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CHAPTER 118

Author: Joe Honey
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-21 02:36:04

The deafening sound of the alarm echoed across the facility grounds, cutting through the tension like a blade. Floodlights flared to life, bathing the area in harsh white light and exposing the team’s position.

“Move!” Zane barked, his voice carrying over the chaos.

Maya clung to the shadows as the others sprang into action. Alex and Reese took the lead, their weapons drawn, while Camilla scrambled to disable the alarms using her portable system.

“Can you shut it down?” Alex called over his shoulder, firing at two operatives who were closing in.

“I need time!” Camilla shouted back, her fingers flying across her keyboard.

“We don’t have time!” Reese snapped, taking down another guard.

---

Maya’s Dilemma

Maya crouched behind a stack of crates, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the shouts of the Syndicate operatives closing in, their boots crunching against the gravel.

She gripped the small pistol Zane had given her, her palms slick with sweat. Her green eyes darted toward
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  • Bound by the Billionaire's Claim   CHAPTER 119

    The alarm blared through the dimly lit facility, its piercing wail reverberating off the cold steel walls. Maya clutched Zane’s arm, her green eyes darting nervously around the control room.“We’re surrounded,” Alex said grimly, his gun trained on the doorway. “They’re moving fast.”Camilla’s fingers flew over her laptop, her expression tight with concentration. “I’m trying to override the lockdown, but their system is layered. It’s like peeling an onion with a butter knife.”“Work faster,” Zane ordered, his silver eyes locked on the monitors displaying the encroaching Syndicate operatives.Victor leaned against the far wall, his cuffed hands resting casually in front of him. “This was always their plan,” he said with a smirk. “You walked right into it.”“Shut up,” Reese snapped, her glare cutting. “Unless you’ve got something useful to say.”Victor raised an eyebrow. “I’m just pointing out the obvious.”---Maya Takes a StandMaya’s heart raced, her mind battling between fear and res

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  • Bound by the Billionaire's Claim   CHAPTER 120

    The team stood frozen in the stairwell, Victor’s mocking smile and the detonator in his hand casting a suffocating shadow over their escape. The distant sound of explosions reverberated through the facility, a cruel reminder of their rapidly dwindling time.“You’re insane,” Alex growled, his weapon trained on Victor’s chest.Victor’s smirk didn’t waver. “Insane? No. Calculated. The difference is that I know what I want—and how to get it.”“Drop the detonator,” Zane ordered, his silver eyes burning with fury.Victor tilted his head, feigning consideration. “You know, I would, but it seems I’m in a rather advantageous position here.”---Victor’s Demand“What do you want, Victor?” Maya asked, stepping forward despite Zane’s warning hand on her arm.Victor’s gaze flicked to her, and for a brief moment, his smug expression softened. “Simple. I want immunity. You let me walk away, no questions asked, and I’ll make sure this detonator stays in one piece.”“You think we’d just let you go?” R

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  • Bound by the Billionaire's Claim   CHAPTER 121

    The tension in the air was palpable as the team trudged through the dense woods, their breaths clouding in the cool night. Every sound seemed amplified—the crunch of leaves beneath their boots, the distant howl of wind, and the ever-present hum of danger that clung to them like a second skin.“Where do we go now?” Maya asked, her voice quiet but edged with exhaustion.Zane glanced at her, his silver eyes softening momentarily. “We head to the safe house Camilla scouted in Leeds. It’s remote enough to buy us some time.”“And Victor?” Reese interjected, her tone sharp. “We’re just going to let him roam free?”“For now,” Zane replied, his voice hardening again. “We have bigger priorities. The files Camilla pulled—they’re our key to ending this.”---A Growing DivideThe group finally stopped to rest in a small clearing, their bodies sagging with fatigue. Camilla sat cross-legged on the ground, her laptop balanced precariously on her knees as she worked on decrypting the files.“You’re aw

