Chapter 6 - The HighwayNatasha’s heart hammered.
The social worker’s grip tightened around her arm.
“Listen to me,” the woman whispered. “If you make trouble, the driver will stop the van and take the babies somewhere else.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Claire Morgan.”
“You’re not with child services.”
“I was.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Trying to keep you alive.”
Natasha looked toward the front of the van. The driver wore a dark uniform but no badge. The man in the passenger seat held a pistol beneath his jacket.
The twins began to stir.
Natasha forced herself to breathe.
Three beats.
She tapped her fingers against her knee.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
The babies quieted.
Claire watched her carefully.
“You really can calm them.”
“They’re scared.”
“So are you.”
“I’m thinking.”
“That makes one of us.”
The van left the highway and entered a wooded road. Rain began striking the windows.
Natasha reached into her pocket.
Her phone was dead.
Claire noticed.
“They removed the battery.”
“Where are we going?”
“To a private estate outside Beacon Falls.”
“Vincent’s?”
Claire did not answer.
Natasha looked at the twins. Luca’s breathing was uneven. Leo’s hands twitched.
“What did they give them?”
“Nothing yet.”
“Yet?”
Claire’s expression broke.
“They were instructed to bring the babies alive. But if they became difficult, they were given permission to sedate them.”
Natasha’s blood ran cold.
She shifted closer to the infants.
Claire whispered, “I saw Vincent’s files.”
“Then why work for him?”
“I didn’t. I was forced.”
The van slowed.
Natasha scanned the interior. A fire extinguisher was secured beside the rear doors. A metal medical case rested beneath the bench.
Claire noticed her looking.
“What are you thinking?”
“Do you believe in second chances?”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I’m about to give you one.”
Natasha kicked the medical case toward Claire.
“Open it.”
“What?”
“Open it.”
The driver glanced in the mirror.
Natasha started crying loudly.
Not fake tears. Real panic.
“My babies,” she shouted. “Something is wrong!”
The driver swore.
Claire opened the case.
Inside were syringes, a portable monitor, and a vial of clear liquid.
Natasha snatched the vial.
“Read the label.”
Claire did.
“Midazolam.”
The twins started crying.
The driver pulled the van to the side of the road.
“Give them the sedative,” he ordered.
Natasha held up the vial.
“I need a doctor.”
“You heard me.”
“They’re showing respiratory distress.”
The passenger turned around.
“Do it.”
Natasha looked at Claire.
Claire’s face was pale.
Then Natasha slammed the vial against the metal floor.
Glass shattered.
The passenger lunged toward her.
Claire threw herself between them.
The man struck Claire across the face.
Natasha grabbed the fire extinguisher and swung.
It hit his wrist.
The pistol fell.
The driver opened the rear doors.
Rain poured inside.
Natasha shoved Leo and Luca into the corner of the van, covering them with her body.
Claire wrestled with the passenger.
The driver reached for Natasha.
Then headlights appeared through the trees.
Three black SUVs blocked the road.
The driver froze.
Doors opened.
Simon Gambino stepped into the rain.
He wore no coat. Water streamed through his hair and down his face. His gun was already drawn.
The driver surrendered immediately.
The passenger did not.
He reached for the fallen weapon.
Simon fired once.
The shot struck the ground inches from the man’s hand.
“Touch it,” Simon said, “and I’ll make sure you never use that hand again.”
The man froze.
Simon entered the van and dropped to his knees beside the twins.
His entire expression changed.
“Are they hurt?”
Natasha stared at him.
“How did you find us?”
“Your cat.”
“What?”
“The orange one activated the emergency tracker hidden in your bag.”
Even in the middle of the storm, Natasha almost laughed.
Simon touched Leo’s cheek.
The baby calmed.
Natasha noticed the blood on Simon’s sleeve.
“You’re injured.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“Not mine.”
She looked toward the road.
One of the guards had been shot during the rescue.
Simon turned to her.
“Did they give the babies anything?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I broke the vial.”
His shoulders lowered.
For one second, he looked like a man who had just been allowed to breathe.
Then Claire spoke.
“Simon, I need to tell you something.”
Simon looked at her.
Claire wiped blood from her mouth.
“Vincent has already filed for emergency custody.”
“I know.”
“And he has a judge on his payroll.”
“I know.”
“And he has proof that you killed Elena.”
Simon’s eyes became empty.
Claire continued.
“He has video.”
Natasha looked at Simon.
“Did you kill your wife?”
Simon turned toward the rain.
“No.”
May you like
Claire’s voice dropped.
“But the video makes it look like you did.”
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