Sean pushed forward, but a man appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path.

The stranger collided with him head–on, spilling red wine all over Sean’s su

Sean barely flinched, His only thought was to get past him and reach Charlotte. He sidestepped to move around, but the man mirrored him, stepping the same way.

#1’m so sorry, Mr. Jasper. bI /bdidn’t mean to. Mease, let me take care of the dry cleaning-

“It’s fine,” Sean said curtlyb, /btrying again to get by.

But the man wouldn’t i

“please don’t be upset, Mr. Jasper-

“Get out of my way!” Sean snapped.

Finally, the min backed off.

Sean rushed to the elevator bank just bin /btime to see the floor number climbing–89. His heart sank,

Even

f he jumped into the next elevator now, he wouldn’t make it in time.

Then something struck him. He spun around and scanned the crowd.

The bman /bwho had bumped into him was gone.

Sean’s expression hardened. That guy had done it on purpose.

A few blocks away, parked discreetly boutside /ba side gate of the estateb, /ba bck /bAudi sat with its engine running.

The man who had stalled Sean climbed into the driver’s seat. “All set, Miss Kander.”

In the back, Vivian leanedzily against the bseat/b, eyes closed. “Drive.”

The man besitated. “Aren’t we waiting for bJudy/b?”

bVivian /blet bout /ba coldugh. “If we wait for bthat /bbidiot/bb, /bnone of bus /bbare /bgetting out of here.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte stepped out of the elevator and sprinted to the brooftop/b.

She shoved open the beavy metal door, and the moment she stepped outside, hereyes locked on jodle..

Her little sister was tied to a chair, positioned dangerously close to the edge of the roof. Her mouth was taped shut, anns and legs bound with rope. A masked figure stood bbeside /bher, holding ba /bknife to her neck

Jodie bcouldn’t /bscream, but her eyes were wide with terror, tears pouring down her bface/b,

Charlotte’s heart shattered.

bJust /bthat moming, Jodie had been giggling band /bclinging to her, asking if she would stille home after getting married. And now

Charlotte forced herself bto /bbstay /bcalm. She spoke to the figureb, /bbvole /bsteady. “Let my sistergo. Whatever you want, I’ll do bit/b.”

Come here,” the figure ordered, her voice no longer distorted. It was ba /bwoman, the charlotte didn’t recognize

Hry,”

“Charlotte didn’t hesitate. She took a step forward.

Just as she bgot /bwithin a few feet, Sean’s voice brang /bout behind her..

“Lottie! bDon’t/b!”

She froze, startled, and turned back

—

this. Herlite hanging by a

Sean was running at full speed. He reached her and yanked her bnos /bamis, holding her tightly, his voice sisaking with fear. “Don’t go near her. It’s too

Judy stood froze, watching the scene unfold before her eyes. Tears streamed bdown /bbher /bcheeks uncontrobly. Her chest ached so bailly it felt like she couldn’t

She let out a bitter, brokenugh, the bsound /bcracked with pain “What a love bstory/b,” she choked out. “One anyone would envy

she whispered, her valor trembling, “byou /bbdon’t /bcare whether I live or die, but byou’d /brisk everything for her ”

Slowly, she pulled off the mask, brevealing /bher tear–streaked Lace. Her eyes wee bloodshot but filled with a hollow rage.

Sheughed bagain/b—this time manic, almost unhingedb. /b“Hahaha Fine Fuel How wonderful

Why?”

by?” she screamed, her face contorting with pain and tony. “Wiry does she get your love?t

Then her eyes zed with violent revolve.

bWithout /bwarning, Pady lunged forward, the knife in her hand shling as she charged straight at Charlotte.

They were only a few feet apart. Charlotte had her backtoed,pletely aw