Chapter 5 - AN ATTACK IN THE NIGHT

I burst into the suite to find Sarah struggling with a masked man.

He held a cloth over her face. She fought wildly, clawing, kicking, screaming his name. He slammed her against the wall. Her eyes rolled back. She went limp in his arms.

“MOMMY!” Lily screamed from the corner.

The man turned toward her.

I roared and lunged. We crashed to the floor together. He was strong, desperate. We rolled across the carpet, punching, grappling. He drove an elbow into my ribs. Pain flared but I held on.

Two guards burst in and hauled him off me. He struggled violently, but they pinned him face down. One ripped off his mask.

I froze.

I knew him. He was one of Julian’s personal security team.

“Who sent you?” I demanded, grabbing him by the collar. “Julian?”

The man spat blood onto the carpet. He smiled.

“Too late,” he said. “The car is already gone.”

My blood ran cold. “What car?”

“Julian took the girl. Your daughter.”

I whirled around.

Lily was gone.

The window stood wide open. A rope made of knotted sheets dangled downward.

Sarah lay motionless on the floor, barely breathing. I dropped to her side. Her pulse was faint but steady. The drug… it was meant to sedate, not kill.

“Secure the house! Seal every gate!” I shouted. “Send teams after Julian! He has my daughter!”

I stood at the window, staring into the darkness. Julian had not come to kill Sarah. He had come to take Lily. To use her as leverage.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text message. Unknown number.

*Drop all charges. Withdraw all accusations. Or you will never see your daughter alive again. Wait for instructions. — J.*

I gripped the phone until my knuckles turned white.

He had Lily. And he believed he had won.

He was wrong.

Sarah stirred behind me. “Lily…” she whispered weakly.

I knelt beside her. “She is safe. We will get her back. I promise you. No matter what it costs.”

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I stood up. “Rest. I am bringing our daughter home.”