Chapter 10 - The False Victory
The elevator doors hissed open in the dark, and Ethan immediately fired two shots into the shadows.
A heavy body hit the floor, groaning in pain, but the elevator was empty.
"They sent a decoy," Ethan shouted, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the master bedroom.
"The roof access panel is in my closet, we are taking the helicopter."
We sprinted through the dark penthouse as the sound of breaking glass echoed from the balcony doors.
Armed men were repelling down from the upper maintenance floor, shattering the windows to breach the apartment.
Ethan shoved me into the closet, punched a code into a hidden keypad, and pushed open a secret steel door.
We climbed a narrow spiral staircase, bursting out into the freezing night air of the rooftop.
The rotors of Ethan's private helicopter were already spinning, the engines roaring to life.
"Get in!" Ethan yelled over the noise, lifting me directly into the passenger seat.
He jumped in beside me, slamming the door shut just as the armed mercenaries burst onto the roof.
Bullets pinged harmlessly against the bulletproof glass of the aircraft as the pilot pulled us sharply into the sky.
I looked down at the shrinking city, tears of absolute relief streaming down my face.
We had made it out alive.
I reached across the console and took Ethan's hand, feeling completely safe for the first time in a year.
We flew for twenty minutes before landing quietly on a dark, remote private airstrip outside the city limits.
An armored black SUV was waiting for us on the tarmac, the engine purring softly.
"My head of security, Marcus, will drive us to the safe house," Ethan said, helping me out of the helicopter.
We climbed into the back seat of the heavy vehicle, and Marcus immediately locked the doors with a solid click.
I let out a long sigh and leaned my head against the leather headrest, closing my eyes.
"Excellent timing, sir," Marcus said from the driver's seat, shifting the car into gear.
As Marcus reached up to adjust the rearview mirror, his sleeve pulled back, revealing a very familiar, custom-made surgical watch.
Marcus slowly turned around, pointing a silenced pistol directly at Ethan's chest with a cold, dead stare.
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The radio on the dashboard crackled to life, and Adrian's smooth, charismatic voice filled the trapped car.
"I told you she was mine, brother," Adrian laughed softly.
