CHAPTER 59: BREAKING THE CHAINS

"You have ve seconds to decide, Jeo."

Despite the dark humor in Victor's voice, it was obvious that this wasn't a blu because of the gun at

my chest.

"Give me what I want… or say goodbye to her forever."

I breathed in short breaths. Warm, sticky blood from the bullet wound in my arm trickled between my

fingertips. Sharp waves of pain pulsed, yet everything was overpowered by fear.

I cocked my head slightly and met Jeo's gaze. His face was unreadable, but he stood still, his sts

clasped at his sides.

A perilous silence.

That look was familiar to me.

Joe didn't feel afraid.

He was making calculations.

Victor laughed. "Jeo, what will it be? "Her life or the ledger?"

There was a long pause. Dense. suocating.

Jeo smirked coldly and cocked his head slightly. "You want the ledger?" He moved forward slowly.

"All right. You're welcome to have it.

Victor's eyebrows raised a little. He was surprised at how easily Jeo folded.

I hadn't either.

Jeo extracted a tiny ash disk from his jacket pocket. "This has everything you need. Every contract,

every name. However, let her go first.

Victor hummed in contemplation. "And why would I trust you?"

Joe grinned more broadly. "Because this drive goes directly to the Feds if she passes away. And you

won't make it through that, as we both know."

Victor's face grew serious.

Something flickered in his eyes for the first time. Uncertainty.

Backing into a corner was something he detested.

He tightened his jaw. "Toss it over."

With purposeful motions, Jeo's fingers clenched around the ash drive and he threw it at Victor's feet.

Victor took a while to act. He nodded briefly to one of his men, who leaned over, grabbed it, and

connected it to a tiny tablet.

Silence for a beat while the screen loaded.

Victor's eyes shifted to the statistics.

Then his grin disappeared.

At my chest, his fingers coiled around the revolver.

"You’re playing a dangerous game, Jeo." He spoke in a deep, foreboding voice.

Jeo stepped forward once more, his presence oppressive. "And you just lost."

Joe moved before Victor could respond.

One accurate blow—so quick I hardly noticed it.

Victor's rearm fell to the ground with a clatter.

As Jeo seized Victor by the throat and slammed him into the closest wall, I gasped and staggered back.

The warehouse reverberated with the crack of impact.

As Victor coughed, he clawed at Jeo's hold, but Jeo persisted.

"You think you hold the chains in this game?" Jeo had a low, lethal voice. "You have no idea what real

power looks like."

Even as his breath became shallow, Victor's face contorted in rage, his eyes blazing with dance.

Jeo inclined closer. "I could end you right now."

Quiet.

Victor then grinned. His bottom lip was covered in blood.

The words "But you won’t," he sounded.

That's when I noticed the sparkle in Victor's eyes.

He was not afraid.

He waited.

Another gunshot broke the tension before I could shout a warning.

Joe clutched his side as he stumbled back.

One of Victor's guys was lowering his burning gun when I turned in fear.

"Jeo!" Victor grabbed me as I moved forward and pulled me against him.

The warmth of his breath touched my ear. "You should’ve chosen the easy way, sweetheart."

Then there was an explosion of turmoil.

The Escape I thrashed with all of my strength as I struggled against Victor's hold.

"Let go of me!" His ribs made contact with my elbow. A savage grunt.

He didn't let go, though.

Joe was immediately on the move, ripping the gun from the man who had shot him and red without

hesitation despite the new wound.

One, two. Three shots.

People died.

With a muttered groan, Victor pulled me to the door.

I tried to release myself by kicking, twisting, and clawing at his hands.

Then there was a loud bang.

Victor felt an explosion of pain across his shoulder.

His grasp relaxed for a half-second as he yelled.

I only needed it.

I stumbled backward and freed myself from his clutches. My vision was blurry from the blood loss,

and my heart was racing.

Joe had already caught up to him.

With their sts lying, they fell to the ground. The sound of vicious blows and agonized grunts led

the air.

My legs were weak, and I stumbled to my feet, but I made myself get up.

I encircled the rie Victor had fallen earlier with my fingers.

I raised it, aiming, my hands shaking.

"Elena," Jeo said, breaking through the mist. "Go."

I paused.

Victor's eyes were glowing darkly as his head swung toward me. "You’re not a killer, sweetheart."

Perhaps I wasn't.

I wasn't weak, though.

My anger gripped the trigger more tightly.

For me, the decision was made by the distant sirens.

I dropped the gun and started to run.

As we ran into the night, Jeo was immediately behind me, holding my hand.

Victor, behind us, swore.

He didn't, however, pursue us.

Not now.

Taking O the Chains

Silently, we drove.

My body was weak, the anguish seeping into my bones, and my head was leaning against the window.

Jeo's hands were so tight on the steering wheel that I was afraid it would break.

I finally said something.

"What now?"

With a clenched jaw, Jeo let out a breath. Victor is unstoppable. Not until he achieves his goals.

I looked over at him. "Then we end this."

He glanced in my direction.

They had something fresh about them.

Not anger alone.

Not merely command.

Willpower.

"We end this," he said once more.

I thought for the first time that we could.

Stop running.

No more chains.

Just freedom.

However, there was always a cost to freedom.

And I suspected we were going to pay it.

As we arrived at Jeo's estate, the vehicle slowed.

However, there was a problem.

The gate stood ajar.

The guards had left.

Additionally, the front door

A little open.

Joe grabbed his rearm.

My pulse pounded as I swallowed forcefully.

Then a voice—silent. Steady.

"Took you long enough."

We turned, and the last person I ever thought I would see was seated in the dark foyer.

Awaiting.

Grinning.

Victor.