Chapter 64 The Setup
"We need to leave the penthouse," Harper said, already grabbing essentials. "Now."
"And where? Claire knows every place we'd think to hide." Sebastian was on the phone with Ryan's security team. "How long until you get here?"
"Fifteen minutes," Ryan's voice crackled through the speaker. "Traffic's backed up from an accident on the bridge."
Fifteen minutes. An eternity when a wounded, desperate woman was hunting them.
Harper threw clothes into a bag with shaking hands. "The Adriatic. We go to the Adriatic. She wouldn't expect us to hide in a construction site."
"It's also isolated. No neighbors to hear if something goes wrong." Sebastian grabbed his laptop and files. "But you're right. It's our best option until Ryan's team arrives."
They took the stairs instead of the elevator, Sebastian constantly checking behind them. The parking garage felt threatening, every shadow a potential ambush.
Harper's hands trembled as she unlocked the car. They'd just opened the doors when Sebastian's phone rang.
Detective Morrison.
"We found Claire's car abandoned three blocks from your building. She's on foot, injured, and likely armed. Officers are canvassing but Mr. Colton, you need to get somewhere secure now."
"Already moving. We're going to the Adriatic Hotel."
"I'll have units meet you there. Twenty minutes."
Twenty minutes. Still too long.
They drove through Seattle's evening traffic, Harper watching every car behind them for signs of Claire. The city that had always felt like home now felt hostile. Dangerous.
At the Adriatic, Harper used her key to let them into the dark building. The construction was nearly complete but the power wasn't connected yet. They'd be in the dark.
"Second floor office," Harper whispered, leading the way with her phone flashlight. "It has a lock and only one entrance."
They barricaded themselves in the small space. Sebastian positioned himself by the door while Harper tried to calm her racing heart. The baby kicked, responding to her stress.
"We're okay," Sebastian said, more to convince himself than Harper. "Security's coming. Police are coming. We just have to wait."
But Harper couldn't shake the feeling they'd made a mistake. They'd walked into exactly the kind of isolated location Claire would want. Trapped themselves instead of staying where there were witnesses and security cameras.
"Sebastian, I think we should…"
Glass shattered downstairs.
They both froze.
"She's here," Harper breathed.
Sebastian pulled out his phone to call Ryan but stopped. No signal. The building's metal structure created dead zones throughout.
They were alone. Trapped. With a woman who'd spent five years planning their destruction.
"Harper, listen to me," Sebastian whispered. "There's a back stairway that leads to the alley. I'm going to confront Claire. While I distract her, you run. Get to the street. Find the police."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You have to. For our baby. Please." Sebastian pressed his keys into her hand. "When you hear me engaging with her, you go. Don't look back. Just run."
"Sebastian."
He kissed her hard. "I love you. Now hide."
Harper crouched behind the desk as Sebastian positioned himself by the door. She wanted to argue, to refuse to abandon him, but her hand on her stomach reminded her she wasn't just making decisions for herself anymore.
Footsteps on the stairs. Slow. Deliberate. Claire was taking her time.
"Sebastian!" Claire's voice echoed through the building. "I know you're here. The car outside gave you away."
Sebastian opened the office door slowly. "Claire. Let's talk about this."
"Talk? What's left to talk about? You won. The board cleared you. Morrison's arrested. I lost everything." Claire's silhouette appeared at the top of the stairs. "But I'm not going back to jail. Not without finishing what I started."
Harper could see Claire now in the dim light filtering through windows. She was pale, blood seeping through her hospital gown, but she held a gun steady.
"You're hurt," Sebastian said. "You need medical attention."
"What I need is to watch you lose everything the way I did. Starting with Harper." Claire's eyes found the office. "Come out, Harper. I know you're hiding in there."
Harper stayed frozen. Sebastian stepped between Claire and the office doorway.
"Harper's not here. I sent her away."
