Chapter 6 - THE INSIDE MAN
Nobody escaped Damien Ashworth’s building.
That was what people said.
Corbin had just done it in six minutes.
Which meant somebody had helped him.
Every elevator locked.
Every exit sealed.
Guards moved through the building.
Damien stood at the center of the penthouse like a man preparing for war.
Briar sat beside Caesar.
“You have a traitor.”
Damien glanced at her.
“I’m aware.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“I stopped being surprised by betrayal years ago.”
“That sounds healthy.”
“It keeps me alive.”
Victor returned.
“Service stairwell camera was disabled for ninety seconds.”
“Who has access?”
“Six people.”
“Make it five.”
Briar looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Damien met her eyes.
“It means I know one of them didn’t do it.”
“Which one?”
“Victor.”
Victor gave her a tired smile.
“Heartwarming, right?”
Briar almost smiled back.
A gunshot echoed from downstairs.
Caesar leaped up.
Too fast.
His legs buckled.
Briar caught his collar.
“Easy!”
Damien pulled a pistol.
Briar stared at it.
“Please tell me this is not normal.”
“For tonight?”
Another shot.
“Very.”
Victor drew his weapon.
“Guest wing. Now.”
Briar backed away.
“I’m not hiding in a room.”
“You are absolutely hiding in a room.”
Damien’s tone snapped like a whip.
Her face changed.
He saw it.
Closed his eyes for half a second.
Then lowered his voice.
“Briar. Please.”
That shocked her more than the gun.
Caesar leaned against her.
“Fine.”
She moved toward the hallway.
Then the lights died.
Darkness swallowed the penthouse.
Someone shouted.
Glass shattered.
Briar heard Caesar bark.
A hand grabbed her.
She reacted without thinking.
Elbow.
Heel.
Bite.
The man cursed.
Briar tore free.
Emergency lights flashed red.
A masked man stood in front of her.
Not Damien.
Not Victor.
He lunged.
Caesar hit him like a truck.
The man slammed into the wall.
“Caesar!”
A second attacker appeared.
Damien fired once.
The man dropped.
Briar screamed.
Damien reached her.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
Caesar snarled over the masked man.
Damien ripped off the mask.
Victor stopped.
“Oh, hell.”
The attacker was one of Damien’s security chiefs.
A man named Nolan.
Damien’s face emptied.
“Nolan.”
Nolan coughed blood.
“Should’ve let the girl go.”
Damien knelt.
“Why?”
Nolan smiled weakly.
“You still don’t understand.”
“Understand what?”
“This was never about Corbin.”
Briar stepped closer.
Nolan looked directly at her.
“It’s about her.”
Briar felt cold.
“Me?”
Nolan’s smile widened.
“Ask her mother.”
Briar’s throat closed.
“My mother is dead.”
Nolan laughed.
“No.”
Damien grabbed his shirt.
“What did you say?”
Nolan’s eyes rolled toward Briar.
“Your mother is alive.”
May you like
Then the fire alarm began screaming.
And smoke poured under the penthouse door.
