Chapter 9 - ESCAPE INTO THE STORM
The second guard collapsed onto the Persian rug with a painful groan as Julian snatched the gun from his grip.
Catherine gasped in shock, backing toward the hallway as Julian pointed the weapon directly at the floor between them.
"You always underestimated me, Catherine," Julian said coldly, stepping around the fallen guards.
He rushed out of the study, taking the servants' staircase two steps at a time to reach the third floor.
"Maria! Wake up! We're leaving now!" Julian called out quietly, pushing open the staff room door.
Maria was already awake, having packed a small duffel bag with Lily’s clothes and the brown teddy bear.
Lily rubbed her sleepy eyes, clinging tightly to Maria’s neck as rain began to thunder against the glass windows.
"Is Miss Catherine coming?" Lily whimpered softly in the dark hallway.
"Not tonight, sweetheart," Julian promised, guiding them toward the rear fire exit of the mansion.
May you like
They descended the exterior steel staircase into the pouring Manhattan rain, where a black armored SUV waited in the alley.
***
