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.

volleys of automatic gunfire with their mysterious armed assailants.

the cacophony, whipping his sidearm out and returning

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violently as she clung to the floorboards, tears of sheer terror leaking down her cheeks. This was it, she was going to die in a vicious gangland shooting like

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

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 be her

arm with an iron grip, his face set in a mask of

and the line of hostile fire. His returning shots were viciously precise, bowling over shooters from the pursuing SUV as they

shadowed enclosure, Vivian clutching at Joe's lapels simply

the alley, tires smoking from the extreme brake force. The side door

in, get in!" One of them roared, 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 from

fumbled for a fresh magazine. Vivian could only huddle against him, gulping

the next several miles, the van rocketed and weaved through the urban gridwork, taking hairpin corners and jumping curbs with utter disregard for anything but pure evasion. Their pursuers stubbornly gave chase, recklessly exchanging fire with

an eternity of white-knuckle defensive driving, the

Chapter 257. Attacked

the wolves, for now. Joe visibly relaxed a fraction, his grip loosening

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and shake any more tails before we get you to the hospital,

even begin to process who or what had sent those heavily armed mercenaries after her all she could focus on was the crushing

pulled her phone from her pocket, checking for any missed calls about Maya's check-in time. They had to get her to that

hat.