Chapter 4 - The Vanishing Act
They moved swiftly toward the private service stairs, bypassing the main elevators where Chloe's call was likely summoning the hotel’s security detail. Julian walked slightly ahead, his body acting as a shield, one hand resting protectively on the small of Sarah’s back, guiding her through the dimly lit service corridors behind the luxury suites.
The hotel’s service area was a maze of exposed pipes, steel doors, and humming air ducts—a stark, utilitarian contrast to the opulent marble hall they had just left. Leo had grown restless, his small hands clutching the lapels of Sarah's dress as he looked around at the flickering fluorescent lights with wide, curious eyes.
"Julian, his birth certificate..." Sarah whispered as they descended a flight of concrete stairs, her breath ragged. "It doesn't have your name on it. I was too afraid to put it down. If they take this to court—"
"It doesn't matter," Julian interrupted firmly, his voice echoing in the stairwell. "A court case takes months. I have private medical staff who can perform a DNA test tonight to establish paternity legally. Once my name is on that document, not even my father's connections can touch him without going through me."
They reached the heavy steel fire door at the base of the stairs, which opened directly into the underground parking garage. The vast space was filled with rows of exotic, dark-tinted luxury sedans, the air thick with the smell of gasoline and damp concrete.
Suddenly, the overhead lights flickered once, twice, and plunged the entire garage into total darkness.
The hum of the central generator died, leaving only the ominous, heavy silence of the subterranean structure. Sarah froze, her heart leaping into her throat as she instinctively pulled Leo flush against her chest.
"Julian?" she called out, her voice echoing in the pitch black.
"I'm right here," Julian’s voice came from two feet away. "Don't move, Sarah. It's just an emergency cut. The backup generators should—"
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Before he could finish his sentence, the heavy steel fire door behind them slammed shut with a deafening bang, the lock clicking into place electronically. A split second later, the sharp, acrid smell of ozone filled the air, followed by the silent, rapid movement of footsteps rushing across the concrete floor toward them.
"Julian!" Sarah screamed as a dark, gloved hand suddenly reached out from the shadows, grabbing her arm with crushing force.
