Reborn Heiress Is Remarrying
Chapter 82: Helicopter’s Crash: Riot!

Chapter 82: Helicopter’s Crash: Riot!

Chapter 82: Helicopter’s Crash

The moment Evelyn disappeared behind the door, Gabriel’s mind snapped into overdrive.

The ropes cut into his wrists, burning against his skin, but pain was secondary.

Escape was the only thing that mattered.

Diane’s shallow breaths filled the air, weak but still stable, and that alone was enough to keep him fighting.

He twisted his wrists, ignoring the sting of flesh rubbing raw.

Evelyn had walked in with the arrogance of someone who thought she’d already won.

That meant they still had time. But how much?

Diane’s eyelids fluttered. "Gabriel..." Her voice was fragile, it sounded almost like it was breaking.

"Shh. Save your strength." His voice was hushed, but full of urgency and tenderness. "We’re getting out of this."

She gave a weak nod, eyes glassy with exhaustion.

Blood still trickled from her temple, soaking into the fabric of her shirt.

Gabriel tugged at the ropes again. The knots were tight, expertly done—but not unbreakable. If he could just—

A sharp click echoed through the room. The door.

Gabriel’s pulse spiked. Someone was coming.

The door swung open, and Adrian stepped inside, some weirdly-calm expression was on his face.

"Still holding on?" he mused, shutting the door behind him.

He carried a steel baton in one hand, tapping it idly against his palm. "I have to say, I admire the determination."

Gabriel forced himself to remain still, eyes locked onto Adrian’s every movement.

"You know," Adrian continued, stepping closer, "you’ve been a real thorn in my side. You and your self-righteous need to play hero. But tell me, Gabriel—" he knelt down, meeting Gabriel directly "—what happens when the hero loses?"

Gabriel didn’t flinch. "I guess we’ll never find out."

Adrian smirked, but there was a burning irritation in his eyes.

"You always did have a sharp tongue," Adrian said, standing again. "Let’s see how sharp it is after a few broken ribs."

He raised the baton.

Gabriel braced for impact.

CRASH!

The door slammed open before the baton could land, and a blur of moves filled the room.

Gunfire erupted.

Adrian spun around, cursing as he barely dodged the bullet that embedded itself in the wall beside him.

Gabriel’s heart leapt. Riot.

Riot moved like a storm, his gun raised, his eyes looked like an angry lion’s.

"Drop the weapon, Adrian," he growled.

Adrian hesitated, then lunged.

Riot fired again, but Adrian was fast.

He twisted, narrowly avoiding the bullet, and slammed into Riot, knocking the gun from his hand.

The room exploded into a huge mess.

Riot and Adrian crashed against the table, knocking over a stack of tools.

Riot threw a punch, connecting hard with Adrian’s jaw, but Adrian barely staggered.

He retaliated instantly, grabbing Riot by the collar and slamming him into the wall.

Gabriel yanked against the ropes, ignoring the searing pain.

Diane whimpered softly, struggling to stay upright.

"Riot!" Gabriel barked.

Riot grunted, driving a knee into Adrian’s stomach. Adrian coughed but didn’t go down. He was strong—stronger than Gabriel had given him credit for.

Gabriel twisted his wrists, yanking harder—

The rope snapped.

Gabriel wasted no time.

He ripped his hands free and surged forward, grabbing the nearest thing within reach—a heavy wrench from the table.

Adrian had just gained the upper hand, pinning Riot against the wall, his fingers curling around Riot’s throat.

Gabriel swung.

The wrench connected with Adrian’s ribs with a louder crack.

Adrian let out a strangled gasp, staggering back.

Riot took the opportunity to break free, shoving Adrian off balance.

Gabriel didn’t stop.

He swung again, this time aiming for Adrian’s knee.

Adrian crumpled.

Riot grabbed the fallen gun, pressing it against Adrian’s temple. His breath was heavy, his hands reliable.

"Give me one reason," Riot hissed.

Adrian glared up at him, spitting blood onto the floor. "Killing me won’t change anything."

Riot’s grip tightened. "Maybe not. But it’ll feel damn good."

Gabriel stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Riot’s arm.

"Not yet." His voice was lower now. "We need answers."

Riot’s jaw clenched, but after a moment, he lowered the gun—just enough to keep Adrian at his mercy.

Diane let out a soft noise, but they barely could hear her.

Gabriel turned instantly.

She was slumped in the chair, her breathing was long and heavy.

"Diane." He was at her side in a heartbeat, untying the ropes around her wrists. "Stay with me."

Her head lolled slightly, her eyes half-lidded. "Gabriel..."

