Chapter 173: Kellan was now a pawn in their game, held hostage. The men flanking Carlos were far from petty criminals like Nicholas and his associates; these were seasoned killers, professionals.

A sea of black gun barrels leveled at Allison's head. "No matter how fast you run, even to the yacht, this man will be slow-cooked by our hands! I don't think you'd want to witness that, would you?" he sneered, his voice dripping with smugness. "So, Ms. Clarke, why not make this easy? Maybe, if our boss doesn't dispose of you, I might pursue you myself. Women like you—fiery and stunning—are rare."

Allison's face remained stoic as she calmly wiped blood from her face. "Even on a good day, I wouldn't give you the time of day. But the idea of you hitting on me now… makes my skin crawl," she replied icily. "I despise threats."

She didn't flinch. Fear was a language she didn't speak. Allison was the type who, when threatened, preferred struggle to submission.

Before Carlos or his men could react, Allison revealed explosives, like a magician pulling a deadly trick. "Looks like the real choice is yours!" she said with a wry smile, lifting the explosives. "Die with me, or release him!"

The color drained from Carlos's face. His smug mask slipped. "This woman's out of her mind!" His men were thrown into disarray. "What do we do? Those are real!" one yelped. "If she pulls the pin, we're all blown to hell! Is she serious?" Carlos snapped, "Shut up!" His eyes narrowed as he quickly regained his composure. "You won't do it. You're bluffing. You know your leverage; you wouldn't throw your life away for some guy."

Carlos searched her face for any sign of weakness, but Allison's eyes were cold, detached. He clenched his fists. "We both know people like us don't throw away our lives. You pull that pin, and we all die, you included," he emphasized each word.

But Allison merely rested her finger on the pin. "I know how this story ends if I fall into your hands. I'd rather die on my terms than live by yours! I can die with him, but rest assured, you'll all be blown to pieces." She glanced over the group. "I'll give you five seconds to decide. After that, your time is up. Five!"

A bead of sweat ran down Carlos's temple. He was gambling with everyone's existence. Three! she continued, her voice unwavering. Some henchmen began to inch back. "Sir, she's lost it! We need to pull back!" Carlos's voice was like ice. "Nobody moves!"

He didn't believe she'd go through with it. Then, the final count came. One! Carlos's eyes squeezed shut, bracing for the explosion… which didn't come. He opened his eyes. A twisted grin tugged at his lips… then he saw it: the pin. She'd pulled it! The clink of metal hitting the ground echoed like a death knell as the explosives tumbled to his feet. "Damn her! She wasn't bluffing!"