Chapter 4 - The Unclasped Collar
Ethan didn't give the bleeding woman on the floor another glance. He dropped instantly to his knees beside Lily, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he reached for the metal collar around his child's neck.
With a swift, precise flick of his fingers, he unclasped the mechanism, pulling the heavy chain free and tossing it callously onto the marble floor, where it landed with a loud, metallic clatter. He scooped Lily up into his arms, pulling her small, trembling body flush against his chest and cradle-holding the back of her head.
Lily wrapped her arms tightly around her father's neck, burying her wet face into the collar of his black suit jacket as her tiny body shook with uncontrollable sobs.
“Daddy’s here,” Ethan whispered, his deep voice thick with emotion, his broad chest rising and falling as he held her tight. “Nobody touches you again.”
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As Ethan held his daughter, a sharp, metallic vibration rattled against the marble floor just inches from where he knelt. A high-end smartphone lay beside the discarded chain, its screen lighting up brightly as a violent vibration hummed against the stone deck.
Lily’s sobbing slowly quieted. Resting her chin on her father's shoulder, her tear-stained eyes shifted downward, locking onto the illuminated display resting on the floor.
