Chapter 4 - Shadows in the Hallway
Three days later, the hospital was quiet, but the atmosphere was suffocating. Khloe was scheduled for discharge, but Marcus had insisted on moving her to a secure, private estate with a medical staff that had been vetted by his uncle’s security firm.
The transition was handled like a military operation. Armored SUVs, decoy cars, and armed guards disguised as maintenance workers. Khloe sat in the back of the lead vehicle, watching the Chicago skyline go by. She felt a phantom pain in her side, a reminder of the stiletto heel that had tried to end her child’s life.
"We’re almost there," Marcus said, his hand on his phone, monitoring the security feeds.
Suddenly, the driver swerved. A black sedan had pulled out of an alleyway, forcing them to brake hard. Before the guards could react, a second car blocked their retreat.
"Ambush!" one of the guards shouted.
Marcus didn't hesitate. He shielded Khloe with his own body, his hand pulling a concealed radio to call for backup. Outside, the sounds of gunfire shattered the silence. It wasn't a street brawl; it was a coordinated strike.
"Stay down!" Marcus commanded.
Bullets pinged against the reinforced steel of the SUV. Khloe huddled in the footwell, her heart hammering against her ribs, protecting her stomach with every ounce of her will. Through the window, she saw a man in a black tactical vest emerge from the sedan, holding a silenced pistol. He wasn't looking for the guards; he was looking for the back seat.
The glass shattered. Marcus grabbed the man’s wrist, pulling him into the vehicle and slamming his head against the door frame. It was a brutal, ugly fight, but Marcus was fueled by the primal instinct of a father protecting his blood.
Within minutes, the sirens wailed. Police and Marcus’s private security arrived in waves. The attackers fled, but one remained—the man Marcus had subdued.
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As the guards dragged him away, Marcus looked at his wife. She was trembling, but alive. He looked at the wreckage of the ambush and realized with a sickening clarity that this wasn't Isabella’s petty cruelty anymore. This was an assassination attempt.
"She’s gone too far," Marcus said, his voice cold. "I’m not calling the police. I’m calling the hunters."
