Chapter 15 — No Way Out
1398 Words
The elevator ding echoed across the penthouse like a warning from hell.
Olivia’s heart stopped.
Her entire body went rigid as her eyes locked onto the security screen.
The elevator doors slid open slowly.
One man stepped out.
Then another.
Then three more.
All dressed in black.
All armed.
Olivia’s breath trembled.
“How many…?” she whispered.
Adrian’s voice was calm. Too calm.
“Six.”
“What? I only see five.”
“One stayed inside the elevator,” Adrian said without looking away from the screen. “He’s watching the exit.”
Olivia’s stomach twisted violently.
“They blocked every way out…”
“Yes.”
A heavy silence filled the penthouse.
Then—
BANG.
A loud knock slammed against the door.
Olivia flinched.
Another hit followed.
BANG. BANG.
“Mr. Kingsley!” a man shouted from outside.
Adrian didn’t move.
His eyes remained fixed on the monitor.
“We know you’re inside!”
Olivia stepped closer to him.
“They found us too fast,” she whispered. “How is that possible?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“That’s what I want to know.”
BANG!
The door shook again.
“Open the door!” the man shouted.
Olivia’s hands trembled.
“What do we do?”
Adrian finally turned to her.
“Stay behind me.”
“That’s your plan?” she snapped. “There are six armed men outside!”
“Yes.”
“And you have one gun!”
“That’s enough.”
Olivia stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re insane.”
Adrian ignored her.
He walked toward a control panel and pressed a button.
A low mechanical sound filled the room.
Metal shutters slid down over the windows.
The bright skyline disappeared.
The penthouse turned into a steel cage.
Olivia’s chest tightened.
“I don’t like this.”
“Good,” Adrian said. “That means you understand the situation.”
Another voice came from outside.
“We’re done talking, Mr. Kingsley!”
CRASH.
Something heavy slammed into the door.
The frame cracked slightly.
Olivia gasped.
“They’re breaking in!”
Adrian glanced at the door.
“They’ll need a few more hits.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?!”
Adrian walked closer to the door but kept his distance.
“What do you want?” he called out.
Silence.
Then—
A slow clap echoed from outside.
“Smart man,” the leader said.
His voice was calm. Confident.
“We want what belongs to us.”
Adrian’s grip on the gun tightened.
“You’re mistaken.”
“Am I?”
CRASH.
Another hit.
The door bent inward.
Olivia grabbed Adrian’s arm.
“This is insane! Just tell them to leave!”
“They won’t leave.”
“How do you know?!”
“Because they came prepared.”
Another hit.
CRACK.
The frame split further.
Olivia’s breathing became uneven.
“Adrian… please…”
The man outside spoke again.
“Hand over the girl.”
Olivia froze.
Her fingers tightened around Adrian’s sleeve.
“…and the baby,” the man added.
Her heart dropped.
Adrian’s voice turned ice cold.
“No.”
The man chuckled.
“You’re willing to die for her?”
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
Olivia looked at him, stunned.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. “You don’t even—”
“Stay quiet,” he muttered.
The man laughed again.
“How touching.”
Then his voice turned sharp.
“But useless.”
Footsteps moved away from the door.
Adrian’s expression changed instantly.
“That’s not good.”
“What?”
“They’re bringing something heavier.”
A few seconds later—
BOOM.
The entire door shook violently.
Olivia screamed.
“What was that?!”
“Explosive charge.”
“You’re saying that like it’s normal!”
Another explosion hit.
The door cracked open slightly.
Dust filled the air.
Adrian grabbed Olivia’s wrist.
“Come on.”
“Where?!”
“Safe room.”
They ran across the penthouse.
Another explosion echoed behind them.
The door was almost gone.
“Adrian, they’re coming!”
“I know!”
They reached a hidden panel behind a bookshelf.
Adrian pushed it open.
“Inside!”
Olivia hesitated for half a second.
“Now!” he snapped.
She rushed in.
Adrian followed and sealed the door behind them.
The room was small.
Reinforced.
Monitors showed every angle of the penthouse.
Olivia turned to the screens.
Her breath stopped.
The door exploded inward.
The attackers rushed inside.
“They’re here…” she whispered.
Adrian watched silently.
The men spread out.
One of them spoke into a radio.
“Target not visible.”
Another answered.
“They’re hiding.”
The leader stepped forward.
His presence was different.
Calm.
Dangerous.
He looked directly at one of the cameras.
And smiled.
Olivia felt chills run down her spine.
“He knows we’re watching.”
Adrian muttered,
“Of course he does.”
The leader spoke loudly.
“Mr. Kingsley!”
His voice echoed through the penthouse.
“We don’t have time for games.”
Olivia grabbed Adrian’s arm.
“They’re going to find us.”
“Eventually.”
“That’s not helpful!”
The man continued.
“Bring the doctor.”
Olivia frowned.
“Doctor?”
Adrian’s expression turned dark.
“That’s bad.”
Two men entered the room.
Between them—
A man in a white coat.
Carrying a black case.
Olivia’s heart pounded.
“What are they doing…?”
The doctor opened the case.
Inside—
Syringes.
Medical tools.
Sharp instruments.
Olivia’s breath hitched.
“No…”
The leader picked up a syringe.
“Mr. Kingsley,” he called.
“If you don’t come out…”
He tapped the needle lightly.
“…we’ll take what we need.”
Olivia’s entire body shook.
“They’re talking about the baby…”
Adrian’s voice was deadly quiet.
“Yes.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Adrian…”
“Stay here.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m ending this.”
“No!” she grabbed his arm. “You can’t fight them alone!”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“Yes you do! We hide! We wait!”
“They’ll find us.”
“Then we run!”
“There’s nowhere to run.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Outside, the leader spoke again.
“Thirty seconds.”
Olivia’s breathing became ragged.
“Adrian… please…”
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
For the first time…
There was something real in his eyes.
Not cold.
Not distant.
But something deeper.
“If I don’t go out there…”
His gaze dropped to her stomach.
“…they will come in here.”
Olivia’s heart broke.
“I don’t want you to die.”
Adrian gave a faint, almost bitter smile.
“I’m not planning to.”
“Then don’t go.”
Another voice echoed outside.
“Ten seconds!”
Adrian gently pulled his arm away.
“Stay behind the door.”
“Adrian—”
“Trust me.”
“I don’t trust you!”
He paused.
Then said quietly,
“You will.”
Before she could stop him—
He opened the door.
And stepped out.
Olivia rushed to the monitor.
Her breath caught.
Adrian stood in the middle of the destroyed living room.
Surrounded.
Six guns pointed at him.
The leader smiled.
“There you are.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Let her go.”
The man laughed.
“You’re not in control here.”
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“Try me.”
The man tilted his head.
“Where is she?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
The man sighed.
“Fine.”
He nodded at the doctor.
“Start preparing.”
The doctor stepped forward.
Olivia’s heart raced wildly.
“No… no…”
Adrian’s voice turned deadly.
“Touch her, and you die.”
The leader smiled slowly.
“Oh… we’re not touching her.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Then what are you doing?”
The man stepped closer.
Close enough to look Adrian directly in the eyes.
Then he said—
Something that made everything stop.
“That baby…”
He pointed toward the hidden wall.
“…is not just yours.”
Adrian froze.
Olivia felt her breath disappear.
The man continued, his voice low.
“That child…”
He smiled.
“…is worth more than your entire empire.”
- Writer
