CHAPTER 285: A SHOOTOUT

Unaware of the danger closing in on her, Riya dialed the mysterious man’s number.

Roberto’s eyes sharpened the moment he saw the caller ID. "It’s her."

"Maybe she found something," Nathaniel said calmly. "Pick up."

Roberto inhaled slowly before answering. "Hello?"

"I discovered several of Zachary’s secrets," Riya whispered urgently. "But he locked me inside a room. I think he suspects me. If you really want those confidential documents, you need to help me escape."

A satisfied smirk tugged at Roberto’s lips—everything was falling perfectly into place. "Fine. I’ll give you a number. Call this man and tell him you have uncovered evidence of Zachary betraying the boss. That’s all you need to say. Help will reach you."

Riya froze. "He... betrayed his boss?"

"You don’t have time for questions," Roberto cut in sharply. "If you want to survive, make the call."

Beep.

Moments after the line disconnected, Roberto forwarded her the number. A sly smile curved his mouth as he glanced at Nathaniel. "It’s done. Zachary’s downfall is sealed."

Nathaniel looked satisfied, but he didn’t allow himself to feel relief just yet. "Don’t celebrate. Not until we are sure."

Riya stared at the number Roberto had sent, hesitating. ’Am I really doing the right thing?’ she wondered.

A sudden thud of heavy footsteps in the hallway made her flinch. Her eyes shot to the door, heart thundering wildly.

"There is no time. If this man can get me out of here, I have to call him—now."

With trembling fingers, she dialed the number. The footsteps drew nearer. She heard keys rattling in the lock.

Just as the call connected, she blurted out, "Hello, I’m calling from Zachary’s penthouse. I know his secrets—he has betrayed the boss. Please help me. He is going to kill me—"

She didn’t get to finish when the door flew open. Shocked, she dropped the phone as Zachary stormed inside. His burning gaze collided with hers, and her stomach plummeted.

"Riya," he roared, "you filthy traitor."

She instinctively stepped back, but he lunged at her.

"Aah," she shrieked, trying to flee, but Zachary was too quick. He seized her and slammed her against the wall, his fingers wrapping around her throat.

"You thought you could steal my documents?" he growled. "You dared to betray me?" His grip tightened, cutting off her air. "I’ll kill you."

Riya clawed at his hands, choking out, "Someone like you doesn’t deserve loyalty. You betrayed your boss, too. I know everything. And I’ve already called for help."

Zachary froze at her words, his mind turning blank. "What are you talking about?" Letting go of her throat, he grabbed her jaw instead. "What do you know? Who did you call?"

Riya actually knew nothing, but she kept up the act, hoping fear of being exposed would save her. "I know all your secrets," she declared shakily. "I’ve already informed the boss. He is sending someone. You can’t trap me here. If you want to save yourself, let me go."

Zachary felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath him. This operation was known only to his most loyal men. No one else knew he was conspiring with a rival gang to overthrow the mafia king.

So how on earth had Riya found out?

Suddenly, everything made sense. She had sneaked into the study and tried to steal the confidential documents because she was nothing but a pawn set beside him by the mafia boss. Fury sparked in his eyes.

"You are not going anywhere," he spat. "I’ll deal with you later."

He spun around and bolted out of the room.

"Zachary—wait," Riya rushed after him, but the door slammed in her face. She grabbed the knob and twisted it desperately, but it wouldn’t budge. "Damn you."

She kicked the door hard. "Fine. Lock me up. Let’s see how long this lasts."

Clinging to the hope that help would indeed arrive, Riya convinced herself Zachary would soon face the consequences for betraying his own boss.

Zachary, meanwhile, was completely on edge. "I need to get out of here now. If she wasn’t bluffing, I’m finished. I can’t stay another second."

He rushed back into the study. Stuffing bundles of cash into his briefcase, he slipped a gun into the waistband of his pants and headed out. But he was already too late.

Gunshots erupted.

Glass exploded as bullets tore through the windows, ripping into the walls and furniture. Zachary dropped low and sprinted toward the basement. He raced through the narrow corridor leading to the secret exit. Throwing it open, he slipped into the hidden tunnel. It would take him far enough away to vanish without leaving a trace.

