Chapter 50
The Edge of Survival
The helicopter tilted sharply as gunfire erupted from the rooftop below. Elena gritted her teeth, gripping the rope ladder with one hand while reaching for her gun with the other. Vincent’s men weren’t letting them escape that easily.
“Hold on!” Jordan’s voice crackled through their earpieces. “I’m taking evasive action.”
The helicopter banked left, dodging another burst of bullets. Naomi scrambled up the ladder, securing the hard drive to her belt before reaching down to help Richard, who was gasping for breath. His fingers trembled as he clung to the swaying ladder.
“I—I can’t hold on!” he panicked.
“Yes, you can!” Naomi shouted over the wind. “Keep climbing!”
Elena fired two quick shots downward, forcing the shooters on the rooftop to duck. The chopper surged higher, leaving the cityscape behind as it headed toward the darkened skyline.
“Get us out of range, Jordan!” Elena barked.
“Working on it!” Jordan snapped. “I’ve got a pursuit alert—Vincent’s got a drone locked on us.”
Naomi cursed. “Of course he does.”
Richard finally reached the edge of the chopper, and Elena helped him inside. Naomi followed, then Elena, swinging into the aircraft just as the drone came into view.
A sleek, black military-grade drone. Fast. Armed. Deadly.
Jordan’s voice was tight. “This is about to get messy.”
The drone locked onto them, its weapons charging.
Elena didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the mounted rifle inside the chopper and positioned herself at the open door. The wind howled around her as she squinted through the scope.
“Take the shot!” Naomi yelled.
Elena exhaled, steadied her aim, and fired.
The first bullet grazed the drone’s wing.
The second hit its propulsion system.
The third—direct hit.
The drone sparked and spiraled out of control before exploding in midair.
Naomi let out a breath of relief. “Remind me never to bet against your aim.”
Elena smirked, lowering the rifle. “Noted.”
Jordan’s voice broke through. “That was too close. But we’re in the clear—for now.”
Richard collapsed against the seat, still shaken. “He won’t stop. You know that, right?”
Elena met his gaze. “Then we don’t stop either.”
Naomi pulled the hard drive from her belt, holding it up. “This is the leverage we need. But we have to move fast.”
Elena nodded. “We end this before Vincent gets another chance.”
The helicopter soared into the night, carrying them toward the final battle they couldn’t afford to lose.
The game wasn’t over.
