Chapter 5: Locking Down
The rest of the morning moved in a blur of quiet, focused energy. Elias retreated to a home office equipped with multiple monitors, making a series of encrypted phone calls. Clara could occasionally hear the low, authoritative timbre of his voice, issuing commands and coordinating sweeps of the city.
Unable to sit still, Clara paced the length of the expansive living room. The penthouse was a fortress in the sky, suspended high above the bustling streets of the city. For the first time in weeks, she wasn't trapped in a damp, windowless room. She looked down at her hands, no longer bound by zip ties, and took a deep, shuddering breath.
Mrs. Gable emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of scrambled eggs, avocado, and toasted sourdough.
"You need to eat, sweetheart," the older woman said gently, setting the tray on the dining table. "Mr. Vance is a very capable man. If he says you are safe, you are."
Clara sat down, picking up a fork. "Has he done this before?"
Mrs. Gable paused, her expression softening with a hint of sorrow. "Elias has spent his life trying to fix the broken parts of this world. It is a lonely burden, but he carries it well."
May you like
As Clara took her first bite, the heavy mahogany doors of the office opened. Elias stepped out, accompanied by a tall, broad-shouldered man with a tactical earpiece whom Clara hadn’t seen enter.
"Clara," Elias said calmly. "This is Marcus, my head of security. The limousine has been scrubbed and disposed of. But we have a situation. Sullivan’s men have traced the vehicle's route."
