Chapter 49
No Way Out
Elena’s breath came in sharp bursts as she crawled through the narrow air duct, the cold metal pressing against her palms. Naomi and Richard followed close behind, the sound of distant gunfire echoing through the ventilation shafts.
“Jordan, we’re moving,” Elena whispered. “Tell me you have a real plan.”
Jordan’s voice crackled through the earpiece. “I do. But you’re not going to like it.”
Richard groaned. “I already don’t like it.”
Naomi smirked. “That makes two of us.”
Elena pushed forward, ignoring their banter. The duct ended at a maintenance grate, and she carefully pried it open, peering down into a dimly lit hallway.
Clear.
She dropped down silently, motioning for the others to follow.
The hallway stretched ahead, leading to a reinforced door marked “ROOFTOP ACCESS – RESTRICTED.”
Naomi exhaled. “I hope Jordan knows what he’s doing.”
Elena tried the door. Locked.
“Jordan,” she hissed, “open it.”
“Working on it. Keep your heads down.”
A second later, the electronic lock beeped, and the door slid open.
They rushed through, climbing the metal staircase two steps at a time. The rooftop door loomed ahead, their last exit.
Elena reached for the handle—
BOOM.
The door exploded inward.
Elena barely had time to react before the shockwave sent her crashing backward. Naomi grabbed Richard, pulling him behind cover as a team of armed men stormed onto the rooftop.
“Drop your weapons!” a voice commanded.
Elena’s ears rang, but she forced herself to focus. Through the smoke and debris, she recognized the man at the front.
Vincent Hale.
Their enemy wasn’t hiding anymore.
Richard’s face turned pale. “No…”
Vincent smirked. “You really thought you could win, didn’t you?” His men tightened their grip on their weapons. “It’s over.”
Elena glanced at Naomi. They had seconds to act.
Jordan’s voice was urgent in her ear. “Jump.”
Elena’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Jump. Now.”
She turned toward the edge of the rooftop, the wind howling around them. It was a long drop—suicidal, even.
But Jordan had never failed them before.
Naomi’s grip tightened around the hard drive. “Elena…”
Elena looked back at Vincent, whose smirk was growing.
They had no time.
She grabbed Richard’s wrist and ran.
Naomi followed.
Vincent’s voice roared behind them. “Stop them!”
Gunfire erupted as they reached the ledge.
And then—they jumped.
The wind rushed around them.
Elena barely had time to process what was happening before—
A black helicopter rose into view beneath them.
A rope ladder unfurled.
Jordan’s voice crackled in their ears. “Told you to trust me.”
Elena reached out, grabbing hold as the helicopter veered away. Naomi and Richard latched on, scrambling for safety as bullets whizzed past them.
Below, Vincent’s furious scream was lost in the roar of the wind.
They weren’t out of danger yet.
But for now—they had survived.
