Chapter 10
The heavy glass doors of the hotel slid open, and the freezing night air hit Alexander's face. He barely felt the cold. The adrenaline pumping through his veins kept him hyper-focused. A sleek, black luxury town car was already idling at the curb, the driver standing by the open rear door, his eyes wide as he took in his employer’s disheveled state and the filthy child in his arms.
"Mr. Sterling, is everything—" the driver started.
"Get in and drive, Thomas," Alexander interrupted, sliding into the spacious backseat and pulling Sophia onto his lap. "Lock the doors. Do not stop for anyone."
The heavy doors slammed shut, sealing them in a quiet, leather-scented cocoon. The car accelerated smoothly away from the curb, leaving the flashing lights of the arriving police cruisers in the rearview mirror. Alexander finally let out a long, shuddering breath. He sank back against the plush upholstery, wrapping his arms securely around his daughter. He pulled his suit jacket off and draped it over her shivering frame, creating a makeshift blanket.
"We're safe, sweetheart," Alexander whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her dirty, tangled hair. "We are going far away from here. You are going to have hot food, a warm bath, and a bed so soft you'll think you're sleeping on a cloud. I promise you, I will never, ever leave you again."
Sophia shifted on his lap, her small hand reaching up to touch his face, her thumb brushing against the tears he hadn't realized he was shedding. She looked up at him, the terror finally fading from her eyes, replaced by a profound, exhaustion-fueled relief.
"I know, Daddy," she whispered softly.
The car merged onto the highway, the city lights streaking past the tinted windows. Alexander watched the skyline of the city he had conquered fade into the distance. He had an empire to dismantle, a mother to send to prison, and a daughter to heal. It would be the hardest war he had ever fought.
Just as Alexander closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the seat, Sophia tugged weakly at his shirt.
"Daddy?" she asked, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, a dark shadow flickering across her young face.
"Yes, my love?"
"When the police talk to Grandma..." Sophia hesitated, looking back toward the rear window. "Are they going to find the others?"
Alexander’s eyes snapped open. His blood ran cold all over again. He stared at his six-year-old daughter, the ambient streetlights illuminating the absolute seriousness of her question.
May you like
"What others, Sophia?" Alexander asked, his voice barely a breath.
The car sped into the dark night, the engine humming a steady rhythm as Sophia looked back at him, her next words plunging Alexander into a nightmare far deeper than he could have ever imagined.
