One Hundred Seventeen

The sky was still gray as Cassandra and Alexander left Aunt Marrie’s house. The remnants of last night’s rain lingered on the streets, making the air cooler and damp. Trees along the road dripped with water, their leaves still wet. Cassandra sat quietly in the passenger seat, her gaze vacant as she stared out the window. Her heart was a storm of fear and determination. She was getting closer to uncovering the truth, but she also knew that each step forward brought her into more danger than she had ever imagined. Alexander, driving with sharp focus, stole occasional glances at her. He understood how heavy this journey was for Cassandra.

"We can stop now if you want, Cass,"

Alexander said softly but firmly.

"This isn’t an easy road."

Cassandra turned to him, her eyes burning with unshakable resolve.

"I’m not stopping, Alex," she said firmly.

"Not until I find out who killed them."

Alexander studied her for a moment before sighing. He knew she wouldn’t change her mind.

"Alright. But promise me, if anything happens, you’ll listen to my instructions."

Cassandra gave him a small smile.

"I’m not a child, Alex."

Alexander chuckled, though the tension still hung between them. They continued driving, merging onto roads that were beginning to fill with other vehicles. But suddenly, Alexander glanced at the rearview mirror, and his expression shifted. A dark blue sedan was approaching them at an unusual speed.

"Cass, we have a tail."

Cassandra frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Alexander nodded toward the mirror. Cassandra followed his gaze and spotted the car—a deep blue, classic model, yet sleek and new. And then her heart nearly stopped. The color, the shape… she had seen it before.

"That..."

Cassandra’s breath hitched.

"That car…"

Alexander’s eyes sharpened.

"Do you recognize it?"

Cassandra swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That’s the car I saw at my parents’ accident."

Alexander’s grip tightened on the wheel.

"Are you sure?"

Cassandra clenched her knees.

"I remember now. That car was near the crash site. And inside…"

She bit her lip, recalling the hazy memory of a man wearing dark sunglasses, his french-cut hair slicked back, sitting inside the car, watching as her parents’ vehicle burned.

"Someone was inside. They were just… watching."

Alexander’s jaw clenched.

"Then we have a problem."

Without warning, the sedan accelerated, veering into the left lane and attempting to ram them from the side.

"SHIT!"

Alexander cursed, jerking the wheel right to avoid the hit. Cassandra clutched the dashboard.

"They’re trying to take us out!"

The sedan didn’t slow down. If anything, the driver grew more aggressive, trying to box Alexander in.

"They don’t want us leaving here alive,"

Alexander muttered, his eyes laser-focused. Cassandra twisted in her seat, trying to see the driver’s face, but the sedan’s windows were pitch black.

"Whoever they are, they’re not just witnesses,"

she said, her voice trembling.

"They’re part of this."

Alexander gritted his teeth.

"Then we can’t let them win."

Cassandra looked at him, fear creeping into her expression.

"What do you mean?"

Alexander tightened his grip on the wheel and glanced at her briefly.

"Hold on tight, Cass."

Before she could respond, he slammed the accelerator and weaved sharply between lanes. Cassandra grabbed her seatbelt, her body pressing against the seat from the sudden speed boost. The blue sedan didn’t back down. The driver matched Alexander’s speed, refusing to lose them.

"They’re not giving up,"

Cassandra muttered. Alexander smirked, eyes gleaming with a dangerous thrill.

"Then let’s give them a real challenge."

He yanked the steering wheel and cut into another lane, slipping between speeding cars with barely an inch to spare. The sedan followed, but Alexander had the advantage—his driving skills were unmatched. Cassandra turned back, desperately trying to make out any details inside the enemy car. Before she could focus, the sedan swerved aggressively, making another attempt to ram them. Alexander swore.

"They really want us dead!"

"What do we do?"

Cassandra asked, her voice strained. Alexander’s eyes darted across the road, scanning for an opening.

"I’ll make them lose control."

He inhaled deeply before executing a sharp maneuver, skimming dangerously close to the sidewalk before merging back into traffic. The sedan didn’t take the bait—they remained eerily controlled, following every move with eerie precision. Cassandra felt a cold dread settle over her.

"They’re not ordinary drivers. They’re trained."

Alexander’s grip on the wheel tightened.

"I know."

But before he could plan another strategy, the sound of gunfire suddenly echoed.

BANG! BANG!

Cassandra whipped her head around.

"They’re shooting at us!"

Alexander cursed as the back windshield cracked from the impact of a bullet.

"Hold on tight, Cass! This is about to get even crazier!"

Cassandra could only take a deep breath before Alexander slammed the gas pedal, sending them into an even more dangerous chase. Behind them, the blue sedan still pursued them, like an unshakable shadow.

