Chapter 16 - The Laundry Chute
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Lena woke up to the smell of bleach and damp concrete.
Her head pounded violently, and her vision swam as she tried to focus. She was lying on a cold tile floor. The beautiful red velvet dress was torn at the shoulder, and the diamond necklace dug uncomfortably into the back of her neck.
She pushed herself up, recognizing the hum of the massive industrial washing machines. She was in the sub-basement of the Black Pelican. The laundry level.
“Look who’s awake.”
Lena spun around. Marcus sat on a folding metal chair, casually wiping a spot of blood from his tuxedo jacket. Two armed thugs stood by the heavy steel doors leading to the service elevators.
“You’re a dead man, Marcus,” Lena rasped, trying to stand, but her legs felt like lead.
“Maybe,” Marcus chuckled dryly. “But I’m not dying today. I severely underestimated you, Lena. I thought you were just a pretty distraction. I didn't realize you were Florence Nightingale curing the crippled king.”
He stood up, drawing a heavy handgun from his holster.
“Dante will burn this city to the ground to find me,” Lena said, her voice steady despite the terror gripping her heart.
“He’ll try,” Marcus agreed, walking slowly toward her. “But by the time he figures out I haven't left the building, I’ll have used the old smuggling tunnels under the river. But I can't take you with me. You’d slow me down. And leaving you alive means Dante keeps his strength.”
Marcus raised the gun, aiming it at her chest.
“Goodbye, sweetheart.”
Lena didn't freeze. She had spent a year working in this exact basement. She knew every pipe, every shadow, and every escape route better than anyone in the hotel.
Just as Marcus’s finger tightened on the trigger, Lena grabbed a heavy, metal rolling laundry cart beside her and shoved it violently into his legs.
May you like
The gun fired, the bullet sparking against the concrete floor just inches from her foot as Marcus stumbled backward with a curse.
Lena didn't wait. She turned and sprinted barefoot into the maze of towering industrial washing machines, diving into the dark, steaming labyrinth of the laundry room as Marcus and his men shouted behind her.
