Chapter 11 - The Ambush in the Dark
By 11:30 PM, the meeting with Victor Sterling had concluded with a signed, ironclad proxy voting agreement. With Sterling’s twelve percent locked in, Julian Ross’s hostile takeover was dead in the water. We held fifty-eight percent of the total shareholder voting power. The Aurelia empire was safe.
As the Maybach navigated the wet, slick pavement back toward Manhattan, a wave of profound physical relief washed over me. I rested my head against the leather headrest, letting out a long, ragged exhale.
"Elena, you need to go directly to Mount Sinai," Samuel urged from the jump seat opposite me. "You’ve been pale all evening. Dr. Catherine Vance has been calling every twenty minutes."
"Just take me home to the penthouse first," I murmured, feeling another sharp, tightening sensation grip my abdomen. The contractions were becoming rhythmic—every twelve minutes now. "I need to shower, change, and get my hospital bag. Then we go."
"Understood," Marcus said from the front passenger seat. He spoke into his radio: "Lead car, route us directly through the private subterranean parking garage at Aurelia Residences. Keep security protocol at Level One."
Twenty minutes later, our three-car motorcade descended the concrete ramp into the brightly lit, underground parking garage beneath my private high-rise residence. The private garage was supposed to be completely secure, accessible only via biometric keycards.
The Maybach rolled to a smooth stop directly in front of the private elevator lobby.
Marcus opened the door, stepping out first to scan the area. "All clear, Elena. Let me assist you."
I swung my legs out of the car, gripping Marcus’s forearm as a wave of intense pressure rippled through my lower body. A sharp gasp escaped my lips.
"Elena?!" Samuel scrambled out of the car, his face filled with panic. "Is it time?"
"My... my water just broke," I breathed, feeling the sudden warmth soak through my clothes. "Call Catherine. Tell her we're coming in."
Before Samuel could dial his phone, the heavy metal security gates at the entrance of the garage slammed shut with a deafening metallic *CRASH*.
Suddenly, the overhead fluorescent lights flickered and died, plunging the vast concrete basement into pitch-black darkness.
May you like
"Security breach!" Marcus roared, instantly drawing his weapon and shoving me back into the armored interior of the Maybach. "Driver, lock the doors! Lock the—"
A deafening *BANG* echoed through the darkness—the unmistakable sound of a gunshot.
