Chapter 2

The freezing rain felt like sharp needles hitting Tina's skin. She ran down the muddy mountain road. Aidan kept a tight grip on her wrist, pulling her forward.

Every step sent a violent shockwave of pain up Tina's spine. The metallic taste of blood coated the back of her throat. She swallowed hard, trying not to choke on it.

Aidan was old, and his breathing was ragged. But he did not slow down. He yelled over the sound of the storm, telling her they had to reach the interstate highway at the bottom of the hill.

A loud engine roar cut through the sound of the rain. Two sets of blinding headlights pierced the darkness behind them. Two black SUVs were speeding down the mountain road, heading straight for them.

The lead SUV slammed on its brakes. The tires slid in the mud, blocking the narrow road completely. Four bodyguards jumped out into the rain. They flicked open steel switchblades. They formed a circle around Tina and Aidan.

The head bodyguard wiped the rain from his face. He stepped closer. He smiled and said the madam gave clear orders. Someone had to die tonight.

Aidan raised the shotgun again. He aimed it at the man's face and pulled the trigger. A hollow click sounded. The rainwater had soaked the gunpowder. The gun was useless.

The bodyguard laughed out loud. He lunged forward and kicked the heavy wooden stock of the gun. The weapon flew out of Aidan's hands and clattered onto the asphalt.

Tina screamed. She threw herself at the bodyguard. She tried to use her nails and teeth to keep him away from the old man. The man simply pulled his arm back and punched her hard in the stomach.

All the air left Tina's lungs. She dropped to her knees in the muddy water. Her stomach cramped so violently she could not even gasp for breath.

The bodyguard stood over her. He raised the switchblade high, aiming the sharp point right at the center of her chest.

Aidan let out a desperate yell. He threw his entire body weight forward, landing directly on top of Tina just as the blade came down.

A sickening, wet sound echoed in the night. The steel blade sank deep into Aidan's back.

Aidan let out a low grunt. Hot blood poured from the wound instantly. It mixed with the cold rain, turning the puddle beneath them a dark, horrifying red.

Tina's eyes stretched wide. She stared at the man who had protected her since she was a baby. He was sliding off her, his body going limp. A raw, tearing scream ripped from her throat.

The bodyguard pulled the bloody knife out of Aidan's back. He turned his attention back to Tina. She was completely frozen, her eyes empty. He raised the blade again.

Suddenly, a row of massive, intimidating matrix headlights lit up the highway ahead. The bright beams cut through the storm like a physical force.

Six identical, bulletproof Maybachs rolled to a stop, completely blocking the rest of the road. They moved silently, like ghosts in the night.

The bodyguards stopped moving. The sheer presence of the convoy made them freeze. They raised their hands to shield their eyes from the blinding lights.

The rear door of the middle, extended Maybach slowly opened. A black carbon-fiber umbrella was pushed out into the rain.

Long legs clad in custom-tailored trousers stepped out. Ingram Santiago, the CEO of the Santiago Corporation, planted his expensive leather shoes onto the wet asphalt.

Ingram wore a solid black suit. His eyes were like glacial ice. He slowly scanned the blood on the ground and the men holding knives.

His executive assistant, Palmer, stood right behind him holding the umbrella. Palmer lowered his head and asked quietly if they should clear the garbage blocking the road.

The bodyguards finally saw the specific crest on the Maybach license plates. Their faces drained of color. Their legs started to shake. They backed away slowly.

Ingram did not look at the men. His eyes locked onto the girl lying in the muddy water. She was barely breathing.

Tina forced her eyes open. Her vision was blurry. She saw the man standing above her. She reached out with a trembling, blood-soaked hand. She grabbed the fabric of his suit pants. She squeezed it weakly.

Ingram looked down. He saw the extreme, desperate will to live in her eyes. Something tight pulled at the center of his chest.

He opened his mouth and said one word. "Down." Instantly, the heavily armed security personnel from the convoy drew their weapons. They forced Cathi's bodyguards face-down into the mud.

Aidan turned his head slightly. He saw that Tina was safe. His chest stopped moving. His eyes closed. He was gone.

Tina stared at Aidan's still face. The last string holding her sanity together snapped. Her eyes rolled back, and she passed out completely at Ingram's feet.

Ingram did not hesitate. He bent down. He ignored the mud and the blood. He scooped the unconscious girl up into his arms.

As he lifted her, a small object slipped out of her wet pocket. It fell into the muddy puddle with a tiny splash.

Ingram caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked down. His pupils shrank to pinpricks. His breathing stopped completely.

He held the girl against his chest with one arm. He bent his knees and reached into the cold mud. He picked up the small, pink dolphin charm. His thumb instantly found the letters carved into the back. T.T.

Ingram's eyes darkened. The coldness vanished, replaced by a terrifying intensity. He turned to Palmer. He ordered the convoy to return to the penthouse immediately. He told him to get the best medical team in the city waiting there.