Chapter 1 - THE HALLWAY
Elena Hayes had learned the difference between a baby’s tired cry and a frightened one.
Leo’s frightened cry was sharper.
Higher.
It started in his chest and came out like an alarm.
That was the sound he made when Victoria Carter lunged at her in the upstairs hallway.
Elena was twenty-nine.
Dark blue-black nanny uniform.
Hair tied back.
Leo secured against her chest in a front-facing carrier.
He was seven months old.
Round cheeks.
Soft blond hair.
One fist wrapped around the edge of Elena’s collar.
Victoria was thirty-four.
Designer gray suit.
Perfect makeup.
No hesitation.
She stepped directly into Elena’s path.
“Give him to me.”
Elena stopped.
Leo immediately sensed the tension.
His legs kicked against the carrier.
“I’m taking him downstairs,” Elena said carefully. “Marcus asked me to keep him with me until—”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“I said give me my son.”
Elena reached for the carrier buckle instinctively, not to remove Leo but to secure it.
That movement triggered Victoria.
She lunged.
Her foot drove hard into Elena’s side.
Pain exploded through Elena’s ribs.
Elena twisted so her own shoulder hit the wall instead of Leo.
Leo screamed.
“Don’t touch him!”
Victoria grabbed at the carrier straps.
Elena jerked backward.
“GIVE ME MY SON!”
“You’re scaring him!”
Victoria shoved Elena hard into the wall again.
Leo wailed louder.
Then heavy footsteps came from the stairwell.
Marcus Carter strode into the hallway.
Thirty-eight.
Dark business suit.
Face already cold.
Victoria spun instantly.
“She attacked me! Take the baby away!”
Elena stared.
“She’s lying!”
Victoria looked at Elena and smiled.
Triumphant.
Certain.
Marcus walked toward her.
Victoria opened her arms, expecting him to take her side.
“I saw everything.”
Her smile disappeared.
Marcus slapped her.
Hard.
Victoria staggered sideways.
“You hit me?!”
Marcus pointed at Leo.
Then walked right up to her.
“Tell me…”
Victoria froze.
“Why did you hurt MY CHILD?”
Her face drained.
For one second Elena thought Victoria might confess.
Instead Victoria whispered:
“Because she was about to destroy us.”
Marcus went still.
“Who?”
May you like
Victoria looked directly at Elena.
And smiled again.
