CHAPTER 11- THE FIRST STRIKE
1003 Words
The bullet hits the pillar again, sending dust and tiny pieces of concrete flying into the air. Aria freezes, unable to comprehend Adrian's words.
“They're here……. For her”.
Aria's heart pounded so violently she thought it would burst through her chest.
Nathan stares at Adrian in disbelief.
"What do you mean they're after Miss Monroe?"
Adrian doesn't answer immediately. His sharp eyes scan the garage, calculating every possible escape route.
Another gunshot rings out.
One of the security guards returns fire.
The sound of bullets echoes through the underground parking lot.
Aria instinctively covers her ears.
She has never seen people shooting at each other outside movies.
Her breathing becomes uneven.
Her fingers clung tightly to Adrian's shirt, trembling uncontrollably.
Another bullet slammed into the concrete pillar above them.
Dust and tiny fragments rained down over their heads.
Nathan crouched a few meters away, his gun drawn as several security officers took cover behind the SUVs.
"Find the shooter!" he barked.
"Move!"
The guards immediately spread out, using the parked vehicles as cover while scanning every level of the garage.
Adrian remained surprisingly calm.
His expression didn't change.
It almost frightened Aria more than the gunfire itself.
He slowly loosened his hold on her just enough to look into her face.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, unable to find her voice.
"No..." she whispered.
"I... I don't think so."
His eyes quickly searched her from head to toe, making sure there wasn't a single drop of blood on her clothes.
Only after confirming she was unharmed did he look away.
Another loud crack echoed through the garage.
A side mirror shattered.
One of the bodyguards ducked behind an SUV.
"They're using a silencer!" he shouted.
Nathan frowned.
"This wasn't a random attack."
Adrian's gaze remained fixed ahead.
"I know."
He looked toward the upper parking levels.
"They planned this."
Aria stared at him in disbelief.
"How can you sound so calm?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"Because panic gets people killed."
She swallowed hard.
Her breathing slowly became steadier.
For years, she had imagined danger as something that happened in movies or on the evening news.
Never...
Never like this.
Never with bullets flying only inches away from her.
A sudden realization hit her.
"This is my fault."
Adrian turned to look at her.
"If I hadn't come to Blackwell Holdings..."
"This wouldn't have happened."
His face hardened.
"No."
"But….."
"I said no."
His voice was firm enough to silence her immediately.
"You didn't create this."
"Whoever is behind this made their move long before you walked into my office."
She looked at him, confused.
"Then why me?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was...
He didn't know.
That was exactly what troubled him.
Nathan crawled closer while keeping low.
"Boss.”
"What is it?"
"Our men haven't located the shooter."
Adrian frowned.
"Impossible."
Nathan nodded.
"It looks like whoever fired disappeared immediately after the first three shots."
"Professional?"
"Very."
Adrian's expression darkened.
Professional attackers.
Perfect timing.
No wasted bullets.
No unnecessary movement.
This wasn't intimidation.
Someone had wanted Aria dead.
The thought alone made something dangerous flicker behind his eyes.
Nathan noticed it instantly.
He hadn't seen that look on Adrian's face in years.
It usually meant someone was about to make a very costly mistake.
One of the security guards suddenly shouted from behind a nearby SUV.
"Area clear!"
Another voice followed.
"No movement on the east exit!"
A third officer spoke through his radio.
"Nothing on the surveillance feed, sir."
Nathan cursed under his breath.
"They cut the cameras."
Adrian slowly stood.
Immediately, Aria grabbed his wrist.
"What are you doing?"
"We're leaving."
"Are you crazy?"
She pulled him back down.
"They're still out there!"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Adrian's lips.
Even now...
She was worried about him.
"I'll be fine."
"You don't know that."
"And neither do you."
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment...
The chaos around them seemed to disappear.
Neither noticed how close they had become.
Aria was the first to look away.
Realizing she was still holding his wrist, she quickly let go.
"I... I didn't mean..."
"You did."
His voice was softer this time.
"And that's alright."
Heat rushed into her cheeks.
Nathan cleared his throat loudly.
"Boss."
Adrian looked at him.
"The car?"
Nathan pointed toward the last SUV in the convoy.
"It wasn't hit."
Adrian gave a short nod.
"We're taking that one."
He turned back to Aria.
"When I say run...you run."
She immediately frowned.
"What about you?"
"I'll be right behind you."
"I don't believe you."
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
"You've known me for less than two days."
"Exactly."
"I have no reason to believe anything you say."
Despite everything happening around them...
Adrian almost laughed.
She really was unlike anyone he'd ever met.
Most people obeyed him without question.
Aria argued with him even while bullets were flying.
He found it strangely refreshing.
Nathan looked between them in disbelief.
"Can this conversation wait until we're no longer being shot at?"
Neither of them answered.
Nathan sighed heavily.
"I'll take that as a no."
One of the guards signaled from the SUV.
"Sir!
We're ready!"
Adrian nodded once.
"On my count."
Every guard tightened their grip on their weapons.
The entire garage became eerily quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Adrian counted under his breath.
"Three..."
Aria's heartbeat quickened.
"Two..."
She inhaled sharply.
"One..."
"Move!"
The security team burst from cover, surrounding Adrian and Aria as they sprinted toward the waiting SUV.
They were only a few steps away.
Then a loud metallic click echoed through the garage.
Adrian froze.
His instincts screamed before his mind could process the sound.
His eyes darted toward the underside of the SUV.
There...
A small red light blinked beneath the vehicle.
Nathan's face turned ghostly white.
"Boss..."
His voice shook.
"That's not a tracker."
Adrian shoved Aria backwards with all his strength.
"Everyone get back!"
The red light suddenly began flashing faster.
And then…
BOOM
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD