Chapter 6 - WHEN THE ENEMY CAME FOR CHLOE
Roman had spent six years believing his sister was dead.
Now he had proof she was alive.
But there was no time to celebrate.
The warehouse doors slammed shut.
Gunfire erupted from the upper level.
Roman pulled Chloe behind a steel support beam.
His men returned fire.
“Stay down!”
Chloe crouched beside him.
“Where is Elena?”
“I don't know.”
“You have to find her.”
“I will.”
A grenade rolled across the concrete.
Roman grabbed Chloe and pulled her behind a thick storage crate.
The explosion shook the building.
Smoke filled the air.
When it cleared, Roman's security chief shouted:
“They're retreating!”
Roman immediately ran toward the projector.
A final video was playing.
Elena looked directly into the camera.
Her face was older.
Tired.
But unmistakably alive.
“Roman,” she said, “if you're watching this, they finally brought you into the game.”
Roman stared.
Elena continued.
“Don't trust Harrison.”
Chloe felt her heart sink.
“He isn't the one controlling this.”
A pause.
“He thinks he is.”
Elena looked frightened.
“Find the woman who wears the silver bracelet.”
The video ended.
Roman turned.
“What silver bracelet?”
Chloe suddenly remembered.
“Vanessa.”
Roman's eyes hardened.
“She always wore one.”
“Then we find her.”
But Vanessa found them first.
Two hours later, one of Roman's guards disappeared.
Then another.
The penthouse security system was compromised.
Roman ordered everyone into lockdown.
Chloe was moved into the secure bedroom.
She hated being separated from him.
Not because she needed him.
Because she knew something had changed.
Roman had become the one person she trusted.
The door opened.
Roman entered.
“We're leaving.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere safer.”
“Where?”
“My mother's old estate.”
“Why?”
“Because no one knows about it.”
They left through an underground passage.
But halfway there, the convoy was attacked.
Vehicles collided.
Gunfire erupted.
Roman's driver swerved.
Chloe screamed as the vehicle spun.
Roman grabbed her and shielded her body.
The car stopped against a concrete barrier.
For a few seconds, everything was silent.
Then Roman looked at her.
“Are you hurt?”
“My baby.”
He immediately checked her.
She was shaken but unharmed.
Roman's breathing finally returned.
Outside, his men fought the attackers.
Roman opened the door.
“Stay here.”
Chloe grabbed his sleeve.
“Roman.”
He looked back.
“Come back.”
It was the first time she had said it.
Not as an order.
Not as a demand.
As a plea.
Roman stared at her.
“I will.”
He disappeared into the darkness.
Minutes later, the shooting stopped.
Roman returned.
Blood stained his shirt.
Chloe panicked.
“You're hurt.”
“Not mine.”
She looked at him.
He was breathing heavily.
For the first time, his control had cracked.
He sat beside her.
“I thought I lost you.”
Chloe looked at him.
“You didn't.”
Roman reached for her hand.
Then stopped.
He waited.
She closed the distance herself.
Their hands met.
No kiss.
No dramatic declaration.
Just two people who had both lost everything finding one small reason to stay.
Roman whispered:
“I can't promise you an easy life.”
“I don't want easy.”
“What do you want?”
Chloe looked toward the rain outside.
“The truth.”
Roman nodded.
“You'll have it.”
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
The voice on the other end was familiar.
Harrison.
“Roman.”
Roman's expression became cold.
“What do you want?”
“I want my wife.”
Chloe froze.
Harrison continued.
“I'll trade you the location of Elena for Chloe.”
Roman looked at Chloe.
“No.”
Harrison laughed.
“You don't understand.”
His voice hardened.
“She isn't your responsibility.”
Roman's eyes narrowed.
“She is now.”
The line went silent.
Then Harrison said:
“Then you better prepare for war.”
The call ended.
Roman looked at Chloe.
She knew.
May you like
The next battle would not be about money.
It would be about family.
