Chapter 12 - THE FIRE
The clinic stood alone in the woods.
Three floors.
Broken windows.
No lights.
Julian saw Vale’s car near the entrance.
Marcus stopped him.
“We go slow.”
“My son is inside.”
“And if you charge in, he may die.”
Julian hated that Marcus was right.
They circled the property.
Elena found tire tracks near a service entrance.
“They came through here.”
Inside, the air smelled of dust and mold.
Then Julian heard it.
A child crying.
“Leo.”
He moved toward the sound.
Marcus caught him.
“Wait.”
A speaker crackled overhead.
Vale’s voice filled the corridor.
“Julian.”
Julian looked up.
“Richard!”
“You should have stayed home.”
“Give me my children.”
“Your children?”
Vale laughed.
“That has always been your weakness. You think blood makes people yours.”
“You stole a baby.”
“I saved Victoria.”
“You destroyed everyone.”
“I preserved a family.”
“You created a prison.”
Vale’s voice hardened.
“Walk to the treatment room. Alone.”
Marcus shook his head.
Julian whispered, “I’m going.”
“Bad idea.”
“I know.”
He walked.
The treatment room was at the end of a long hall.
Inside, Leo sat tied to a chair.
Beside him was a little girl.
Lily.
Julian knew her instantly.
His breath broke.
She looked at him with huge green eyes.
“Who are you?”
Julian nearly cried.
“I’m…”
He stopped.
Not here.
Not like this.
“I’m Julian.”
Vale stood behind them holding a gun.
“You always did like dramatic entrances.”
“Let them go.”
Vale smiled.
“No.”
“Take me.”
“I don’t need you.”
“What do you need?”
“Silence.”
Julian looked at Leo.
His son was trembling.
“It’s okay, buddy.”
Leo whispered, “Daddy.”
Lily stared at them.
“You’re his dad?”
“Yes.”
Vale pressed the gun closer.
“Enough.”
Julian looked at him.
“What’s your plan? Kill children?”
“I have spent thirty years cleaning up other people’s mistakes.”
“They’re not mistakes.”
“They are liabilities.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“You’re talking about your grandson.”
Vale’s jaw twitched.
“Noah is my grandson.”
“Leo grew up calling you Grandpa.”
“He was never Victoria’s.”
“You knew that and still hugged him at Christmas.”
Vale’s eyes flickered.
That tiny hesitation was all Julian needed.
He lunged.
The gun fired.
Leo screamed.
Julian slammed Vale into the wall.
The weapon skidded across the floor.
Vale punched him.
Julian hit back.
Hard.
Marcus and Elena rushed in.
Then alarms began screaming.
Red lights flashed.
Pike shouted from the hallway.
“Fire!”
Vale laughed through bloodied teeth.
“I warned you.”
Smoke poured through the vents.
Julian grabbed Vale.
“What did you do?”
“Insurance.”
Marcus untied Leo.
Elena grabbed Lily.
Flames rose in the hallway.
“Back exit!” Pike shouted.
They ran.
A ceiling beam crashed behind them.
Elena coughed.
Lily screamed.
Julian carried Leo.
Marcus dragged Vale.
Then Pike stopped.
“What are you doing?” Julian yelled.
Pike pointed toward another corridor.
“There’s someone else here.”
“No.”
“I heard her.”
“Who?”
May you like
Pike looked at him.
“Claire.”
