Chapter 4 - Cold Water
The garage goes completely quiet.
The bodyguard behind Julian doesn't move a single muscle, his face impassive.
The blonde woman gasps for air, her mouth opening and closing like a landed fish.
Tears spill instantly from her right eye, cutting through her heavy foundation.
"J-Julian..." she rasps, her hand shaking against her face.
Julian rolls his right shoulder once, settling his navy jacket back into place.
He bends down.
His polished dress shoe steps right into the middle of the soapy water, ignoring the wet foam soaking into his cuff.
He reaches out a large, calloused hand toward the child.
The boy flinches, drawing his arms into his chest.
"Give me the rag, son," Julian says quietly.
The boy’s small fingers loosen.
The wet yellow cloth drops into Julian’s open palm.
Julian tosses the rag onto the bonnet of the luxury sedan, leaving a wet, soapy streak across the glossy hood.
He reaches down with both hands and lifts the small boy straight off the wet floor.
The child weighs no more than a bag of flour.
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Julian places the boy gently on top of the hood of the black car.
The boy sits on the smooth metal, his wet trousers leaving a dark smear on the custom coat.
