4: Wanted!

MYA

WANTED!

The room was stifling, and every beat of my heart echoed loudly in my ears as I tried to steady my trembling hands. The man’s body sprawled on the floor, and panic consumed me. I had no time to waste; someone would come looking for him soon.

I took a shaky breath and glanced around the room. The least I could do was make it seem like nothing had happened—at least for a while. I dragged his limp body toward the bed and positioned him as though he were sleeping. My stomach churned at the way his head rolled to one side, blood trickling from the bash on his temple.

It wasn’t perfect, but it might buy me some time.

I cracked the door open and peeked into the dimly lit hallway. It was quiet except for the muffled voices in the distance. My heart raced as I stepped out, shutting the door gently behind me.

I hadn’t made it far when I heard a familiar voice.

“There you are,” the boss said, his lips curling into a smirk as he looked me over. He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall. “Done already? Guess you’re eager to please, huh?”

I forced myself to keep my face blank.

He chuckled, taking my silence as an agreement. “That’s good, girl. That’s really good. If you keep this up—no fuss, no fights—you’ll rise to the top here in no time. I like girls who make things easy.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, biting back the response that threatened to spill out. All I could do was nod, praying he wouldn’t look too closely at me.

He pointed down the hall. “Go on, head down there. You’ll see the road to the girls’ dorms. You’ll be staying there for now.

I nodded again, swallowing the bile rising in my throat.

The boss was still talking when a panicked voice echoed from behind us. “Boss! Boss, we need you!”

I couldn’t breathe. They’d found the body.

“Stay put,” the boss ordered, turning on his heel and striding toward the voice.

The moment his back was turned, I yelped, clutching my stomach. “I need the bathroom!” I blurted, bending over as if I were in pain.

He waved a dismissive hand without looking back. “Fine, but make it quick.”

I didn’t wait for him to change his mind. I turned and bolted down the opposite hallway, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor. My lungs burned as I ran, my mind screaming at me to keep moving.

Shouts erupted behind me, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. “The gates! Close the gates!” someone yelled.

I pushed myself harder, blending into shadows and weaving through narrow corridors. My heart pounded as I spotted an open door at the end of the hall. The cold air hit me like a slap when I burst outside, and I didn’t stop running.

The alley was dark, the only light coming from a flickering street lamp in the distance. My legs ached, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t let them catch me.

The ruckus behind me grew louder, voices shouting and boots stomping against the ground.I tuck myself somewhere in the dark to catch my breath.

For a brief moment, I thought I was safe.

But then a hand shot out from the dark, grabbing me around the waist.

I screamed but another hand clamped over my mouth.

“Shh,” a voice whispered against my ear. The sound was low and familiar, and my blood ran cold.

I froze, my body going stiff as I recognized the voice.

It was him. My husband.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t even think. All I could do was stare at him, my heart pounding like a drum. He was definitely pissed that I ran off on our wedding day. What groom wouldn’t be pissed that their bride ran off?

I was terrified and I felt so fucking stupid. I ran away from my husband this afternoon just to run into him right now?

I had no idea what he was going to do next.

The sound of heavy boots and shouting voices was growing louder by the second and my heart was pounding so hard, my chest was starting to hurt.

They were almost here. I could hear them—so close I could make out their hurried footsteps and frantic whispers. My legs were trembling so badly I thought I’d collapse.

I fully turned to him—my husband, the very man I had run away from—and felt my lips tremble as I whispered, “Please… don’t give me to them.”

I was so scared, I could feel my eyes sting. “They’ll kill me,” I begged.

He was silent. Maybe he wouldn’t help me. Maybe he would hand me over to them without a second thought. Was this how my life was going to end? If my life ended this way, it would be a really frustrating story to tell seeing as I died due to my foolishness.

The men’s voices drew closer. My heart pounded against my ribs as I pleaded with my eyes, praying for him to do something.

And then, without a word, he moved.

He spun me around so fast I barely had time to react before I found myself enveloped in his large, dark coat. The scent of leather and faint cologne surrounded me, and for a fleeting moment, I felt oddly safe.

I barely dared to breathe as the men approached.

“Good evening, sir,” one of them stammered, his tone laced with fear.

My husband’s voice was calm, even, but it carried a weight that made me shiver. “What is it?”

The men hesitated, their shuffling feet betraying their nerves. “We’re uh, we… we’re searching for a girl. Slim, dark hair, wearing a torn dress… have you seen her, sir?”

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, his hand tightened around me, his coat shielding me completely and his cologne filling up my lungs. I held my breath, waiting for his reply. He still had time to hand me over to my death.

“I haven’t,” he said coolly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The men made nervous noises. “Understood, sir,” he said quickly before they all hurried off.

I didn’t dare move until the sound of their footsteps faded completely.

“You can come out now,” he said softly, his grip on me loosening.

I hesitated, then slowly stepped back, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. His coat had been so warm, and his scent was so comforting, I almost forgot who he was—or how dangerous.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Before I could say more, he opened the door, gesturing for me to get inside.

He was going to kill me for sure. I was going to die at the hands of my own husband.

The car was silent except for the faint hum of the engine. I sat stiffly, my hands folded in my lap, stealing glances at him every so often.

When I couldn’t take the silence any longer, I cleared my throat. “Where are we going?”

He turned his head slightly, his gaze locking with mine. “Home.”

The single word felt like a slap, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the laugh bubbling up. Home. Of course. The very place I had tried so desperately to escape. Why did I even bother trying to escape? I only managed to extend my time of death by a few hours, I was still going to die.

Tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them away. My life felt like some kind of cruel joke.

The car rolled to a stop in front of a massive mansion. He got out first, holding the door open for me.

I hesitated before stepping out, my legs trembling slightly. As I walked toward the grand entrance, I couldn’t stop the odd flutter in my chest. It was ridiculous, but something about the way he held the door open made me feel… something.

Stop it, I scolded myself. He’s leading you to your deathbed, not on some fairy-tale date.

I kept my gaze on the floor, too afraid to look at him. He finally broke the silence.

“Are you hurt?”

I shook my head quickly. “No.”

He tilted his head, studying me again. “Then why were you running when I found you?”

I hesitated, unsure how to explain. But his steady gaze demanded an answer, so I swallowed my nerves and told him everything—the kidnapping, the whorehouse, and… the murder.

His expression hardened as I spoke, and by the time I finished, his mouth was slightly open in shock.

“Do you realize the mess you’ve gotten yourself into?” he asked, his voice tight with disbelief.

Before I could respond, he grabbed a remote and switched on the TV. The news channel came on and there I was—my picture displayed prominently alongside bold headlines accusing me of murder.

I gasped, my heart plummeting as I read the words. A hefty ransom was listed below my photo, and my knees almost gave out.

He turned to me, his expression dark. “You’re officially the most wanted woman in the country,”