Chapter 18 - The Final Stand|
Elise stared at him, her breath catching in her throat as his words washed over her.
"Julian..." she whispered.
"I fell in love with you that night on that marble floor," Julian confessed, his gray eyes shining with raw, unfiltered devotion. "I loved you when you were broken, I loved you when you fought for your daughter, and I love you more than my own life right now."
Before Elise could answer, the sudden, loud screech of tires echoed from the front driveway, followed by the sound of breaking glass.
Julian’s posture went instantly alert. He stepped in front of Elise, pulling a sleek handheld radio from his pocket.
"Security, report!" Julian commanded sharply.
“Sir!” the head of security reported urgently over the speaker. “Matthew Hayes just rammed his vehicle through the side service gate! He’s armed with a handgun and heading toward the sunroom!”
Elise gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Matthew..."
"Stay in the nursery with Grace," Julian ordered calmly, his eyes turning cold as steel. "Lock the door from the inside."
"Julian, no! He’s desperate! He has nothing left to lose!" Elise cried, grabbing his arm.
"He has nothing left," Julian agreed, gently kissing her forehead. "And I have everything to protect. Go to Grace."
Julian turned and walked out into the grand foyer just as the heavy glass doors of the patio were kicked inward with a deafening shatter.
May you like
Matthew Hayes stumbled into the foyer, soaking wet, bleeding from a cut on his forehead, holding a revolver in his shaking hand.
"STERLING!" Matthew screamed, his eyes wild and unhinged. "WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"
