Chapter 11 - The Blackwood Connection
The black SUV surged into the intersection, its heavy front bumper crushing the plastic traffic cones marking the road construction zone.
Julian didn't hesitate. He veered left, sprinting toward an open subway entrance—the iron stairwell of the 5th Avenue Station leading down into the dark subterranean belly of the city.
"Down!" Julian yelled, shielding Lily’s head with his arm as he took the concrete stairs three at a time.
They plunged into the muggy, subterranean heat of the subway system. The scent of ozone, wet concrete, and hot steel wrapped around them instantly. The station was crowded with rainy-day commuters huddled under the tiled ceilings, waiting for the uptown train.
People gasped and backed away as Julian—soaked to the bone, his white shirt stained with dirt and blood, holding a child and a baby—vaulted over the turnstile gate without dropping his stride.
"Hey! You can't do that!" a station attendant yelled from his booth.
Julian ignored him. He sprinted down the platform toward the dark tunnel exit just as the heavy iron headlamp of an incoming train rounded the curve, its steel wheels screaming against the metal tracks.
Behind him at the top of the stairs, Marcus and two tactical operators burst through the emergency gate, their hands inside their coats.
"Clear the platform!" one of the operators shouted, pulling out a silver badge to cow the crowd.
The train came to a screeching halt, its pneumatic doors sliding open with a heavy hiss.
Julian ducked inside the second car, pushing past a startled woman holding a shopping bag. He didn't sit down. He moved straight to the connecting door between the subway cars, shoving it open and pulling Lily through into the next car just as the main doors began to slide shut.
Through the dirty glass window of the subway door, Julian saw Marcus standing on the platform.
Marcus didn't try to force his way into the closing train. He simply stopped, raised his smartphone to his ear, and stared straight through the glass into Julian’s eyes.
May you like
As the train pulled out of the station, gaining speed as it plunged into the dark tunnel, Julian watched his brother’s lips move behind the dirty glass.
You can't hide them forever.
