Chapter Seventeen

**TARA**

The chaos of the explosion left my ears ringing and my vision blurry. As the dust settled, I clung to Ryan, our breaths coming in ragged gasps. The warehouse was a smoldering wreck, flames licking at the remains. I turned to Ryan, my voice trembling. "Ryan, we need to get out of here."

He nodded, his grip tightening on my hand. We stumbled away from the wreckage, our minds racing with the events that had just unfolded. We needed to regroup, to figure out our next move.

Just as we reached the edge of the property, a figure emerged from the smoke. My heart leapt, hoping it was Dammy, but as the figure came into view, my stomach dropped. It wasn't Dammy or Lara—it was Marcus, his face twisted with a mix of pain and triumph.

"Thought you could escape, didn't you?" Marcus sneered, wiping blood from a cut on his forehead. "But it's not over yet."

**RYAN**

Seeing Marcus sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. I pushed Tara behind me, ready to confront whatever fresh hell he had planned. "What do you want, Marcus? Haven't you done enough?"

He laughed, a harsh, grating sound that sent chills down my spine. "This was never just about the company, Ryan. It's about power, control. And you have something I want."

"What could you possibly want from us now?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

Marcus took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "Lara may have her schemes, but I've got my own plans. And they involve you and your precious Tara."

**TARA**

Fear clawed at my insides as Marcus advanced. I could feel the tension radiating from Ryan, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. We needed to get away, but Marcus blocked our path, and the danger he posed was palpable.

"We won't let you get away with this," I said, my voice shaking but resolute.

Marcus's grin widened. "Oh, but you will. Because if you don't, everyone you care about will suffer. Starting with your dear friend Dammy."

Ryan's eyes narrowed. "What have you done with him?"

Marcus shrugged nonchalantly. "He's somewhere safe. For now. But that can change very quickly if you don't cooperate."

The threat hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. We were trapped, forced to play by Marcus's rules. Desperation surged within me, and I clutched Ryan's hand tighter, seeking strength in our connection.

**RYAN**

The weight of Marcus's words bore down on me. We had to find a way out of this, to turn the tables. But with Tara's safety on the line, every decision felt like walking a tightrope over a chasm.

"What's your plan, Marcus?" I asked, stalling for time. "What do you really want?"

He smirked, clearly enjoying the power he held over us. "It's simple. You're going to hand over control of your company to me. All of it. And in return, I'll let you and Tara walk away. Unharmed."

Rage boiled within me, but I forced myself to stay calm. "And if I refuse?"

"Then you lose everything. Your company, your friends, and most importantly, Tara." Marcus's voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "I'll make sure she suffers."

I glanced at Tara, seeing the fear and determination in her eyes. We needed to buy time, to come up with a plan. "Fine," I said, my voice steady. "But we need proof that Dammy is safe."

Marcus nodded, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. "Fair enough. Follow me."

**TARA**

We followed Marcus through the wreckage, my heart pounding with each step. The destruction around us was a stark reminder of how far he was willing to go. As we approached a dilapidated building on the edge of the property, Marcus signaled for us to stop.

"Wait here," he ordered, disappearing inside.

Ryan and I exchanged a worried glance. "What do you think he's planning?" I whispered.

"I don't know," Ryan admitted. "But we have to be ready for anything."

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours before Marcus reappeared, dragging a battered and bruised Dammy behind him. Relief flooded through me at the sight of our friend, but it was quickly overshadowed by the reality of our situation.

"See? He's alive," Marcus said, shoving Dammy toward us. "Now, do as I say."

**RYAN**

Seeing Dammy in such a state ignited a fire within me. We couldn't let Marcus win, but we needed a plan—a way to turn the tide in our favor. As Marcus moved to stand between us and the only exit, I realized we had one advantage: he was overconfident.

"Tara, take Dammy and get him out of here," I whispered, hoping Marcus wouldn't catch on.

"What about you?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

"I'll distract him. Just go," I urged, squeezing her hand.

Before she could argue, I stepped forward, drawing Marcus's attention. "You want the company? Fine. But you're going to have to fight me for it."

Marcus's eyes narrowed. "I don't need to fight you, Ryan. I have the upper hand."

"Do you?" I challenged, hoping to buy Tara and Dammy enough time to escape. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're the one who's trapped."

**TARA**

Ryan's words hung in the air, and for a moment, it seemed like Marcus was considering them. I took the opportunity to help Dammy to his feet, guiding him toward the exit. "Come on, we need to get you out of here."

Dammy's grip was weak, but he managed to nod. "Be careful, Tara."

We moved as quickly and quietly as we could, my heart racing with each step. I glanced back, seeing Ryan standing his ground, a fierce determination in his eyes. He was buying us time, but for how long?

**RYAN**

As Tara and Dammy made their way to safety, I kept my focus on Marcus. "You think you can just take what you want, Marcus? It doesn't work that way."

Marcus's smirk faltered. "You think you're so clever, don't you? But I always have a backup plan."

Before I could react, Marcus pulled out a phone, pressing a button. An alarm blared through the building, and the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air. Reinforcements. My heart sank.

"Game over, Ryan," Marcus snared