Chapter 9 - The Chase
The cruel confession echoed in the silent penthouse, shattering everything Claire thought she knew about her past.
"You killed her," Claire whispered, a fiery rage igniting deep in her chest, entirely replacing her fear.
Marcus took a step forward, his finger tightening dangerously on the trigger of the suppressed pistol.
"She was a brilliant scientist who realized I was embezzling from the Mercer research fund, so she had to go," he explained casually.
Before Marcus could fire, Claire grabbed the heavy silver picture frame and hurled it directly at his face with all her might.
The heavy metal struck him square in the jaw, causing him to stumble backward and drop his weapon.
Claire did not wait for him to recover.
She sprinted out of the study, flying down the lavish hallway toward the penthouse's private elevator.
She slammed her hand repeatedly against the call button, praying for the doors to open before Marcus found her.
The doors dinged open, and she threw herself inside, hitting the lobby button just as Marcus rounded the corner.
He fired a wild shot that shattered the glass paneling of the closing elevator doors, missing her head by inches.
Claire sank to the floor of the descending car, clutching the flash drive as she gasped for breath.
When the elevator reached the lobby, she bolted out into the street, blending into the thick midnight crowd.
She knew she had to get this drive to the FBI field office, not the corrupt local police.
As she ran down a dark alley to take a shortcut, two black SUVs suddenly screeched to a halt, blocking both exits.
Marcus's armed mercenaries stepped out of the vehicles, raising their weapons and cornering her completely.
Claire backed against the damp brick wall, realizing she had nowhere left to run.
She clutched the drive tightly, preparing to fight to her last breath to protect Ethan's legacy.
Suddenly, a massive armored truck smashed through the alley barricade, crushing one of the SUVs against the brick wall.
The side door of the truck kicked open, revealing Ethan wearing tactical gear over his ruined suit.
"Get in," he roared, holding out his hand to her amidst the chaotic gunfire.
Claire leaped into the armored vehicle, grabbing his hand as he pulled her into the safety of the heavy steel cabin.
"How did you get out of police custody?" she yelled over the roaring engine as they sped away into the night.
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Ethan loaded a fresh magazine into his weapon and gave her a grim, determined smile.
"When you are a billionaire, you can afford a very aggressive legal team and a private extraction crew," he replied.
