Chapter 2 - THUNDER IN THE HALLWAY
The heavy wooden floorboards groaned beneath the weight of slow, deliberate footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Marcus stood frozen beside the king-sized bed, his broad shoulders tense beneath his charcoal grey dress shirt.
His tattoos flared along his chest as he gripped the handle of his black leather briefcase until his knuckles turned ghost-white.
Through the open bedroom doorway, the framed US flag hanging on the hallway wall swayed faintly in a sudden draft.
Evelyn sat motionless in her emerald green silk bathrobe, her messy bun casting a sharp shadow against the headboard.
Leo and Toby buried their small faces into the silk fabric of her robe, their pastel yellow star-printed pajamas trembling.
"He wasn't supposed to find this house," Marcus whispered, his voice cracking with sudden, uncharacteristic terror.
"You thought five years of hiding would erase what you stole from him, Marcus?" Evelyn replied, her voice eerily calm.
May you like
The footsteps stopped directly outside the bedroom door.
***
