Julian reached the bottom step of the wooden stairs, pulling out his smartphone to check the flight itinerary[span_110](start_span)[span_110](end_span).
Julian: Vance’s courier is ten minutes away with the medical van. Sit quietly on the floor and don't make a sound[span_111](start_span)[span_111](end_span).
Clara’s fingers wrapped around the cold, textured steel of the iron tire iron[span_112](start_span)[span_112](end_span).
Clara: Lily, darling, close your eyes. Put your hands over your ears and turn toward the brick wall[span_113](start_span)[span_113](end_span).
Lily: Grandma, what are you doing[span_114](start_span)[span_114](end_span)?
Clara: Do it now, baby. Trust Grandma[span_115](start_span)[span_115](end_span).
Julian heard the rustle of the blanket and turned around, scowling with irritation[span_116](start_span)[span_116](end_span).
Julian: What did I say about talking down here[span_117](start_span)[span_117](end_span)?
Clara stepped forward with sudden speed, swinging the iron bar with all the strength in her sixty-four-year-old body[span_118](start_span)[span_118](end_span).
The heavy steel struck Julian across his right kneecap with a sickening crack[span_119](start_span)[span_119](end_span).
Julian: Aaargh! You crazy old bitch[span_120](start_span)[span_120](end_span)!
Julian collapsed against the wooden staircase, clutching his shattered knee as blinding agony ripped through his leg[span_121](start_span)[span_121](end_span).
His smartphone flew out of his hand, shattering against the concrete floor into pieces[span_122](start_span)[span_122](end_span).
Clara: Run, Lily! Grab the key ring from his jacket pocket[span_123](start_span)[span_123](end_span)!
Lily scrambled out from behind the water boiler, her bare feet slapping across the wet cement floor[span_124](start_span)[span_124](end_span).
Julian: Don't you dare touch me, you little brat[span_125](start_span)[span_125](end_span)!
Julian lashed out with his left fist, striking Lily across the shoulder and knocking the small girl onto her back[span_126](start_span)[span_126](end_span).
Lily: Grandma[span_127](start_span)[span_127](end_span)!
Seeing her grandchild struck erased every trace of fear from Clara’s mind[span_128](start_span)[span_128](end_span).
She raised the iron bar again and slammed it down across Julian’s shoulder blade[span_129](start_span)[span_129](end_span).
Julian: Stop! Stop hitting me! I’ll kill you, old woman[span_130](start_span)[span_130](end_span)!
Clara: You will never lay a hand on this child again as long as I draw breath[span_131](start_span)[span_131](end_span)!
Clara lunged forward, thrusting her hand directly into Julian’s open leather jacket and snatching the brass keychain[span_132](start_span)[span_132](end_span).
Julian grabbed her wrist, his fingernails digging deep into her flesh, drawing thin ribbons of blood[span_133](start_span)[span_133](end_span).
Julian: Give me those keys! I will drown you in this cella