The Rescue on Floor Fourteen
The building was surrounded.
Grant climbed the stairs with the tactical team, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
When they reached the fourteenth floor, shouting echoed from inside.
Tessa’s voice cracked with panic.
“If you come in, I’ll make this end badly!” she screamed.
Grant stepped closer to the door, his voice low but unwavering.
“Tessa. Stop. This is over.”
“You gave her everything!” Tessa shrieked. “She got the life I worked for! I lost everything while she smiled in diamonds!”
Grant’s chest tightened with disgust. “You didn’t want fairness,” he said. “You wanted her erased.”
As Grant spoke, the team entered through a side opening with speed and precision.
Glass shattered.
Orders rang out.
Tessa was restrained within seconds.
And in the corner—bound to a chair—was Serena.
Alive.
Eyes wide. Face drawn.
But unmistakably Serena.
Grant ran to her like he’d been running for months.
When the tape was pulled from her mouth, she didn’t scream.
She whispered, hoarse and trembling, “I knew you’d come.”
Grant held her carefully, as though holding her too tightly might break what little strength she had left.
Outside, cameras flashed like lightning.
But Grant passed the press without a word, guiding Serena toward the SUV where Addie waited.
Serena looked at the small girl in the seat—the child with scraped knees and fearless eyes.
“Who is she?” Serena asked softly.
Grant’s voice broke. “Her name is Addie. She saw you when nobody else did. She stopped the memorial.”
Serena—weak and unsteady—bent down and wrapped her arms around Addie.
“Thank you,” Serena whispered into her hair. “Thank you for seeing me.”
Addie blinked quickly, pretending she wasn’t crying.
“I just… knew,” she murmured.
