Chapter 4 - The Escape
The heavy wooden side door clicked shut behind them, cutting off Rebecca’s shrill threats. Julian hurried through the cool, dim corridor of the vestry, the muffled swell of church chatter fading into silence. Lily stayed silent, trembling against his chest.
""Daddy, are we running away?"" she whispered, her voice muffled by his lapel.
""We’re going home, Lily bug,"" Julian whispered back, kissing the crown of her head. ""Just you and me.""
They emerged into the alleyway behind the church. The autumn air was crisp, biting through Julian's suit jacket. He rushed toward his sedan parked near the trash receptacles, unlocking the doors with the remote. He buckled Lily into her booster seat in the back, ensuring the straps were snug.
""Stay down, sweetheart, okay? We're going to play the quiet game until we reach the highway.""
Lily nodded bravely, clutching the crumpled note in her little fist like a shield.
Julian jumped into the driver's seat and punched the ignition button. The engine roared to life, and the dashboard display lit up with missed calls and frantic text messages. Twelve missed calls from Marcus, his chief financial officer. Three from an unlisted number.
He threw the car into reverse just as the rear doors of the chapel burst open. Arthur Vance emerged, followed by two burly men in dark security uniforms. Vance pointed directly at Julian's vehicle, yelling orders into his mobile phone.
Julian shifted into drive, floored the accelerator, and swung the sedan out into the street, leaving the screech of burning rubber behind him. In the rearview mirror, he saw Vance lowering his phone with an ominous smirk rather than frantic panic.
Julian dialed Marcus using the hands-free console. The line connected on the first ring.
""Julian! Where the hell are you?"" Marcus shouted through the speakers, his voice frantic with static. ""The chapel staff said the wedding was called off! Did you sign the Montgomery merger papers?""
""No,"" Julian said, weaving through downtown traffic. ""Rebecca tried to trap me into surrendering custody of Lily. I walked.""
There was a dead silence on the line.
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""Marcus?"" Julian pressed. ""Did you hear me?""
""Julian... you need to pull over,"" Marcus said, his tone drained of all color. ""Child Protective Services just arrived at our corporate headquarters with an emergency removal order signed by a family court judge two hours ago. They're looking for Lily.""
