Chapter 7
Ryan's smug expression faltered for a fraction of a second, his grip tightening on the tactical rifle stock.
"You're bluffing," Ryan gritted out, though a subtle twitch near his left eye betrayed his sudden hesitation.
"Try me," Chloe challenged, her pale pink gown covered in plaster dust, her eyes burning with unyielding defiance.
"Press that trigger and watch thirty years of stolen defense contracts evaporate in five seconds."
Sterling used the momentary distraction to slide his hand toward an emergency smoke canister on his tactical belt.
He popped the safety pin with his thumb and dropped the canister onto the concrete floor.
Thick, blinding white smoke erupted instantly, engulfing the entire elevator bay in a dense cloud.
"Shoot them!" Ryan screamed frantically, firing his rifle blindly into the billowing fog.
Muffled gunshots tore through the smoke, sparks flying as bullets ricocheted off the steel elevator doors.
Sterling grabbed Chloe by the waist, dragging her through the blindness toward an unmarked utility van parked in the shadows.
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He smashed the driver's side window with his elbow, reached inside, and unlocked the heavy doors.
"Get in!" Sterling barked, shoving her into the passenger seat before scrambling behind the steering wheel.
