Chapter 79: Plan B?

Sofia's POV

"They are here to take us out of here!"

My heart stopped. For a moment, I was frozen. And then a tear slipped down my eye. A surge of happiness burst across my chest.

They were here? He was here?

For me…

But then the fear for their life soon crashed on me, making the smile slip from my face.

What if something happens to any of them? Monet wasn't weak or foolish. He wouldn't go down without a fight.

Hurrying towards me, she started to untie my hands and legs. A wince left my lips as I moved my hands after hours. Not to forget the cuts were still fresh. Though the painkillers did reduce the pain somewhat to a bearable point.

"Don't worry, sweetheart! We will get out of here soon. That loathful man wouldn't be able to touch you again," she said. With shaky hands, once she was done untying my legs, she carefully wrapped her arm around my waist before pulling me up. "Come on, I know it will hurt. But you will have to be strong, honey. Bear it just for a while, then everything will be fine."

A hiss escaped me as I tried to stand up on my feet. Every corner of my body hurt.

"Yes, just like that," she encouraged as I took a step forward, taking her help.

"Mom, how did you come here? Didn't they lock you up too?"

"They did. But Zion helped me out."

My gaze snapped to her. "Zion? But why would he do that? He is Monet's…"

"I know. But he is with us."

And before I could open my mouth again, the door burst opened for the second time, startling both of us. But this time, the person wasn't pleasant to my eyes at all.

With a face contorted with fury, eyes red as blood, he strode inside the room before grabbing Mom's jaw.

"Mom!"

"That vile bastard husband of yours!" he hissed, letting out a curse which I thought wasn't adequate for his manners. "I told him to surrender. But he dared to attack out of nowhere with a whole army! He has made a mistake! And now he will pay for it with his life!"

When she let out a whimper under his painful grip, I pushed at his chest.

"Leave her, Monet! Don't you dare touch her!"

But his hand didn't move from Mom's jaw.

"I said let her go!"

As I struggled to move him away from Mom, ignoring the pain in my arms, Milton rushed inside the room.

"Boss!" he panted. With a gun secured in his hand, perspiration was formed all over his face. "There are a lot of them! At least more than a hundred! Not only McCommer's and Sinister's men, that fucking Adrian Larsen also brought his own professional killer machines! I don't think we can stop them for long! Larsen's unexpected attack from the southern part has disrupted our security plans."

Monet let out a curse, while a warmth spread across my chest.

He is coming for me.

My eyes burned at the yearning in my heart, to be in his arms.

"That boy is becoming a nuisance for me! He's coming in my way too fucking much!" The veins of Monet's neck stood out.

"And… there is another thing," Milton hesitated. His lips pressed in a grim line. "Zion is helping them against us."

"What?" If Monet was furious before, he looked like he would burst like a volcano then. His form visibly shook with rage. "That ungrateful little brat! I always knew he was good for nothing! But still I trusted him, and this is what I get? Betrayal?"

Mom clutched my hand tightly in her cold ones. I squeezed back to provide some comfort.

"Now you realized how it feels like to be betrayed by your loved ones, James? You know, there is a saying. Karma is a bitch. And this is your karma. Your own son is betraying you!" Venom dripped from my voice.

His flaming green eyes landed on me. "You think if that little boyfriend of yours and that coward father of yours attack us out of nowhere, we will accept our defeat just like that? They think we're some fools?" He slowly shook his head as he spoke, "I had a hunch something like this could happen. But I didn't think they would be this foolish to do something like this with you here. But now that they did it, here comes my plan B."

The hope that started to bloom in my chest, died down that instant.

"W-what plan?" I couldn't help my stutter.

An ominous chuckle echoed across the small room. His eyes glinted with maleficence, promising death.

Slipping a hand into his pocket, he pulled something out. "You see this, little one?"

A small rectangular device.

"What is it?" An ill feeling stirred deep in my gut.

"My plan B. You really thought I wouldn't have any backup plan for a situation like this?" His head tilted to the side. "I have already set everything up. One click on this remote, and boom!"

Blood drained from my face. Mom let out a gasp.

"They surely entered my lair to rescue you, but they won't be able to get out of here. It's my promise to you."

A drop of sweat trickled down my spine as I stared at the inauspicious remote with dread filling my nerves.

"You won't dare to do such a thing! You will die along with everyone else if you do so!" Mom's voice rose with panic.

"Only if I stay here," he said, before turning to Milton. "Have everything ready! We're leaving, now!"

"Yes, boss!" With that, the obedient dog started to call someone, barking orders.

"And you!" Turning to me, Monet grabbed my wrist. Dark green eyes were menacing. "Daughter or not, you're coming with me! If you really turn out to be my blood, then you will be lucky and stay alive. If not, then you will be my shield to get me out of here. And after that, your fate will be the same as the rest of your family."

With eyes wide in horror, I fought in his hold. "No way in hell! I'm not going anywhere with you!"

