𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

She couldn't waste precious moments.

Scrambling up to her feet, ignoring the way glass shards dug into her palm she pulled the drive free from the computer and shoved it into her jean pocket before bending down to help Margaret up. "You have to leave," Addison whispered, closing her eyes as Margaret wiped the dirt away from her cheeks, Lloyd's arm wrapping around her waist from behind to shield her back, "you can't stay here."

"Don't worry about me," Margaret nodded towards Lloyd who lifted Addison up with ease, ignoring the way she thrashed, "you go, I'll handle these guys."

A secret passage was opened up, Lloyd descending the stairs to bring Addison into the safety of the unground. "Margaret please," Addison's voice was choked when Lloyd set her down gently, his hand in hers rubbing soothing circles on the back of her palm, "don't do this, I can't lose you." Tears had started running down her face as Margaret lowered the floorboard door gently. "It's okay Jones really," Margaret smiled, the smile that had made Addison trust her all those years ago, "get that drive away from here, if anyone can stop him it's you." With that the door slammed and Lloyd pulled her into his chest, one arm tightly around her waist while the other moved through her hair to calm her sobs.

"Sunshine," Lloyd whispered against the top of her head, pressing a kiss there, "we have to move, we can't let them get you."

Get you. Those two words settled into Addison's brain and embedded as a sudden reminder that she was putting everyone in danger. "Lloyd, maybe-" her thoughts were cut off by his lips on hers, a hand curling around the back of her neck, squeezing the nape gently. "No," his words were soft as he spoke against her mouth, "I'm not going anywhere, so do your thing and kick some ass, tell me what you need from me."

Everything was fuzzy, the building rattling above them as an explosion went off, her hand covering her mouth to cover her sobs while Lloyd held her, fingers tangling in her hair while heavy footsteps sounded above them. She needed to think, she was always able to get out situations like this, so why was this so difficult for her? Why couldn't she piece together an escape plan. Addison knew she was going to be a target the moment she stepped foot onto the street, Denny was here for her, and her only. Lloyd was collateral, as was Six, Claire and Donald. Denny's real target was her and the drive that sat comfortably against her thigh.

Eyes closing she took a deep breath, pushing back on Lloyd's chest so she could look around the small area. Margaret always kept a spare set of keys in an inconvenient place with a getaway car just blocks away from wherever she was living. Addison scanned the room before her eyes landed on a small circle in the wall that had been freshly painted over, grabbing her knife from her back pocket she pulled herself away from Lloyd, digging it into the wall and smiling when the paint separated. "I knew it," pride bloomed in her chest as she pulled the paint away, fingers catching on the set of keys, pulling them out, "here," Lloyd took the keys from her as she searched the ground pulling out a dark rock that looked like the drive in her pocket. "Take the keys, the car should be a couple blocks away, the drive goes with you." Her hand stuck the drive into his pocket, smiling up at him as he pressed a kiss to her lips.

"What are you going to do?"

"Buy you time," slipping the knife through the crack on the floor, she pushed the latch down, wiggling the floorboards, "go, I'm sure you'll find me, Denny loves a good scene."

Addison watched as Lloyd hesitated for a moment, before his shoulders sagged and he started the path towards the parking garage. "I'll come back in one piece," she called after him, his eyes catching hers over his shoulder, "I promise."