Chapter 19
467 Words
Chapter Nineteen
The city seemed quieter that night, but Sophie knew it was an illusion. Beneath the glittering skyline, beneath the polished surface of wealth and power, there was a storm brewing.
Lucas stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse, his silhouette sharp against the darkness outside. A glass of whiskey rested in his hand, untouched.
Sophie sat on the couch, her mind racing. “Do you think Lane will run?”
Lucas didn’t turn around. “He doesn’t have a choice. But running won’t save him.”
His voice was low, controlled, but Sophie could sense the tension underneath. The past few hours had changed things.
Lane wasn’t just a corporate traitor anymore—he was a loose end. And people like Calloway didn’t leave loose ends.
Sophie stood, moving toward him. “And what about Calloway? What’s his next move?”
Lucas finally looked at her. His gaze was sharp, assessing. “That depends on how desperate he is.”
Sophie swallowed. “And if he’s very desperate?”
Lucas set the glass down. “Then he’ll come for you.”
The words sent a shiver down her spine.
Sophie had known this was dangerous from the beginning, but hearing it out loud made it feel real in a way she wasn’t ready for.
Lucas must have noticed, because his expression softened—just a fraction. “I won’t let that happen.”
She exhaled, forcing herself to stay steady. “We don’t have time to wait for him to make a move. We need to get ahead of this.”
A small smirk tugged at the corner of Lucas’s lips. “You’re starting to think like me.”
Sophie crossed her arms. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or a warning.”
His smirk faded. “A little of both.”
Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then answered.
“Talk.”
Damon’s voice came through, urgent. “We found Lane.”
Sophie stepped closer, trying to hear.
Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Where?”
“Private airstrip on the west side. He’s booked on a jet out of the country in two hours.”
Sophie’s pulse spiked. “He’s running.”
Damon hesitated. “That’s not all.”
Lucas’s fingers clenched around the phone. “What?”
“He’s not alone. Calloway’s men are with him.”
Silence.
Sophie felt her breath catch.
Lucas’s expression didn’t change, but she saw the shift in his stance, the slight tension in his shoulders.
Finally, he spoke. “We’re on our way.”
He hung up and turned to her. “This ends tonight.”
Sophie nodded, her heart pounding.
Because she knew—no matter how this played out, nothing would ever be the same after this.
- Writer
