Chapter 18 - The Ambush in the Rain
"We take this straight to the Federal Prosecutor’s office in Boston," Julian said, his voice deadly quiet as he closed the ledger. The shock had passed, replaced by a cold, surgical fury. "Arthur has too many connections here in the local district. We leave right now."
"Julian, wait," I warned, standing up beside him. "If Arthur Sterling knows Chloe came here, he won't let us drive out of the harbor. We need a tactical escort."
"Every minute we wait gives him time to destroy the offshore mirror servers," Julian countered, packing the hard drive into an insulated briefcase. "I know how Arthur operates. He won't strike Harbor House directly—the public scrutiny is too high. He’ll try to intercept us on the turnpike."
Before we could finalize a plan, the lights in the basement flickered and died.
An eerie red emergency light clicked on overhead, casting long, menacing shadows across the concrete walls. Through the intercom system, Frank’s voice crackled with urgent panic: *"Mr. Sterling! We've got three black SUVs breaching the north gate! They just cut the main fiber-optic line!"*
"They're here," Chloe screamed, curling into a ball in the corner of the room. "They found me!"
"Serena, take Chloe through the old subterranean tunnel leading to the boat launch," Julian commanded, drawing a sleek semi-automatic pistol from his shoulder holster—a weapon I had never seen him carry. "Maya has the keys to the harbor launch. Get on the water. Arthur doesn't control the Coast Guard."
"I am not leaving you behind, Julian!" I shouted over the blare of the backup alarm. "We fight together!"
"If they get this hard drive, Arthur wins and Daniel gets pardoned next month!" Julian grabbed my face in both of his hands, his thumbs sweeping across my cheekbones, his eyes burning with an intensity that took my breath away. "Trust me, Serena. I will meet you at the lighthouse pier. Go!"
He shoved the briefcase into my hands, kissed my forehead with fierce urgency, and threw open the heavy steel door.
Gunfire cracked in the courtyard above.
I grabbed Chloe by the arm, hauling her to her feet. "Get up, Chloe! If you want to live, you move now!"
May you like
We sprinted down the dark, damp brick corridor beneath the warehouse foundations, the sound of boots and shattered glass echoing through the vents above us.
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