Chapter 35: The Betrayal in the ShadowsI never thought I’d hear my name from those lips again, not after everything that had happened. But there it was—my name, spilling out like a knife drawn too close to the skin.“Adeline.” The room seemed smaller, suffocating with the weight of betrayal, as Sarah stepped forward from the shadows. She didn’t belong here, in the safehouse, in my fragile corner of the world. Yet, there she stood, smug and dangerous. I clenched my fists, forcing my breathing to slow. "What are you doing here, Sarah?" She smirked, crossing her arms like she had every right to intrude. “Did you think you could just disappear without consequences? Without me finding you?” I took a step back, my body shielding Reid, who stood behind me. Precious had already scooped him into her arms, her face pale with fear. I couldn’t let Sarah see it, though. I couldn’t show her how much power she still had over me. "You have no idea what you're walking into," I said, my voi
Chapter 36: The Edge of LoyaltyThe headlights blinded me for a second, freezing me in place like prey caught in a predator’s trap. I held Reid tighter, his little arms clinging to my neck as if sensing the danger ahead. Precious stopped beside me, her breath shallow and frantic. And there she was—Sarah. Standing beside the sleek black car, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. "Adeline," she called out, her voice carrying across the distance like a dagger. "Get in the car." I didn’t move. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my legs refused to obey. “What do you want from us?” I shouted back, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. Sarah took a step closer, her heels clicking against the pavement. “I want to save you from yourself. You think you can outrun this? You think they’ll stop coming for you?” “Stay back!” I yelled, shifting Reid to my other arm. Sarah stopped, her gaze softening. “Adeline, you’re making this harder than it needs to be. Come
Chapter 37: Beneath the SurfaceThe silence in the room was deafening. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as I paced back and forth, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a vice. Precious sat in the corner, her hands clasped tightly together, her face pale. Reid was unusually quiet, sitting cross-legged on the floor, his eyes darting between me and the door. “Alex, this is madness,” I finally said, my voice breaking the heavy stillness. “We can’t just wait here. We have to do something.” Alex stood near the window, his eyes scanning the dark street below. His shoulders were tense, his jaw clenched. He hadn’t said much since the call came in—just enough to tell me that things were worse than we thought. “We don’t have a choice,” he said, his voice low and measured. “If we move now, we’ll play right into their hands.” “And staying here makes us sitting ducks,” I shot back. “You’re asking me to gamble with Reid’s life. I won’t do that.” Alex turned to fa
Chapter 38: The Unbelievable I didn’t realize how quiet the room had grown until the sound of my own breathing filled the space. Alex stood across from me, his expression unreadable, his arms crossed like he was bracing for whatever storm I was about to unleash.“Tell me you’re joking,” I said, my voice low, trembling with disbelief. “I wish I was.” His words came out cold and firm, but there was a flicker of regret in his eyes that he couldn’t quite hide. The letter in my hand felt heavier than it had any right to. A single page, yet it held the kind of information that could destroy lives. “You were working with them this whole time?” My voice cracked as I forced the question out. “I had no choice.” “You *had no choice*?” I repeated, my anger surging now. “You always have a choice, Alex. But you made yours, didn’t you? You chose them over us.” He didn’t answer, his silence speaking louder than words ever could. Precious peeked into the room, her face pale. “Is everyt
Chapter 39: Shattered IllusionsI barely registered the cold metal of the handcuffs biting into my wrists as they locked me into the chair. My thoughts spiraled, every nerve in my body screaming to fight, to run, but I forced myself to stay calm. If I panicked now, I’d lose everything. Across from me, the room was empty except for a single table and the shadowed figure leaning against it. His face was cloaked in darkness, but I didn’t need to see him to feel the weight of his presence. “You’ve been busy, Ms. Peace,” he said finally, his voice low and smooth, like a predator toying with its prey. I glared at him, refusing to respond. He wanted a reaction, but I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. He stepped forward, the light catching the sharp angles of his face. I recognized him instantly—Cole. He was one of *them*. Alex’s warnings about people like him echoed in my mind. “What do you want?” I spat, my voice steadier than I felt. Cole smirked. “It’s not about what I want
Chapter 40: The Price of Silence I slammed the door behind me, my heart racing. Reid’s panicked cries echoed in my ears as I pressed my back against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. “Where is Alex?” I whispered under my breath, scanning the room. The safehouse had never felt smaller, its walls closing in on me. Every creak, every shadow felt like a threat. “Mum?” Reid’s voice wavered from the corner of the room. His little hands clutched Precious’s sleeve as she crouched beside him, trying to keep him calm. I forced a smile, though my chest felt like it was caving in. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’m here.” He didn’t look convinced. “Adeline, we can’t stay here,” Precious muttered, her voice barely audible. I nodded. She was right. The safehouse wasn’t safe anymore, not with Alex gone and no plan in place. But where could we go? Every option felt like a trap waiting to spring. “Pack your things,” I said, keeping my voice steady for Re
