A Night With The Ruthless Billionaire

Chapter 16

A black SUV skids to a stop, the tires screeching against the asphalt. Doors fly open, and figures in dark suits step out, their faces obscured by shadows. The night air seems to still, the silence before chaos.

"Stay behind me," Alex says, his voice low and steady, his body tense as a bowstring. His hand grips mine for a moment, squeezing hard, then releases.

Damien steps forward, his broad shoulders squared, eyes scanning the figures. "You shouldn't have come here," he spits, voice cold and dangerous.

One of the men in the shadows steps closer, a smirk curling his lips. His eyes glint with menace. "Hand her over."

"Not happening," Damien growls, his stance shifting, ready for a fight.

The man's smirk widens. "You really think you can protect her?"

The moment hangs, a breath suspended in time. Then everything erupts.

Damien lunges, a blur of motion; too fast, too violent. Fists connect with sickening thuds. Alex pulls me back, his arms strong around my shoulders, shielding me. I can't breathe; the night is filled with shouts, grunts of pain, and the clash of bodies.

A flash of metal glints under the streetlights - a gun.

"Alex!" I scream, the word raw in my throat. My voice feels swallowed by the chaos.

He turns, his eyes wide with a desperation I've never seen before. "Run, Emma! Go!"

"But..."

"Go!" His voice breaks, the command an unspoken plea.

I don't think - I just run. My feet hit the pavement hard, each step a violent heartbeat. The parking lot stretches out in front of me, endless, dark. Every shadow feels like a threat. My pulse roars in my ears, drowning out the world.

Behind me, the sounds of the fight fade, replaced by the frantic rhythm of my own breathing. Tears blur my vision, but I don't stop. I can't stop.

I reach the edge of the lot, streetlights casting harsh, distorted shadows. I glance over my shoulder, my breath ragged, and see them - Alex and Damien, side by side, facing the men. The suits are gone, but the danger isn't. It never is.

Alex's eyes find mine, even from this distance. There's something in his expression - a silent goodbye. My heart seizes.

A car engine roars to life, headlights cutting through the dark. My scream catches in my throat as the vehicle hurtles toward them, tires screeching.

"No!"

The car skids to a stop, inches from Alex and Damien. The door swings open, and a woman steps out. Victoria.

Her heels click against the pavement, her silhouette sharp and unforgiving. Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles - cold, cruel, victorious.

"Going somewhere, Emma?" she purrs, each word a dagger.

The ground tilts beneath me. The night presses in, suffocating.

"What do you want?" My voice shakes, barely more than a whisper.

Victoria steps closer, her gaze pinning me like prey. "You. And the baby."

I take a step back, but the world feels unsteady, the air too thick. "Why?"

She tilts her head, eyes glittering with something unreadable. "You think this is about you?" She laughs, the sound sharp as glass. "This has never been about you."

Behind her, Alex and Damien exchange a glance - a silent, dangerous conversation.

"Victoria, don't do this," Alex says, his voice tight, pleading.

"Oh, Alex." She sighs, almost wistful. "Always trying to be the hero. But some things aren't yours to save."

She raises a hand, and for a moment, everything slows. The night seems to hold its breath. I see the glint of something - metal? No. A syringe. My stomach drops.

"No!" Alex lunges forward, but two of the men reappear, grabbing him, holding him back. He struggles, his eyes wild. "Emma, run!"

But my legs won't move. Victoria steps closer, the syringe gleaming in the dim light.

"This won't take long," she murmurs, almost gently.

I stumble back, but strong hands grab my arms from behind. One of the men. His grip is iron, unyielding.

"Let me go!" I scream, kicking, struggling, but it's useless. Panic claws at my throat.

Victoria reaches out, her fingers cold against my skin. "You should've stayed out of this, Emma. But now, you'll play your part."

"Victoria, stop!" Alex's voice is raw, desperate. "This isn't the way!"

She doesn't even look at him. Her eyes are on me, a predator savoring the moment.

The needle nears my arm, and my vision blurs with terror. My heart pounds so hard it feels like it might burst.

