Chapter 5 - Toxic Blood
I hesitated before answering the call, my finger hovering over the green button.
I tapped the screen, and the face of my mother appeared, looking absolutely frantic.
"Emily! Thank God, you need to come to the house right now!" she sobbed hysterically.
"Mom, I cannot come there, it is not safe," I tried to explain.
"They have her, Emily! Some men came and they took Brooke!" my father yelled from the background.
My blood ran completely cold.
"Did they say what they wanted?" I demanded.
"They said they want the diamond bracelet and whatever is inside it," my mother cried.
"They gave us an address and said if you do not bring it by midnight, they will kill her."
I looked at the clock on the dashboard.
It was currently 10:15 PM.
"Mom, listen to me very carefully," I instructed, my surgeon's focus taking over my panic.
"Do exactly as they said, do not call the police, I will handle this."
I ended the call and slumped back against the leather seat.
"They have Brooke," I told Daniel, though he had already heard the entire conversation.
"Emily, she brought this entirely on herself," Daniel warned softly.
"She stole from you, humiliated you, and put a target on your back."
"I know," I replied, feeling a deep, bitter resentment rising in my chest.
"My parents always protected her, always made excuses for her toxic behavior."
"Even now, they expect me to fix her mess and pay her debts."
"But she is still my sister, Daniel, and I am a doctor."
"I do not let people die if I can prevent it."
Daniel nodded slowly, a look of profound respect crossing his features.
"Where is the drop-off location?" he asked, starting the engine.
May you like
"Pier 44, down by the old shipping yards," I replied.
We had less than two hours to orchestrate a miracle against trained killers.