Chapter 41: The Unseen War I wasn’t prepared for the silence that greeted me. It wasn’t the comforting stillness that usually meant safety—it was oppressive, like the air was holding its breath. Every step I took felt like walking on glass, the tension threatening to shatter at any moment. Alex stood near the window, his body taut like a coiled spring. He didn’t turn when I entered the room, but his sharp whisper cut through the quiet. “They’re here.” My stomach twisted. “Are you sure?” He pointed outside, where faint shadows flickered against the glow of a distant streetlamp. They were subtle—too subtle for someone who wasn’t looking. But Alex had always been good at spotting the invisible threats. “What do we do?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. “Stay calm.” He finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “Get Reid and Precious into the basement. Now.” Basement. My heart sank. Reid hated small, confined spaces. I’d barely convinced him t
Chapter 42: The Price of Trust The rain pelted against the window, each droplet a small hammer tapping at my nerves. The storm outside mirrored the chaos inside the house. Alex was pacing again, his brow furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. I sat at the edge of the couch, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, trying to suppress the tremor in my fingers. Precious was in the next room with Reid, keeping him occupied with one of his puzzles. It was the only thing that seemed to calm him these days. “How much longer do you think we have?” I asked finally, breaking the heavy silence. Alex stopped mid-step and turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Not long. They’re closing in.” A chill ran down my spine. His words confirmed what I’d been feeling for days—that the walls were closing in on us, that no matter how far we ran, we couldn’t outrun the past. “What do they want, Alex?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why can’t they just leave us alone?” He hesit
Chapter 44:The Thin Line Between Fear and ResolveThe silence of the house wasn’t comforting anymore. It was suffocating. Every creak of the floorboards, every hum of the fridge sounded like a warning, a reminder that peace was a luxury we couldn’t afford. Reid’s laughter from earlier that day still echoed in my ears, but now it felt distant, almost like a cruel memory of something I might lose. I stared at him as he slept, his tiny hand clutching the edge of his blanket. He looked so peaceful, so unaware of the storm that was circling us. I couldn’t sleep. My body refused to rest. Instead, I sat in the dim light of the living room, my legs folded under me on the couch, eyes fixed on the door. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming. Alex was somewhere in the shadows, pacing like a restless predator. His movements were silent, but I could feel him. I hated that his presence both unsettled me and brought me a sliver of comfort. “You should get some rest,” he said
Chapter 43:The Last Step Before the Fall“Reid, get behind me!” I snapped, yanking him toward the wall as Alex stepped forward, gun in hand. The room felt too small, the walls closing in as heavy footsteps echoed outside. Alex’s eyes darted between me and the door, calculating every possible move, while Precious clutched the arm of the couch, frozen in place. “Stay quiet,” Alex whispered, his voice calm but laced with urgency. I could barely breathe. My pulse hammered in my ears, and every second felt like an eternity. Reid clung to my leg, his tiny fingers digging into my jeans. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look calm—for him. The knock came. Three sharp raps that sent my heart plunging into my stomach. Alex didn’t move. His grip on the gun tightened, his finger hovering near the trigger. I could see the sweat dripping down his temple, though his expression remained unreadable. “Open up,” a voice called from the other side. It was deep, firm, and entirely unfamilia
Chapter 42: The Price of Trust The rain pelted against the window, each droplet a small hammer tapping at my nerves. The storm outside mirrored the chaos inside the house. Alex was pacing again, his brow furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. I sat at the edge of the couch, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, trying to suppress the tremor in my fingers. Precious was in the next room with Reid, keeping him occupied with one of his puzzles. It was the only thing that seemed to calm him these days. “How much longer do you think we have?” I asked finally, breaking the heavy silence. Alex stopped mid-step and turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Not long. They’re closing in.” A chill ran down my spine. His words confirmed what I’d been feeling for days—that the walls were closing in on us, that no matter how far we ran, we couldn’t outrun the past. “What do they want, Alex?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why can’t they just leave us alone?” He hesit
