chapter 2
839 Words
Hannah had barely caught her breath when a deafening crash ripped through the house.
The living room window exploded.
Glass flew in every direction, scattering across the floor.
She let out a scream and dropped to the ground without thinking.
A shadow climbed through the broken window.
Then another.
Then a third.
Three men wearing black masks.
"Find the letter!" one of them shouted.
Hannah's pulse shot through her body.
These men weren't ordinary thieves.
They were here for her.
Acting on pure instinct, she grabbed the envelope and the silver key, shoved them into her bag, and ran for the back door.
"She's getting away!"
Heavy footsteps pounded behind her.
She burst into the backyard and climbed over the low wooden fence that separated her yard from the neighbor's. She nearly lost her balance when she landed but forced herself to keep moving.
The men were right behind her.
Her lungs burned with every breath. Tears blurred her vision as she raced through the narrow streets without looking back.
She didn't know where she could hide.
Only one name echoed in her mind.
Kevin Johnson.
Spotting a taxi by the roadside, she waved both arms desperately.
"Please!" she cried as the driver lowered his window. "Take me to Johnson Group Headquarters. Hurry!"
The elderly driver took one look at her frightened face and unlocked the doors.
"Get in."
The taxi sped away into the night.
Hannah twisted around to look through the rear window.
A black SUV was still following them.
"They're behind us," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.
The driver checked his mirror.
"I see them."
His hands tightened on the steering wheel.
"Hang on."
He turned sharply at the next intersection, slipping through busy traffic with surprising skill.
For several long minutes, Hannah could barely breathe.
Then the SUV disappeared.
She let out a shaky sigh and leaned back against the seat, though her heart refused to slow down.
About forty minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of the tallest building in the city.
The Johnson Group Tower stretched high into the night sky. Its glass walls reflected thousands of city lights, making the entire building shine.
Hannah paid the driver, thanked him quietly, and stepped outside with her bag clutched tightly against her chest.
The lobby was breathtaking.
Polished marble floors.
Huge crystal chandeliers.
Security guards in black suits standing at every entrance.
She walked straight to the reception desk.
"I need to see Kevin Johnson."
The receptionist greeted her with a professional smile.
"Do you have an appointment, Miss?"
Hannah shook her head.
"No."
"I'm sorry, but Mr. Johnson doesn't see visitors without an appointment."
"It's an emergency."
"I understand, but I'm afraid I can't let you through."
Hannah opened her bag and carefully took out the silver key.
"My mother asked me to give this to him."
The receptionist stared at the key, clearly puzzled.
"I'm sorry, but I..."
Before she could finish, a calm, deep voice interrupted.
"What's happening here?"
Everyone turned at once.
A tall man in a perfectly fitted black suit walked across the lobby with quiet confidence.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Employees straightened where they stood.
Several lowered their heads respectfully.
The receptionist spoke at once.
"Good evening, Mr. Johnson."
Hannah slowly lifted her eyes.
He looked even more striking than he did in magazines.
Cold gray eyes.
A strong jaw.
A face that revealed almost nothing.
Kevin Johnson looked at her for a brief moment.
Then his eyes fell on the silver key in her hand.
His expression changed instantly.
His eyes widened ever so slightly.
"Where did you get that?"
Hannah swallowed before answering.
"It belonged to my mother... Sarah Willer."
The color slowly drained from Kevin's face.
For a few long seconds, he didn't say a word.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Come with me."
He led her to a private elevator.
Neither of them spoke during the ride.
When the doors opened, they stepped into a spacious office overlooking the glittering city below.
Kevin closed the door behind them.
"Tell me everything."
Without a word, Hannah handed him the letter.
He read every line carefully.
As he reached the end, his grip tightened until the paper crumpled in his hand.
"I was too late..." he said under his breath.
Hannah looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
He met her eyes.
For the first time, she saw real pain behind his calm expression.
"I promised your mother that I would protect both of you."
A knock sounded at the door.
Before Kevin could answer, Conor Cole stepped inside.
The normally composed man looked unusually tense.
"Sir..."
Kevin turned toward him.
"What is it?"
Conor's eyes shifted to Hannah.
"They've found her."
Every trace of emotion disappeared from Kevin's face.
His voice turned cold.
"Lock down the building."
Conor gave a quick nod.
"It's already done."
At that exact moment...
The lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the entire floor.
A gunshot echoed through the building.
Someone had come to finish what they started.
- Writer
