The morning passed in a blur of preparations. Ashley and Demon worked tirelessly, organizing their supplies and finalizing the details of their plan. Amelia, despite her exhaustion, helped where she could, her determination to stay strong for her sister evident in every action.By midday, Demon received word that their potential allies were willing to meet. The meeting was set to take place in a neutral location, a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It was a place where deals were made in the shadows, far from prying eyes.As they prepared to leave, Ashley could sense the tension in the air. Demon’s jaw was clenched, his eyes focused and cold. Amelia hovered nearby, her nervous energy palpable. Ashley herself felt a mix of anxiety and determination. This was their chance to turn the tide, but it was also fraught with danger.“You ready?” Demon asked, his voice low as he finished loading a handgun and slipped it into the holster at his side.Ashley nodded, her hand ins
The days following the alliance with Viktor were tense. Ashley, Demon, and Amelia spent most of their time in the cabin, going over the plan, double-checking every detail, and preparing for the inevitable confrontation with Adonis. There was no turning back now. The decision had been made, and they were all in.Ashley found herself staring out the window more often than not, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. The forest outside their cabin was serene, a stark contrast to the chaos that was about to descend upon them. She placed a hand on her stomach, feeling the faint flutter of life within her. It was a bittersweet reminder of why she was doing all of this. Her child—Adonis's child—deserved a life free from the violence and darkness that had consumed hers.She couldn't help but think about Adonis. Despite everything, her feelings for him were complicated. She hated him for what he had done to her, but there was a part of her that had once loved him, that had seen the
The journey back to the cabin was shrouded in a heavy silence. The adrenaline that had kept Ashley, Demon, and Amelia sharp throughout the mission was fading, leaving behind an exhaustion that weighed down on them like a suffocating blanket.Ashley sat in the backseat of the car, her gaze fixed on the passing trees. The cool night air filtered in through the cracked window, but it did little to clear the fog in her mind. Adonis was dead. The man who had tormented her, who had held her life in his hands, was gone. But the victory felt hollow, as if she had lost a part of herself in the process.Amelia, seated beside her, reached over and took Ashley's hand, squeezing it gently. "We're going to be okay," she whispered, though her voice was tinged with uncertainty. She was trying to be strong for her sister, but Ashley could sense the fear and doubt lurking just beneath the surface.Ashley turned to her, offering a small, strained smile. "I know," she replied, though she wasn't entirely
Ashley pushed through the dense forest, each step echoing the determination that pulsed through her veins. The documents in her bag were a lifeline, a bridge between the chaos of her past and the fragile hope of a new future. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, grounding her as she moved steadily toward the rendezvous point.The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the path ahead. It was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot and the distant hoot of an owl. Every nerve in Ashley’s body was on high alert, her senses sharpened by the knowledge that one wrong move could cost her everything.As she approached a clearing, she paused, crouching low behind a tree to survey the area. The drop point had been chosen for its isolation, but that also made it vulnerable. She scanned the perimeter, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of movement near the edge of the clearing.Her heart pounded in her chest as she strained to see throu
Ashley emerged from the forest as dawn began to break, the first light of day casting a pale glow over the landscape. Her mind was still reeling from her encounter with Viktor, the weight of the small black box in her bag a constant reminder of the new uncertainties she faced. She didn’t know whether to trust his motives, but the contents of the case had given her something she desperately needed: options.She made her way to the small, nondescript cabin where Amelia and Demon were waiting. The cabin was hidden deep within the woods, a perfect refuge for them to regroup and plan their next move. As she approached the door, Ashley hesitated for a moment, her hand resting on the doorknob. She took a deep breath, steeling herself before entering.Inside, the cabin was quiet. Amelia was sitting at a worn wooden table, her eyes red from lack of sleep and worry. Demon stood near the window, his body tense as he peered through the curtains, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding area. Whe
The drive back to Adonis's estate was suffocating, the silence in the SUV thick with tension. Ashley sat between Amelia and Demon, her heart pounding in her chest. Adonis was in the front, his eyes fixed on the road, his expression unreadable. The cold, clinical atmosphere inside the vehicle made Ashley's stomach churn. She felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of her own decisions and the impending doom that loomed over all of them.Amelia reached for Ashley's hand, squeezing it tightly. The gesture was both comforting and heart-wrenching. Ashley glanced at her sister, noticing the fear in her eyes. She wanted to say something, anything, to reassure her, but the words caught in her throat. There was no comfort she could offer, no promise she could make that everything would be okay. They were at Adonis's mercy now, and that realization filled her with a sense of helplessness she had never felt before.Demon sat rigidly beside them, his eyes forward but his mind clearly elsewhere. As
