Chapter 7 - Fire Escape
Emily smelled smoke before she saw it.
Claire had hidden them in the apartment of an old friend above a closed bakery. The place was warm, with blankets, soup, and a television that Grace had stared at like it was magic.
For the first time in days, Emily had almost felt safe.
Then the smoke crawled under the door.
“Grace,” Emily whispered.
Her sister was asleep on the couch, Angel tucked beside her in a basket.
Emily shook her.
“Wake up.”
Grace opened her eyes slowly. “Is Mom back?”
“No. We have to go.”
The hallway outside was already filled with gray smoke. Somewhere downstairs, glass broke. A man shouted.
Emily coughed.
Claire was gone. She had left nearly an hour earlier to meet someone who could help them cross the city unnoticed.
Now it was just Emily, Grace, and Angel.
Again.
Emily picked up the baby.
Grace grabbed the backpack with their apples, stale bread, and the only family photograph Monica owned. She had taken it from their shack before they escaped.
“The stairs?” Grace asked.
Emily looked through the cracked door.
Flames glowed at the far end of the hall.
“No.”
The fire escape outside the kitchen window was rusted, but it was still there.
Emily pushed the window open. Cold air rushed in, followed by the roar of sirens in the distance.
“Go first,” she told Grace.
Grace stared down.
They were four stories above the street.
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I’m scared.”
Emily wanted to cry too. But Angel made a weak sound against her chest, and that sound gave her strength.
“Grace, look at me.” Emily’s voice shook. “You are the bravest person I know.”
Grace swallowed.
Then she climbed out.
Emily handed her the backpack, then carefully passed Angel through the window.
“Hold him tight.”
Grace nodded, tears streaming down her face.
She clutched the baby against her tiny chest.
Emily climbed out last.
The metal stairs groaned under their weight. Smoke poured from the window behind them. Below, people had gathered on the sidewalk, pointing upward.
Then a shadow moved on the landing above.
A man in a dark jacket stepped out of the smoke.
“Give me the baby,” he said.
Grace screamed.
Emily stood between him and her sister.
“No.”
The man came closer.
“You don’t understand, little girl.”
“I understand that you’re bad.”
His face twisted.
He grabbed for Angel.
Emily bit his hand.
Hard.
The man shouted and slapped her across the face. She fell against the railing, dizzy and terrified.
Then a voice thundered from below.
“Get away from them!”
Adrian West stood on the street.
Beside him were Marcus and several armed security officers.
The man above them grabbed Grace’s shoulder.
She cried out.
But before he could move another inch, Marcus climbed the fire escape from the lower level and slammed him against the metal railing.
The attacker fell backward into the smoke.
Emily barely remembered what happened next.
Strong arms lifted her.
A coat wrapped around her shoulders.
Someone took Angel gently from Grace and checked his breathing.
Then Adrian West dropped to his knees in front of them.
His eyes moved from Angel to Grace, then to Emily.
“You saved my son,” he whispered.
Emily’s cheek hurt. Her clothes smelled like smoke. Her hands were shaking.
But she looked at him carefully.
“Are you his daddy?”
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then don’t let them take him again.”
The billionaire closed his eyes.
When he opened them, tears were running down his face.
May you like
“I promise,” he said. “Never again.”
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