Inheritance ✔

Chapter 27 - Crossfire

Laurier Ashford's POV

The sound of the alarm tore through the lower corridors of the Kyoto compound, followed by the unmistakable crack of gunfire.

Silas's voice came sharp in my ear.

"Clara and Dagon are headed for the helipad. West exit. Mateo's team is blocking the ridge, but they won't hold forever."

Renzo tightened his grip on the girl—Rosette-A, as the system had labeled her—wrapping her in a thermal jacket. Her legs were weak, barely working, but her eyes tracked us now. Fear, yes—but awareness too.

I knelt in front of her, brushing her wet hair from her face. "Can you walk?"

She nodded once. Brave. Even now.

I turned to Renzo. "Get her to the evac point. Take Mateo's secondary path down the ridge. I'll go after Dagon."

He didn't answer.

"Renzo."

"I'm not letting you go alone again."

"You have to. This isn't just about me now. It's her too. He'll come after her if we don't finish this."

His jaw worked.

Then, after a second—he handed me his backup gun. "One clip. That's it."

"I only need one."

He caught my wrist as I turned. Pulled me back.

Then kissed me—rough and short, like we were out of time.

Because we were.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I know."

And then I ran.

The helipad was carved into the far end of the compound's mountain ridge—flat, open, lit by floodlamps that cut through the mist. The rotors of the waiting chopper were already spinning when I got there.

Dagon stood near the edge.

Tall, composed, dressed in black. Clara stood beside him, pale and unreadable.

He saw me first.

Smiled.

"You're late."

"You're bleeding," I said.

He looked down at the blood seeping through his sleeve. "A minor inconvenience."

I lifted the gun.

"Step away from the chopper."

He chuckled. "Still so direct. It's part of your charm."

Clara took a step forward then—uncertain, eyes flicking between me and the man beside her.

"Clara," I said quietly. "You don't have to go with him."

"She's not going anywhere," Dagon snapped.

"She's my sister."

"She was," he countered. "Until you threw her away. Until your name became more important than your blood."

Clara winced.

"You don't care about her," I said. "You only care about what she carries."

"And what she could be," Dagon said. "With the right guidance."

The implication made my stomach turn.

"Clara." My voice dropped. "Whatever he's promised you... it's a lie. He'll use you until you're empty, then replace you. Just like my father did."

She shook her head. "You don't know what he's offered me."

"I don't care what he offered," I said. "I care what you choose."

She looked down.

And that's when I saw her hand twitch.

For her sidearm?

For a signal?

I couldn't tell.

So I waited.

Then—her voice cracked.

"I didn't know he would go this far."

"Then stop him."

Dagon turned sharply. "Don't."

But Clara was already moving.

She pulled the encrypted vial from Dagon's pocket—the last segment of the Thorne map—and tossed it straight off the edge of the ridge.

Gone.

He lunged for her.

I fired.

The bullet clipped his shoulder, spinning him backward. He crashed to one knee with a furious growl.

Then everything happened at once.

Renzo's voice exploded in my earpiece.

"Sniper! Laurier—MOVE!"

The shot rang out before I could breathe.

I dropped.

Felt the bullet burn past my ribs, grazing skin but missing bone.

Dagon surged up, grabbing Clara by the throat.

"You think this ends with a vial? I built an empire from rot. I can build it again."

Clara choked, fingers clawing.

I rose to my feet, blood dripping from my side, and emptied the last three shots into his chest.

One.

Two.

Three.

He collapsed like a monument breaking in slow motion, dragging Clara down with him.

Silence.

The helicopter stuttered. Pilot gone.

Smoke curled into the cold air.

Clara coughed violently, curled on the concrete, tears streaking her face.

I knelt beside her.

She didn't resist.

"I thought I had nothing left," she said. "He made me believe that. That you would never take me back."

I pulled her close, feeling the weight of her against me.

"I don't know if I can. But I won't let you fall again."

She clung to me.

Renzo arrived minutes later, bruised, breathless—but alive.

Rosette was with him, safe, wide-eyed.

I looked at him across the ridge, wind tearing at our clothes, the sky beginning to lighten with dawn.

We were all covered in blood.

But we were still standing.

And for the first time in years... the future felt possible.

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Just want to ask. Do you guys want me to translate "Chasing You, Finding Me"?

It seems most of my readers do not reside in the Philippines and do not understand Tagalog.

In order for you guys to enjoy the stroy, let me know if you want an English version. Thanks!