14
The SUV’s engine roared as we tore through downtown streets, my knuckles white against the leather seat. Behind us, muzzle flashes lit up the night like deadly fireworks. Leo barked rapid–fire orders into his phone while Sofia took corners at speeds that made my stomach lurch.
Through the bulletproof glass, I tracked three black Escalades gaining ground. Their
headlights grew larger in the side mirrors, professional drivers matching Sofia’s every move.
“They’re herding us,” Leo growled, his arm pulling me closer as another burst of gunfire peppered the rear window. “Sofia, take the tunnel route.”
My mind flashed to the countless hours I’d spent reviewing city infrastructure plans during renovation projects. “That’s exactly what they want. The Madison Street tunnel runs for two
0 #O
22:43 Fri, 21 Feb
Marry My Extrusband’s Rival
miles without a single exit. We’d be trapped like rats.”
11%
Leo’s eyes met mine, pride flickering across his face despite our dire situation. “Smart girl.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Sofia, cut through the warehouse district instead.”
My phone lit up, Nathaniel’s face appearing on screen. The sight of it made bile rise in my throat. Leo noticed my reaction, his jaw clenching tight enough I could see the muscle twitch. “Put it on speaker,”
With shaking fingers, I accepted the call. “What do you want?”
“Quite a performance, darling.” Nathaniel’s voice filled the car’s interior, smooth and cultured as ever, but with that undercurrent of venom I’d grown to recognize. “Though I expected better from you than spreading such vicious lies on national television.”
“The only lie was our marriage.” I forced steel into my voice despite my racing heart. “Everything else was truth – documented, verified truth that will bury you.”
His laugh sent ice through my veins. “And now you’re running away with your mafia prince? How perfectly dramatic.” A pause heavy with malice. “Tell me, does Leo know about the appointment you made at the abortion clinic few days back?”
Silence filled the SUV, broken only by the engine’s roar and squealing tires. Leo’s hand slipped from my waist, leaving a cold void where his warmth had been. I couldn’t bear to look at him, couldn’t face the possibility of betrayal in those dark eyes.
“He’s bluffing about the photos,” Sofia called from the front seat, taking another sharp turn that threw me
against Leo’s side. “Our security is-”
“No.” Leo’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “He has them. The question is how.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you about the appointment, but I was scared and confused and-”
“Stop.” His fingers caught my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. Instead of anger or hurt, I found something fierce and protective burning in his eyes. “You don’t owe me explanations about your choices. What matters is what you want now.”
Tears blurred my vision. “I want this baby. And I want-” The words caught in my throat. “What do you want, Victoria?”
“You.” The truth burst from my lips. “I want you, even if Nathaniel exposes everything. Let him try to destroy us. I’m done running.”
Leo’s phone buzzed – a message appearing on screen. His face hardened as he read it. “He’s not bluffing. The first photo just hit social media.”
“Then we fight back,” I said, gripping his hand. “Together.”
My heart pounded against my ribs as relief flooded through me, but before I could respond, Sofia’s voice cut through the moment. “They’re boxing us in!”
I pressed against the window, watching more black vehicles materialize from side streets
like deadly charlowe The warehnice district stretcherl hafore we
a mayo,nf abandonerl
22:43 Fri, 21 Feb 0
Marry My Exhumbanit’s Phy
like deadly shadows. The warehouse district stretched before us, a maze of abandoned buildings I knew intimately from my design work.
“There!” I jabbed my finger toward a familiar structure. “That warehouse – I redesigned it last year. There’s a hidden loading dock beneath the east wing.”
Leo’s fingers flew across his phone screen. “Sofia, east entrance. Team Two, converge on my signal.” His arm tightened around me protectively. “Victoria, whatever happens next stay
close to me.”
Metal screamed as our SUV plowed through the chain–link fence. Sofia cranked the wheel hard, and my shoulder slammed into Leo’s chest. Bullets peppered the armored exterior, the impacts vibrating through my bones.
“Now!” Leo barked into his phone.
The world exploded in chaos. Smoke bombs burst around us, their thick clouds obscuring everything beyond the windows. Through gaps in the haze, I caught glimpses of black–clad figures moving with lethal grace – Leo’s team, emerging from their hiding spots.
The SUV’s tires squealed against concrete as Sofia brought us to a sharp stop inside the warehouse. Leo pulled me from the vehicle, his body covering mine as we sprinted for shelter. We pressed against a massive concrete pillar, the gunfire bouncing off metal walls in a deafening cacophony.
“Like our first date yesterday all over again,” I managed, trying to smile despite my racing heart.
Leo’s laugh was rough as he checked his weapon. “Next time, I’m taking you somewhere quieter.”
“Promise?”
His eyes met mine, dark with emotion. “Promise.”
The moment shattered as bullets struck the pillar beside us, sending concrete dust raining down. Through the chaos, I heard Nathaniel’s voice, amplified by a megaphone.
“Time’s up, Victoria! Come out now, or Leo’s empire falls tonight!”
My fingers curled against the cold concrete, mind racing through the implications. Beside me, Leo’s face hardened into granite, but I caught the flicker of calculation in his eyes. He’d built his company from nothing, created legitimate jobs for hundreds of people. One word from Nathaniel could tear it all down.
Sofia materialized from the smoke like a ghost, blood trickling from a cut above her eye. “East exit’s still clear. We can make it if we move now.”
I pressed my hand against Leo’s chest, feeling his heart pound beneath my palm. “Don’t you dare sacrifice everything you’ve built for me.”
“Look at me.” His fingers caught my chin. “The company, the money – it’s all replaceable.
You’re not.”
