The shrill sound of the alarm echoed through the grand office, vibrating through the walls and floors. Victor Castellano stood behind his desk, his smirk unshaken despite the gun Damien had pointed at his head. The tension was suffocating, the next move a heartbeat away.
"Do you hear that?" Castellano said, his voice calm and measured. "That's the sound of my reinforcements. They'll be here in minutes."
Damien's gun didn't waver. "Then I'll make this quick."
"No," Elena said, stepping forward. "Damien, wait."
His head snapped toward her, his grey eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and confusion. "Elena, this isn't the time—"
"He's expecting you to kill him," she interrupted, her voice trembling but steady. "That's what he wants. If you do, you'll only prove everything he's said about you. That you're ruthless. A criminal. Just like him."
Damien's jaw tightened, his finger hovering over the trigger. "And if I don't, he walks away."
"No, he doesn't," she said, stepping closer to him. "We have the evidence, Damien. Everything his men said, everything we've collected. Let the authorities handle him. Let him rot in a cell for the rest of his life."
Castellano laughed, the sound cold and sharp. "Oh, how noble. Do you really think I'll ever see the inside of a prison? I own the authorities, darling."
Elena ignored him, her focus entirely on Damien. "You're better than this," she said softly. "Don't let him drag you down to his level."
For a long moment, Damien didn't move. The room felt frozen in time, the weight of Elena's words hanging heavily between them. Finally, he lowered the gun, his expression hard but resolute.
"You're right," he said, his voice low. "He's not worth it."
Elena's relief was short-lived. Castellano's smirk widened, and in a blur of motion, he pulled a gun from beneath his desk. Before Elena could react, Damien moved, shoving her behind him as Castellano fired.
The bullet grazed Damien's arm, but his reaction was immediate. He lunged forward, knocking the gun from Castellano's hand and slamming him against the desk. The force sent papers and objects flying, Castellano's smirk replaced with a grimace of pain.
"You made one mistake, Castellano," Damien said, his voice deadly calm. "You underestimated me."
The doors burst open, and Marcus stormed in, his gun drawn. He took in the scene quickly, his gaze flicking between Damien and Castellano. "Boss?"
"It's done," Damien said, shoving Castellano into Marcus's grip. "Secure him. And make sure he doesn't press another button."
"With pleasure," Marcus said, his tone grim as he restrained Castellano.
Elena moved to Damien's side, her hands trembling as she touched his injured arm. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," he said, his voice softening as he looked at her. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "You saved me. Again."
"I'll always save you," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Always."
Before she could respond, the sound of heavy boots echoed in the hallway. Marcus cursed under his breath. "Reinforcements."
Damien grabbed Elena's hand, his expression hardening. "We're leaving. Now."
The escape was a blur of chaos and adrenaline. Damien's team moved with precision, neutralizing Castellano's reinforcements as they made their way through the estate. Elena stayed close to Damien, her heart pounding with every step.
By the time they reached the extraction point, the sun was beginning to rise, casting an orange glow over the horizon. A helicopter waited for them, its blades already spinning. Damien helped Elena climb aboard before following her, his injured arm barely slowing him down.
As the helicopter lifted off, Elena looked out at the sprawling estate below, her chest tightening with a mix of relief and lingering fear. Castellano was in custody, but the battle wasn't over. Not yet.
Damien sat beside her, his hand resting on hers. "It's done," he said quietly.
"For now," she said, her voice trembling. "But what if—"
"No what-ifs," Damien interrupted, his tone firm. "He's finished. And I won't let anyone else come after you. I promise."
She nodded, leaning against him as exhaustion began to take over. Despite the danger, despite the uncertainty, she felt a flicker of hope. They had survived. Together.
And as the helicopter disappeared into the horizon, Elena allowed herself to believe that they could face whatever came next.