Chapter 5 — The Warehouse
1340 Words
The convoy cut through Brooklyn as the sky darkened.
Emily sat rigidly in the back seat, her fingers tightly wrapped around Lily's bracelet.
“She'll be okay,” Alexander said.
Emily looked at him.
“You don't know that.”
“No.”
His honesty caught her off guard.
“But I'm going to make sure she is.”
Emily swallowed.
The confidence in his voice should have reassured her.
Instead, it made her realize how much she was depending on him.
“What if they hurt her?”
“They won't.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I'm not.”
He looked directly at her.
“But whoever did this made one mistake.”
“What?”
“They gave me a reason to find them.”
Emily stared at him.
For the first time, she saw something beyond the billionaire CEO.
There was anger in his eyes.
Cold, controlled anger.
And somehow, she knew he meant every word.
The SUV slowed near an old industrial district.
Daniel looked toward Alexander.
“We're close.”
Alexander checked his phone.
“Security?”
“Two teams are already surrounding the warehouse.”
“Police?”
“On their way.”
Emily immediately reached for the door.
Alexander stopped her.
“Wait.”
“My sister is in there.”
“We don't know what's inside.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
His hand closed gently around her wrist.
“Stay behind me.”
Emily looked at him.
“You can't keep protecting me.”
“Yes, I can.”
The words came without hesitation.
Something fluttered inside her chest.
Before she could respond, Daniel spoke.
“We're here.”
The SUV stopped.
Ahead stood an abandoned warehouse surrounded by rusted fences and broken windows.
Several security vehicles were parked nearby.
Alexander stepped out first.
Emily followed.
A security officer approached.
“Mr. Sterling, we haven't seen anyone leave.”
“Any movement inside?”
“None.”
Alexander looked at Emily.
“Stay here.”
She shook her head.
“I'm coming.”
“Emily—”
“My sister is in there.”
He stared at her for a moment.
Then sighed.
“Stay close to me.”
She nodded.
They entered the warehouse.
The interior was dark and smelled of dust and oil.
“Lily!” Emily shouted.
Her voice echoed through the building.
No response.
Alexander raised a hand.
Everyone stopped.
A faint sound came from somewhere deeper inside.
Emily heard it too.
“Did you hear that?”
Alexander nodded.
They moved forward.
Then Emily saw a figure lying on the floor.
“Lily!”
She ran.
Alexander caught her before she could reach the woman.
“Wait.”
He moved forward cautiously.
The woman on the floor wasn't Lily.
She was unconscious.
Emily covered her mouth.
“Who is she?”
“I don't know.”
Suddenly, the warehouse lights flickered on.
Emily gasped.
A voice echoed from the upper level.
“Looking for someone?”
Alexander immediately pulled Emily behind him.
“Who are you?”
A man stepped onto the metal walkway above them.
His face was partially covered.
“You're Alexander Sterling.”
Alexander's expression hardened.
“Where is Lily?”
The man laughed.
“You really came for her.”
Emily stepped forward.
“Please. If you have my sister, let her go.”
The man looked at her.
“You should have listened to the warning.”
“Who sent you?”
The man smiled.
“Does it matter?”
Alexander stepped forward.
“You have one chance.”
The man laughed.
“Do I?”
Alexander's security team moved into position.
The man suddenly pulled out his phone.
A video appeared on the large screen behind him.
Emily's heart stopped.
Lily was sitting in a chair.
Her hands were tied.
Her face was frightened.
“Lily!”
Emily rushed forward.
“Emily!”
Lily's voice came through the speakers.
“I'm okay!”
The man raised his hand.
Lily immediately fell silent.
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“Please.”
The man looked at Alexander.
“This isn't about your sister.”
“Then what do you want?”
“You.”
Alexander's expression didn't change.
“Me?”
“You're protecting the wrong woman.”
Emily's heart sank.
Alexander glanced at her.
“What does that mean?”
The man smiled.
“Leave Emily. Then your sister walks away.”
Emily stared at Alexander.
“No.”
The word escaped her before she could stop herself.
Alexander looked at her.
“You don't have to do this.”
He turned back toward the man.
“You're wasting your time.”
The man laughed.
“Think carefully.”
A second video appeared.
Lily's face filled the screen.
A masked man stood behind her.
Emily's breathing became shallow.
“Alexander…”
He looked at her.
“It's okay.”
“No, it isn't.”
The man above them spoke again.
“You have ten minutes.”
Then the lights went out.
A loud metallic crash echoed through the warehouse.
“Emily!”
Alexander grabbed her hand.
“Stay with me.”
They moved through the darkness.
Security officers rushed in different directions.
Then, a gunshot rang out.
Emily screamed.
Alexander pulled her against him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Stay down.”
Another shot struck a metal beam.
Alexander pushed Emily behind a concrete pillar.
“Don't move.”
“Where are you going?”
“To end this.”
He disappeared into the darkness.
Emily's heart pounded.
She couldn't see him.
“Alexander!”
No answer.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned.
A masked man stood only a few feet away.
He grabbed her arm.
Emily screamed.
Before he could pull her away, Alexander appeared from the darkness and slammed the man against the wall.
“Touch her again,” Alexander growled, “and you'll regret it.”
The man struggled.
Security officers rushed over and restrained him.
Alexander immediately turned toward Emily.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, trembling.
He reached for her.
This time, she didn't hesitate.
She stepped into his arms.
Alexander held her tightly.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Emily could hear his heartbeat.
Strong.
Fast.
Almost as fast as hers.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For putting you in danger.”
“You didn't.”
“I did.”
Alexander pulled back enough to look into her eyes.
“Emily, listen to me.”
She looked up.
“None of this is your fault.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“What if we don't find Lily?”
“We will.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I'm not leaving without her.”
His certainty broke through her fear.
Then one of the security officers approached.
“Mr. Sterling.”
Alexander turned.
“We found something.”
He handed Alexander a phone.
“Found it on the man we captured.”
Alexander looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
Emily noticed.
“What is it?”
He didn't answer.
“Alexander?”
He slowly turned the phone toward her.
A photograph filled the screen.
It was Emily.
Standing outside Alexander's office.
Taken earlier that morning.
Her blood ran cold.
Someone had been watching her.
But that wasn't the worst part.
Beneath the photograph was a message:
NEXT TIME, SHE WON'T BE SAVED.
Emily looked at Alexander.
His face had gone completely still.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered through the line.
“Did you enjoy the little rescue?”
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
“Victoria.”
Emily froze.
Victoria laughed softly.
“You should have listened when I warned her.”
The call ended.
Alexander stared at the phone.
Emily's voice trembled.
“She did this.”
Alexander looked at her.
“No.”
His jaw tightened.
“This was only the beginning.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
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