Chapter 5 - The Kidnapping at the Academy
Two weeks later, the morning sun bathed the manicured grounds of St. Jude Academy in Manhattan, where Marco, Lucia, and Sofia attended private classes.
At 3:15 PM, as the school day ended, a black delivery van with forged diplomatic plates pulled up to the school's side alley.
Before the school security guards could react, three masked men in tactical gear stepped out, intercepting Lucia and Marco as they walked toward the Rinaldi private security shuttle.
"Marco! Run!" Lucia screamed, dropping her pink backpack.
Marco lunged forward, kicking one of the attackers in the shin with all his strength, but a second operative grabbed both children, throwing them into the rear of the van before speeding toward the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.
Within forty-five seconds, Victor's private phone lit up with an encrypted alert from Marco's wristwatch—which contained a concealed GPS transponder Victor had installed months earlier.
I was in the kitchen preparing after-school snacks when Victor received the call.
His face turned ghostly pale, then hardened into a mask of pure, apocalyptic fury.
"Serena," Victor said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "Marco and Lucia were taken from the academy gates."
The ceramic bowl in my hands shattered against the floor.
"No! Oh God, no! Lucia!" I cried out, grabbing his lapels in sheer, breathless terror.
May you like
Victor wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tight against his chest, his heart thumping like thunder against his ribs.
"Look at me, Serena," Victor ordered, cupping my face in his strong hands. "Marco activated his emergency beacon. I have their coordinates. I swear on the lives of my own children, I will bring our son and daughter home within the hour. Nobody touches what is ours."
