Chapter 10
Chapter 10:
Liam dropped the teacup. It hit the floor and shattered, the porcelain crack echoing the crash from the gala.
“What?” Liam whispered. His blood ran cold.
“Don’t play games, Kensington,” the voice growled. “You have twenty-four hours. We know you have the assets p>
“Don’t hurt her,” Liam said, his voice trembling. “I’m listening. Just… let me hear her voice p>
Seraphina looked up from the sofa. “Who is it, Liam? Is it work p>
Liam shushed her violently. “Shut up p>
Seraphina flinched, shocked by his aggression.
Meanwhile, in the Maybach, Alistair’s phone beeped. A red dot on his dashboard screen was moving fast—away from the manor, toward the industrial district.
He had planted a tracker inside the lining of her clutch. Just in case.
Alistair’s eyes went black.
He grabbed his radio. “Felix. Silas took her. Get the team. Meet me at the Old Chemical Factory p>
He spun the steering wheel. The Maybach drifted across two lanes, tires screeching, and sped off in the opposite direction.
Skye woke up tied to a metal chair. Her head was pounding.
She was in a warehouse. It smelled of sulfur and rot.
She looked down.
A bomb was strapped to the pillar behind her. A digital clock counted down in red LED lights.
30:00.
Silas paced in front of her. He was bleeding where she had scratched him.
“You’re awake,” Silas sneered. “Your husband is stalling. He cares more about his money than your life p>
𝘖r𝗀a𝗇i𝘻𝘦 уour r𝗲𝘢𝘥iո𝘨 𝗹іѕ𝘵 𝗈ո 𝗯𝗲lոo𝗏𝘦𝗅𝗌.𝗰𝗈𝘮
Skye stayed calm. Panic would kill her faster than the bomb.
“He won’t pay,” Skye said, her voice raspy. “He doesn’t love me. You bet on the wrong horse, Silas p>
Silas laughed. “Then you die. Simple p>
Outside, tires screeched.
Liam had arrived. He had tracked Skye’s phone—ironically, using the family tracking app he had installed months ago at Seraphina’s insistence, hoping to catch Skye spending money or embarrassing the family name.
He ran into the warehouse, reckless, shouting, “Skye! Skye p>
Seraphina waited in the car, refusing to come in.
Liam burst through the doors. He saw Skye tied up. He saw the bomb.
“Let her go!” Liam shouted.
Silas pointed a gun at Skye’s head. “Money transfer first! Fifty million p>
“I… I can’t move that much cash instantly!” Liam pleaded. “I need time p>
“Time is up,” Silas said, cocking the gun.
Suddenly, a shadow detached itself from the ceiling rafters. Alistair Thorne dropped down behind Silas. He moved with terrifying speed.
He kicked Silas’s knee, shattering it. Silas screamed and fired blindly.
Bang.
The bullet hit the bomb timer.
The numbers started scrolling fast.
10… 9… 8…
“Run!” Skye screamed.
Liam froze. He looked at the bomb. He looked at the door. Fear paralyzed him.
Alistair didn’t run. He shot Silas in the shoulder to neutralize him, then rushed to Skye. He pulled a knife and slashed the ropes binding her wrists.
“Go!” Alistair roared at Liam. “Get out p>
Liam turned and ran. He ran out the door, leaving his wife behind.
Skye was free, but the timer was at 3… 2…
There wasn’t time to make it to the door.
“The drain!” Alistair gritted out.
He grabbed Skye and threw himself toward the corner of the room, where a heavy iron grate covered a storm drain. He kicked the grate aside with a strength born of desperation. It clattered against the concrete.
“Down! Now p>
He shoved Skye into the dark, wet pit. It was deep, reeking of sewage. He jumped in after her, pulling the heavy iron grate back over them just as the timer hit 1.
He tackled her to the muddy floor of the drain, covering her body with his own. He wrapped his arms around her head, pressing her face into his chest.
The world turned white.
The explosion ripped through the warehouse. The heat was intense, even down in the pit. Debris rained down on the grate above them, clanging like church bells from hell. The shockwave rattled Skye’s teeth, but the earth around them absorbed the worst of it.
Skye felt Alistair’s body jerk as something heavy hit the grate above, showering them with dust and concrete chips. But he didn’t let go. He held her tighter.
When the noise stopped, ringing filled her ears.
She coughed, choking on dust. She pushed up.
Alistair was lying on top of her, unconscious. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead where he had hit the wall of the drain.
“Alistair?” Skye shook him. “Alistair p>
Outside, in the safety of the rain, Liam stood by his car, panting.
Seraphina was hugging him.
“You’re safe,” Seraphina cried. “Thank God p>
Liam looked at the burning warehouse. He looked at the flames consuming the building where his wife was.
He fell to his knees.
He had made his choice.
And it wasn’t hers.