Chapter 14 - THE LAST TEN MINUTESFire spread through the lower floors.
Smoke poured up the staircase.
Gabriel grabbed Harper.
"Move."
They ran.
Michael carried Emma.
Victoria disappeared.
Derek crawled behind them.
Noah was with Gabriel's security team.
They reached the main hall.
Doors were locked.
Windows sealed.
Gabriel checked the controls.
"Richard has disabled everything."
Harper looked around.
"There has to be another exit."
Michael pointed upward.
"The roof."
"No."
Gabriel shook his head.
"The roof is exposed."
"Then we're trapped."
Harper noticed the chandelier.
A memory surfaced.
The third floor.
Her mother.
A secret passage.
She pointed upward.
"The ballroom."
They ran.
Fire climbed the walls.
Smoke thickened.
Derek collapsed.
Harper stopped.
"Leave me."
She knelt.
"No."
"You need to save Noah."
"He already has people with him."
Derek grabbed her wrist.
"You still hate me."
Harper looked at him.
"Yes."
"Good."
He smiled weakly.
"Don't let forgiveness get you killed."
Gabriel helped him stand.
Together they moved.
The ballroom doors opened.
A hidden stairway appeared behind the fireplace.
They climbed.
At the top was the roof.
Rain poured.
Helicopters circled.
Police surrounded the estate.
A loudspeaker shouted:
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
Gabriel looked at the others.
"They know we're here."
Harper noticed a helicopter landing nearby.
Richard stepped out.
He had Noah.
Harper froze.
"Noah!"
Richard held a gun to his head.
The police lowered their weapons.
Richard walked closer.
"You have the box."
Harper held it up.
"Let my brother go."
Richard smiled.
"Come here."
Gabriel grabbed Harper's arm.
"Don't."
She looked at him.
"If I don't, Noah dies."
Richard shouted:
"Now!"
Harper stepped forward.
Richard took the box.
He opened it.
Empty.
He looked up.
Harper smiled.
"You should have checked."
The real drive was still in her pocket.
Richard's face changed.
Gabriel raised his weapon.
Police shouted.
Gunfire erupted.
Richard dragged Noah behind cover.
Harper ran.
She reached Noah.
A shot hit the ground beside her.
Noah screamed.
Gabriel fired.
Richard stumbled.
Then Victoria appeared behind him.
She shot Richard in the back.
He fell.
Everyone froze.
Victoria looked at Harper.
"Your mother asked me to finish this."
Harper stared.
"You're working for her?"
Victoria nodded.
"She knew I would be the only person you trusted when everything collapsed."
Harper looked toward the helicopter.
Her mother stood beside it.
Alive.
Waiting.
But there was one final betrayal.
Victoria turned the gun toward Gabriel.
"I'm sorry."
Harper stepped between them.
"Don't."
Victoria hesitated.
Her mother shouted from the helicopter:
"Victoria, do it!"
Harper looked at her mother.
"Why?"
Her mother didn't answer.
Victoria pulled the trigger.
The shot rang across the roof.
Harper screamed.
Gabriel fell.
Blood spread across his chest.
Noah cried.
May you like
And Harper looked at her mother in disbelief.
Because the woman who had spent eighteen years claiming to protect her daughter had just ordered Gabriel Ashford's execution.
