The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 257

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Chapter 257: Attacked.

The next morning, Vivian rose before dawn feeling surprisingly refreshed and energized. She dressed quickly in casual leggings and an oversized knit sweater, eager to get to the hospital. Maya's life-changing surgery was finally happening today thanks to Mathew's generous

intervention.

As she descended the curved staircase into the foyer, Vivian could see Joe and two other burly bodyguards awaiting her in the shadowed vestibule, already outfitted in crisp black suits despite the early hour. "Everything all set to head out, ma'am?" Joe asked once she neared. There were dark circles under his eyes - he must have already been up half the night overseeing security arrangements.

"More than ready," Vivian replied with a firm nod, subconsciously squaring her shoulders." Let's go see my niece."

The predawn streets were blessedly clear of traffic as their sleek armored sedan cut across town toward the hospital district. Despite her frayed nerves from the previous evening's public circus, Vivian felt an uncharacteristic sense of peace wash over her the closer they drew

to their destination.

She was so preoccupied envisioning her reunion with Maya that she barely registered the warning signs. The way Joe suddenly straightened up in the front passenger seat, eyes narrowing at something in the side mirror's reflection. His jaw tightened as he issued a low- voiced command to the driver to remain on course but proceed with caution.

Vivian's brow furrowed, snapping back to full alertness as her gaze tracked the two black SUVS that were now pacing them a discreet distance back, bracketing their sedan in a clearly strategic formation. Ice water trickled down her spine as her breath hitched in her throat. "Everything okay-"

The rest of her question dissolved into a shrill scream as their sedan's rear windshield exploded inward in a hail of shattering glass and gunfire. The driver wrenched the steering wheel in wild evasive maneuvers as Vivian threw herself to the floor, hands clutched over her head to protect her face as hot brass casings pinged all around.

the ringing in her ears, she heard Joe bellowing furious orders into his headset as they traded deafening volleys of automatic gunfire with their mysterious armed assailants. One of the bodyguards lurched back with

his sidearm out and returning fire with cold precision. Chapter 257:

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cheeks. This was it, she was going to die in a vicious gangland shooting like something out of the movies. All for playing this foolish game of Mathew's, getting in over her head as his make-believe

speed. The vehicle fish-tailed wildly, Joe barking frantic evasive maneuvers to the driver as they fish-tailed through an intersection and careened down a

squeal of other vehicles' brakes and blaring horns filled the air around them as the chaotic running shootout spilled into busier city streets. Vivian squeezed her eyes shut, every jarring impact and burst of gunfire feeling like it might

with an iron grip, his face set in a mask of grim determination. "We're getting you out of here, ma'am. Stay low

onto the cracked pavement, putting his own body between her and the line of hostile fire. His returning shots were viciously precise, bowling over shooters from the pursuing SUV as they sprinted for the mouth of a

brick walls around them as they hurtled deeper into the dank, shadowed enclosure, Vivian clutching at Joe's lapels simply to keep her legs underneath her. Her heart felt ready to pound straight through her ribcage any second now, utter

fear they had blundered into a dead-end trap, a pale blue panel van came screeching around the far corner of the alley, tires smoking from the extreme brake force. The side door slid open to reveal two more of Mathew's hulking security personnel crouched inside, sweeping the

laying down scathing cover fire as Joe half-shoved, half- carried Vivian bodily through the opening. The armored van laid fresh rubber as soon as they were inside, Joe slamming the side door and wedging himself in front of Vivian. Not a moment too soon as a fresh staccato burst of bullets ripped into the vehicle

Shaw, we've got to put some distance between us and these wolves," Joe growled, his voice strained as he fumbled for a

weaved through the urban gridwork, taking hairpin corners and jumping curbs with utter disregard for anything but pure evasion. Their pursuers stubbornly

an eternity of

Chapter 257. Attacked

Joe visibly relaxed

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route and shake any more tails before we get you to the hospital, ma'am. You're still my top

couldn't even begin to process who

checking for any missed calls about Maya's check-in time. They

hat.