Chapter 1 - THE SHADOW ON THE STREET
The afternoon sun hit the concrete of Fifth Avenue like a spotlight.
It illuminated the towering stone facades of the city’s most expensive real estate.
Little Lily stood on the pavement, her green dress fluttering in the warm breeze.
She clutched a black smartphone, her tiny fingers struggling to grip its sleek edges.
She was completely absorbed in the screen, unaware of the predator approaching.
The black SUV had been idling at the corner for twenty minutes.
Its heavily tinted windows revealed nothing of the danger lurking inside.
Suddenly, the heavy door swung open, the hinges silent and well-oiled.
A man stepped out. His dark suit was immaculate, his hair slicked back perfectly.
His eyes, however, were dead. Cold, calculating, and fixed entirely on the little girl.
He moved with the terrifying speed of a striking viper.
Before Lily could even look up, his large hand clamped onto her shoulder.
The fabric of her green dress bunched in his ruthless grip.
A piercing scream tore from her throat, shattering the peaceful city afternoon.
"Shut up and come with me!" he hissed, his voice a gravelly threat.
He didn't care who heard him; his only goal was the extraction.
He yanked her toward the gaping maw of the SUV.
Lily’s small shoes scraped against the concrete as she fought back.
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Tears streamed down her face, her eyes wide with absolute, primal terror.
She dropped the phone. It shattered on the ground, a spiderweb of broken glass.
