Chapter 681
Chapter 681:
Down below, the standoff had shifted. Dominic was backed against a wall, clutching a sobbing Victoria. Alistair was pinned down by the remaining guards. Skye was behind cover, unarmed but safe for the moment.
And Liam held the high ground.
The air was thick with dust and the acrid smell of gunpowder. The only sound was Victoria’s jagged sobbing and the heavy breathing of men waiting to kill each other.
“Give it up, Dominic,” Alistair called out from behind the Hummer. “You’re outgunned. You’re outmaneuvered p>
“I have the girl!” Dominic yelled, pressing the barrel of his gun into Victoria’s temple. “You care about the Hayes family, don’t you? Old alliances? What happens if I paint the wall with her brains p>
Victoria squeezed her eyes shut. “Alistair, please p>
Skye peeked out from behind the crates. She saw Dominic’s desperation. He was cornered, and cornered animals bite.
“Dominic!” Skye shouted. “Victoria is worthless to you! She has no access to the money! I do p>
Dominic’s eyes darted toward her. “Shut up p>
“Trade her,” Skye said, standing up slowly. She held her hands out, showing she was unarmed. “Let Victoria go. Take me. I’m the one you want. I’m the one who humiliated you p>
“Skye, no!” Alistair roared, starting to rise.
“Stay back, Alistair!” Skye ordered, her voice commanding. She looked at Dominic. “One for one. The useless socialite for the CEO. Do the math p>
Dominic licked his lips. Skye was right.
Skye was the prize.
Skye was the leverage against Alistair.
“Walk over here,” Dominic said. “Slowly p>
Skye stepped out into the open. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but her face was stone. She walked toward Dominic.
𝘛𝘩𝗶𝘴 𝘤о𝗇𝘁e𝗇𝗍 і𝗌 а𝘂𝘵h𝖾𝗻t𝘪𝗰 𝘧𝘳𝗈𝘮 𝗯𝗲.со𝗆
“Let her go first,” Skye said when she was ten feet away.
Dominic shoved Victoria forward. “Get out of here p>
Victoria stumbled, weeping, running toward Alistair. Skye continued forward, stepping into Dominic’s reach.
As they passed each other, Skye caught Victoria’s eye. She whispered a single word, a callback to a drinking game they had played just an hour ago in the bar, where the loser had to drop to the floor.
“Bottoms up p>
Victoria’s brain, flooded with adrenaline, latched onto the familiar phrase. Instinct took over.
She threw herself flat onto the concrete floor.
Skye dropped into a crouch instantly.
Dominic was left standing alone, his human shield gone, his target suddenly small.
He blinked, confused for a fraction of a second.
That was all Liam needed.
From the shadows of the rafters, the sniper rifle cracked again. Thwip.