Sean pushed forward, but a man appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path.
The stranger collided with him head–on, spilling red wine all over Sean’s su
Sean barely flinched, His only thought was to get past him and reach Charlotte. He sidestepped to move around, but the man mirrored him, stepping the same way.
#1’m so sorry, Mr. Jasper. <b>I </b>didn’t mean to. Mease, let me take care of the dry cleaning-
“It’s fine,” Sean said curtly<b>, </b>trying again to get by.
But the man wouldn’t i
“please don’t be upset, Mr. Jasper-
“Get out of my way!” Sean snapped.
Finally, the min backed off.
Sean rushed to the elevator bank just <b>in </b>time to see the floor number climbing–89. His heart sank,
Even
f he jumped into the next elevator now, he wouldn’t make it in time.
Then something struck him. He spun around and scanned the crowd.
The <b>man </b>who had bumped into him was gone.
Sean’s expression hardened. That guy had done it on purpose.
A few blocks away, parked discreetly <b>outside </b>a side gate of the estate<b>, </b>a <b>ck </b>Audi sat with its engine running.
The man who had stalled Sean climbed into the driver’s seat. “All set, Miss Kander.”
In the back, Vivian leanedzily against the <b>seat</b>, eyes closed. “Drive.”
The man besitated. “Aren’t we waiting for <b>Judy</b>?”
<b>Vivian </b>let <b>out </b>a coldugh. “If we wait for <b>that </b><b>idiot</b><b>, </b>none of <b>us </b><b>are </b>getting out of here.”
Meanwhile, Charlotte stepped out of the elevator and sprinted to the <b>rooftop</b>.
She shoved open the beavy metal door, and the moment she stepped outside, hereyes locked on jodle..
Her little sister was tied to a chair, positioned dangerously close to the edge of the roof. Her mouth was taped shut, anns and legs bound with rope. A masked figure stood <b>beside </b>her, holding <b>a </b>knife to her neck
Jodie <b>couldn’t </b>scream, but her eyes were wide with terror, tears pouring down her <b>face</b>,
Charlotte’s heart shattered.
<b>Just </b>that moming, Jodie had been giggling <b>and </b>clinging to her, asking if she would stille home after getting married. And now
Charlotte forced herself <b>to </b><b>stay </b>calm. She spoke to the figure<b>, </b><b>vole </b>steady. “Let my sistergo. Whatever you want, I’ll do <b>it</b>.”
Come here,” the figure ordered, her voice no longer distorted. It was <b>a </b>woman, the charlotte didn’t recognize
Hry,”
“Charlotte didn’t hesitate. She took a step forward.
Just as she <b>got </b>within a few feet, Sean’s voice <b>rang </b>out behind her..
“Lottie! <b>Don’t</b>!”
She froze, startled, and turned back
—
this. Herlite hanging by a
Sean was running at full speed. He reached her and yanked her <b>nos </b>amis, holding her tightly, his voice sisaking with fear. “Don’t go near her. It’s too
Judy stood froze, watching the scene unfold before her eyes. Tears streamed <b>down </b><b>her </b>cheeks uncontrobly. Her chest ached so bailly it felt like she couldn’t
She let out a bitter, brokenugh, the <b>sound </b>cracked with pain “What a love <b>story</b>,” she choked out. “One anyone would envy
she whispered, her valor trembling, “<b>you </b><b>don’t </b>care whether I live or die, but <b>you’d </b>risk everything for her ”
Slowly, she pulled off the mask, <b>revealing </b>her tear–streaked Lace. Her eyes wee bloodshot but filled with a hollow rage.
Sheughed <b>again</b>—this time manic, almost unhinged<b>. </b>“Hahaha Fine Fuel How wonderful
Why?”
by?” she screamed, her face contorting with pain and tony. “Wiry does she get your love?t
Then her eyes zed with violent revolve.
<b>Without </b>warning, Pady lunged forward, the knife in her hand shling as she charged straight at Charlotte.
They were only a few feet apart. Charlotte had her backtoed,pletely aw