Chapter 20
Before Edward could take another step, a deafening explosion shattered the floor-to-ceiling glass windows behind them.
Blinding white flashbang light erupted inside the penthouse study, accompanied by the roar of tactical helicopter rotors.
Four heavily armed SWAT operatives rappelled through the shattered glass windows, weapons raised.
"FBI! Nobody move! Drop your weapons immediately!" a voice bellowed over the deafening noise.
Chief Vance instinctively turned his weapon toward the windows, but three high-caliber rounds struck his tactical vest.
He collapsed onto the Persian rug with a heavy thud, dropping his silenced pistol near Elena’s feet.
Edward ducked behind the mahogany desk, his silver hair wild, his navy tuxedo covered in glass dust and debris.
Elena snatched the dropped pistol from the floor, rolling behind the leather sofa as bullets flew across the room.
Through the blinding smoke, Agent Sarah Miller burst into the study with a team of tactical officers.
"Elena! Get behind us!" Agent Miller screamed over the roar of the assault rifles.
Edward scrambled toward the private escape elevator hidden behind the bookshelf, holding a small remote detonator.
He looked back at Elena one last time, his cold blue eyes filled with absolute, maniacal hatred.
"This empire dies with me, Elena!" Edward roared, slamming his thumb down on the red detonator button.
Deep within the structural foundations of the penthouse tower, a series of heavy mechanical clicks echoed loudly.
The red emergency lights flickered violently as the main floor beneath their feet began to shudder and split open.
The entire sixty-story skyscraper groaned under the sudden loss of structural support as alarm sirens blared wildly.
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Elena looked down as the floor cracked, her eyes locking onto Edward as he disappeared into the elevator shaft.
And as the floor gave way beneath her boots, a dark, terrifying secret began to rise from the depths below.