But he was already dragging me away from Mom. A cry of pain escaped my mouth as all the weight of my body fell on my legs. My knees were giving up, but he pulled me back on my feet straight with a harsh tug.

Three of their men soon arrived in the room.

"James, leave her! You aren't taking her anywhere!" Mom yelled out.

When she was about to take a step forward, a hand of Monet curled around her throat, ceasing her movement.

"Today you will get your punishment for leaving me, and taking my son away from me." His face inched closer to her paling one, while he kept me in place with his other hand. "You left me because you wanted to live with him, right? Now today, you will die with him."

Pushing her towards a guard of his, he ordered him to take her away before starting to pull me out of the room.

"Mom! No!" I screamed, struggling in his hold. But his grip was too strong for my weak state. Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head. "You can't do this to us, Monet! Leave me! I don't want to go anywhere with you!"

"Sofia!"

Mom's shout rang across the hallway, but Monet didn't even give me the chance to look back. Grabbing my arm in a vice-like grip, he dragged me to another corridor.

No! He couldn't take me away just like that! Not when my people were so close to me. Not when he was coming for me. Not when I had to warn them about Monet's plan.

With a new determination, gritting my teeth I tolerated the pain and pushed Monet with all the strength I had.

He did stumble back with the force, but a slap across my jaw soon came from him.

I let out a hiss as my jaw throbbed. But that pain wasn't anything to the fear that swirled like a storm in my chest.

I didn't want to go away from my Adrian. Not when his life was in danger along with everyone else in this building. I had to tell them about Monet's plan. But how?

I had no way.

My heart clenched as more helpless tears fell.

"Do that again, and I will shoot you in the head right this moment!" Snarling, he grabbed my arm again before pulling me along with him.

Deafening noises of gunshots and screams rang across the floor, making Milton tense beside us.

"We have to be faster! They're catching up on us!"

As they increased their pace, panic rose in me. My heart pounded down my chest.

"Let me go! Please! You can't escape from here! They are everywhere and looking for you! I'm telling you, let me go! Or else the outcome won't be good, Monet!" I tried to snatch my arm from him, but he only tightened his grip. The pain was unbearable.

Soon Tim, with a gun in his hand, met us at the end of the corridor.

"Tim! Please help me! Please! They're taking me away from here!" I cried out, in hope that he would feel some sympathy for me for the sake of all these years he protected me like a guardian angel.

But my hopes were crushed in thousands of pieces when he came and started to walk along with Monet. Not a hint of emotions flickered in his familiar gaze.

"They got Marie," was all he said to Monet.

"That crazy woman. I asked her to stay away but she didn't listen," Monet grumbled. "Where is Marcus?"

"He won't be coming. Too busy with finishing his nephew," replied Milton, looking over his shoulder to see if anyone was catching up with us.

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Fear gripped my bones.

He went after Adrian?

Oh God! Was he alright? He wasn't used to this bloody war.

"We carry on without him then. Too bad. He doesn't know about my plan B. And now he will have to die with them too. I won't need his help in the future anyway!"

At Monet's words, Tim's gaze snapped to him for a second before he moved his eyes away.

Was there shock in his gaze?

"Move! We have to be fast!" He tugged at my arm, moving me after him. But I continued to struggle.

"What about Zion, Boss?" asked Milton, shooting a man, most probably from our side as he rushed to us after noticing me.

A whimper left my lips, both from the pain and helplessness.

"We're leaving without that betrayer. It's his punishment for going against me," Monet said, his voice as cold as ice.

And with that he started to drag me up the stairs.

"No, let me go! I won't go anywhere with you!" Grabbing the handrail, I tried to get out of his grip. But with one harsh tug, he made me climb up the stairs.

My legs were screaming to stop, but his hold on me made me move.

"Is the chopper ready, Milton?"

"Yes, Boss."

Something churned inside me.

No, they couldn't take me away with them.

Oh God! What do I do now?

The noise of gun firings were close now. Shouts and cries of agony rang across the area. Soon followed the sound of heavy footsteps.

And as if every cell in my body could recognize his presence, I turned around.

And there he was.

Near the bottom of the stairs.

My lips parted as a gasp slipped through my lips. Something bloomed in my chest. My vision blurred with tears.

"Adrian!"

As if for a moment, everything around us disappeared as his electric blue eyes met my green ones. A sigh of content escaped me at his sight after hours.

Something burned inside me to fly in his arms and lever leave.

But the haze soon cleared when his gaze traveled to the rest of my features and body. His jaw clenched, nostrils flared as those blue pools flamed with roaring fire.

"Move!" Monet barked, a hint of urgency laced in his voice. Soon, the two guards of his ran down the stairs to hold Adrian and John back.

"Leave her fucking arm, Monet!" Adrian roared. With his form shaking in rage, veins standing out on his temple, he shot one of the guards in the head while John tackled the other.

