Alex Hunter hurried into her apartment in Paris, France. She knew she was on borrowed time and this time there was no getting away with it. She had known from the start that she shouldn't have taken this job, but against her better judgment she'd taken the job. It just seemed so easy.

But now, there was more than just herself to worry about. She quickly went to the bedrooms and went into a bedroom. There was a young girl there in her early twenties.

" Gabrielle. I need you to get up and start packing. I'm sending you and Izabella to New York." Alex explained. " Hurry."

Alex quickly went into another room that was decorated the theme of all five year old girls everywhere: Disney Princess. The small princess nightlight gave Alex enough light to make her way to the small bed where a little girl with dark curly hair was sleeping peacefully. She hesitated a moment to take in the sight. Tears slowly welled in her eyes as she realized this may be the last time she will see her little girl.

With a deep breath, she made her way to the bed and gently woke the little girl.

" Bella, baby, I need you to wake up."

" Mommy?" she asked sleepily as she rubbed her eyes.

" C'mon, sweetie, I need you to get up and get dressed for Mommy. We're going on a trip."

" Now? Where are we going?"

" Well, you and Gabrielle are going to New York. Remember me telling you about New York?"

" That's where Daddy lives." Izabella smiled as she became more awake.

" Yes, baby, you're going to see your Daddy."

Alex quickly dressed Izabella as Gabrielle packed a small suitcase and a Disney Princess backpack. Within minutes, they were ready to go. Alex hurried Gabrielle and Izabella down and through the lobby to the waiting taxi.

" Okay, Gabrielle, here are your tickets and the address you need to go to when you get to New York. Bella's passport and all her papers that Neal will need are this envelope. When you get there, give this to Izebella to give to Neal and leave. She'll be safe there. I've already transferred your severance pay to your account." Alex explained as she handed Gabrielle a large brown envelope.

" Mommy, you're not coming with us?"

" No, sweetie, I'll meet you later. Right now, you and Gabrielle are going to see Daddy." " But I want you to come, too." Izabella pleaded.

" Honey, I need you to go with Gabrielle. I need you to go stay with Daddy for a little while." Alex explained to her daughter, hoping she wasn't lying.

" Yeah, Bella, won't that be nice? Now, give Mommy hugs and kisses or we're going to miss our plane." Gabrielle urged.

Alex couldn't take it and pulled her daughter into her arms.

" Remember Mommy loves you forever and ever."

" I will, Mommy. I love you forever and ever."

Finally, Alex pulled away and put Gabrielle and her daughter in a cab and watched and waved until she could no longer see them. Once they were out of sight, she turned to walk back into the building and get her things, but she noticed someone down the block. Even though it was very late evening or early morning depending on how you looked at it, there was still a lot of people milling about. Once she got a good look at the gentleman, she turned and headed in the opposite direction. She had to buy Gabrielle some time to get her daughter safely out of the country.

Alex headed into a large crowd hoping that she could lose her purser and disappear. She threaded through the crowd and was about to head into the subway system when someone grabbed her arm and turned her around roughly.

" Going somewhere, Alex? You've got something that belongs to me. I'd hate for anything to happen to that darling little girl of yours." the man said in a thick Spanish accent.

" You touch her, you'll never find where I hid the map." Alex promised.

" Oh, I don't know about that. I saw you put la niƱa in the cab with the senorita. You will tell me where the map is or I will find the little one. I'm sure I can get good money for her in Singapore."

" You don't touch her." Alex began to fight, but he was too strong.

The man began walking Alex down the street and no one seemed to notice them. To the outsider, they were just another couple and no one noticed as they turned into the park. As far as anyone knew, they were just another couple out for a late night stroll.

The man waited until another couple passed by them and then forced Alex off the main path. She then elbowed the man in the stomach, but it wasn't enough. Though Alex got away, the man recovered quickly and gave chase. She didn't get more than a few steps before he once again grabbed her by the arm. He pulled her back to him and at first she didn't notice anything was wrong.

" Well, mariposa, I guess this is where we part ways." he said.

He took a step back and at first Alex was confused. Then something began to register in her awareness. She looked down and noticed a growing stain and pain radiating from her abdomen. Alex stumbled back as she realized he'd stabbed her.

" Don't worry, Alex, I will take good care of your daughter." the man said he turned and walked away.

Alex began to cry as she realized he's stabbed her in the stomach.

" Oh, god." she stumbled back onto the path, hoping there would be someone there who could her help. " Someone, please help me."

She could hear someone yelling in French, hysterically.

" Help me, please."

Alex was only aware of someone helping her down to the ground. Then there was more pain as someone pressed against the wound. All she could see were people gathering around her and the lights from the park. As tears rolled down her face, she felt an undeniable cold come over her and she knew she would never see her daughter again. She remember the day her little girl was born and holding her for the first time. Her first words. Her first steps. The first time she stole a postcard from a local museum. She couldn't have been more proud.

Soon, paramedics arrived and the world began to fade around her.