No Place To Run

Victoria looked between Roman and Sadie, her chest heaving as pure panic set in.

Victoria: If I tell you where he is, you let me walk out of this mansion. No cops, no press release.

Sadie: Just tell him, please! Toby is allergic to dust, he has asthma!

Victoria: Shut up, Sadie! Roman, do we have a deal? You sign the waiver releasing my trust fund, and you get the boy back in one piece.

Roman took two slow steps toward her, his heavy combat boots crunching on the shattered glass of the decanter.

Roman: You honestly think you're in a position to negotiate with me?

Victoria: I know how your precious reputation works! If the tabloids find out your mansion is an extortion ground, your stock drops twenty percent by morning!

Roman smiled, a chilling, humorless baring of teeth that made Victoria press her spine flat against the steel safe door.

Roman: You forgot one thing about me, Victoria.

Victoria: What... what are you talking about?

Roman: I wasn't born into this wealth. I took it. And before I ever sat in a boardroom, I cleaned up trash in South Dallas.

With lightning speed, Roman’s open palm struck out, delivering a deafening, cracking slap across Victoria’s cheek.

The impact echoed through the high-ceilinged room like a gunshot, whipping Victoria’s head around violently.

She shrieked in shock and pain, losing her footing on the wet rug and crashing hard onto her hands and knees.

Victoria: You... you hit me! I’m calling the police! I will sue you for every penny of your estate!

Roman: Be my guest. The Dallas Chief of Police is already waiting at warehouse four right now.

Victoria froze on the floor, looking up at him with terror flashing through her eyes.

Victoria: What did you say?

Roman: I traced the call the second you dialed Sadie's phone in the foyer. My private tactical team breached the building two minutes ago.

Roman’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He brought it to his ear without breaking eye contact with the woman on the floor.

Roman: Status?

Officer Davis: Mr. Sterling, we have the boy. He's safe, unharmed, and eating a sandwich in the back of my cruiser. The suspects are in custody.

Roman: Put him on.

Roman switched to speakerphone, and a tiny, tearful voice filled the quiet office.

Toby: Sadie? Sadie, are you there?

Sadie dropped to her knees right there on the rug, bursting into massive, racking sobs of pure relief.

Sadie: Toby! Oh God, Toby! Are you okay? Did they hurt you, baby?

Toby: I’m okay, Sadie! The police officer gave me his jacket! He said Mr. Sterling sent him to get me!

Sadie: Thank God... oh thank God!

Roman tapped the screen to end the call, then looked down at Victoria, who was now trembling violently against the base of the desk.

Roman: Now, Victoria. Let's discuss your eviction.