CHAPTER 13

The elevator hummed softly as it descended to the underground garage, but Fiona's heart raced faster than the machine could move. Thalassa’s voice echoed in her mind, her best friend’s urgent warning laced with fear: “They’re on their way to you. Don’t wait. Move now.”

Darwin stood beside her, his stance stiff and his jaw set in a grim line. Though he hadn’t questioned her urgency, she knew he didn’t yet grasp the full gravity of the situation. The cold efficiency in his movements betrayed his years of operating under high stakes, but this wasn’t just a business deal gone wrong. This was personal, and it was dangerous.

“Darwin,” she said, her voice low but firm, “this isn’t just a scare tactic. William’s people are coming for us, and they aren’t going to play fair.”

His gaze shifted to her, sharp and assessing. “I figured as much. That’s why I’ve already locked the building down and stationed more guards at the exits.”

She wanted to believe that would be enough, but deep down, she doubted it. William Newton wasn’t a man who followed the rules—he thrived on bending them until they broke.

The elevator dinged softly as it opened to the expansive underground garage. Fiona stepped out first, her eyes darting to every shadow and corner. The fluorescent lights cast long beams across the concrete, their stark brightness doing little to calm her nerves.

Darwin motioned toward a sleek black car parked near the elevator. “Get in. We’ll take my private route out of the city.”

Fiona slid into the passenger seat, her body tense as she buckled herself in. Darwin climbed into the driver’s seat, his movements fluid and precise. The car roared to life with a low growl, its engine a testament to power and speed.

As they exited the garage, Fiona’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her heart sinking as she read Thalassa’s message: “They’ve tapped into something—either your car or your phone. They’re tracking you.”

“They’ve got a signal on us,” Fiona said, holding up her phone for Darwin to see. “Either they bugged something, or they’ve tapped into the GPS.”

Darwin’s expression darkened. “Figures. They won’t stop until they corner us.”

He threw the car into gear, accelerating onto the main road. The city lights blurred past them as the car picked up speed, the quiet hum of the garage replaced by the distant roar of traffic and the pounding of Fiona’s heart.

“Do you see anything?” she asked, her voice tight.

Darwin glanced in the rearview mirror, his gaze narrowing. “Black SUV, two cars back. It’s been following us since we left the building.”

Fiona twisted in her seat, her stomach flipping as she caught sight of the vehicle. Its tinted windows and aggressive driving left no doubt—it was William’s men.

“What do we do?”

Darwin’s jaw tightened. “We lose them.”

The car surged forward as Darwin pressed harder on the accelerator. He weaved through traffic with a precision that left Fiona gripping the edge of her seat. Her breath hitched as they narrowly avoided a truck, the sound of its horn blaring behind them.

“They’re not giving up,” she said, glancing back to see the SUV matching their every move.

Darwin’s gaze remained fixed on the road ahead. “They won’t. Not until we make them.”

He took a sharp turn onto a side street, the tires screeching against the pavement. Fiona clutched the armrest, her heart pounding as they sped through the narrow alleyway. The walls seemed to close in on either side, the dim light casting eerie shadows.

Behind them, the SUV followed, its engine growling like a predator closing in on its prey.

“Hold on,” Darwin warned, his voice calm but commanding.

The car swerved again, merging onto a busy highway. Cars honked and swerved out of the way as Darwin maneuvered through the traffic with practiced ease. The SUV struggled to keep up, its size making it harder to navigate the chaos.

Fiona’s mind raced, searching for a solution. “There’s a tunnel up ahead,” she said, pointing to the GPS on the dashboard. “If we can get through it first, we might be able to lose them on the other side.”

Darwin nodded, his focus unshaken. “Good idea. Hold on.”

The tunnel loomed ahead, its entrance dark and foreboding. Darwin pushed the car to its limits, the engine roaring as they hurtled toward it. The SUV was close behind, its headlights glaring like eyes fixed on a target.

As they entered the tunnel, the sound of their pursuer’s engine echoed behind them, amplified by the enclosed space. The dim, flickering lights overhead created a strobe effect, making it harder to focus.

Darwin’s grip on the wheel tightened. “This is going to be tight.”

Fiona didn’t respond, her attention focused entirely on the rearview mirror. The SUV was gaining on them, its bulky frame cutting through the darkness with unnerving determination.

And then, just as they neared the tunnel’s exit, Darwin made his move. He slammed on the brakes, causing the car to skid to a halt just before the opening.

The SUV, caught off guard by the sudden stop, sped past them and into the busy streets beyond.

Darwin didn’t waste a second. He threw the car into reverse, spinning it around before accelerating back into the tunnel.

“What are you doing?” Fiona asked, her voice tinged with panic.

“Buying us time,” he replied, his tone clipped.

They sped back through the tunnel in the opposite direction, the SUV now a distant memory. When they emerged on the other side, Darwin took a series of sharp turns, leading them into a maze of side streets and alleys.

Finally, he pulled into a deserted parking lot, cutting the engine. The sudden silence was almost deafening.

Fiona exhaled shakily, her hands trembling as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “Do you think we lost them?”

“For now,” Darwin said, his gaze scanning their surroundings. “But they’ll be back. We need to figure out how they’re tracking us.”

Fiona pulled her phone from her pocket, staring at it like it was a ticking time bomb. “Do you think it’s this?”

“Possibly,” Darwin said. He reached into the glove compartment, pulling out a small device that looked like a scanner. “We’ll check the car and your phone. If there’s a tracker, we’ll find it.”

As Darwin began scanning the vehicle, Fiona leaned against the car, her mind racing. William’s men had come too close tonight. This wasn’t just about her anymore—it was about the child she was carrying, and the future she was trying to protect.

She glanced at Darwin, who was meticulously checking every inch of the car. For all their differences, he had shown tonight that he was willing to fight for her, to stand by her even when the odds were stacked against them.

But would it be enough?

The sound of Darwin’s voice broke through her thoughts. “There’s nothing on the car,” he said, holding up the scanner. “But we’ll need to check your phone next.”

Fiona nodded, handing it to him without hesitation. As he worked, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. William wasn’t going to stop until he got what he wanted.

And neither, it seemed, was Darwin.