"Liar. You wouldn't let her out of your sight. Not now." Claire raised the gun. "Harper, if you don't come out, I will shoot your husband. You have three seconds."
"Don't," Sebastian said. "Claire, please. You're my sister."
"One."
Harper's mind raced. Run or reveal herself. Save Sebastian or protect the baby.
"Two."
"Okay!" Harper stood, hands raised. "I'm here. Don't shoot him."
Claire's smile was triumphant. "There she is. The weapon that finally broke you. Come here, Harper. Slowly."
Harper moved around the desk, her eyes on the gun. She could see Sebastian calculating angles, looking for an opening to disarm his sister.
"Claire, you don't want to do this," Harper said. "You're not a murderer."
"I watched Morrison kill people who threatened our plan. I orchestrated attacks that could have killed you both. I'm already a murderer." Claire gestured with the gun. "Stand together. I want you both to know what's coming."
Sebastian moved to Harper's side, his hand finding hers. They stood facing Claire in the dark, half-finished building.
"This is Marcus's doing," Claire said. "He planted the idea years ago. Said Sebastian needed to be humbled. I needed to understand what it felt like to lose everything. I was supposed to just undermine you professionally. But then I realized something."
"What?" Sebastian asked, clearly trying to keep her talking.
"That I didn't just want to humble you. I wanted to destroy you completely. And the best way to destroy a Colton man is to take what he loves most." Claire's eyes were wild. "For Dad, it was the company. For you, it's her."
She pointed the gun at Harper's stomach.
"No!" Sebastian moved in front of Harper just as the gun fired.
The sound was deafening in the enclosed space. Sebastian staggered, blood blooming across his shirt.
"Sebastian!" Harper caught him as he fell.
Claire stared at her brother, the gun shaking. "No. No, I aimed for her. Why did you move?"
"Because I love her more than I fear you." Sebastian's voice was weak, his hand pressed to his side where blood seeped through his fingers.
Harper heard sirens in the distance. Finally, Help was coming.
But it might be too late.
Claire seemed to realize it too. She raised the gun again, this time pointing it directly at her own head.
"If I can't win, no one does."
"Claire, don't!" Harper shouted.
But Claire was already squeezing the trigger.
The gun clicked. Empty.
She'd used her last bullet on Sebastian.
Claire dropped the gun and collapsed, her injuries finally overwhelming her adrenaline.
Police crashed through the doors below. "Police! Everyone stay where you are!"
"Up here!" Harper screamed. "Officer down! We need an ambulance!"
She cradled Sebastian, her hands trying to stop the bleeding. "Stay with me. Please stay with me."
"I'm okay," Sebastian whispered. "You're okay. The baby's okay. That's all that matters."
"You got shot!"
"Just a scratch." He smiled weakly. "Probably."
Paramedics flooded the room. They worked on Sebastian while others secured Claire. Harper was pulled away, checked for injuries, questioned by police.
"He jumped in front of me," Harper kept repeating. "She was aiming for the baby and he jumped in front of me."
At the hospital, Harper paced while Sebastian was in surgery. The bullet had missed major organs but he'd lost blood. The doctors were optimistic but she couldn't stop shaking.
Ryan arrived with the full security team. "I'm sorry. We should have been faster."
"It's not your fault. Claire was..." Harper couldn't finish.
"Arrested. She's in custody. This time, she won't escape."
Hours later, a doctor emerged. "Mr. Colton came through surgery well. The bullet passed through clean. He'll recover fully with rest."
Harper sagged with relief.
They let her see him briefly. Sebastian was pale but alive, monitors beeping steadily.
"Hey," he said when she entered. "How's the baby?"
"Fine. How are you? You were shot."
"Worth it. You're both safe."
"You could have died."
"But I didn't. We're okay, Harper. It's finally over."
And this time, Harper believed him.
Claire was in custody. Morrison was arrested. Every threat is eliminated.
Just them now.
And their baby.
And the life they'd survived everything to build.