Chapter 4 - The Trap and the ThreatTwo weeks of absolute calm passed, lulling the mansion into a false sense of security. But in the underworld, wounded beasts fight back with desperate violence.
It happened on a rainy Tuesday evening.
Adrian was away at a high-level corporate summit across the city, scheduled to return late. The mansion was quiet, wrapped in the soothing rhythm of falling rain against the massive glass windows.
Maria was in the nursery putting Alina to sleep when a sudden, sharp chime echoed from the security intercom near the door.
She froze.
The intercom light was flashing red.
Moments later, the house phone rang. Maria hurried over and picked it up with a trembling hand.
"Maria," the head butler’s voice came through, sounding unusually strained. "Stay in the nursery. Lock the door. Do not come out."
"What's happening?" Maria gasped, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Someone bypassed the outer security sensors using forged credentials," the butler said rapidly. "A man. He claims he's a court-appointed magistrate accompanied by local law enforcement with an emergency child custody injunction. He's demanding entry to inspect the premises."
Maria’s blood ran cold. Magistrate?
It wasn't the police. It was Viktor. He had used corrupt judges to fabricate a fake legal document to gain entry into the estate while Adrian was away.
"He's coming up the east staircase," the butler warned. "I'm trying to stall him, but—"
The line went dead with a sharp click.
Maria bolted the nursery door, her hands shaking so badly she dropped the spare key. She scooped Alina up into her arms. The baby, sensing the sudden panic, whimpered and buried her face in Maria's neck.
"It's okay, my baby. Mommy's here," Maria whispered, tears streaming down her face.
She backed away toward the balcony doors, her mind racing. There was no escape down the stairs. Viktor was already inside.
Suddenly, heavy, pounding footsteps echoed down the hallway outside the nursery door.
Bang! Bang!
"Open the door, Maria!" a harsh, gravelly voice shouted through the heavy oak. It was a voice she hadn't heard in nightmares, but in waking terror. Viktor. "I know you're in there! You think a fancy billionaire can hide you from me? Open the damn door before I kick it down!"
Bang!
The wood groaned under a violent kick. The lock rattled.
Maria sobbed, pressing Alina tightly against her chest as she retreated to the far corner of the room.
"Open it!" Viktor roared again. "That brat belongs to me! Everything you have belongs to me!"
Another massive blow struck the door. The wooden frame splintered, and the latch gave way, swinging wide open.
Viktor stepped into the room. He was a thick-set man with cruel, cold eyes, a gold chain gleaming against his dark shirt, and a twisted, triumphant grin plastered across his face. Behind him stood two hired thugs, blocking the exit.
"There you are, my sweet runaway," Viktor sneered, taking a slow step forward. "Did you really think a rich toy boy could protect you from family business?"
Maria screamed, holding Alina higher. "Stay away from us!"
Viktor laughed, stepping closer, reaching out a rough, calloused hand toward the baby.
May you like
And then, from the hallway behind him, a voice cut through the air like a blade of ice.
"Touch her, and you won't live to see the end of this hallway."
