Chapter 3 - The Ex-Husband's Shadow
"My ex-husband," Clare wept hysterically, the freezing rain washing the blood down her pale face. "Marcus. He found out I was meeting you tonight."
Vincent’s jaw literally unhinged. The crushing magnitude of the situation hit him with the physical force of a freight train.
He knew exactly who Marcus was. Marcus wasn't just a bitter ex-husband. He was a vicious, highly corrupt local politician with massive, terrifying connections to the city's criminal underworld. Clare had finalized a brutal, highly publicized divorce from him a year ago, but Marcus had explicitly sworn that if she ever tried to move on, he would completely destroy her life.
"He had his men ambush me when I got out of the taxi," Clare sobbed, clutching her daughter's yellow raincoat. "They dragged us into the alley. They took my purse, my phone, and all my identification. Marcus told them to make sure I never made it inside the restaurant."
Vincent physically stopped breathing. The air in the dark alleyway was completely sucked out.
"He said if I screamed, they would take my daughter," Clare whispered, absolute terror completely paralyzing her. "I told Lily to hide behind the dumpster. I told her to stay completely quiet. But when the men walked away to call Marcus, she ran into the restaurant to find you."
Vincent looked down at the tiny six-year-old girl holding the stuffed rabbit. She really was braver than her mother. She had literally risked her life to find the only man who could protect them.
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Suddenly, the harsh, blinding headlights of a massive black SUV aggressively illuminated the mouth of the alleyway.
👉 Vincent stood up, entirely ready to unleash absolute hell on the corrupt politician's strike team.
