Chapter 663
Chapter 663:
“Cellar access is through the pantry,” Skye whispered, checking the blueprint Parker had uploaded to her phone.
Liam nodded, his hand resting near the concealed holster at his waist. “I’ll secure the hallway. You go down p>
“No,” Skye said. “We stick together. Lucian has guards p>
They reached the pantry door. It was locked. Liam picked the lock with practiced ease, the tumblers clicking softly. He pushed the door open to reveal a dark staircase descending into the earth.
The smell of damp stone and old wine wafted up.
“Parker,” Skye whispered into her comms. “Any movement in the cellar p>
“Guard is still there,” Parker’s voice came back. “He’s sitting by the door. Tessa hasn’t moved. Her heart rate is dangerously low. Whatever he gave her, it’s strong p>
Skye’s heart clenched. She descended the stairs, her steps light as a ghost. At the bottom, a heavy wooden door blocked the way.
She looked at Liam. He held up three fingers. Two. One.
Liam kicked the door. It flew open with a crash.
The guard inside jumped up, fumbling for his weapon. Liam didn’t give him the chance. He crossed the room in two strides and drove his shoulder into the man’s chest, slamming him against the stone wall. The gun clattered to the floor.
Skye rushed to the cot.
“Tessa p>
Tessa was barely conscious. Her skin was clammy, her eyes rolling back. The IV bag was half empty.
“Skye?” she mumbled, her voice thick and slurred. “Sugar p>
“I’ve got you,” Skye said, cutting the zip ties with a knife. She ripped the IV line out of Tessa’s arm. “We need to wake her up p>
She pulled the emergency kit from her pocket—stolen from the medical supplies Lucian had ordered and left in the garage.
𝗦𝘂p𝗉оr𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗲 a𝘶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗋 bу 𝗿еa𝘥iո𝗴 𝗈𝘯 𝖻е𝗹𝗻𝘰𝗏𝘦lѕ.𝗰𝗈𝘮
She grabbed a syringe of naloxone she had packed, hoping it would counteract the sedatives.
“This is going to jolt you,” Skye whispered. She plunged the needle into Tessa’s thigh.
Tessa gasped, her eyes flying open as the chemical shock hit her system.
“She can’t walk,” Skye said as Tessa slumped back, awake but groggy.
“I’ll carry her,” Liam said, turning from the unconscious guard. He scooped Tessa up as if she weighed nothing.
“We need to get out,” Liam said.
“Not yet,” Skye said, her eyes drifting to the ceiling. Above them, the engagement party was in full swing. “Lucian is still up there. If we leave now, he gets the money and disappears. He’ll just hunt us again p>
“Skye, we have Tessa,” Liam warned. “Don’t get greedy p>
“It’s not greed,” Skye said, reloading her weapon. “It’s closure. Take Tessa to the car. Alistair is waiting at the perimeter. I’m going upstairs p>
“Skye p>
“Go!” she ordered. “Get her safe. I’ll finish this p>
Liam hesitated, torn between protecting Skye and saving Tessa. He looked at Tessa’s pale face. He had no choice.