A Don's Debt of a Daughter

He left without a backward glance, his arm protectively around Bianca.

After the security team left, I slid to the floor, my back against the doorframe. As night fell, Julian finally returned.

I was waiting in the dark when he returned. I stood, the divorce papers I’d prepared in my hand. "Sign them, Julian. I'll find Chloe myself. After this, we go our separate ways."

Julian's lip twitched. In a blur of motion, he slammed me onto the sofa, the crack of his hand across my face echoing in the silent room. Pinning me with his weight, his eyes blazed with rage. "I gave you everything, Scarlett! Everything! You are mine!"

He gripped my chin, his fingers so tight I thought the bone would shatter. "You want a divorce? Over my dead body!"

My phone suddenly rang. It was the security team. I snatched it up. "Hello? Have you found Chloe?"

"Mrs. Hayes, we've reviewed more footage. We have a new lead. We need you to come to the office."

"Okay, I'll be right there!" I hung up, grabbed my coat, and rushed out. I hesitated at the door, trying Julian's number one last time. Straight to voicemail.

I took a cab straight to the security team's office. The same man from before greeted me. His face was grim. Without a word, he led me to a car. "Come with us to the scene."

The car sped down the highway. The scenery outside became increasingly remote, finally stopping at the entrance to an abandoned industrial pier.

The security man spoke. "A hidden camera at the pier entrance caught Ms. Valente's car. She went in. An hour later, she came out alone. We've sent men to search the warehouses, but it's a maze in there. No sign of your daughter yet."

"What?" A tremor shot through me. I threw the car door open and sprinted toward the pier, screaming her name. "Chloe! Chloe!"