BANG! BANG!

Gunshots pierced the silence. Cassandra let out a sharp gasp as she saw sparks flying from the barrel of a long rifle protruding from the sedan’s rear window. Alexander swore, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

"Shit! They’re firing at us!"

The next shot hit their back tire.

BANG!

Their car jerked violently. The force was so intense that the rear wheels lost stability.

"Alex! We’re losing control!"

Cassandra screamed, clutching the dashboard. Alexander gritted his teeth, trying to keep the car steady.

"Stay calm, Cass!"

Their car spun wildly across the road, barely missing other vehicles that blared their horns and swerved sharply to avoid a collision. Cassandra held her breath, her body jerking forward from the sudden spins. Her heart pounded violently. With incredible reflexes, Alexander jerked the wheel right, searching for a small opening on the shoulder of the road. The tires skidded. The car swerved sideways. Cassandra screamed as the car nearly flipped, but Alexander skillfully used the narrow space to slow their momentum before finally bringing the car to a harsh stop. Smoke billowed from the hood, and the sharp screech of rubber against pavement still echoed in the air. Cassandra panted.

"God… We almost died."

Alexander gripped the wheel, adrenaline still pumping through his veins.

"But we didn’t."

Cassandra turned to him with wide eyes.

"You’re insane, you know that?"

Alexander exhaled deeply, staring straight ahead.

"I know."

But before they could exchange another word, the blue sedan came to a stop a few meters ahead of them. Silence. As if time itself had slowed. The car door opened. Cassandra tensed, her body frozen. Her eyes widened as a man stepped out of the vehicle.

That man… That face… He was tall, dressed in a sharp black suit, his french-cut hair slicked back flawlessly. And the thing that made Cassandra’s blood run cold—the same face she had seen years ago. That night. The night her life changed. This man was there. He didn’t help. He didn’t panic. He just stood there, watching. Cassandra swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper.

"Alex… that’s him…"

Alexander glanced at the man, his expression sharpening.

"The one you saw that night?"

Cassandra nodded slowly, still paralyzed in shock.

"Yes… I’d never forget that face."

The man approached, his steps unhurried, as if he wasn’t the same person who had just tried to kill them. Alexander reached for his waist, making sure his gun was still there.

"Be careful, Cass. I don’t like his energy."

The man finally stopped a few meters away from them. He looked at Cassandra with an expression that was almost… satisfied.

"Cassandra Bakker,"

he said, his voice smooth but dripping with menace.

"It’s been a long time."

Cassandra clenched her fists, a storm of fear and rage boiling inside her.

"Who are you?"

The man merely smirked.

"Someone you should have forgotten."

Alexander stepped forward, his eyes burning with intensity.

"If you were trying to kill us, you made a huge mistake."

The man turned his gaze to Alexander, his smirk widening.

"And you must be Alexander Carter. The cop who sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong."

Alexander didn’t flinch.

"Trust me, I won’t stop until I know who you are and what your connection is to that night."

The man chuckled darkly.

"You two are amusing. But unfortunately…"

In one swift motion, he pulled a gun from beneath his suit and aimed it directly at Cassandra.

"This journey ends here."

Cassandra’s breath caught, her body freezing. Alexander instantly yanked her behind him, shielding her from the barrel of the gun.

"Don’t touch her!"

Alexander growled. The man raised an amused brow.

"Oh? You want to die first?"

He started pulling the trigger— But before he could fire— The sound of another car engine roared in the distance. A black SUV sped toward them, screeching to a halt. The door swung open. And someone stepped out. Someone Cassandra knew. Antonio. With his long black coat billowing in the wind, he stepped out, followed by several of his men who immediately raised their guns at the man from the blue sedan. The man narrowed his eyes.

"Right on time, Antonio Franches."

Antonio glared at him, his expression murderous.

"Edward Novaries."

Cassandra’s heart pounded.

"You know him?"

Antonio didn’t glance at her, his eyes locked onto Edward.

"He’s not just some random man, Cassandra."

Edward smirked.

"You finally found me, Antonio. I’ve been waiting for this moment."

Cassandra looked between Antonio and Edward, confusion and anger building inside her.

"Who is he, Antonio?"

she demanded, her voice trembling. Antonio finally turned to her, his gaze colder than ever.

"He was my father’s other right hand." Cassandra’s world tilted. Edward chuckled lowly, his voice smooth yet terrifying.

"And I’m here to finish what was started long ago."

Cassandra stared at Antonio, her expression filled with shock.

"He's your father's right-hand man?"

her voice was barely a whisper, but her emotions churned violently inside her chest. Edward Novaries let out a low chuckle, his voice echoing in the cold night air.

"Oh, so you haven’t told her yet, Antonio?"