Ashley sat in the silent room, her hands trembling as she held Amelia close. Her sister’s soft sobs echoed in the vast space, a painful reminder of the hopelessness that surrounded them. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, and the weight of their situation was crushing. The fear for Demon’s fate gnawed at her insides, but she knew she had to remain strong for Amelia.Amelia clung to her sister, her tears soaking into Ashley’s shirt. “Ashley, what are we going to do?” she whispered, her voice breaking.Ashley stroked Amelia’s hair, trying to soothe her even as her own heart raced with anxiety. “We’ll find a way out of this,” she said, though the words felt hollow. She had no plan, no allies, and no idea how to escape Adonis’s clutches. But she couldn’t let Amelia see her fear.Amelia pulled back, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “I’m so scared for Demon,” she admitted. “He was trying to protect us, and now...”Ashley nodded, her throat tight with emotion. “I know. We hav
The vehicle raced through the darkness, the engine’s roar echoing through the empty streets as Ashley, Amelia, and Demon sped away from Adonis’s estate. The weight of Elena’s sacrifice bore heavily on Ashley’s heart, her mind replaying the moment over and over again—the flash of the gun, Elena’s fall, the blood spreading across the cold concrete floor.She tightened her grip on Demon, who was slumped against her, his breathing shallow and labored. Despite the horror and chaos they had just escaped, the relief of finally being away from that hellish place was palpable. But Ashley knew this was only the beginning. The storm was far from over.Amelia sat across from them, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of shock and determination. She hadn’t spoken a word since they’d left the estate, but Ashley could see the resolve hardening in her sister’s expression. They had both lost so much—more than anyone should ever have to endure—and they were both ready to do whatever it took to end t
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Ashley awoke, her body stiff from the restless sleep. Amelia was still curled up beside her, sleeping deeply after the harrowing events of the night before. Demon was outside, sharpening a blade, his expression hard as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation with Adonis.Ashley sat up slowly, her mind still racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. The peace they had found in the small cabin felt fragile, like a thin veil stretched over a storm waiting to break. She knew it was only a matter of time before Adonis found them—and when he did, there would be no turning back.She quietly stepped outside, the crisp morning air biting at her skin. Demon glanced up from his work but said nothing as she approached him. His silence was heavy, but it wasn’t unfriendly. It was the quiet of a man who knew the weight of the fight that lay ahead.“We don’t have much time,” he finally said, his voice low and grave. “Adonis will come for us soon.”A
The silence that followed Adonis’s departure was thick, weighted with the echoes of the battle that had just transpired. Ashley stood frozen in place, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the shadows swallow Adonis whole. His dark words lingered in the air, like a storm cloud threatening to return.Amelia lowered the gun slowly, her hands shaking as the adrenaline that had fueled her courage began to fade. She had never held a weapon before, let alone pointed one at a man like Adonis. Her knees buckled slightly, but before she could fall, Ashley rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her sister.“It’s over,” Ashley whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She wanted to believe it, but deep down, she knew Adonis’s words carried a dangerous truth. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.Amelia buried her face in Ashley’s shoulder, her body trembling from head to toe. “I didn’t know what else to do,” she admitted in a shaky breath. “I couldn’t let him hurt you.”“You did what
Demon and Adonis clashed like two opposing forces of nature, their bodies moving with deadly precision. Each blow was filled with years of unspoken rage, resentment, and betrayal. The sounds of their fists meeting skin echoed through the forest, and Ashley watched helplessly as her worst fears began to unfold before her eyes.Amelia clung to Ashley’s arm, shaking. "Ashley, we have to do something! They’re going to kill each other!" Her voice trembled, but Ashley’s mind was racing too fast for words. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from the violent whirlwind before her. Every fiber of her being wanted to scream, wanted to run between them and make them stop. But how?Adonis had always been an enigma, a man who dominated the world around him with cruelty, power, and an iron will. But now, seeing him like this—engaged in a primal, bloody fight with the only person he’d ever trusted—shattered something inside Ashley. She had once thought there was more to Adonis, a hidden vulnerability be
