Chapter 7
The Lion's Den
Clara's brief respite at the state police station ends when the crime family's men, led by a man named Victor, overwhelm the station and take her hostage. She is brought to their headquarters, a secluded estate, where she meets the enigmatic boss, Mr. Moretti, who wants to use her to lure Leo.
Clara sat in a small, windowless room at the Ashwood state police station, a thin blanket draped over her shoulders. The coffee had gone cold in her hands, but she held it anyway, the ceramic mug a small comfort in the sterile space. Sergeant Aldridge had left her there an hour ago, promising to return with more information. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, each second stretching into an eternity.
Clara's mind churned. She had escaped one trap only to land in another—not a prison cell, but a paler shade of captivity. The sergeant had been kind, genuine, but Clara knew the system. She was a material witness, and that meant she could be held until they decided what to do with her. Meanwhile, Leo was out there, alone, hunted by men who wore false badges and answered to a nameless power.
A door slammed somewhere down the hall. Clara tensed, setting down the mug. Voices rose, sharp and urgent. Then a crash, and the sound of something heavy falling.
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