Lahat ng Kabanata ng Contract Over: You're Free to Go: Kabanata 291 - Kabanata 300

"No! I'm not going anywhere!" Louisa yelled, firmly blocking the door. "We have the best security team in all of Bellmere. We can notify the city police right now and have the SWAT team set up an ambush around Crimson Star Shipyard in advance!"They can storm the place and save Avery. You can't put yourself in danger by going alone!""Storm the place?"Teresa looked at Louisa, the trusted aide who had worked by her side for years, and let out a cold laugh."Crimson Star Shipyard covers hundreds of acres. It's filled with abandoned shipping containers, rusted gantry cranes, and a maze of underground air-raid shelters. Snipers from the SWAT team can't even see clearly."If Carlton dared pick that spot, he's not planning to stand around waiting for his money. He's probably covered the area with gasoline or planted explosives, so when the police show up, he'll set everything on fire."By then, not only will Avery be burned alive, but everyone who goes in for search and rescue will be

Avery met Carlton's gaze square on and continued, "My hands and feet are tied, and there's a storm outside. What time am I supposed to be stalling for?"I just think it's embarrassing that a Harris Avenue returnee like you shows such unprofessionalism in kidnapping. It's an insult to your intelligence."She swallowed hard against her dry throat and began working her way into his head. "You set the exchange for 6:00 am tomorrow, didn't you?"The slight change in Carlton's expression told her she had made the correct guess."That's your first fatal mistake. Did you think 6:00 am, right as day breaks, is when people are sleepiest, and it's easiest to escape? Did you even scout this shipyard?"This is Crimson Star Shipyard in the eastern suburbs, right next to Bellmere's largest seafood wholesale market. At 6:00 am, fishing boats unload while refrigerated trucks clog the traffic. It's the busiest time of the day!"The moment you try to leave in a speedboat or a car with fake plates,

When Teresa spoke, her voice was cold, as if chilled by the rain."Carlton is planning to take everyone down with him this time, Silas. Do you really think he'll let Avery go just because you walk in there with a briefcase?"I'm the one he hates. If I don't show up, everything in the briefcase is nothing more than a stack of useless papers to him. He might stab Avery right in front of your eyes, just to make you live in guilt for the rest of your life. This is his way of getting revenge on me."Silas clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms."So, did you come here alone, knowing damn well it's a death trap?" he snapped, staring at her."I caused this mess."Teresa tilted her chin up slightly. Though the rain struck against her pale face, it couldn't wash away the pride woven into her bones."I've never been the kind of person to leave my messy debts unsettled, be it in business or life. I'm the reason Carlton targeted Avery, and I won't let you pay the price for

Carlton abruptly stopped laughing. The pure madness in his eyes was unleashed without a single shred of restraint."Silas, did all that heavy lifting on the construction site fry your brain? Can't you smell all the gasoline in here?"Did you think I dragged you out to this godforsaken dump in the dead of night just to collect a briefcase and shake hands and make peace afterward?"He spun around and pressed the edge of his knife dangerously against Avery's throat. "Tonight, you three aren't walking out of this place alive!"Silas' pupils violently constricted. Every muscle in his body tensed to its limit, like a predator ready to pounce and tear at a throat."This is between us, Carlton! Keep your hands off her!" Teresa finally yelled."What's the rush? Let's do it one at a time."There was a sick, manic excitement in Carlton's eyes as he stared at Teresa. With a quick flick of his wrist, he pulled the knife away from Avery's throat and pointed it at Silas."Silas, you care so m

The storm outside seemed fierce enough to tear the shipyard from its foundation. The instant Carlton struck the lighter, faint flashes of red and blue appeared across the filthy upper windows.The police had cut their sirens, but their emergency strobes still slashed through the rain around the isolated shipyard, making the night look as though the Grim Reaper had marked his ledger in neon. Carlton froze, the blue flame suspended in midair. He slowly looked through a hole in the wall at the telltale glow. "A Palmera freighter?" Carlton echoed, turning toward Teresa.The hope stirred by ten million dollars and freedom shattered across his filthy face. In its place came the wild despair of a man who finally understood there was nowhere left to run.Carlton doubled over in shrill laughter until tears filled his eyes. When he straightened, his expression looked completely unhinged."Do you take me for a child, Teresa Sloan?" he snarled. "I'm not getting out of here. Keep your mon