Chapter 8 - THE ESCAPE PLAN
"Don't you dare touch her," Arthur said, his voice dropping into a register of pure, lethal intent. He stepped out of the bedroom, placing his body directly between Julian and Emma’s bedroom door.
Julian grinned, a cruel, uneven smile. "Out of the way, Sterling. We just want to leave. Give us the keys to the SUV and let us take the girl for a little ride to ensure our safe passage, and nobody gets hurt."
"Daddy!" Emma cried, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her favorite stuffed rabbit.
"Emma, get in your room and lock the door now!" Arthur commanded without turning his head.
Emma scrambled backward, her bedroom door clicking shut.
Julian lunged forward, swinging the tire iron with terrifying speed. Arthur ducked, the metal whistling past his ear and smashing into the antique plaster wall behind him, sending a shower of white dust over his shoulders.
Arthur counter-punched, his fist catching Julian squarely in the jaw. The larger man stumbled backward, his head slamming against the doorframe, but he didn't fall.
Meanwhile, Victoria was running down the back staircase, the leather bag clutched to her chest. She didn't care about her brother; she didn't care about Arthur. Her only goal was survival.
But as she reached the bottom of the stairs, the massive front doors of the mansion were thrown open.
The glare of red and blue police lights illuminated the grand foyer.
Three police officers, their weapons drawn, flooded into the house, led by a detective in a trench coat. Behind them, leaning heavily on a young paramedic, was Maria. Her head was bandaged, but her eyes were sharp, focused, and filled with a quiet, undeniable justice.
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"Victoria Sterling," the detective called out, his voice echoing through the vaulted ceiling. "Step away from the stairs and place your hands on your head."
Victoria froze on the bottom step, the leather bag slipping from her fingers and spilling diamond necklaces and stacks of cash across the marble floor.
