injunction filed under seal with Judge Sterling’s private residence within the next ten minutes. I don't care if he's sleeping; wake him up."
Downstairs, the sound of splintering wood echoed as someone forced the exterior latch.
"They're in," Amelia whispered, clutching Chloe tightly against her chest, the baby now waking up and beginning to wail softly in terror.
"Give me her," Grayson said firmly, holding out his arms.
Amelia hesitated for a fraction of a second, looking into his eyes, and then trusted him with her entire world. Grayson scooped his daughter into his arms, shielding her tiny body against his chest with a protective ferocity that defied description.
"Follow me," Grayson said.
They bolted down the back hallway just as heavy boots thundered up the wooden stairs toward the second floor. Grayson pushed open the kitchen window leading to the fire escape, hoisting Amelia through first before stepping out into the freezing midnight rain with Chloe cradled securely against his heart.
As they descended the iron stairs into the dark alley, the door to the nursery burst open upstairs. A flashlight beam swept across the yard, shouting voices piercing the night.
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"They're on the fire escape! After them!"
Hook: Leaping from the fire escape into the pouring rain, the billionaire and his ex-wife run for their lives through the dark streets of Brooklyn—carrying the most precious cargo in the world.
