Chapter 62 NO HELL CHIKA! ONLY PARADISE
Tick.
Tick.
The sound echoed: sharp, cruel, and unforgiving, like a countdown carved straight into the bones.
Aaron barely had time to breathe.
BOOM.
The explosion tore through the building with savage force, the kind that didn’t just shake walls, it ripped reality apart. Concrete screamed. Steel bent and snapped like brittle bones. The ground buckled beneath their feet, swallowing screams, swallowing bodies, swallowing everything.
Coughing heard as smoke and dust spiraled in the air.
Aaron’s eyes flew open violently. For a second, he couldn’t hear anything except a shrill ringing inside his skull. His vision swam, black dots dancing wildly as debris rained down around him. His lungs burned when he tried to inhale, dust and smoke clawing down his throat like poison.
His body screamed at him, but his mind screamed louder in different pain.
Erica.
He pushed himself up roughly, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through his left arm. Warmth spread instantly. Blood poured down his sleeve, dripping onto the broken floor beneath him.
“Erica!” he yelled, his voice raw, breaking apart in the smoke.
No answer.
His chest tightened violently, like an iron fist closing around his heart.
“Erica!” he shouted again, louder, more desperate, even his voice shook.
Yet nothing.
Panic: real panic spread up his spine. He staggered forward, nearly slipping on debris, his gaze darting everywhere. His men were scattered, some bleeding, some shouting commands, others dragging bodies from the rubble.
But she wasn’t there.
His breath came out ragged.
.
He grabbed one of his men roughly by the collar. “Did you see her?” he demanded, his eyes wild.
The man swallowed hard and shook his head. His lips trembled as he bit down on them, fear bleeding through his expression.
Aaron shoved him away and turned sharply.
The kids.
His stomach dropped. He walked toward the steel door, every step screamed torture. The door had been blasted open, metal warped and jagged, wires hanging loose and sparking weakly. A thick, nauseating smell hit him immediately.
Smoke mixed with chemicals.....Then trace of blood that made his heart uneasy.
White powder coated the floor—cocaine, crushed beneath his boots as he stepped inside. The air was thick, suffocating, the particles clung to his skin, burning his eyes.
Cocaine had no defect on him, so he let them pass his nostril freely.
He waved a hand roughly in front of his face and moved deeper into the room.
Then he saw it.
Dark, thick streaks dragged across the floor, smeared like someone had been murdered against their will. His jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
A scream ripped through the air.
“Ahhh-ahhh!”
Aaron froze.
For a split second, his heart stopped. He rushed forward, the kids! Was someone injured?
He paused!
It wasn’t a child.
It was one of his men. The man lay on the ground, eyes wide and hollow, staring at nothing. Blood pooled beneath him, soaking into the powder-covered floor. His leg was gone, ripped clean off.
Shock had stolen everything from his face.
The kids were gone. They were safe
Yet Aaron’s fists clenched, his nails biting into his palms.
"I’ll kill him."
At that moment, Tee rushed in, covering her nose with her sleeve.
“Boss!” she called sharply.
She motioned behind her, and two men immediately rushed in, lifting the injured man carefully and carrying him out.
Aaron didn’t look away.
“Report,” he said coldly.
Tee swallowed. “We got the kids out at the nine-minute mark. All of them. They’re safe.”
Relief flashed briefly, then vanished.
“But we couldn’t reach you then,” she added. “The signal-”
She paused, ber eyes scanning the rubble.
“Where’s Erica?”
Aaron’s body went rigid. Like fire tore through his veins.
“Isn’t she with you?” he asked quietly and
Tee shook her head.
“But I saw Kalton escape,” she added. “He’s alive.”
Aaron’s eyes darkened instantly, rage burning deep.
“Get the drones in the air,” he ordered. “Every meter. Near or far. I want eyes everywhere. Activate all cameras.”
He turned away, but Tee’s voice stopped him.
“Please,” she said loudly. “Bring her back alive.”
His jaw tightened painfully. He remembered her eyes earlier. Hos words were harsh
He had to fix this.
(REWIND: FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER)
The second Erica noticed Aaron’s hand move, her instincts screamed.
She couldn’t let Kalton die.
Not yet.
Not because he deserved mercy, but because she wanted his blood on her hands.
She lunged forward, slamming into Aaron’s arm, forcing the gun away. The bullet missed Kalton’s skull by inches.
At the same time, her gaze snapped toward the steel door.
The kids.
They were running out. Safe.
Relief flooded her chest, but it shattered instantly when she saw Tee’s face.
Horror....Pure terror. Before she could shout-
BOOM.
The bomb exploded. The building began to collapse inward violently. Erica reacted without thinking. She saw where Aaron stood. She saw the safe zone.
She shoved him hard.
“Move!”
Her footing slipped.
She crashed to the ground, her head slamming against the concrete. Pain exploded behind her head, white-hot, blinding. Her body went numb, refusing to respond.
Then she saw it.
A massive slab of concrete falling straight toward her head.
She tried to move....She couldn’t.
And suddenly a hand grabbed her. Yanked her violently.
She slammed into someone’s chest.
Kalton.
Her breath caught painfully. He didn’t save her to be kind. He threw her aside roughly. Erica fought, clawing, kicking, but a sharp blow struck her neck.
Her legs buckled and darkness swallowed her.
“Brother,” Kalton muttered with a twisted smile. “I’ll give you something special later.”
PRESENT
Erica snapped awake choking Kalton by his collar, her fingers digging deep into his collar..His source of air was shut off.
He growled and shoved her hard.
She hit the ground with a groan, clutching her elbow as pain ripped through her arm.
“That bastard,” she hissed, wiping the blood from her mouth.
Kalton rubbed his neck slowly, his eyes burning down at her.
“Now I understand why Aaron values you,” he spat.
He raised his fists. “Come on,” he mocked. “Show me what you’ve got, Barbie.”
Erica laughed darkly and stood. She studied him fast: his stance, his balance. He was trained. Strong. Far more dangerous.
She wasn’t stronger. So she would be smarter.
She lunged and Kalton swung his fist.
At the last second, Erica dropped into a split, his fist slicing air above her head. Her struck upward flying in the wind.
Her punch slammed into his abdomen.
He staggered back, coughing violently as blood spilled from his mouth.
Erica smirked.
He charged again, then froze as the pain tore through him.
His gaze dropped.
Blood.
Her blade has been buried deep in it from earlier.
Erica stepped closer, revealing the dagger slick with his blood.
“One thing about fighting,” she said calmly, “isn’t strength.” She leaned close. “It’s skill.”
Kalton gasped.
Erica grabbed his shirt, pulling him close.
“I can tolerate bastards,” she snarled. “But men like you—men who hurt kids?”
Her arm lifted in the air, the dagger gleamed.
"I can't stand" She drove it straight into his heart.
Blood burst from his mouth.
Still: he smiled.
“Now I see,” he whispered. “Why Aaron chose you… Mouse.”
She sung the dagger deeper and a cackle escaped his lips.
"Is this a proposal. Mouse? He paused and turned his gaze to her lips "Because if it is: I gladly accept!"
“Fvck you.” Erica yelled pulling out the dagger.
Kalton collapsed, his blood pooling beneath him.
"I hope hell suits you well and burn every bone of yours!" She spat and Kalton laughed.
“There is no hell Chika," he muttered weakly. “Only paradise.”
His body went still.
Erica stepped back. She licked her lips and turned to leave but..
Collapsed.