Chapter 3
Ethan's face finally fell.
He took a step back, slipping his hand inside his suit jacket.
"Don't even think about pulling that out," I said, keeping my voice steady.
"You won't be faster than me getting to you."
Ethan's hand froze in midair.
He stared me down for five seconds before slowly lowering his hand.
"What's your name?" Ethan asked.
"Hank Lowe," I replied.
"Hank Lowe, the delivery guy," Ethan repeated, that unsettling smile curling at his lips. "Alright. Got it."
He bent down, hauled his two guys off the floor, and backed up to the doorway.
"Ms. Lynn, Mr. Zane's giving you until noon tomorrow. If you don't agree by then, he'll come himself."
He gave me a hard look. "Next time, it won't just be the three of us."
Then he turned and left.
The footsteps faded, and the hallway fell silent again.
I turned around and saw Clara staring at me, her eyes wet with tears.
"You shouldn't have stayed," Clara said, her voice shaking. "You have no idea how many guys the Zane family has."
"How many?" I asked.
"Harlan keeps a private army. On paper, it's a security team, but in reality, there are over two hundred men—all ex-military and martial artists. Ethan's just a low-level leader."
"Two hundred guys," I echoed.
"How can you take them all on by yourself?" she asked.
I didn't bother answering. "Your daughter's on the third floor?"
"Yes," she replied.
"I'll go bring her up."
I walked to the door and paused. "Ms. Lynn, there's something you need to think about."
"What?" she replied.
"You said the Zane family would look after your daughter forever. Do you actually believe that?" I asked.
Clara went quiet.
"You don't believe it," I answered for her. "That's why you came to me."
I pushed the door open and walked out.
The hallway was empty—Ethan's men had already left.
But I knew they hadn't gone far.
The security camera at the elevator had turned, now aimed right at room 1208.
I walked over, expressionless, and pressed the down button.
Children's activity room, third floor.
I opened the door and saw about a dozen kids inside, playing with blocks and drawing.
In the corner, there was a little girl in a red coat with two braids, her head down, totally absorbed in her drawing.
I walked over and squatted beside her.
"Nina?" I called.
She looked up, her big eyes wide, a little timid.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm a friend of your mom's. She asked me to bring you upstairs," I said.
Nina tilted her head, pondered for a second, then held up her drawing for me to see.
In the picture, there were two people—one big, one small—holding hands in front of a house. The bigger figure was lying in bed, and the smaller one had drawn a red heart beside her.
"This is me and my mom," Nina said in a soft voice. "Mom's sick, so I drew this for her. If I show her, she'll get better."
My throat tightened.
"Come on, let's go find your mom," I said.
I held out my hand. She hesitated for a second, then placed her tiny hand in mine.
Her hand was small and cold.
I led her out of the activity room and headed toward the elevator.
When we reached the corner, I stopped.
Two men in black were stationed at the elevator, hands in their pockets, eyeing everyone who walked past.
The Zane family's men hadn't left—they were still staking out the place.
I backed up around the corner and crouched down to look at Nina.
"Nina, how about we play a game?" I said.
"What game?"
"I'll carry you on my back, and you have to hide your face in my shoulder. No matter what noises you hear, don't look up. If you peek, you lose," I explained.
Nina nodded, her little face all serious.
"I'm not gonna lose," she promised.
I picked her up and let her cling to my back, her little face buried in my shoulder.
Then I turned and headed the other way.
The fire escape.
The stairwell was empty, my footsteps echoing against the concrete walls.
From the third floor to the twelfth—nine flights up—I climbed them all in one go, without even getting out of breath.
I pushed open the fire escape door on the twelfth floor—the hallway was still totally empty.
But the security camera had turned, now aimed right at the fire escape exit.