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    The distant roar of engines shattered the fragile calm, sending a jolt of urgency through the group. The faint glow of headlights began to dance through the trees, casting long shadows that flickered ominously across their faces.“They’re here,” Alex said grimly, his weapon raised as his sharp eyes scanned the treeline.Zane stepped forward, his silver eyes cutting through the tension like a blade. “We don’t panic. We prepare.”Maya’s hand instinctively moved to her bump, her heart pounding as she watched Zane take control of the situation.“Camilla,” Zane ordered, “is there a way to disrupt their comms or slow their approach?”Camilla nodded, already pulling her laptop from her bag. “If I can get into their frequency, I might be able to jam their communication or send false signals.”“Do it,” Zane said, his tone firm. “Reese, Alex, take positions at the edge of the clearing. Maya, stay close to me.”---Eric’s Uncertain AllegianceEric stood frozen at the edge of the group, his hands

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    The tension in the group was palpable as they moved deeper into the woods, their breaths coming in short bursts. The discovery of the tracker weighed heavily on everyone’s minds, especially Maya’s. She clung to Zane’s arm, her green eyes darting nervously to every shadow.“How long do you think they’ve been tracking us?” Reese asked, breaking the silence.“Long enough,” Zane replied, his tone clipped. He glanced at the tracker in his hand, his silver eyes narrowing. “They knew exactly when and where to strike. This wasn’t a coincidence.”“Then someone gave us up,” Alex said, his voice low and grim.The group stopped in their tracks, the weight of his words sinking in.“You think it’s Victor?” Maya asked, her voice trembling.“Who else?” Alex shot back.---A Growing DivideReese sighed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Victor’s a snake, but he’s not stupid. He wouldn’t leave something this obvious behind.”“Unless he wanted to throw us off,” Alex countered.“Enough,” Zane sai

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  • Bound by the Billionaire's Claim   CHAPTER 124

    The forest air felt heavier as Victor stood before them, his smirk replaced with a rare seriousness. The team’s weapons remained trained on him, the tension crackling like a live wire.“Start talking,” Zane said coldly, his silver eyes narrowing.Victor glanced around the group, his hands still raised in mock surrender. “The Syndicate isn’t just after you anymore. They’ve accelerated their plans.”“What plans?” Camilla demanded, her laptop balanced on her arm.Victor took a cautious step forward, his tone low. “They’re targeting the financial systems in Europe, shutting them down piece by piece. If they succeed, chaos will follow. And they’ve already started.”---Shock and Strategy“What do you mean, ‘started’?” Reese asked, her tone sharp.Victor gestured to Camilla. “Check your feeds. News outlets should be lighting up by now.”Camilla’s fingers flew over her keyboard, her face paling as she read the headlines. “He’s right. Major banks in Germany and France are reporting outages. S

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  • Bound by the Billionaire's Claim   CHAPTER 125

    The thrum of helicopter blades grew louder, the spotlight slicing through the dense forest like a knife. The team froze momentarily, the sound amplifying the urgency of their situation.“Move!” Zane barked, pulling Maya to her feet.Alex and Reese were already scanning the skies, their weapons raised. Camilla frantically shut her laptop, shoving it into her bag as the group scattered into the trees for cover.“They’re sweeping the area,” Alex said, his tone grim. “If we don’t move fast, we’re sitting ducks.”“Then let’s not sit,” Zane replied, his silver eyes blazing with determination.---The Chase BeginsThe group darted through the forest, their movements quick but calculated. Maya struggled to keep up, her hand instinctively cradling her baby bump as the uneven terrain threatened to trip her.“I’ve got you,” Zane said, grabbing her hand to steady her.Victor followed close behind, his smirk replaced with an uncharacteristic seriousness. “They’re not just looking for us—they’re tr

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  • Bound by the Billionaire's Claim   CHAPTER 126

    The forest blurred around Maya as she sprinted through the trees, her breaths coming in short, desperate gasps. Zane’s grip on her hand was firm, his pace unrelenting as the drone’s light closed in on them.“Keep moving!” Zane barked, his silver eyes scanning for any cover.“I… I can’t…” Maya panted, her legs threatening to give out. The weight of her pregnancy and the adrenaline coursing through her body made every step feel like a battle.“Yes, you can,” Zane said, pulling her forward. “You have to.”---A Narrow EscapeZane spotted a dense thicket ahead, the branches and undergrowth thick enough to provide temporary cover. He steered Maya toward it, shielding her as they ducked inside.The drone hovered overhead, its light sweeping the area as Syndicate operatives closed in.Maya pressed herself against Zane, her heart pounding. “What now?” she whispered.“Stay quiet,” Zane murmured, his hand reaching for his weapon.They watched as the operatives moved closer, their flashlights sl

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