Then, a shout. Damien. He breaks free, a blur of motion. In an instant, he's there, knocking the syringe from Victoria's hand. It clatters to the ground, the glass shattering.

"Get her out of here!" Damien shouts at Alex, his voice like thunder.

Alex doesn't hesitate. He shoves the men holding him aside and runs to me, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me close. "We have to go."

"But Damien..."

"He'll handle it," Alex says, his voice tight. "We need to move."

He pulls me toward the shadows, away from the chaos. I glance back - Victoria and Damien are locked in a vicious struggle. She's screaming, her face twisted with fury.

We reach the edge of the parking lot, and Alex pulls me into a narrow alley, pressing me against the wall, his body shielding mine. His breath is ragged, his eyes wild.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his hands cupping my face.

I nod, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Alex… what is happening? Why is she doing this?"

He shakes his head, his thumb brushing away my tears. "It's a long story. One I should've told you sooner."

"Tell me now." My voice is barely a whisper.

He leans in, his forehead resting against mine. "They think our baby is… special. It's complicated, but there's a legacy..."

"Alex!" Damien's voice cuts through the night, urgent. "They're regrouping. We need to go."

Alex pulls back, his eyes searching mine. "We'll get through this, Emma. I promise."

He kisses me - a brief, desperate kiss, filled with all the words he can't say.

Then he takes my hand, and we run.

Behind us, the night is filled with shouts, the distant wail of sirens. But all I can hear is the pounding of my heart, the echo of Alex's promise.

We turn a corner, disappearing into the shadows. But the fear lingers, a cold knot in my stomach.

This isn't over. Not even close.

Just as we think we're safe, I feel a sharp pain in my abdomen. I collapses, and Alex catches me. "Emma!" he shouts, panic in his voice.

Alex pulls me through the narrow alley, his grip firm but gentle. My heart races, the echoes of shouts and the clash of bodies still ringing in my ears. We finally reach a darkened street, the buildings looming like silent sentinels.

"Where are we going?" I whisper, my voice trembling.

He doesn't answer right away. "Somewhere safe. Damien will find us."

We slip into an old, abandoned building. The walls are cracked, the air thick with dust. Alex leads me to a dimly lit room, his eyes scanning every corner.

"Sit here," he says softly, guiding me to a worn-out couch. "I'll be right back."

I watch him disappear into the shadows, my mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion. My hands tremble as I cradle my stomach, whispering a silent prayer. Please, keep us safe.

Minutes feel like hours. When Alex returns, his expression is tense, his phone clutched in his hand.

"Who was it?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He hesitates, then sits beside me. "My uncle. He warned me...they know where we are. We need to move soon."

"Why is this happening, Alex?" Tears well up in my eyes. "What aren't you telling me?"

He reaches out, his hand cupping my face, his touch warm and reassuring. "Emma, I promise I'll explain everything. But right now, we need to survive."

He leans closer, his forehead resting against mine. For a moment, the chaos fades, replaced by the warmth of his presence. His lips brush mine - soft, desperate, filled with unspoken words. It's a promise, a plea.

The silence is shattered by the harsh ring of Alex's phone. He answers it, his jaw tightening as he listens.

"They found us." His voice is low, strained. He ends the call and looks at me, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. "We have to go. Now."

As we step back into the night, I feel another sharp pain in my abdomen. I stumble, gasping.

"Emma!" Alex catches me, his arms strong around me. "Are you okay?"

I nod, clutching my stomach. "I… I think so."

We keep moving, the shadows our only cover. Every step feels heavier, every breath harder. I know we can't stop. Not now.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cuts through the night.

"Looking for someone?"

Victoria steps out from the shadows, her eyes cold, her smile cruel. Behind her, the men in dark suits close in.

"It ends now, Emma," she says, her voice a whisper that cuts through me.

Just as the men close in, headlights flood the alley. Another vehicle skids to a stop. From the darkness, a figure steps out - a woman, her face obscured, but her presence radiating authority.

"Let her go." Her voice is calm, commanding.

Victoria's eyes narrow. "You shouldn't be here."

The woman steps forward, and the light reveals her face. My breath catches.

"Who's she?"