Thomas stared at her, stunned. He recognized the name from headlines and business magazines left behind in his cab. She was one of the most powerful executives in the country, known for her ruthless discipline and strategic brilliance.
“And you are here,” he murmured, unable to understand.
“They betrayed me,” she said through clenched teeth. “My husband and the board wanted me erased. They wanted this child gone with me.”
Another scream tore through the night, echoing off stone and rain. There was no more time for questions. Thomas pulled off his jacket and spread it on the ground, ignoring the cold soaking into his clothes. He knelt beside her, speaking softly, guiding her breathing, holding her hand when the pain overwhelmed her.
“Stay with me,” he urged. “Hold on for your daughter.”
Moments blurred together in terror and determination until a sudden cry pierced the darkness, sharp and undeniable. A baby cried. Thomas collapsed to his knees, sobbing openly as he wrapped the tiny girl in his jacket. She was small and fragile, her skin slick with rain and blood, but she was breathing, alive, and furious at the world she had entered.