Chapter 17 - COUNTER-ATTACK
Marcus collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud, his gun sliding across the slick tile.
Standing behind him was Eleanor, her clothes torn and covered in soot, holding a heavy iron pipe.
"Did you really think a few mercenaries could take down a veteran reporter?" Eleanor growled, spitting blood onto the floor.
"Eleanor!" Lily cried out in disbelief. "You're alive!"
"I don't die that easily, kid," Eleanor snapped, picking up Marcus's fallen pistol and tossing it to Leo.
"Keep moving to the top floor! I'll hold off the guards on this level!"
"What about Uncle Raymond?" Lily asked frantically.
"He's in the penthouse lab on the 80th floor!" Eleanor shouted, firing three rapid shots down the hallway to suppress the incoming guards.
"Victor is preparing to force-inject him with a lethal dose of nerve toxin to make it look like an overdose!"
"GO NOW!"
Leo grabbed Lily's hand, and they sprinted toward the glass emergency stairwell.
They took the stairs three at a time, their hearts pounding in a frantic rhythm.
70th floor... 75th floor... 78th floor.
The heavy steel door to the 80th-floor executive penthouse stood right in front of them.
Leo raised the heavy pistol he was holding, his hands shaking violently.
He looked at Lily.
"Whatever happens in there... stay behind me," Leo whispered.
May you like
Lily nodded, her face set in stone.
Leo kicked the penthouse door open with all his remaining strength.
