Chapter 665: Presidential Suite Refuge
I quickly scanned our surroundings, my mind racing through tactical options. The street was dimly lit, lined with closed shops and a few late-night establishments.
The sniper shot had come from our left side—likely from an elevated position in one of the nearby buildings—but we had no idea if there were ground teams or additional attackers closing in. Outrunning them was no longer an option.
"Daisy, move the car toward that street store! Smash through it!" I ordered, pointing ahead to a corner convenience store with large glass windows and a brightly lit interior. "We can’t outrun them. The sniper must be up on the left, but we don’t know about backups. Get us off the street now!"
Daisy didn’t hesitate. She floored the accelerator despite the ruined tires. The engine roared in defiance as the heavy luxury car lurched forward, gaining speed with a grinding, metallic screech.
Sparks flew from the wheel wells like a fireworks display. Pedestrians on the sidewalk scattered in terror as we barreled toward the storefront.
CRASH!
The impact was tremendous. The car smashed through the large glass windows in an explosion of shattering glass and twisted metal frames.
Display racks of snacks, beverages, and magazines were violently shoved aside as the vehicle plowed several feet into the store, coming to a jarring halt amid scattered merchandise and broken shelving. The air filled with the acrid smell of burnt rubber, gunpowder residue, and the sweet scent of spilled soda.
I didn’t waste a second. Using a burst of residual God Speed energy to enhance my speed and strength, I grabbed Madeline with one arm and reached for Daisy with the other.
In a fluid, powerful motion, I pulled both women from the wreckage, shielding them with my body as we moved swiftly toward the back of the store. Glass crunched under our feet, and the store’s fluorescent lights flickered overhead from the violent intrusion.
The customers and staff inside were frozen in stunned silence for a split second before erupting into chaos. A cashier dropped her phone, eyes wide with astonishment.
A few late-night shoppers screamed and ducked behind aisles. An elderly man near the back muttered in shock, "What in the world—?!"
"Call the police! Now!" I shouted at the staff and customers, my voice authoritative and urgent. "Tell them there’s an active shooter outside—sniper on the rooftops! Everyone, stay low and away from the windows!"
The store manager fumbled for his phone, dialing frantically while others followed suit. Whispers and panicked conversations broke out: "Was that a car accident?" "No, I heard gunshots!" "Are they terrorists?!"
I guided Madeline and Daisy behind a sturdy rear counter stocked with cigarettes and lottery tickets, positioning heavy shelving and boxes for additional cover.
Madeline’s panic was slowly giving way to a steely resolve, though her hands still shook slightly against my chest.
Daisy checked herself for injuries with practiced efficiency, her face set in grim determination, scanning the surroundings like someone who had been through drills for situations exactly like this.
I glanced down at Madeline, still cradled securely in my arms. The once arrogant and commanding woman had completely lost her usual haughty demeanor. She clung to me tightly, her face buried against my suit jacket, trembling like a frightened bird.
All her icy authority had melted away in the heat of the ambush, replaced by raw vulnerability. Heh... heh... I chuckled inwardly, a mix of amusement and satisfaction flickering through my mind. Look at her now—hiding in my arms like this.
I shifted my gaze to Daisy. She was clearly panicked—her breathing was sharp, and her eyes darted around—but beneath that, she carried herself with the disciplined posture of someone trained for high-stakes crises. Her hands were steady as she brushed glass fragments from her clothes, ready to act at a moment’s notice.
"We can’t stay here long," I said, my voice low but firm. I scanned the back of the store and spotted an emergency exit door partially hidden behind stacked crates.
Without wasting another second, I grabbed Madeline securely in my arms, one hand supporting her back and the other under her knees, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. She didn’t protest; she simply pressed closer to me.
I nodded at Daisy. "Stay close." We moved swiftly through the back door, emerging into a dimly lit alley behind the store. The cool night air hit us, carrying the distant wail of approaching sirens.
My eyes quickly swept the area and locked onto a sleek black sedan parked just a few meters away—likely belonging to the store owner or a late customer.
I set Madeline down gently for a moment, then drove my elbow hard into the driver’s side window. The glass shattered with a sharp crack. I reached inside, unlocked the door, and slid into the driver’s seat.
With practiced movements, I yanked out the ignition panel beneath the steering column, exposed the wiring, and sparked the starter wires together. A few sparks flew, and the engine roared to life after the third try.
"Daisy, get in! Take us to the nearest hotel," I ordered as I helped Madeline into the back. "Book us a room on the top floor—something secure."
Daisy nodded and took the driver’s seat without hesitation, peeling out of the alley with controlled speed. I climbed into the backseat with Madeline, pulling her close once more.
The car accelerated smoothly onto the main road, merging with traffic to blend in. I kept one arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders, my other hand ready at my side.
"Ma’am, you are safe," I said softly but with absolute conviction, looking directly into her wide eyes. "I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise."
Madeline was still shivering, her body trembling against mine despite the warmth of the car. Her usual sharp tongue was silent; she simply nodded weakly, her fingers clutching my shirt as if I were her only anchor in the storm.
The powerful, arrogant Madeline had been replaced by someone deeply shaken, her breathing uneven as she tried to regain control.
Thankfully, no further attacks came. The streets remained relatively calm as we put distance between ourselves and the ambush site. Daisy drove with expert precision, frequently checking the mirrors for tails.
Within fifteen minutes, we pulled up to a luxurious high-rise hotel glowing with elegant lights. Daisy parked discreetly near the side entrance, then stepped out to handle the arrangements. She returned quickly with key cards in hand.
"Presidential suite on the top floor," she reported. "Private elevator access, full security features."
I carried Madeline again, her form light in my arms as we moved through the discreet VIP entrance and into the private elevator.
The ride up was smooth and silent, the city lights sparkling far below through the glass walls. When we reached the opulent presidential suite, the doors opened to reveal a sprawling space of marble floors, modern luxury furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows with reinforced glass, and multiple bedrooms.
I gently set Madeline down on one of the plush sofas in the living area. Daisy immediately began securing the room—checking locks, drawing heavy curtains, and scanning for any vulnerabilities.
Madeline’s shivering had eased slightly in the safety of the suite, but she remained unusually quiet, her eyes following my every move with a new, complex mix of dependence and lingering shock.
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