Billionaire's match novel

---- Chapter 679 Khloe lifted her head and met Nick's eyes. The tension in his expression was palpable, but beneath it lay unwavering trust and encouragement. In that instant, courage ignited within her. She drew a deep breath, and each step forward was deliberate and unhesitating. When she had crossed just over halfway, Nick could no longer restrain himself. He leaned forward and grabbed the rope, even though it might pull him into danger as well. His arm muscles coiled like steel, veins standing out at his temple.

His eyes never blinked as he focused entirely on her, inching her forward with painstaking care, refusing to allow a single misstep. As she neared the last few steps, Khloe closed her eyes and leapt toward him. Nick flinched but reacted instantly, catching her safely. Arista, behind them, also helped steady him. The short span of barely two meters felt like a journey across another world. Nick held her tightly, his heartbeat hammering in his chest. "It's ---- okay... it's okay..." he murmured against her ear, unsure if he was. soothing her or himself.

Khloe rested briefly against him, feeling the slight tremor in his body. But instinctively, she freed herself from his embrace and once again placed a hand protectively over her belly. Lenny followed right behind her. The room had been completely breached; footsteps echoed closer. Lenny, sweating bullets, quickened his pace, while Nick and Khloe simultaneously gripped his arms. "Move!" Before Lenny could fully climb in, Nick led Khloe and Arista from the balcony toward the room door. The corridor was relatively safe for the moment. They chose the stairs, descending floor by floor.

Nick shielded Khloe, and Lenny supported Arista, their steps light and swift. By the tenth floor, faint footsteps from below echoed upward "This way," Nick whispered, pushing open a door marked "Staff Passage." Inside was a cramped, cluttered back area with dim lighting and stacked supplies. Awave of nausea suddenly surged from Khloe's belly. Her body ---- rebelled, and she pressed forward harder, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Nick noticed her discomfort. "You okay?" "No." She gritted her teeth and shook her head.

Finally, they slipped out of an inconspicuous service exit and arrived at a secluded loading area with a few narrow paths. Nick was about to contact rescue when a gunshot rang sharply from behind. Instinctively, they all turned. The bullet tore through a nearby shipping container. Khloe screamed, ducking instinctively into Nick's embrace. Arista collapsed to the ground; Lenny rushed to help her, but she could barely stand. "Lenny, take my mom and leave," Nick ordered. There were several pursuers, but the cluttered area and scattered barriers made direct lines of sight impossible.

They were unarmed, and it was far too dangerous to engage. Weighing the situation, Nick shielded Khloe with one hand and kicked over a few metal cans with his foot, creating a diversion so Arista and Lenny could escape. ---- Lenny understood immediately, but leaving Nick and Khloe behind gnawed at him. There was no time to hesitate. He gritted his teeth, hoisted the trembling Arista, and used the moment Nick was kicking the cans and guiding Khloe to make their own rapid exit. All the pursuers were drawn to Nick's group, following closely. Gunfire continued to crackle intermittently.

The noise was deafening. There was no time for delay-they had to act fast and decisively.