Chapter 5 - The Descent

Elena woke with a start, panic returning instantly as Julian threw a heavy, oversized coat over her shoulders to hide her uniform and her belly.

"What's happening?" she asked, wincing as a sharp pain shot across her lower back.

"Victor sent a cleaner. He’s tied up in the closet, but he won't be the only one. We are leaving."

Julian half-carried, half-guided her out of the suite. They couldn't use the VIP elevators—Victor’s men would be watching them. Instead, Julian led her to the emergency fire stairs.

"It's thirty flights down," Julian said, looking at her swollen state. "Can you do it?"

"To keep my baby safe from your psychopath friend? I'd walk down a volcano," Elena gritted through her teeth, her maternal instincts overriding her exhaustion.

The descent was agonizing. Every five floors, Julian made her stop to rest, checking her pulse and feeding her bottled water. The sound of heavy boots echoing from the stairwell above told them they were being hunted. Victor had realized his assassin had gone dark.

"Faster," Julian whispered, wrapping his arm around her waist to support her weight.

By the time they reached the subterranean parking garage, Elena was weeping silently from the pain in her swollen ankles and lower back. They burst through the heavy fire doors into the dim, fluorescent-lit concrete cavern.

A black, armored SUV was idling near the loading docks. Anton stepped out, holding a customized submachine gun.

"Boss, get in!" Anton yelled.

But out of the shadows stepped three men in dark suits, raising their weapons.

"Mr. Rossi," the lead man said coldly. "Mr. Thorne sends his regards. Hand over the woman."

"Anton, cover fire!" Julian roared.

The garage erupted into a deafening exchange of gunfire. Julian shoved Elena behind a concrete pillar, covering her body with his own as bullets chipped away the stone around them. Anton moved with lethal precision, taking down two of the men in seconds.

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"Move! Move!" Anton shouted, laying down suppressing fire.

Julian hoisted Elena up and sprinted for the armored SUV. They dove into the backseat just as a bullet shattered the window next to Julian’s head. Anton jumped into the driver's seat and slammed the gas pedal, the heavy vehicle roaring out of the garage and smashing through the security barrier into the rainy night.