2025-12-22 13:40:21
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 25
Ethan didn't move.His eyes locked on Victor's blade, calculating the distance between them. Fifteen feet. Maybe sixteen. Too far to close before Victor could drag the knife across Claire's throat.And Victor knew it.The gang leader's smile widened, triumphant. "That's right. Stay exactly where you are."Ethan's mind worked rapidly, running through scenarios. Every possible angle of attack. Every way this could play out.None of them ended well.If he rushed forward, Claire died.If he tried to negotiate, Victor would stall until his men returned from the perimeter. Then Ethan would be outnumbered again, and any chance of getting Claire out alive would vanish.There had to be another option.But right now, with that blade pressed against Claire's throat, Ethan couldn't see it."Smart boy," Victor said, his voice low and pleased. "I can see you thinking. Running through all your little plans. But here's the thing—there's no move you can make that doesn't end with her blood on this flo
CHAPTER 24
Victor's head snapped toward the gang member with the radio."What do you mean, movement?"The gang member pressed the radio closer to his ear, listening intently. "Perimeter patrol says they saw someone near the north fence. Could be nothing, could be—""Get out there," Victor ordered, his voice sharp. "Take everyone except two guards. Check it out. Now."The gang members moved immediately, weapons drawn, heading toward the exits in a rush of footsteps and muttered curses.Ethan watched from the catwalk above, his expression unchanging.He'd thrown the rock fifteen minutes ago, deliberately aiming it at the fence on the far side of the complex where he'd seen motion sensors. Old security equipment that probably didn't even work anymore, but the gang wouldn't know that.They'd investigate. Waste time searching the perimeter for a threat that didn't exist.And that would give Ethan the opening he needed.Within thirty seconds, ten of the twelve gang members had filed out through the lo
CHAPTER 23
Ethan pulled back from the window and pressed himself against the wall, his mind working through the problem methodically.Twelve gang members. Maybe more hidden in other parts of the factory. All of them armed with at least knives, probably guns too.Victor Kane in the center, holding Claire hostage.Richard Langley somewhere in the background, likely unarmed but unpredictable.Direct assault was suicide.Ethan needed another way in.He circled around to the north side of the building, moving carefully through the debris and overgrown weeds that had reclaimed this part of the industrial district. The darkness helped. No streetlights out here. Just the faint glow of the moon and the distant lights of the city.As he rounded the corner, he spotted it.A rusted fire escape clinging to the side of the building like a skeleton. The metal was old, corroded in places, but it looked stable enough. More importantly, it led directly to a second-floor catwalk that ran along the interior of the
CHAPTER 22
Ethan took a breath, forcing himself to stay calm when every instinct screamed at him to move, to act, to find Claire now. James was silent for a moment longer. Then he exhaled slowly. "If you're wrong about this—" "I'm not." Another pause. Then James's voice became sharper, more decisive. "Stay on the line." Ethan heard muffled sounds on the other end. James barking orders to someone nearby. Footsteps. A door opening and closing. Then James was back. "I'm mobilizing a trace team. It'll take about fifteen minutes to triangulate her phone's signal. Maybe less if we're lucky." "Fifteen minutes," Ethan repeated. His jaw tightened. Fifteen minutes felt like an eternity. "That's the fastest we can do it," James said. "The systems aren't instant. We need to filter through cell tower data, cross-reference GPS signals—" "I understand. Just do it." Ethan ended the call and stood in the middle of the room, his mind racing. Fifteen minutes. What could happen to Claire in fifteen minu
CHAPTER 21
Ethan stared at his phone.The screen had gone dark after the call ended, but he didn't move. Didn't blink. Just stood there in the middle of his parents' old living room, replaying every word Claire had just said.Something was wrong.Very wrong.Her voice had been too controlled and too formal. Like she was reading from a script someone had forced her to memorize."I'm... delayed. There's been a situation."Claire don't speak like that. Not to him. She was direct, efficient, sometimes sharp. But never stiff. Nor hesitant in that particular way.And then there was the location she'd given."I'm at the old industrial district. East side. Near the abandoned Sterling facility."Ethan's jaw tightened.There was no Sterling facility in the east industrial district. Abandoned or otherwise.He knew because he'd spent the last few days learning everything he could about Sterling Global's properties. Claire had mentioned them in passing during their conversations. The company owned warehouse
CHAPTER 20
"You want revenge," Victor said flatly."Yes! I want him to suffer like I've suffered!"Victor turned back to Claire, his expression thoughtful. "This Ethan Cross. He's important to you?"Claire's face remained perfectly composed. "He's a business associate."She couldn't let them go after Ethan. Couldn't let them use her as bait to hurt him.Richard laughed bitterly. "Business associate? Don't lie! He's just some ex-convict you've been helping for some reason!"He turned to Victor. "He was released from prison three days ago. He's nobody. Just a criminal with no money, no power, no connections. But for some reason, she's been protecting him!"Victor's eyes narrowed, studying Claire more carefully now."Is that so?" he asked quietly.Claire said nothing, her jaw tight.Victor smirked, nodded to one of his men. "Bring her phone."The man retrieved Claire's phone from a nearby table—they took it during the kidnapping—and handed it to Victor.Victor unlocked it. Claire's stomach sank. Th
You may also like
Rise of Power: Return of The Pathetic Commoner
Iwaswiththestars74.5K viewsTrillionaire they never noticed
Alfred ifeanyi72.2K viewsTRILLIONAIRE ON TOP
Sweet savage221.0K viewsHidden Billionaire Son-in-law
Deliaha Shine124.5K viewsThe Underestimated Husband's Dominance
Ana Stacia332 viewsDivorcing The Female CEO: Leon's Revenge
Achie Ver367 viewsThe Godly Supreme
Victoria T.O4.2K viewsTHE HEIR OF FORTUNE
Wonderful652.1K views