Chapter 2 - Fragments of a Broken Life
Inside the warmth of the bakery’s private office,
Emma sat on a plush leather chair that swallowed her whole.
She was eating a sandwich,
but her eyes were constantly darting toward the door,
waiting for a threat that was never far from her mind.
I sat across from her,
watching the way she held the bread,
as if it were the most precious thing she had ever owned.
"Tell me about your mother, Emma,"
I said softly,
softening my voice in a way that my enemies would never recognize.
She swallowed hard,
wiping a crumb from her lip.
"Her name is Sarah,"
she began,
her voice trembling slightly.
"She’s a teacher,"
"but she hasn't been to school in a long time."
"Why is that?"
I asked,
leaning forward,
resting my elbows on my knees.
"She said we had to hide,"
"she said the bad men wanted the book."
My ears perked up at the mention of a book.
In my world,
books weren't for reading;
they were for ledgers,
for secrets,
for the kind of information that got people killed.
"What kind of book, Emma?"
I pressed gently,
trying not to frighten her.
"A small one,"
"with a black cover and a golden lock."
"She told me to never touch it,"
"but I saw her crying over it last night."
I signaled to Marco to bring more hot cocoa for the girl.
I needed her to feel safe,
because a terrified mind forgets the details that matter.
"Where is the book now?"
I asked.
"She hid it,"
"in my backpack,"
"but I left my backpack in the car when they took her."
A surge of adrenaline hit me.
The men hadn't just kidnapped a woman;
they were looking for something specific.
And if they realized the girl didn't have it,
they would come back for her.
Or worse,
they would use the mother to find out where the girl went.
"Luca,"
I called out,
and my lieutenant appeared in the doorway instantly.
"Check the security feeds from the entire block,"
"I want to see where that girl came from before she hit the bakery."
"And find out if any black sedans were reported stolen today."
The girl looked at me,
her blue eyes wide.
"Are you a king?"
she asked suddenly.
I paused,
a dry smile touching my lips.
"Some people say that,"
"but I’m just a man who doesn't like it when people are bullied."
"My mommy said kings protect people,"
she said,
reaching for her cocoa.
"Then I will be your king for tonight,"
I replied,
though the crown I wore was made of thorns and iron.
I knew the clock was ticking.
May you like
Every minute Sarah was in that car was a minute closer to her silence being permanent.
I had to find her before the sun rose over the skyline.
