Chapter 8 - Ambush at St. Jude’s
The grand lobby of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital was packed with television reporters, medical staff, and donors for the opening of the Emma Romano Pediatric Wing.
Flashbulbs popped incessantly near the podium where a massive silk ribbon was stretched across the entrance.
Claire stood near the podium wearing a stunning dark navy wool coat, looking polished, confident, and radiant. Beside her, four-year-old Lily wore a tiny matching navy dress, holding a large pair of ceremonial golden scissors with both hands.
Gabriel stood ten feet away in the front row of the audience, dressed in his dark charcoal suit. Frank and four undercover security guards were stationed strategically near the exit doors, their eyes scanning the crowd.
"And now," the hospital director announced into the microphone, "we welcome Mrs. Claire Bennett to cut the ribbon!"
The crowd applauded warmly.
Claire smiled, leaning down to help Lily hold the golden scissors. "Ready, sweetie?"
"Ready!" Lily giggled.
SNAP.
The red silk ribbon fell to the marble floor. The audience erupted into cheers, and camera flashes exploded like stars.
Suddenly, a loud, artificial pop echoed through the air conditioning vents.
Thick, blinding white smoke began pouring into the lobby from three overhead registers.
Panic erupted instantly.
"Fire!" someone screamed. "Smoke bomb! Get out!"
The crowd surged toward the main doors in a chaotic stampede. Medical staff scrambled, reporters dropped their equipment, and visibility in the lobby dropped to zero within five seconds.
Gabriel didn't hesitate. "Frank! Seal the exits! Cover Claire!"
Gabriel sprinted through the blinding white smoke toward the podium.
"Claire! Lily!" Gabriel shouted, his deep voice cutting through the screams.
Near the podium, Claire was knocked off her feet by the panicked crowd. She crashed onto the marble floor, her knee twisting violently. "Lily! Lily!"
A hand grabbed Lily’s arm through the smoke.
"Gotcha, kid!" a raspy, familiar voice growled.
Lily screamed, kicking wildly. "Let me go! Mr. Gabriel! Help!"
Ryan Cole, wearing a gas mask and a dark jacket, yanked the four-year-old girl into his arms, pushing through the back service door leading into the hospital’s loading bay, accompanied by two armed O'Malley enforcers.
"Gabriel!" Claire sobbed, crawling through the smoke, clutching her injured knee. "Ryan took her! Ryan took Lily!"
Gabriel reached the podium in three seconds. He lifted Claire into his arms, handing her directly to Frank, who had rushed up beside him.
"Take her to the armored car, Frank," Gabriel ordered, his grey eyes flashing with a terrifying, apocalyptic rage.
"Boss! I'm coming with you!" Frank insisted.
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"No! Guard Claire!" Gabriel roared.
Gabriel didn't wait. He pulled a black pistol from his shoulder holster, kicked open the heavy service door, and sprinted into the dark loading bay corridors after the men who had dared to touch his child.
