Chapter 7
Downstairs in the nursery, Clara rocked Leo gently in her arms as the soft glow of a nightlight illuminated the room.
The house was completely still, save for the faint hum of the central heating system.
Suddenly, a soft tap sounded at the nursery window, making Clara freeze instantly with fear.
She held her breath, staring at the white sheer curtains covering the glass panes facing the rear garden.
The tap came again, louder this time, accompanied by the distinct sound of someone scraping metal against the frame.
Clara quickly placed Leo in his crib, backing away slowly toward the nursery door.
She reached for the internal intercom button on the wall to alert Julian in his study upstairs.
Before her thumb could press the plastic button, the glass pane shattered inward with a loud, terrifying crunch.
A dark figure clad in tactical gear reached through the broken window, unlocking the latch from the inside.
Clara opened her mouth to scream, but the intruder lunged through the window with blinding speed.
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A heavy, gloved hand clamped tightly over her mouth, pinning her against the wallpapered nursery wall.
"Don't make a sound if you want the baby to live," a harsh, gravelly voice rasped into her ear.
