Chapter 3 - The Broken Glass Sanctuary
The boardroom erupted into chaos. Gunfire from Marcus's remaining guard shattered the reflective glass displays along the perimeter wall, raining decorative metal and high-end ceramics across the pristine floor.
Julian moved like a predator unleashed. Despite his formal attire, his movements were ruthless and efficient. Pinning Marcus's arm behind his back with a sickening crunch that elicited a high-pitched scream of agony from his brother, Julian disarmed him in a fluid motion, brought Marcus’s own pistol up, and fired twice into the chest of the surviving bodyguard. The man collapsed heavily atop the leather duffel bag Harper had carried.
Julian didn't look at his writhing brother. He scrambled across the glass-strewn floor on his knees, ignoring the sharp edges slicing through the fabric of his trousers.
""Harper!"" he called out, his voice raw.
She was curled on her side beside a structural pillar of black marble, panting through gritted teeth, her arms locked securely around her unborn child. Small flecks of glass were tangled in her messy blonde hair, but she was untouched by the bullets. However, her face was completely devoid of color, beads of cold sweat gathering along her hairline.
""Julian..."" she gasped, clutching his sleeve as he knelt beside her. ""The baby... the contractions... they aren't stopping.""
Julian cursed fiercely under his breath, tossing Marcus’s firearm to his chief security head, Vance, who had just burst into the room through the emergency fire doors with three heavily armed loyal guards.
""Lock down the building!"" Julian roared, his authority cutting through the ringing aftermath of gunfire. ""Seal the subterranean garage! Nobody leaves, and if another bird flies within fifty yards of this glass, bring down the entire airspace!""
""Understood, boss,"" Vance responded swiftly, kicking Marcus onto his stomach and securing his wrists with heavy zip-ties. ""What about Marcus?""
""Throw him in the basement vault. Keep him alive until I can speak to him myself,"" Julian commanded coldly. He turned his full attention back to Harper, sliding his strong arms under her shoulders and beneath her knees. He lifted her effortlessly against his broad chest, wincing inwardly as he felt how frail she had become despite the pregnancy.
""Hold on to me,"" Julian whispered close to her ear, his lips brushing against her temple. ""You're safe now. I have you.""
""The ledgers..."" Harper muttered weakly, resting her forehead against the crook of his neck. ""Julian, the papers in the bag... there’s an envelope in the front pouch. It’s not about your taxes. It’s...""
She gasped again, crying out as another violent wave of labor pains rippled through her body.
Julian carried her swiftly toward the private executive elevator that led directly to his personal penthouse suite three floors above. ""Forget the ledgers, Harper. Nothing matters right now except you and our child.""
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As the elevator doors shut on the bloodied boardroom, Harper grabbed his collar, pulling him down until her tearful eyes met his.
""It’s not just a child, Julian,"" she whispered with terror in her voice. ""Marcus didn't come for the money. He came because he knows what was written on the birth certificate in Zurich.""
