Ashley awoke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. It took a moment for her to remember where she was—safe, for now, in the small, nondescript safe house nestled deep within the forest. The events of the previous day came rushing back, and she glanced over at Amelia, who was still sleeping soundly beside her. The room was dim, with only the faintest light filtering through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. Outside, the forest was quiet, the morning mist hanging low in the air. But even the stillness couldn’t calm the storm of emotions raging inside her.Ashley slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake her sister. She needed a moment to collect herself, to think. The events of the past few weeks had left her reeling, and she was struggling to keep up. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of confusion, anger, and grief.She tiptoed out of the room and made her way to the small kitchen, where Jackson was already awake, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in
The night was cold as they moved through the silent city streets, their breaths visible in the frosty air. Ashley clutched the new passport tightly in her hand, the weight of it grounding her in the moment. This small booklet represented more than just a new identity—it was their lifeline, the key to a future free from the shadows of their past.Amelia walked beside her, her face pale but resolute. Jackson led the way, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. They had managed to avoid detection so far, but Ashley knew that every step they took brought them closer to the final, most perilous part of their journey.The smuggling route lay ahead, a dangerous path fraught with risks. It was a trail used by those desperate to escape, like them, and it was heavily guarded by mercenaries loyal to the highest bidder. But it was also their only chance, the only way out of the country without alerting Adonis to their movements.“Stay close,” Jackson murmured, his vo
The world was a haze of pain and darkness as Ashley drifted in and out of consciousness. Time lost all meaning; seconds felt like hours, and hours like days. Voices echoed around her, distant and distorted, as if she were underwater. She tried to focus, to cling to some sense of reality, but every attempt was met with a wave of pain that threatened to pull her back into the abyss.When she finally opened her eyes, she found herself in a small, dimly lit room. The walls were bare, the only furniture a single bed on which she lay and a rickety wooden chair in the corner. Her body ached all over, the sharp sting in her side a constant reminder of her injury. She tried to sit up, but the effort sent a jolt of agony through her torso, and she collapsed back onto the bed with a groan.The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. It was Jackson, his face a mixture of relief and worry as he hurried to her side.“Ashley,” he said softly, kneeling beside the bed. “Thank God, you’re awake
Ashley woke to the sound of hushed voices. For a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was or what had happened. The room was dim, the only light coming from a small lamp on a nearby table. Her body ached, the pain in her side a constant, throbbing reminder of her injury. But she was alive, and the fear that had gripped her before she blacked out had receded slightly.Slowly, she turned her head toward the source of the voices. Jackson and Victor were speaking quietly in the corner of the room, their faces obscured by the shadows. Amelia sat beside her, her hand still wrapped around Ashley’s, her eyes heavy with worry and exhaustion.Ashley tried to speak, but her throat was dry and her voice cracked. Amelia immediately turned to her, her expression softening with relief. “Ashley,” she whispered, squeezing her hand gently. “You’re awake.”Ashley managed a weak smile. “How long…?” she asked, her voice barely audible.“Just a few hours,” Amelia replied, brushing a strand of hair away from A
The following morning, Ashley woke to a muted sunrise filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Her body still ached, but the pain was less intense, and her mind felt clearer. She shifted slightly, careful not to disturb Amelia, who was curled up beside her, still fast asleep.The events of the previous night played through her mind, a tangled web of fear, anger, and confusion. Victor’s plan to escape the city offered a sliver of hope, but it was fraught with uncertainty. Trusting a stranger, especially one with ties to the criminal underworld, was dangerous. But staying put was even riskier.Ashley sighed softly, the weight of her situation pressing down on her. She couldn’t afford to let her emotions cloud her judgment. Every decision from this point on had to be calculated, precise, with no room for error.Her thoughts were interrupted by the quiet creak of the door opening. Jackson stepped inside, his gaze immediately falling on Ashley. He gave her a small
The plane rocketed down the runway, the engines roaring as it picked up speed. The rattling of bullets against the fuselage sent chills down Ashley’s spine, but she forced herself to keep her eyes forward, focusing on the horizon. The cabin was tense, the air thick with fear and adrenaline.Amelia’s hand was clutched tightly in Ashley’s, her knuckles white from the grip. She stared straight ahead, her face pale, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Ashley could feel her sister trembling beside her, and she squeezed her hand in an attempt to offer some semblance of comfort.As the plane lifted off the ground, a brief moment of relief washed over Ashley. They were airborne, escaping the chaos below. But that relief was short-lived. She knew the danger was far from over. Adonis wouldn’t let them go so easily.Jackson’s voice crackled through the intercom, his tone urgent. “We’re not out of this yet. Stay buckled in. This could get rough.”The plane climbed higher, leaving the airstrip and
The plane continued to soar through the night sky, leaving behind the wreckage of the helicopter that had nearly sealed their fate. The tension in the cabin was palpable, the silence heavy with unanswered questions. Ashley’s mind raced, replaying the events of the past few minutes over and over again. Who had fired that missile? And why? Amelia remained huddled close to Ashley, her breath shallow as she tried to calm herself. The terror of their narrow escape still gripped her, and Ashley could feel her sister’s fear as if it were her own. But amidst the fear, there was also a flicker of hope. They were still alive, and for now, that was enough.Jackson’s voice came over the intercom again, his tone measured but laced with an underlying tension. “We’re clear for now, but we need to make an emergency landing. This plane wasn’t built for dogfights, and I’m not risking another encounter.”Ashley nodded, even though she knew Jackson couldn’t see her. “Where will we land?”“There’s a smal
The night seemed darker as the minutes ticked by, each second pulling Ashley deeper into a world she never imagined she’d be part of. The cold metal of the chair she sat on seeped through her clothes, but it was the icy fear in her heart that truly chilled her. Across the table, Victor and Jackson continued to discuss their next move, but Ashley’s mind was elsewhere.Amelia sat close by, her eyes glazed with exhaustion and fear. Ashley reached out, taking her sister’s hand in hers, offering what little comfort she could. They had been through so much already, but she feared the worst was still to come.Victor’s voice cut through her thoughts. “We have to assume Adonis knows you’re alive. He’ll double his efforts to find you now that you’ve slipped through his fingers.”Ashley nodded, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “What’s our next step? We can’t just keep running.”Victor leaned forward, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. “No, you can’t. But you also can’t face Adonis
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