Chapter 2: The Diversion
The bodyguard's whisper lasted no more than three seconds.
Yet it drained every trace of color from Adrian Romano's face.
"The vault beneath the east wing has been breached."
Adrian didn't answer.
He simply turned toward the restaurant entrance.
"Seal every exit," he ordered.
"Nobody leaves."
Within seconds, armed guards spread through the restaurant, locking every door.
Panic rippled across the room.
Guests reached for their phones, only to discover the signal had already been jammed.
Emma remained seated, gently rocking the baby in her arms.
The little boy had fallen strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
She noticed his tiny fingers curling against his stomach.
Not from fear.
From pain.
"Adrian."
He stopped.
"The baby isn't the distraction."
His eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Emma carefully loosened the expensive cashmere blanket.
Hidden beneath the baby's silk romper was a tiny medical sensor taped against his ribs.
Its green light blinked weakly.
Then turned red.
Emma's heart skipped.
"This child has a heart monitor."
She looked directly at Adrian.
"And it's failing."
For the first time that anyone inside the restaurant had ever witnessed...
The feared Adrian Romano looked terrified.
Twenty minutes later...
A private physician rushed inside.
The moment he examined the child, his expression darkened.
"The pacemaker battery has been remotely disabled."
Silence.
Emma frowned.
"Remotely?"
The doctor nodded.
"This wasn't an accident."
Someone hadn't merely used the baby's cries as a distraction.
May you like
Someone intended for the child to die.
And they wanted Adrian to watch.
