Chapter 337
Anna’s POV:
Urgent whispers and commands cut through the air as someone blew a whistle, attempting to restore onder.
“Back to your rooms! Nothing’s happening! Everyone back to your rooms now!‘
I barely registered the commotion. My mind was consumed with rage after seeing Frank and Claire together in front of my photos.
The display case that held more evidence of Frank’s sick obsession stood before me, mocking my attempts to break it.
My hands still tingled painfully from the impact of the stool against the reinforced glass.
1 gripped the stool again, ignoring the numbing sensation in my palms, and swung with all my strength.
The glass finally cracked but didn’t shatter. The alarm continued to wail, its piercing sound drilling into my skull.
The door burst open. A man wearing a black cap rushed in, grabbing my arm with surprising strength.
“Ms. Anderson, I’m here to protect you! Captain Michael sent me. I slipped in during the commotion downstairs!”
I tried to wrench my arm away. “I need those photos!”
“We don’t have time!” He tugged urgently. “We need to leave now!”
“No!” I pulled back, my voice cracking. “I need to find Frank first! He has to give me back what’s mine!”
The man’s eyes darted nervously toward the door. “Ms. Anderson, Captain Michael will handle that. Our priority right now is your safety-”
“I’m not leaving!” I insisted, digging my heels in. “Frank wouldn’t dare hurt me. Go find Blake! Tell him to come get me!”
The man’s expression hardened. “My mission is to ensure your safety. Captain Michael doesn’t tolerate failure.” He lowered his voice. “Ms. Anderson-
A commanding voice from the hallway cut him off. “Search every room! The intruder can’t escape. This concerns Mr. Hamilton’s private matters. Take them dead if you can’t take them alive. We protect Mr. Hamilton’s secrets at all costs! Understood?”
“Un–der–stood!” Several voices responded in unison. The unmistakable sound of silencers being attached to weapons followed.
‘Shit,” my protector muttered, his face paling. “They’re coming.”
I grabbed his arm. “Follow me!” I pulled him toward the emergency exit I’d spotted earlier. My heart hammered against my ribs as the reality of our situation sank in. Frank’s security detail was armed. All of them. And they were hunting us.
This isn’t just about inappropriate photos anymore. This is about survival.
We rushed to the fire escape, pushing through the heavy metal door into the stairwell. The emergency lights cast an eerie red glow over everything, making the concrete walls look like they were bleeding.
We raced down to the second basement level, only to find the fire escape door firmly locked from the outside.
‘Fuck!” My companion slammed his palm against the door.
We turned back, heading up to the third basement level, but that door was locked too.
“They’ve sealed off all exits from Secret Space,” he said grimly, checking his weapon. ‘We’re trapped.”
He extended his gun toward me. “Take this.”
1/3
Chapter 337
I stepped back. “I don’t know how to use it!
“You have to. He pressed it into my hands. “Hold it with both hands, always both hands. Then pull the trigger with your index finger.
The weapon felt alien and terrifying in my grasp. Its cold metal weight reminded me how real this danger was.
*They won’t kill me,” I said, trying to convince myself more than him. I don’t want to get you hurt. You should go.
this eyes met mine, unflinching. These people have no humanity, Ms. Anderson. My orders are to get you out safely, no matter what.
He checked his ammunition. Till go to the third level and create a diversion. You stay at the second level door. When you hear my whistle, shoot the lack and run. Captain Michael will have someone waiting for you outside.
Before I could protest, he climbed back up to the third basement level. I positioned myself by the second–level door, gun pointed at the lock, my hands trembling violently.
God, please let this work. Please.
The seconds stretched into eternity. Sweat trickled down my spine, and my breathing came in short, panicked gasps. I’d never felt so helpless, so utterly
alone.
Then came the whistle.
I pulled the trigger. The recoil shocked me, but the lock shattered. Simultaneously, I heard his gun fire upstairs.
“Found one! Third basement!” someone shouted, followed by more gunshots and screams.
I yanked the door open and plunged into the crowd of confused patrons rushing toward the exits. Keeping my head down, I moved with them, heart threatening to burst from my chest.
Outside Secret Space, the night air hit my face like a blessing. I spotted Michael standing near a black SUV, scanning the crowd.
“Michael!” I rushed toward him. “Quick! The man you sent to help me is in danger! You need to save him!”
Michael took the gun from my shaking hands, his eyes dropping to my bleeding hand. “Your hand is injured. I should take you to a hospital.”
“Forget about me!” I grabbed his sleeve frantically. “He’s waiting for your backup! He said you’d send someone!”
Michael’s face remained impassive. “We’re awaiting orders.”
“What fucking orders?” I screamed, my composure shattering completely. “Orders are more important than a human life?”
“Yes,” Michael answered coldly. “They are.”
His response stunned me into momentary silence. “He’s risking his life for me,” I finally whispered. “I’m going back in.”
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