Chapter 275: No Clean Escape

Chapter 275: No Clean Escape
Elena's POV

I arrived at the harbor to find Donovan tied to a chair, bloodstained and pale. Demetrius, Ryan, and a predatory stranger in an expensive shirt surrounded him.

Surrounding him were a man who looked strikingly like Serafina—clearly Demetrius, Ryan, and a stranger in an expensive button-down who circled Donovan with predatory satisfaction.

"Donovan, you're quite the lucky dog," the stranger remarked coldly. "Always someone willing to walk through fire for you, isn't there?"

When Donovan spotted my car, his expression transformed from calculated calm to fury. "Elena, what the fuck is wrong with you?" he roared. "The CEO of Phoenix Group pulling this kind of stunt? Get the hell out!"

I yanked Serafina from the car, my fingers digging into her arm as she stumbled forward. Donovan's desperate reaction confirmed my fears—he was hurt worse than he appeared, and we were walking into something even more dangerous than I'd anticipated.

Demetrius's face darkened when he saw his daughter in my grasp. "You've got some nerve," he growled.

I responded with a cold smile. "Bold moves are necessary when dealing with someone who kidnaps my people."

Demetrius's anger gave way to a bitter laugh. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? Touch my daughter, and you won't leave this harbor alive."

With a subtle gesture from Demetrius, black-clad men emerged from various positions around the dock, effectively surrounding us. The message was clear—we were trapped.

I pulled Serafina in front of me and pressed a knife to her throat. "What do you think will be faster—your men's bullets or my blade?"

Demetrius's expression transformed completely, the confidence draining from his face. "Everyone back off!" he ordered his men, his voice strained.

"Let's make this simple," he proposed. "On the count of three, we both release our hostages."

"No," I cut him off. "You release Donovan first."

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" Demetrius exploded. "We exchange now, or you all die here!"

When Ryan tried to mediate, Demetrius silenced him with a vicious kick. "Either we exchange simultaneously, or all of you stay here permanently. You don't have the guts to kill."

Time to show him what real determination looks like.

Teresa stepped forward, taking the knife from my hand. Without hesitation, she pressed it against Serafina's neck and made a quick, shallow cut.

Serafina let out a terrified scream as blood trickled down her neck. "Daddy... help me..." she whimpered, her face ashen with fear.

"You dare hurt my daughter!" Demetrius roared.

Teresa smiled coldly. "It's just a surface wound. The next cut won't be so gentle if you don't release Donovan now."

Demetrius's jaw clenched. "I'll release him," Demetrius said through gritted teeth, "but you'll leave my daughter at the harbor exit. Deal?"

Teresa and I exchanged a quick glance before nodding our agreement.

Donovan stumbled toward us, his movements unsteady. Despite his obvious pain, his first words to me were full of concern.

"Elena, are you crazy?" he hissed. "The CEO of Phoenix Group pulling this kind of stunt? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?"

"I couldn't just let them hurt you," I replied.

Donovan managed a weak smile. "Thanks, but you really shouldn't have risked yourself like this."

The crack of a gunshot shattered our moment of relief. A bullet struck the ground inches from Donovan's feet, sending concrete fragments flying.

Demetrius looked as surprised as we were. "You dare fire a weapon on my territory?" he shouted at the shooter—the same man in the button-down shirt who had been tormenting Donovan.

The man's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Your territory? Not anymore." Without warning, he fired again—this time directly at Demetrius. The bullet hit him square in the chest, and Demetrius collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

"Daddy! No! DADDY!" Serafina's agonized screams filled the air as she struggled against Teresa's grip. Teresa yanked her behind our car for cover.

Donovan reacted with lightning speed, pulling me down behind the vehicle as bullets began flying in all directions. He winced as the sudden movement aggravated his injuries.

"How badly are you hurt?" I asked, my eyes scanning his body for visible wounds.

He ignored my question. "Why did you come here? Do you understand what could have happened to you?"

"What was I supposed to do? Stand by while they killed you?" I shot back.

Donovan fell silent, his expression softening slightly.

Chaos erupted across the harbor. Ryan kicked Demetrius's lifeless body. "Serves you right, you bastard!" Elbert appeared from somewhere in the confusion, spitting on the corpse.

Ryan approached the shooter. "Stefan, right? We could work together. This place—"

Stefan pointed his gun at Ryan. "I only want Donovan and the money."

Ryan backed away, trembling. "Elbert, transfer the money to him! Now!"

From our position behind the car, we could hear Stefan's voice calling out to me.

"Ms. Huntington, I hear you're a woman who values loyalty. How about I give you a choice? I'll kill either you or Donovan—you decide who lives."

I stared coldly in his direction, my mind racing. There's more to this situation than I realized.

Donovan signaled to me, pointing to the car keys in his hand. "The keys are here. We can get in and drive toward the police blockade," he whispered.

"Trust me, we have a chance," he added, his eyes locked with mine.

Donovan opened the car door while Teresa pushed the still-sobbing Serafina into the backseat.

"Let go of me! You're all murderers!" Serafina screamed, thrashing wildly. Her head emerged from the car just as Stefan fired, shattering the window.

"Shut up or I really will kill you!" Teresa threatened, forcing her down.

"If it weren't for you, my father would still be alive," Serafina sobbed. "You're no different from that murderer!"

Donovan looked at me with determination. "I'll go out and talk to him. Distract him."

I grabbed his arm. "No way! What was the point of all this if you're just going to get yourself killed? I didn't come all this way to watch you die."

Teresa reached into the car and pulled out a handgun, offering it to Donovan. "Here, this might help."

Donovan looked surprised. "Where did you get that?"

"I knew you'd need it," Teresa replied with a shrug.

Donovan took the gun and checked the magazine. "Let's hope my aim hasn't gotten rusty."

Stefan's footsteps grew closer. "Are you planning your escape route?" he called out mockingly. "Don't bother. I only want Donovan. Hand him over, and I might let the rest of you live."

Donovan suddenly leaned out from behind the car and fired several shots at Stefan. "Go to hell!" he shouted.

One of the bullets grazed Stefan's arm, drawing blood. Rather than showing pain, Stefan's smile only widened. "It's been a while since we played with guns together, Donovan. Your aim is still impressive. That's the Donovan I know."