Handcuffs And Kisses (Series #1)

Chapter 25

Lilian Carson's POV

The sharp vibration of my phone in my pocket startled me amid the chaos. I fumbled to retrieve it, my hands trembling as gunfire echoed through the corridor. The screen glowed with an unknown number. Hope flared in my chest-could it be help?

"Hello?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my racing heart.

The voice on the other end seemed familiar,"Miss Carson, you've made quite a mess tonight."

"Who is this?" I asked.

"It's me, Titus," the voice on the other end said, sharp and urgent. "Abort the mission. Cyrus is leaving the building. Tell Alexander it's a trap. He's not picking up my calls. I'll shut the system down for a few minutes to give you both time to escape."

My stomach dropped. Abort the mission? It's a trap? Panic gripped me as the words sank in. My gaze flicked to Alexander, his bloodied arm hanging at his side as he fired at another approaching guard.

"Titus said abort," I stammered, my voice shaking.

Alexander didn't even flinch. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. "Cyrus ran."

I watched as he pressed a finger to his ear, the small earpiece practically invisible until now. "Okay," he said sharply. His voice was low, his words clipped as he communicated with Titus.

Before I could process what was happening, the lights went out. Darkness swallowed the hallway, thick and absolute, and I froze, my breath hitching.

I hated the dark.

"Alexander," I whispered, reaching out blindly. My hand collided with his arm, and I clung to him like a lifeline.

"Stay close," he murmured, grabbing my hand.

The next moment, he started running, dragging me behind him. My legs struggled to keep up as my shoes slipped against the cold stone floor. The darkness was suffocating, and the chaos behind us-shouts, gunfire, the clatter of boots-felt like it was closing in.

Alexander's voice was low and steady as he spoke into his earpiece, presumably to Titus. I couldn't make out the words, but his tone was commanding, focused.

The power flickered back on after what felt like an eternity, harsh fluorescent lights illuminating the destruction around us. We had reached a staircase, and Alexander began ascending quickly, his steps purposeful. I followed close behind, my heart pounding in my chest.

But just as we neared the top, a guard stepped out of the shadows, his gun trained on us.

"I found them!" the guard barked into his radio, his voice echoing down the corridor.

Alexander froze, raising his hands in mock surrender. My stomach twisted with fear as I mirrored his movements, sweat rolling down the back of my neck.

"Okay, you got me," Alexander said calmly. "Don't shoot. I'm surrendering."

The guard's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he motioned for Alexander to slide his weapon across the floor. Alexander obeyed, his movements deliberate as he pushed the gun toward the guard.

I held my breath, every muscle in my body tensed.

The moment the guard bent down to retrieve the weapon, Alexander moved.

With lightning speed, he lunged forward, kicking the guard squarely in the head. The man staggered back, his grip on the gun faltering. Alexander didn't give him a chance to recover-he grabbed the man's arm, twisting it with a sickening crack before delivering a swift blow to his throat.