CHAPTER 16:THE WAY HE CHOSE HER
1005 Words
“No.”
The word echoed through the dark security room like a promise of violence.
Absolute.
Unshakable.
Anik stood directly in front of Elara now, shielding her body with his while alarms continued screaming throughout the warehouse.
Outside the locked room, distant gunfire still echoed through the building.
But inside—
Everything suddenly felt terrifyingly personal.
Lucien Moreau’s voice returned through the speakers smoothly.
«“You’re making emotional decisions again, Anik.”»
A dangerous silence followed.
Then Anik answered quietly:
“She stays with me.”
Elara’s heartbeat crashed violently against her ribs.
Because the way he said it—
Calm.
Possessive.
Certain—
Sounded less like protection and more like confession.
The speaker crackled softly.
«“That’s exactly why you’re losing.”»
Anik’s eyes darkened instantly.
“I’m still alive.”
«“For now.”»
Static hissed briefly through the room before Lucien continued:
«“But let’s be honest. This stopped being business the second you fell in love with her.”»
The world stopped.
Elara froze completely.
Love.
The word shattered through the room like another explosion.
And suddenly all the oxygen disappeared.
Anik went completely still in front of her.
Not denial.
Not anger.
Stillness.
Which somehow felt worse.
Because he didn’t correct him.
Didn’t deny it.
Nothing.
The silence itself became an answer.
Elara stared at him in shock.
Slowly—
Anik turned toward her.
And the look in his eyes destroyed whatever remained of her ability to think clearly.
Raw.
Exposed.
Terrifyingly honest.
“Elara…”
Her pulse stumbled violently.
“You…”
The words refused to come out properly.
Because suddenly every moment between them replayed inside her head differently.
The way he looked at her.
Protected her.
Lost control around her.
God.
Luca was right earlier.
This wasn’t obsession anymore.
This was something far worse.
Something neither of them could survive.
Lucien’s voice interrupted again.
«“Interesting. She didn’t know.”»
Anik’s expression turned murderous instantly.
“Enough.”
«“Or what?” Lucien replied calmly. “You’ll burn another city down for a woman?”»
Silence crashed through the room.
Elara looked at Anik sharply.
Another city?
What did that mean?
But before she could ask—
The security room doors suddenly shook violently from outside.
Once.
Twice.
Someone was trying to break in.
Anik grabbed her wrist immediately.
“We’re leaving.”
Elara barely had time to react before he pulled her toward another hidden exit behind the monitors.
A concealed steel door slid open automatically.
Dark stairs waited beyond it.
Another escape route.
Of course he had another escape route.
The warehouse trembled again as another explosion echoed somewhere below them.
Smoke began creeping beneath the security room doors.
Anik guided her downward quickly through the narrow staircase while keeping his weapon raised.
“You really built your life like this?” Elara whispered breathlessly.
His voice came cold from ahead of her.
“I built it to survive.”
The answer hurt for reasons she didn’t fully understand.
Because suddenly she saw him differently.
Not just dangerous.
Lonely.
A man who expected war everywhere he went.
The narrow staircase finally opened into another underground corridor beneath the warehouse.
Dark concrete tunnels stretched ahead.
Emergency lights flickered red overhead.
Anik stopped briefly, listening carefully.
Then suddenly—
Gunshots echoed ahead.
Too close.
“Elara, behind me.”
She moved instinctively behind him just as armed men appeared at the far end of the corridor.
Everything exploded into chaos again.
Gunfire flashed through the tunnel.
Anik fired first.
Precise.
Cold.
Lethal.
One attacker dropped instantly.
Another rushed forward.
Anik slammed him into the wall hard enough to leave blood across the concrete before disarming him violently.
Elara’s heartbeat spiraled out of control.
Every movement he made looked terrifyingly natural.
Like violence belonged inside him.
And yet—
The second one of the attackers moved toward her—
Anik lost control completely.
Something savage crossed his face.
He shot the man without hesitation.
Then another.
Then another.
The tunnel fell silent except for harsh breathing and distant alarms.
Bodies lay across the concrete floor.
Smoke lingered in the air.
Elara stared at Anik in shock.
Because he looked furious.
Not at the attackers.
At the idea they came near her.
His chest rose heavily as he turned toward her again.
“Are you hurt?”
The question sounded almost desperate.
She shook her head slowly.
“No.”
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly.
Only slightly.
Then suddenly—
Blood hit the floor near his feet.
Elara’s eyes widened.
“Anik.”
He looked down briefly.
Another bullet wound.
This one worse.
Dark blood spread rapidly across his side.
“You’re bleeding again.”
“I know.”
“You need help.”
“I need you alive first.”
The answer hit painfully hard.
Elara stepped closer immediately despite the blood.
“You can barely stand.”
“I’ve survived worse.”
“That doesn’t make this okay!”
Emotion cracked through her voice.
Fear.
Real fear.
Anik noticed instantly.
And suddenly—
The cold killer standing in front of her softened again.
Just for her.
Always just for her.
His hand lifted slowly toward her face before stopping halfway.
Like touching her now might destroy whatever control he still had left.
“Elara.”
Her pulse quickened immediately.
“If something happens to me—”
“No.”
The word escaped instantly.
Sharp.
Terrified.
Anik stared at her carefully.
And for the first time—
A faint, broken smile touched his mouth.
Because now he knew.
Knew exactly how deeply he’d gotten inside her heart too.
Then suddenly—
Footsteps echoed through the tunnel behind them.
Slow.
Calm.
Deliberate.
A familiar voice followed immediately after.
«“You always did choose love over power in the end, Anik.”»
Lucien Moreau stepped into the tunnel smiling.
And this time—
He was holding a gun directly at Elara’s head.
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