Chapter 299
Chapter 299:
Six devices discovered so far. Six bombs scattered throughout the building. All with the same countdown timer.
Alexander checked his watch—fourteen minutes until detonation.
He caught Stefan Rodriguez’s eye across the room and gave a slight nod. Stefan had been right. The threat was real. Now, they needed to move eight hundred people to safety without causing a deadly panic.
Alexander pressed a button on his phone, sending a pre-arranged signal to the hotel manager. Within seconds, the man appeared at Alexander’s side.
“We have a confirmed threat,” Alexander said quietly. “Multiple explosive devices throughout the building. We need to begin emergency evacuation immediately.”
The manager’s face drained of color, but his voice remained steady. “Understood. We’ll use the fire alarm protocol. Security will direct guests to the appropriate exits.”
“No alarms,” Alexander countered. “The sound might trigger the devices. We need a quiet evacuation.”
The manager nodded. “I’ll alert the staff. We’ll announce a power issue, ask guests to exit calmly.”
“Fourteen minutes,” Alexander reminded him. “Not a second more.”
As the manager moved away, Alexander touched his earpiece again. “Status on the bomb squad?”
“They’re examining the first device now, sir,” came Jason’s voice. “But there’s a problem. They say it’s sophisticated, booby-trapped to detonate if tampered with. They’re not sure they can disarm all of them in time.”
Alexander’s stomach dropped. “Understood. Continue the search. Find every device.”
He scanned the ballroom, locating Victoria at the head table. Camille stood nearby, surrounded by admirers after her speech. Neither woman knew the danger they were in.
Alexander moved through the crowd with purpose, nodding politely at those who tried to engage him but never stopping. When he reached Camille, he placed a hand gently on her elbow.
“Excuse us,” he said to the group around her. “I need to borrow Ms. Kane for a moment.”
Camille’s smile remained fixed, but her eyes questioned him as he guided her toward Victoria’s table. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Not here,” Alexander replied, his voice barely audible.
Victoria looked up as they approached, instantly alert to the tension in Alexander’s posture.
“We need to talk,” he said. “Now.”
They moved to a quiet corner of the ballroom, Alexander positioning himself to block others’ view of their faces.
“We’ve found explosive devices throughout the building,” he said without preamble. “Six so far. Timers show less than fourteen minutes until detonation. The bomb squad is on site, but they don’t believe they can disarm them all in time.”
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