Without daring to look back, he ran. ’If I make it out alive, I can rebuild everything,’ he told himself.

While he fled through the tunnel, Riya was gunned down in the locked room.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Across the city...

Zara slowly regained consciousness, but the sharp smell of disinfectant made her stomach churn. She gagged, her body shaking with the effort.

"Zara?" Bree’s panicked voice rang out. "Are you okay?" She hurried to Zara’s side, rubbing her back.

Zara’s chest burned, her throat raw. "Water," she croaked.

"Of course." Bree snatched a glass from the table and guided it carefully into Zara’s hand. "Here—sip it slowly."

Zara took a small drink, the dryness in her throat easing.

"How do you feel now?" Bree asked, worry etched across her face.

Zara set the glass aside. Instead of answering, she whispered, "Where is Riya? Did you see her?"

Unaware that Riya had died in the shootout, Zara was worried that the woman would go and hurt Gracie again.

Bree shook her head and settled back into the chair. "We don’t know how or when she slipped away. But don’t worry—she won’t get far. I told everything to the police everything. She’ll face the consequences."

Zara exhaled shakily. "She needs to," she murmured.

A throbbing pain pulsed on her forehead, making her flinch. She touched the swollen spot.

"The doctor said you’ve got a mild concussion," Bree explained. "How did it happen? Did Riya hurt you?"

Zara froze as the memory returned in a rush. Her expression hardened.

"She struck me. I hit my head on the table," Zara said through clenched teeth. "Then she ran, locking me inside."

"That witch..." Bree hissed, jaw tight. "That’s attempted murder. But how did you get out of the office?"

Zara’s thoughts drifted back to the tall silhouette that had burst into the office. The pain and thick smoke had blurred her vision, but one thing she remembered distinctly was his voice: ’I’ll take you to the hospital.’

Just before losing consciousness, she recalled being lifted and carried out of the burning building. Deep down, she felt certain it had been Nathaniel.

"It was Nathaniel," she said quietly.

"What?" Bree’s eyes widened. "Nathaniel? No way. He wasn’t there. You are mistaken."

Zara shook her head. "I couldn’t see his face clearly, but... something tells me it was him."

"No, Zara. Absolutely not. You don’t understand." Bree let out a bitter snort. "He didn’t even come to see his own mother in the hospital. Why would he show up to rescue you from a fire? He is not even in the city. He left for a business trip despite everything going on. He doesn’t care about anyone— not his parents, not his child. So stop imagining things."

Zara’s heart sank. She couldn’t believe that Nathaniel had left during a family crisis. But the feeling she had... the touch, the voice—it had been unmistakably his. If it wasn’t Nathaniel, then who had dragged her out of the flames?

Before she could puzzle it out, Bree spoke again, "I should inform the officer about Riya first."

She grabbed her phone to make the call.

"Tell me about Mrs. Grant," Zara cut in. She needed to know whether the antidote had been found.

"She is safe," Bree reassured her. "Mr. Liam Lawson, our Shay Walsh, showed up and explained everything." A soft, nostalgic smile touched her lips.

"Oh, so he actually told you who he is?" Zara asked, surprised.

Bree nodded eagerly. "Yes...And he even gave me his business card. Said I can call him whenever I want," she added proudly.

"That’s great," Zara said with a faint smile.

Bree giggled, clearly over the moon. But then she remembered the call she needed to make. Her smile faded, replaced by a serious look.

"Wait—I need to phone the officer," she said, getting up.

Stepping aside, she began speaking to the officer while Zara remained on the bed.

"Hold on, ma’am," the officer said quickly. "We are dealing with something urgent right now. There has been a reported shooting incident. If you need to give a statement, please come to the station."

Beep.

"Huh?" Bree stared at the disconnected screen, confused. "A shootout... in the city?"

Just then, the doctor walked in holding a file. When she noticed Zara was awake, she smiled warmly. "Good to see you are conscious."

Zara carefully pushed herself upright.

"How are you feeling?" the doctor asked as she checked her pulse. "Any headache? Any pain in your chest?"

"There is a dull pain in my head," Zara replied. "And my chest feels tight."

"That’s due to smoke inhalation," the doctor explained. "It will subside in a few days. But you need to be cautious."

She glanced at the file. "Your reports are back. You are pregnant."