Chapter 11 - Maya's Sacrifice
Up in the penthouse, Maya was watching the news on the massive flat-screen TV. Breaking news banners flashed across the screen: BILLIONAIRE CEO JULIAN VANCE INVOLVED IN CHILD ABDUCTION SCANDAL.
Helicopters were hovering outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Maya felt a cold knot of dread form in her stomach.
Julian had saved Leo’s life. He had given them warm food, a soft bed, and a promise of safety. But because of her, his entire life was falling apart. She knew what happened when rich people got into trouble—they always found a scapegoat. Eventually, Julian would have to give them up to save his company.
Maya looked at Leo, who was happily chewing on a plastic teething ring Sarah had brought.
"We have to go, Leo," Maya whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "If we stay, we ruin him. If we run, maybe he can fix this."
Maya packed the few items they had into a small backpack. She wrapped Leo securely in the frayed green quilt. She knew the front lobby was swarming with police, so she bypassed the main elevators and found the emergency fire stairs.
Her legs burned as she carried the heavy infant down forty flights of concrete stairs. She was exhausted, terrified, and heartbroken. She had finally found someone who cared, and she was walking away to protect him.
When she reached the ground floor parking garage, she pushed the heavy metal door open, hoping to slip out through the delivery bay.
Instead, she bumped directly into a wall of solid muscle.
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She looked up, gasping in horror. It was Uncle Marcus. He had escaped the lobby chaos and was searching for Julian’s private car.
"Well, well, well," Marcus sneered, his breath reeking of cheap booze. "Look what the cat dragged in."