Chapter 41: The Unseen War I wasn’t prepared for the silence that greeted me. It wasn’t the comforting stillness that usually meant safety—it was oppressive, like the air was holding its breath. Every step I took felt like walking on glass, the tension threatening to shatter at any moment. Alex stood near the window, his body taut like a coiled spring. He didn’t turn when I entered the room, but his sharp whisper cut through the quiet. “They’re here.” My stomach twisted. “Are you sure?” He pointed outside, where faint shadows flickered against the glow of a distant streetlamp. They were subtle—too subtle for someone who wasn’t looking. But Alex had always been good at spotting the invisible threats. “What do we do?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. “Stay calm.” He finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “Get Reid and Precious into the basement. Now.” Basement. My heart sank. Reid hated small, confined spaces. I’d barely convinced him t
Chapter 40: The Price of Silence I slammed the door behind me, my heart racing. Reid’s panicked cries echoed in my ears as I pressed my back against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. “Where is Alex?” I whispered under my breath, scanning the room. The safehouse had never felt smaller, its walls closing in on me. Every creak, every shadow felt like a threat. “Mum?” Reid’s voice wavered from the corner of the room. His little hands clutched Precious’s sleeve as she crouched beside him, trying to keep him calm. I forced a smile, though my chest felt like it was caving in. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’m here.” He didn’t look convinced. “Adeline, we can’t stay here,” Precious muttered, her voice barely audible. I nodded. She was right. The safehouse wasn’t safe anymore, not with Alex gone and no plan in place. But where could we go? Every option felt like a trap waiting to spring. “Pack your things,” I said, keeping my voice steady for Re
Chapter 39: Shattered IllusionsI barely registered the cold metal of the handcuffs biting into my wrists as they locked me into the chair. My thoughts spiraled, every nerve in my body screaming to fight, to run, but I forced myself to stay calm. If I panicked now, I’d lose everything. Across from me, the room was empty except for a single table and the shadowed figure leaning against it. His face was cloaked in darkness, but I didn’t need to see him to feel the weight of his presence. “You’ve been busy, Ms. Peace,” he said finally, his voice low and smooth, like a predator toying with its prey. I glared at him, refusing to respond. He wanted a reaction, but I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. He stepped forward, the light catching the sharp angles of his face. I recognized him instantly—Cole. He was one of *them*. Alex’s warnings about people like him echoed in my mind. “What do you want?” I spat, my voice steadier than I felt. Cole smirked. “It’s not about what I want
Chapter 38: The Unbelievable I didn’t realize how quiet the room had grown until the sound of my own breathing filled the space. Alex stood across from me, his expression unreadable, his arms crossed like he was bracing for whatever storm I was about to unleash.“Tell me you’re joking,” I said, my voice low, trembling with disbelief. “I wish I was.” His words came out cold and firm, but there was a flicker of regret in his eyes that he couldn’t quite hide. The letter in my hand felt heavier than it had any right to. A single page, yet it held the kind of information that could destroy lives. “You were working with them this whole time?” My voice cracked as I forced the question out. “I had no choice.” “You *had no choice*?” I repeated, my anger surging now. “You always have a choice, Alex. But you made yours, didn’t you? You chose them over us.” He didn’t answer, his silence speaking louder than words ever could. Precious peeked into the room, her face pale. “Is everyt
Chapter 37: Beneath the SurfaceThe silence in the room was deafening. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as I paced back and forth, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a vice. Precious sat in the corner, her hands clasped tightly together, her face pale. Reid was unusually quiet, sitting cross-legged on the floor, his eyes darting between me and the door. “Alex, this is madness,” I finally said, my voice breaking the heavy stillness. “We can’t just wait here. We have to do something.” Alex stood near the window, his eyes scanning the dark street below. His shoulders were tense, his jaw clenched. He hadn’t said much since the call came in—just enough to tell me that things were worse than we thought. “We don’t have a choice,” he said, his voice low and measured. “If we move now, we’ll play right into their hands.” “And staying here makes us sitting ducks,” I shot back. “You’re asking me to gamble with Reid’s life. I won’t do that.” Alex turned to fa
Chapter 36: The Edge of LoyaltyThe headlights blinded me for a second, freezing me in place like prey caught in a predator’s trap. I held Reid tighter, his little arms clinging to my neck as if sensing the danger ahead. Precious stopped beside me, her breath shallow and frantic. And there she was—Sarah. Standing beside the sleek black car, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. "Adeline," she called out, her voice carrying across the distance like a dagger. "Get in the car." I didn’t move. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my legs refused to obey. “What do you want from us?” I shouted back, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. Sarah took a step closer, her heels clicking against the pavement. “I want to save you from yourself. You think you can outrun this? You think they’ll stop coming for you?” “Stay back!” I yelled, shifting Reid to my other arm. Sarah stopped, her gaze softening. “Adeline, you’re making this harder than it needs to be. Come