chapter 6
821 Words
The piercing alarm echoed throughout Johnson Group Tower.
Red emergency lights flashed along every hallway, bathing the building in an eerie glow.
Conor's hand instantly went to the pistol at his waist.
"Sir, our system has been hacked."
Kevin's face hardened.
"They've found us."
He turned to Hannah without wasting another second.
"We're leaving."
She blinked, still trying to understand everything that was happening.
"Leaving? Where?"
"Somewhere they won't think to look."
Conor was already speaking into his earpiece.
"Team Alpha, secure the east exit. Team Bravo, bring the convoy around. No one gets in or out of this building without my authorization."
His orders were clear and calm.
Within seconds, the security team was moving with perfect coordination.
Daniel gathered every file from the table and placed them inside a briefcase.
"We're not leaving anything behind."
Kevin turned to Hannah and held out the silver key.
He had been studying it for only a moment before returning it to her.
"Keep it with you."
She slipped it safely into her bag.
"I won't lose it."
He held her gaze.
"Good. One day, you'll understand just how important it is."
They entered a private elevator that took them straight to the underground parking garage.
Three black SUVs were already waiting, engines humming.
Conor opened the rear door of the middle vehicle.
"Miss Willer."
Hannah climbed inside.
Kevin sat beside her, while Conor took the front passenger seat.
A moment later, the convoy pulled out of the garage and disappeared into the night.
For a while, no one spoke.
Hannah watched the city lights pass by through the dark-tinted window.
Nothing about her life felt familiar anymore.
Finally, she broke the silence.
"Where are we going?"
Kevin kept his eyes on the road ahead.
"To my family's old safe house."
She looked at him.
"I've never heard of it."
He gave a faint nod.
"Very few people have."
Suddenly, Conor stiffened.
"Sir."
Kevin looked up immediately.
"What is it?"
Conor glanced at the side mirror.
"We've got company."
Hannah turned toward the rear window.
A black motorcycle was following them.
Then a second one appeared.
Then a third.
All three riders wore black helmets and dark jackets that hid their faces.
Her stomach tightened.
"They found us already?"
Kevin remained remarkably calm.
"No."
His voice was low.
"They've been waiting for us."
The motorcycles suddenly accelerated.
One of the riders reached inside his jacket and pulled out a handgun.
"Get down!" Conor shouted.
A gunshot exploded through the night.
The rear window shattered.
Broken glass sprayed across the back seat.
The driver jerked the SUV sharply to avoid another shot.
Without thinking, Kevin pulled Hannah toward him, shielding her with his own body.
"Stay down."
His voice left no room for argument.
The convoy sped onto a nearly empty highway.
The attackers refused to fall back.
One motorcycle drew alongside Kevin's SUV.
The rider lifted his weapon again.
Before he could fire, one of the escort vehicles slammed into the motorcycle.
The bike spun wildly before crashing into the guardrail.
The rider disappeared in a shower of sparks.
But the chase wasn't over.
The other two motorcycles kept coming.
Conor rolled down his window and drew his pistol.
He fired twice.
The second rider lost control.
His motorcycle skidded across the pavement before crashing.
Only one attacker remained.
Instead of raising his gun again, he threw a small object toward the convoy.
It bounced across the road behind them.
Conor's eyes widened.
"Bomb!"
A deafening explosion tore through the highway.
The blast shook every vehicle.
Fire and thick smoke swallowed the road behind them.
The convoy barely escaped.
Several minutes later, the remaining SUVs turned onto a narrow road hidden deep inside a forest.
Towering pine trees surrounded the path.
At the end of it stood a massive stone mansion protected by high walls and iron gates.
The gates slowly opened.
"We're here," Kevin said.
The vehicles drove inside.
As soon as the last SUV crossed the entrance, the heavy gates closed with a loud metallic crash.
Hannah stepped out and looked around.
The estate was isolated.
With its thick walls and guarded entrance, it looked less like a home and more like a fortress.
Before she could ask another question, the front door opened.
An elderly woman hurried outside.
The moment her eyes fell on Hannah, they filled with tears.
She walked straight to her and gently cupped her face with trembling hands.
"My God..."
Her voice quivered with emotion.
"You look exactly like your mother."
Hannah stared at her in confusion.
"You knew Sarah?"
A sad smile appeared on the woman's face.
"I knew her very well."
She glanced at Kevin before looking back at Hannah.
"I was the one who helped her hide you twenty-four years ago."
Hannah felt as if the ground had vanished beneath her feet.
She could barely find her voice.
"What... did you just say?"
- Writer