But ignoring him, Monet only pulled me up, towards the door that led to the rooftop terrace. Where the chopper was waiting for us.

"No! Let me go! I'm not going anywhere with you!" I struggled again, but to no avail.

With Tim beside Monet, he only tugged me forward. And as the two guards were down, Milton met Adrian in the middle of the staircase. Two more guards came from behind and John went busy to handle them.

"Adrian!" I cried out.

"Sofia!" His flaming gaze met mine again.

But Milton was quick to break it as he delivered a kick to move Adrian out of his way.

But he was fast to avoid it. Right after that as Milton raised his gun at him, he grabbed his wrist and twisted it back, tearing a hiss from that bastard's mouth. And after that as Milton tried to push him away, Adrian slammed him on the stairs.

His eyes were full of menace and fury as he looked into his eyes, taking a hold of Milton's right hand.

"You used this hand to torture my Sofia, huh? You enjoyed when my love screamed in pain? Now tell me how it feels?" With that, he twisted his arm, moving it behind his back with a harsh tug.

A noise of bones popping was clear in the air. The scream that followed was pleasant to my ears.

And while Adrian punched Milton's face bloody, Monet opened the door and dragged me on the rooftop terrace.

"No! Leave me!" I shouted.

Paying no heed to me, he approached the chopper that was all set to fly. My hair flew with the force of the breeze that the helicopter's running blades created.

My heart thundered in my chest.

Tim was ahead of Monet, as if he was in a hurry to leave this place.

Monet's plan B! I had to tell Adrian! Monet had the remote with him!

"Stop where you are, Monet!"

James' as well as Tim's steps ceased at Adrian's voice. Even with the loud noise of the chopper blades, his voice was loud and commanding.

Slowly turning around, Monet flashed Adrian a roguish smile.

"Ah, Adrian Larsen! I see you've managed to go through one of my most skilled men to reach your beloved. But alas! You won't get her, she is coming with me," he shouted over the helicopter's noise.

Adrian's lips curled into a sneer. Take your hands off her."

"Oh really? What if I don't? You should be grateful that I kept her alive. Don't worry though, she will soon join all of you if the reports turn out negative."

"Adrian! You have to leave this place, right now! He is planning to blow up this building! He has the remote with him!" I yelled out, making his eyes snap to me. "He wants to kill all of you! Please, just go and leave with everyone! It's not safe here!"

Surprise flashed across his gaze, but then there was nothing but fury and determination. Moving his head slightly to look over his shoulder at John who stood right behind him, he gave him a nod.

John's eyes went wide. "But Boss…"

"Go!" Adrian snapped. "I will come with Sofia."

Giving a hesitant nod, he turned around and left.

My heart fell. He wasn't going with him?

"Adrian, no! You have to go! He will blow off this place! You need to leave right now!" Tears ran down my cheeks. But his determined eyes didn't move from me.

"I'll leave, once I get you back in my arms," he said, before turning to Monet. "I'm warning you for the last time. Let her go." His hand raised in the air, with his gun pointing at Monet.

"Oh, you shouldn't have done that!" With that, Monet released my arm before putting his gun against my temple.

I froze, while Adrian's shoulders tensed visibly.

"Put your gun down, boy! Or else, she dies." Monet's cold voice sent a chill down my spine.

A muscle of Adrian's jaw ticked. "You won't hurt your own daughter."

Monet let out a humorless chuckle. "Well, who knows if she really is my daughter or not. So if I have to kill her for my benefit, I will do so. So I'm asking you for one last time, put that gun down!"

"Adrian, please, just go! I don't want anything to happen to you! Please leave!" I pleaded, but that hot headed man of mine didn't listen.

His grip tightened around his gun as he observed Monet's every move.

A gasp slipped through my lips when Monet pressed the gun tightly against my temple.

"I said do it!" A craze flashed across his eyes.

"Do it, Adrian. For hers sake, put that gun down," said Tim, standing close to Monet.

I shook my head vigorously as his blue eyes met mine. His jaw clenched and unclenched, nostrils flared. But slowly, he put his gun down. And at Monet's sign, he dropped the gun on the ground.

"Adrian, no! Please, just leave!" I screamed.

"Atta boy! Let's see if you can get out of here alive, which won't be possible unfortunately." Moving his gun from my temple, Monet grabbed my arm again before turning to the chopper.

I fought against him, but he only pushed me forward on the helicopter's skid before getting on it himself. Tim was still right where he was.

"Get in!" Monet snapped, pushing me inside the chopper.

Still fighting, I looked over my shoulder. And everything happened so fast, with fury etched across Adrian's face, one moment he moved to take his gun up from the ground. And the next moment Monet's gun was raised in the air, pointing at him. A deafening sound echoed across the place.

My heart stopped.

Adrian's form tensed. The white material of his shirt over the area of his heart slowly turned crimson as he fell on his knees on the ground.

"Adrian!"