Chapter 15 - THE BURNING CLINIC
The drive to Providence felt endless.
Hannah sat in the back of Dominic’s armored SUV with her father beside her.
Neither knew how to speak after seventeen years.
So Vincent simply held her hand.
It was enough.
Smoke was already rising above the private clinic when they arrived.
Fire crews surrounded the building.
Dominic’s face went hard.
“Victor is erasing records.”
“I don’t care about records,” Hannah said. “Where is Lily?”
A firefighter pointed toward the east wing. “Neonatal suite is on three. Sprinklers failed.”
Hannah moved toward the entrance.
Dominic caught her.
“No.”
“She’s my child.”
“And you have another child waiting in Boston.”
That stopped her.
Dominic looked at Tomas. “You and me.”
The firefighter blocked them. “Absolutely not.”
Then a woman stumbled through the smoke coughing.
Britney.
Her white dress from Cabo was gone. She wore clinic scrubs streaked with soot.
Hannah lunged.
“Where is my baby?”
Britney collapsed against an ambulance.
“Victor locked the nursery.”
“Why?”
“He said if Dominic wouldn’t trade the drive, no one gets leverage.”
Hannah slapped her.
The sound shocked even Hannah.
Britney stared up at her.
“You don’t get to cry,” Hannah said. “Where is the key?”
Britney pulled a badge from her pocket.
“Third floor. Room 312.”
Dominic took it and ran with Tomas and two firefighters.
Minutes stretched into torture.
Then a window shattered on the third floor.
Smoke poured out.
Hannah screamed.
A firefighter appeared at the entrance carrying a tiny transport incubator.
Inside, Lily was crying.
Hannah fell to her knees.
Dominic came out behind them coughing, one sleeve burned through.
He gave Hannah the smallest nod.
“She’s okay.”
Hannah pressed both hands to the incubator.
Then Tomas stumbled out alone.
“Where’s Dominic?” Hannah asked.
Tomas looked back at the burning doorway.
“He went back in.”
“For what?”
May you like
Tomas’s expression darkened.
“Victor.”
