Chapter 15: A Dangerous Standoff

Elena's pulse roared in her ears as she locked eyes with Richard Lawson. The dim light of the warehouse barely softened the menace in his gaze, the way he stood—calm, calculating, utterly in control.

Beside her, Damien radiated fury. His grip on his gun was tight, his body wound like a coil ready to snap.

Victor Hale, bloodied and tied to the chair, let out a ragged cough. He barely seemed conscious, but he was breathing. For now.

Richard smirked. "I should have known you'd come for him, Damien. And, of course, you'd bring your pet journalist along for the ride." His cold gaze flickered to Elena. "Still sniffing around for a story, Ms. Carter?"

Elena ignored the jab, keeping her focus on Victor. They had come too far to let Richard win now.

Damien's voice was dangerously low. "Let him go, Richard."

Richard chuckled, stepping forward. His guards moved with him, their guns raised. "And why would I do that?"

Adrian's voice came from the shadows, smooth and amused. "Because if you don't, this gets very messy."

Elena barely had time to process before Adrian stepped into view, gun in hand, his smirk firmly in place.

Richard tilted his head. "Adrian."

Adrian grinned. "You look surprised."

Richard's jaw twitched. "You're working against me?"

Adrian sighed dramatically. "Well, Father, you did try to have me killed once or twice. It tends to sour the relationship."

Elena swallowed hard. This was spiraling fast.

Richard's smirk returned, but it was sharper now, colder. "You think you've won because you found him?" He motioned to Victor. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."

Damien's gun didn't waver. "I know exactly what I'm dealing with. And I'm done playing by your rules."

Richard's men tightened their grips on their weapons. The tension in the air was suffocating.

Elena's mind raced. They were outnumbered. If this turned into a firefight, they wouldn't make it out unscathed.

She took a breath. "Victor is the only one who can testify against you. That's why you haven't killed him yet. But if you kill us—" She gestured to herself, Damien, and Adrian. "—it won't stop what's coming. People are already looking into you."

Richard's smile faltered, just slightly.

Elena pressed on. "You're running out of time."

A muscle ticked in Richard's jaw. He knew she wasn't bluffing.

Damien took the opening. "Let him go, Richard."

For a moment, the warehouse was silent.

Then—

Richard sighed. "Fine."

Elena's breath caught as Richard snapped his fingers.

One of his men stepped forward and cut the ropes binding Victor. The older man slumped forward, barely conscious.

Richard's gaze was still on Damien. "Take him and go."

Damien didn't lower his gun. "And if we don't?"

Richard smirked. "Then we all leave in body bags."

Elena didn't need convincing. She rushed to Victor's side, checking his pulse. Weak, but steady.

Damien hesitated for only a second before nodding to Adrian. "Cover us."

Adrian let out a dramatic sigh. "I hate doing all the work."

But he kept his gun raised as Elena and Damien lifted Victor.

They moved toward the door, every step feeling like a lifetime.

Richard's men didn't move.

Finally, they reached the exit.

And then Richard spoke one last time.

"This isn't over, Damien."

Damien didn't turn around.

"I know."

Then they were gone.

The Escape

The SUV roared down the empty roads, speeding away from the warehouse.

Elena sat in the back, keeping pressure on Victor's wounds. He was unconscious, but stable.

Damien stared out the window, lost in thought.

Adrian, for once, was quiet.

No one spoke.

The weight of what had just happened hung over them.

They had won this round.

But Richard wasn't finished.

Not even close.

And the war was just beginning.

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