He pressed a hand against her cheek, his heart pounding. "I’m here."

Riot kept the gun trained on Adrian as he spoke. "We don’t have time to waste. More of them will be coming."

Gabriel lifted Diane into his arms, her body far too light. "Then let’s go."

They moved fast. Riot kept his gun aimed at Adrian as they backed toward the door.

Adrian’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. "You’ll regret this."

Gabriel’s expression was ice. "No, Adrian. You will."

With that, they slipped out of the room, Riot slamming the door shut behind them.

The hallway was low lit, lined with cold metal walls.

Gabriel adjusted Diane’s weight in his arms, his muscles straining, but he refused to let her go.

Riot took the lead, moving swiftly, gun raised. "This way."

They wove through the corridors, every shadow a potential threat.

Then—

A high-pitched alarm blared through the facility.

"Shit," Riot muttered. "They know."

Gabriel tightened his grip on Diane. "We need an exit. Now."

Riot scanned the area, then pointed. "Stairwell. End of the hall."

They ran.

Boots pounded against the floor behind them. Shouts filled the air.

Gabriel didn’t look back. He focused on moving forward. One step at a time.

One step closer to freedom.

They reached the stairwell, Riot shoving the door open. The echo of pursuing footsteps grew louder.

"They’re gaining," Gabriel warned.

Riot didn’t hesitate. He fired a shot down the hallway, forcing their pursuers to duck for cover.

"Go!" Riot barked.

They rushed up the stairs, each step feeling like a battle against time.

Then—

Another gunshot.

Riot grunted. Stumbled.

Gabriel’s stomach dropped. "Riot—"

"I’m fine," Riot snapped, pressing a hand to his shoulder where blood was already seeping through his jacket. "Keep moving."

They burst onto the rooftop. Cold night air slammed into them.

A helicopter loomed above.

Gabriel’s heart flew up to the heaven. Their escape.

Riot grabbed his radio. "We’re here. Get us out!"

The helicopter descended, its blades roaring. A rope ladder dropped down.

Gabriel didn’t hesitate.

He secured Diane, holding her tightly as he climbed.

Riot followed close behind, slower but regular.

Gunfire erupted below, bullets sliced through the air.

The helicopter lurched as the pilot pulled them higher.

Gabriel held onto Diane, heart hammering.

They were free.

But the war wasn’t over.

The crack of gunfire cut through the roar of the helicopter’s blades.

Gabriel barely had time to react before the entire aircraft jolted violently.

The pilot let out an angry curse, yanking the controls, but it was too late—Adrian’s shot had hit something vital.

The engine sputtered.

The helicopter lurched sideways.

And then—it dropped.

The sudden loss of altitude sent Gabriel’s stomach plummeting.

Wind tore at his skin as the world tilted, the trees below rushed up too fast.

His hold on Diane tightened, his only thinking of protecting her.

"Gaaaaaa!" Riot shouted something, but the sound was lost in the chaos.

The pilot fought desperately to regain control, his hands flew over the instruments, but the aircraft spun out of control.

Falling.

Gabriel felt the moment gravity took full hold.

The tail of the helicopter clipped the side of a building, sending it into a brutal spin.

The world became a blur of night and wind.

Then—impact.

Glass shattered. Metal screamed.

Gabriel felt his body wrenched violently as they crashed through something—windows, steel, he couldn’t tell.

The only thing that mattered was Diane.

He curled around her, bracing for the worst.

They hit hard.

The force knocked the breath from his lungs, sending pain exploding through every nerve in his body.

Then—silence.

For a moment, everything was still.

Dust hung in the air, so thick and choking.

Sparks flickered in the wreckage. Somewhere, a small fire crackled.

Gabriel groaned, pain radiated from every limb. His vision swam, but through the haze, he felt Diane beneath him, unmoving but breathing.

He exhaled aggressively, relief flooding through him.

They were alive.

But—

His head snapped up. Riot.

He couldn’t die here...nor him or Riot. Diane needed them both, even how much he hated to admit that.

Gabriel didn’t want Riot to die right now, not when their enemy was chasing after them.

He twisted, trying to see through the wreckage.

The helicopter was torn apart, metal twisted beyond recognition.

Smoke billowed from the cockpit.

Riot had been right behind him. The pilot—

Gabriel’s heart pounded as he scanned the wreckage, throat dry.

"Riot?" His voice was hoarse.

No answer.

A terrible feeling crept into his gut.

Something shifted in the wreckage, and Gabriel froze.

Not Riot.

Something else.

And then—footsteps.

Coming closer.