Chapter143:

Chapter 143 CELESTE And three minutes until help arrived. I heard footsteps behind me—they were closing in, coordinating a sweep that would eventually corner me. I needed a better position. Somewhere I could make a stand, somewhere I could hold out for three more minutes. The wine cellar. It was accessed through the kitchen, down a narrow staircase. Only one way in or out, which was usually a tactical disadvantage. But the door was solid oak, reinforced with iron bands—original to the house, built to last. And inside were racks of wine bottles that could serve as improvised weapons or obstacles. I sprinted for the kitchen, hearing shouts behind me as they spotted my movement. Bullets chased me across the tile floor. I reached the wine cellar door, yanked it open, and descended the stairs in three jumps. At the bottom, I grabbed the heaviest wine bottle I could reach and hurled it up the stairs. It shattered on the top step, creating a slippery obstacle of broken glass and spilled wine.