The Billionaire’s Secret Guardian

Chapter Eight: The Escape

The urgency in the air was suffocating. Every second wasted was a second closer to death.

Damian took the keys from Elena without hesitation, gripping them tightly as he turned to Caleb and Charles.

"How many exits?" he asked, his voice sharp, controlled.

Charles was already moving toward the back door. "One here, one in the alley, but if they’re watching the perimeter, we don’t have many options."

Elena adjusted the strap of her bag, glancing at Damian. "The car is stashed a few blocks away, underground parking garage. It’s a secure location, but we need to get there first."

Damian nodded. "Then let’s move."

Caleb cracked the door open, peering into the darkness outside. A single streetlight flickered, casting long, shifting shadows across the alley.

"Clear for now," he murmured. "But I don’t like it."

Damian tightened his grip on the keys, stepping forward. "We don’t have a choice."

A Race Against Time

The moment they stepped outside, the temperature seemed to drop. The night was cool, but the weight of the situation made the air feel heavy.

Damian led the way, his footsteps silent against the pavement. Elena was right behind him, her eyes darting between the buildings, scanning for threats. Caleb and Charles took the rear, covering their escape.

The black SUV was still parked two blocks away, its engine idling. The tinted windows gave away nothing, but Damian knew someone was inside—watching, waiting.

They moved quickly, cutting through an alley between two abandoned buildings. The stench of rotting garbage filled the air, and broken glass crunched under their boots.

Halfway through, Caleb held up a fist. Everyone froze.

A single movement in the shadows—a flicker of motion just beyond the streetlamp.

"Shit," Caleb whispered. "They’re already here."

Damian’s pulse pounded. They were boxed in.

"What do you see?" he asked.

"One, maybe two men at the alley exit," Caleb murmured. "Could be more waiting nearby."

Elena exhaled sharply. "They’re covering every exit."

Damian gritted his teeth. They needed another way out—fast.

Then he spotted it. A rusted fire escape on the side of the building.

"Up," he ordered.

Elena hesitated only for a second before grabbing the metal ladder and hauling herself up. Caleb followed, moving fast. Charles was next.

Damian took one last look toward the street before climbing up after them.

The second his feet left the ground, he heard it—footsteps.

Fast. Coming straight toward them.

"Go!" he hissed.

They scrambled upward, metal creaking beneath their weight. Below, figures emerged from the alleyway, dark shapes moving quickly.

Then—gunfire.

The first shot cracked through the night, hitting the wall inches from Damian’s leg.

"Move, move!" he shouted.

Elena reached the rooftop first, rolling onto the gravel surface. Caleb and Charles followed, weapons drawn.

Damian pulled himself up just as another bullet whizzed past his shoulder.

Then, silence.

He pressed himself against the rooftop’s ledge, heart hammering. The men below were searching, spreading out. They hadn’t seen them climb—yet.

Elena crawled closer, whispering, "We need to keep moving."

Damian nodded, scanning the skyline.

There—a bridge connecting this building to another. If they could get across, they’d have a straight shot toward the garage.

"Over there," he said, pointing.

Without hesitation, they sprinted.

The Chase

The rooftop bridge was old, metal rusted and weak. Every step made it creak dangerously, but they didn’t have a choice.

Behind them, shouting. The men had spotted them.

Bullets ricocheted against the railing. Damian ducked, gripping Elena’s arm and pulling her forward.

"Go!"

She didn’t argue.

They made it across just as one of the gunmen reached the bridge, raising his weapon.

Caleb spun, firing a single, controlled shot. The man collapsed, his gun clattering against the rooftop.

"Keep moving!" Caleb barked.

They ran. Across another rooftop, then down a metal staircase. The streets were close now—only a few blocks from the garage.

But the SUV was moving.

Its headlights flicked on, engine revving.

"They’re circling around!" Charles warned.

Damian swore under his breath. They were running out of time.

"Cut through the construction site," Elena panted. "There’s a shortcut."

They veered left, jumping over a low fence and sprinting into the half-built structure. Steel beams rose around them, skeletal and unfinished.

Then—tires screeching.

The SUV skidded to a stop at the entrance.

Doors slammed open.

More men. Armed.

And blocking their only way out.

Trapped

Damian spun, scanning their surroundings. They were pinned between the unfinished building and the men now pouring out of the SUV.

Caleb and Charles raised their weapons, ready for a fight.

Elena was breathing hard, eyes darting toward an old service elevator.

"There," she whispered.

Damian followed her gaze. The elevator shaft was open, the lift stuck on a higher floor. The cables were exposed.

He made a split-second decision.

"We climb."

Elena didn’t hesitate. She ran, leaping onto the cables and pulling herself up.

Caleb covered them, firing a few rounds before following.

Charles was next.

Damian grabbed the cable just as the men rushed in, shouting orders.

One raised his weapon—

BANG.

A shot rang out.

Damian flinched, expecting pain—

But the man collapsed instead, blood spreading across his chest.

Elena.

She had grabbed a discarded pistol, her hands steady as she aimed at the others.

Damian didn’t waste time. He climbed, muscles burning as he pulled himself upward.

By the time the remaining men fired back, they were already too high.

The bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the walls.

And then—

BAM!

A loud crash.

Caleb had reached the emergency release lever and cut the elevator loose.

The massive metal cage plummeted, slamming into the ground with a deafening impact.

Dust and debris exploded into the air.

And just like that—

They were gone.

The Getaway

They emerged onto the rooftop, lungs burning. The garage was just beyond the next building.

Damian didn’t stop.

They ran.

Jumped.

Slid down a drainage pipe.

And then—

The underground garage.

Elena’s car was exactly where she had left it.

She threw open the driver’s door, tossing the bag into the back. "Get in!"

Damian didn’t need to be told twice.

The engine roared to life, tires squealing as they sped away.

Only when the city lights blurred behind them did Damian finally let out a breath.

But he wasn’t relieved.

This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

He turned to Elena, voice grim.

"Now… tell me everything about Vance."