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My heart was in my throat. Poppy was inside with the man who wanted her dead. He killed her mother. It wasn't a stretch to think that he had it in him to kill her himself with his own bare hands.

The doors slid open to the foyer. A woman sitting behind a desk straightened her back as her body stiffened. “Can I help you?” she asked. She looked startled, taken aback by my sudden appearance.

I ran my hands through my hair and tried to look calm. I didn't want any trouble with these people. The secretary and the security guard were just normal, everyday people doing a job. They were probably unaware of what their boss was doing and what he was capable of. People like her father know betterthan openly mixing their legal business with their black-market dealings.

“I need to speak with Mr. Aneska.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked. The woman began to type on her keyboard as she stared at her computer. “I don't see anything on the calendar.”

“I don't, but this is important.”

“I'm sorry, Sir, but I can't do that. You need an appointment.”

“So, give me an appointment.”

“Mr. Aneska has next Friday available—”

“No,” I said. “This can't wait. I have to speak to him right now.”

The woman pushed her short black hair behind her ear as she glanced at the security guard. “Sir, unfortunately—”

“You don't understand,” I said sternly. “I need to see him right now.” I started to move towards the elevator. “This is important.”

“Sir, you can't.” The secretary jumped up from her seat. “Jeff, stop him!” she yelled.

“Excuse me, Sir! Stop right there!”

I slammed my thumb against the button, trying to open the elevator. I scanned the area, looking for the stairs. The security guard ran up behind me and gripped my shoulder. He yanked hard, causing me to spin around.

I held up my hands, palms out. “Look, I don't want to hurt you.”

“Vanessa, call the cops,” The security guard said as he looked me in the eyes. “Buddy, you need to go.”

“Don't call the cops, Vanessa,” I responded. “You don't need to do that. I'm just going to go talk to Gerard and then be on my way. There's no reason to bring the cops into it.”

“Time to go, Buddy,” the security guard said, digging his fingers into my shoulder as he attempted to guide me out.

I reacted. I wasn't leaving. There was no way in hell I was going anywhere without Poppy. I took the security guard by surprise. He wasn't prepared at all for a man like me. I grabbed his wrist, twisted his arm, and flipped him around. Without a chance to fight back, I had the guard's own gun pressed to the back of his head.

“I don't want to hurt you,” I said. “Just do as I say.” I took the guard's handcuffs and cuffed him and the secretary together. I then locked them inside the utility closet. “Sit tight. I'll make this as quick as possible.”

They looked terrified but settled into the closet without too much resistance. I really didn't want to have to kill either of them, so I was glad the security guard didn't fight me at all and that the secretary didn't get a chance to call the cops. She froze instead, remaining completely silent.

I took the stairs instead of the elevator to the fourth floor. I wanted to avoid having the doors open, which would have made me vulnerable to whatever was on the other side. Stealth was the best way to approach this rescue mission.

My heart was racing, and adrenaline was fueling my body. I was terrified that something had happened to Poppy already. If Gerard hurt her, if he laid a single finger on her, I'd kill him where he stood without pause.

I might kill him anyway. The world would be a better place without that man poisoning it. After everything he had done to Poppy, after all the lives he destroyed over the years, after all the people he probably killed, I'd be doing everyone a favor.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I slowed down and walked more cautiously. The thick, blue metal door had a small glass window. I stayed off to the side, took a quick peek through the window, and saw another security guard sitting behind a small desk.

He had his head down, looking at his phone. There was a set of double doors with a key card slot for entry. The walls and floor were crisp white. Not a spot of dirt or dust could be seen. There was a scent in the air that reminded me of the hospital: bleach and latex.

I tightened my grip around the gun. The guard downstairs was weak and pliable. He didn't think his job was worth dying for, so he gave up easily. I wasn't sure how this guy would react.

I threw the door open and stormed into the hall with the gun aimed right at him. His eyes opened wide, and he sat still for a brief moment before his training kicked in, replacing his initial response of fear with action.

The second guard attempted to reach for his gun, but I was on him before his oily fingers could grab it. I aimed the gun at his face and said, “I'll have your brains splattered on the wall behind you before you get a chance to pop one off on me. Be smart about this. Hand it over.”