Chapter 98: A Trap of FateThe air crackled with tension as Adonis descended the hill, his cold, dark gaze locked on Ashley. There was something terrifying in his calmness, as though he had expected this chase to end here all along. Ashley’s breath hitched, her entire body frozen in place, despite Demon’s command to run. But where would she go? The forest was vast, but Adonis was always a step ahead, always finding her no matter how far she ran. “Move!” Demon growled through gritted teeth, his gun trained on Adonis. His voice snapped Ashley out of her shock. She grabbed Amelia’s hand, pulling her sister behind her as they tried to edge farther down the incline. “Run, Ashley!” Amelia urged, her voice trembling with fear, but it was Demon who answered, his voice low and dangerous. “He won’t stop unless you face him.”Ashley swallowed hard, her heart racing as she glanced back at Adonis. He had paused midway down the hill, his piercing gaze tracking their every movement. His lips curle
The tension in the cabin thickened as the three prepared to leave. The forest outside remained eerily quiet, the early morning light casting long shadows across the trees. The cold air bit at Ashley's skin, but the chill she felt wasn’t just from the temperature. Something felt off. The uneasy silence gnawed at her nerves, every second stretching painfully thin. Amelia had stayed quiet since their conversation, her face a mask of worry. Demon moved with purpose, checking their supplies and ensuring they left no trace behind. He was methodical, calm, but there was a storm brewing behind his dark eyes. Ashley couldn’t shake her sister’s warning from earlier—trust was a fragile thing, and in their world, it could shatter in an instant. She had seen Demon’s loyalty to Adonis firsthand, but she had also seen the cracks in his resolve. He had helped them this far, yet the lingering question remained: would he continue to protect them when faced with the full force of Adonis’s wrath?The c
The morning light filtered through the cracks in the old cabin’s walls, casting soft shadows on the floor. The air was cool and still, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath, waiting for the next move. Ashley lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts racing. She had barely slept, too haunted by everything that had happened.Next to her, Amelia stirred in her sleep, her face soft and peaceful for the first time in what felt like days. Ashley watched her sister for a moment, a surge of protectiveness welling up inside her. Amelia had been through so much—caught in a whirlwind of violence and betrayal that neither of them had asked for.And then there was the baby. Ashley’s hand instinctively moved to her stomach, her fingers gently pressing against the small swell. The baby was a part of her now, a tiny life growing inside her, a symbol of everything she wanted to protect. But it also tied her to Adonis in a way she couldn’t escape. No matter how far she ran, the con
The forest surrounding the clearing was eerily silent, the only sound being the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath their feet as Ashley, Amelia, and Demon hurried through the darkness. The adrenaline still coursed through Ashley’s veins, her body on high alert as she glanced behind her, half expecting more of Adonis’s men to appear out of the shadows.Demon moved quickly ahead of them, his gun drawn and eyes sharp as he navigated the dense trees. The tension in his body was palpable, and Ashley couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that lingered in the air. They had survived the attack, but the danger was far from over.Amelia’s hand tightened around Ashley’s arm, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to keep up. “How much longer?” she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.Demon’s voice cut through the silence. “Not far. There’s an old cabin deeper in the woods. We’ll be safe there for the night.”Ashley frowned, her mind racing. A cabin in the woods? It sounded too good
The drive away from the café was tense and silent, the only sound being the dull hum of the car engine and the occasional clicking of Demon’s fingers tapping the steering wheel. Ashley sat in the backseat with Amelia, her heart pounding in her chest, every muscle in her body wound tight with anxiety. They were speeding toward an unknown future, running from a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Ashley’s mind raced, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation. Demon had made a bold move by standing up to Anton, and now they were out of time. Anton had seen her, and he knew about the baby. Whether Demon believed Anton would keep quiet or not, Ashley knew better. Adonis would find out, and when he did, he’d come for her with everything he had.Amelia’s trembling hand squeezed Ashley’s, pulling her from her thoughts. “What if he already knows?” Amelia whispered, her voice laced with fear. “What if Anton told him?”“We don’t have time to think about that right now,” Ashl
Demon stood at the entrance of the café, his tall frame casting a dark shadow over the table where Ashley and Amelia sat. His expression was unreadable, his intense gaze fixed on Amelia. Ashley’s pulse quickened as tension built in the small space, the air thick with uncertainty and unease.Amelia’s eyes flickered with a mix of relief and fear as she locked eyes with Demon. There was no denying the love between them, but the danger that surrounded their relationship loomed like a dark cloud. Ashley could sense it too—an unspoken weight hanging between the three of them.Demon finally broke the silence, his voice low but steady. “We need to talk.”Ashley’s muscles tensed. She wasn’t sure if Demon was here as their protector or if he was still bound by his loyalty to Adonis. She didn’t trust him—not completely. But Amelia’s life, and now her own, was entangled with his.“What’s going on, Demon?” Amelia asked, her voice barely above a whisper, fear lacing every word.Demon took a step cl