Chapter 1 - THE BABY BEHIND THE FORBIDDEN DOOR
“Why is there a baby crying near my office?”
The voice came from the hallway.
Deep.
Calm.
Dangerous.
I froze.
Ava lay on the folded tablecloth, her little fists moving beneath her blanket.
She hadn't been crying.
Not yet.
But she'd made one small unhappy sound.
And apparently, that had been enough.
Footsteps approached.
Then the supply-room door opened.
Reed Callaway stood in the doorway.
Thirty-nine years old.
Six foot three.
Black hair.
Dark eyes.
A charcoal suit that probably cost more than my annual rent.
Chicago's most feared mafia boss.
And my employer.
He looked at me.
Then at Ava.
Then back at me.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, he asked, “What is this?”
My throat tightened.
“My daughter.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I can see that.”
I swallowed.
“I'm sorry.”
Reed looked toward the hallway.
Then stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
The small room suddenly felt even smaller.
“Explain.”
I looked down.
“My babysitter got sick.”
Silence.
“I couldn't find anyone else.”
He stared.
“And you brought your baby here?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
His jaw tightened.
“You know the rules.”
“I know.”
“You know children aren't allowed in the service areas.”
“Yes.”
“And you know what happens when employees break security protocols.”
My eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Reed looked at Ava.
She blinked up at him.
Then smiled.
A tiny, toothless smile.
Something changed in his expression.
He stared at her.
Ava kicked her feet.
Then reached toward his tie.
Reed looked completely unprepared.
For a man who could intimidate an entire room without raising his voice, he seemed genuinely frightened of an eight-month-old baby.
I swallowed.
“Please don't fire me.”
He looked at me.
My voice broke.
“I need this job.”
Reed was silent.
Then he asked, “What's her name?”
I blinked.
“Ava.”
He looked down.
“Ava.”
She smiled again.
Reed exhaled slowly.
Then said, “Pick her up.”
My heart stopped.
“Sir?”
May you like
He looked toward the cold floor.
“She's not staying in a supply closet.”