Antonio didn’t turn to him, but Cassandra could see the tension lining his face. His jaw clenched tightly, his eyes brimming with barely contained rage.

"I don’t owe you any explanations, Edward."

Edward shook his head slightly, slipping his hands into his pockets as if this were nothing more than a casual afternoon chat.

"Really? Because I think, if Cassandra knew who her father really was, she’d start questioning who she is."

Cassandra stiffened, her breath hitching.

"Don’t listen to him, Cass,"

Alexander’s voice was sharp, laced with warning.

"People like him only want to manipulate you."

Edward turned his gaze to Alexander, smirking.

"And you… the foolish cop who sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong. Since when did you start playing in our world?"

Alexander swiftly pulled out his gun, aiming it straight at Edward’s head.

"Since your world destroyed the life of someone I love."

Edward’s eyes glinted with intrigue.

"Oh… so you love her?"

Cassandra turned to Alexander, but he kept his gaze locked on Edward, refusing to respond. Edward chuckled.

"How amusing. You think you can protect her? You think Cassandra will survive if she stays by your side?"

Cassandra clenched her fists.

"I can protect myself."

Edward studied her, as if analyzing every detail.

"Ah, a stubborn girl. Just like her mother."

Cassandra’s breath caught.

"You knew my mother?"

Edward gave a thin smile, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

"More than you think."

Cassandra felt her entire body tense. Everything she had believed in suddenly felt unsteady.

"If you know something about my mother, tell me!"

she shouted. Edward let out a long sigh before shaking his head.

"Unfortunately, your time for learning the truth has run out."

In an instant, Edward raised his gun toward Cassandra and Alexander.

BANG!

The shot rang through the air. But the bullet never reached its target.

BANG! BANG!

Antonio’s men reacted instantly, opening fire on Edward. Edward rolled to the side, taking cover behind the door of his blue sedan. Gunfire erupted, a small battle breaking out between Antonio and Edward. Alexander yanked Cassandra behind Antonio’s black SUV, shielding her from the hail of bullets.

"Cass, stay behind me!"

Alexander ordered. Cassandra could hear her heart pounding wildly. Her breaths came in short gasps, but her eyes stayed locked on Edward, who was returning fire from behind his car. Antonio moved swiftly, crouching behind another SUV, his gaze murderous.

"You should’ve died a long time ago, Edward."

Edward chuckled, still wearing his arrogant smirk.

"Too bad, Antonio. The world isn’t done with me yet."

One of Antonio’s men tried to approach from the side, but before he could fire, Edward shot him directly in the chest.

BANG!

The man collapsed to the ground, unmoving. Cassandra clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a scream.

"Fuck!"

Alexander growled, pressing Cassandra down further to keep her covered. Edward took advantage of the chaos, diving back into his blue sedan.

"He’s getting away!"

Cassandra shouted. Antonio shot at Edward’s car, but the man had already slammed his foot on the gas, speeding away.

"CHASE HIM!"

Antonio roared at his men. Two black SUVs immediately sped off after Edward’s car, but Antonio knew—Edward wasn’t the kind of man to be caught easily. Cassandra stepped out from cover, still breathless.

"Who the hell is he, Antonio?"

Antonio looked at her, his gaze unreadable. There was fury, darkness, but also something else—a secret he had long kept buried.

"I’ll tell you… but not here."

Cassandra narrowed her eyes.

"No. I want to know now."

Antonio stepped closer, his stare sharp.

"Cass, this isn’t the place. Trust me—Edward is more dangerous than you realize."

Alexander stepped between them, glaring at Antonio.

"What are you hiding?"

Antonio didn’t respond, but Cassandra could see the weight of something heavy in his silence.

"Edward isn’t just my father’s right-hand man,"

Antonio finally said, his voice lower.

"He’s a part of a past that should have stayed buried."

Cassandra shook her head.

"No, Antonio. I won’t accept half-truths. If I really want to find the truth, I need to know everything."

Antonio studied her for a long moment before finally stepping closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"Edward isn’t just connected to your parents’ deaths, Cassandra. He’s part of something much bigger. Something that could destroy us all."

Cassandra’s chest tightened.

"What do you mean?"

Antonio met her gaze, his eyes cold and calculating.

"Edward knows something that could change everything. And if we don’t stop him, we may never learn the truth."

Cassandra bit her lip, her thoughts racing.

"Then we need to find him before he finds us."

Antonio smirked slightly.

"That’s the plan."

In the distance, police sirens began wailing. Alexander eyed Antonio warily.

"You have a plan, don’t you?"

Antonio simply smiled.

"Of course. I always have a plan."

Cassandra took a deep breath, realizing that her journey wasn’t ending— It was only just beginning.