Chapter 3 - The Fortress on Wheels
The market erupted into absolute chaos. Screaming families scattered, overturning vegetable tables and smashing flower pots as Daniel’s two bodyguards returned fire, their un-silenced weapons roaring with a deafening authority.
Daniel didn't wait for the smoke to clear. He scooped Noah up in one powerful arm, gripped my wrist with his free hand, and hauled me to my feet.
"Run, Emily! To the G-Wagon!"
We sprinted across the cobblestones as bullets snapped through the air around us. Viktor fired a final suppressing spread into the crowd, dropping a second hitman before running backward toward the vehicle.
Daniel threw open the heavy, armored door of the black Mercedes, tossing Noah into the leather back seat before shoving me in behind him. The door slammed shut with the heavy, vacuum-sealed thud of a bank vault just as two rounds ricocheted harmlessly off the reinforced, ballistic glass.
Viktor threw the vehicle into reverse, the tires screaming against the pavement as he smashed through a wooden barrier and tore down the sleepy Portland side street.
Noah was crying now, burying his face in my lap. I held him, my body shaking violently as I looked across the cabin at the man I had spent four years fleeing.
Daniel was bleeding from a shallow graze on his cheekbone, but his eyes were fixed entirely on our son.
"He has my chin," Daniel whispered, his voice trembling for a fraction of a second before he caught himself. He looked up, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. "Four years, Emily. You let me believe my uncle had successfully killed you. You let me grieve my family."
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"I did it to keep him alive, Daniel!" I screamed back, the tears finally spilling over. "Matteo would have used a baby as leverage to control you! You know what your family does to legacy heirs!"
"Matteo is about to find out what I do to traitors," Daniel said smoothly, pulling a satellite phone from the console.
