I didn’t wait for Daniel. I bolted for the service elevators, hitting the button for the subterranean parking garage.
The doors slid open to Sub-Level 3. The air was thick with the smell of exhaust and damp concrete. It was eerily quiet, the vast expanse of concrete pillars casting long, skeletal shadows under the flickering fluorescent lights.
“Alexander?” I called out, my voice echoing hollowly off the walls.
Silence.
I gripped my keys tightly, weaving between the rows of expensive sedans until I spotted my modest hatchback. The driver’s side door was hanging wide open.
Suddenly, a heavy hand clamped over my mouth from behind, yanking me backward into the shadows of a massive concrete pillar.
I screamed, but the sound was muffled against a calloused palm.
“You stupid, arrogant bitch,” Alexander hissed in my ear, his breath hot and ragged. He slammed me roughly against the concrete wall, pinning my shoulders. His eyes were wild, the pupils dilated with sheer panic. “You think you can destroy me? Give me the drive!”
“I already gave it to Pierce!” I choked out, struggling against his grip.
“He has a copy! I need the master!” Alexander roared, his hand reaching for the pocket of my coat. “I’ll kill you, Victoria. I swear to God, I’ll snap your neck right here and take it.”
He raised his fist. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the impact.
Suddenly, the underground garage exploded in blinding, brilliant white light.
High beams from a massive black SUV illuminated us like actors on a stage. The screech of heavy tires echoed through the concrete cavern as the vehicle slammed to a halt just inches from us.
Alexander froze, shielding his eyes from the glare.
The doors of the SUV flew open. Daniel Pierce stepped out, stripping off his suit jacket. He didn’t look like a polished CEO anymore; he looked like controlled violence.
“Step away from her,” Daniel ordered.
Alexander panicked, pulling me in front of him as a human shield. “Stay back! I just want what’s mine!”
“Nothing here is yours,” Daniel said, taking a slow, measured step forward.
Before Alexander could react, the screech of sirens filled the ramp leading down to the garage. Two police cruisers tore around the corner, their red and blue lights painting the concrete walls in frantic bursts of color.
“Drop it! Put your hands on your head!” a police officer yelled over a megaphone, drawing his weapon.
Alexander’s bravado shattered. He released me, raising his trembling hands in the air, dropping to his knees on the filthy concrete.
I stumbled forward, gasping for air. Daniel was there instantly. He didn’t ask if I was okay—he pulled me flush against his chest, wrapping his arms securely around me. I buried my face in his shirt, smelling that familiar scent of cedar and rain, finally allowing the tears to fall.
