Chapter 32: No Way Out

“Adrian!”

Juniper’s scream barely cut through the chaos.

The SUV hurtled between two massive trucks, scraping so close that she swore she heard metal screeching against metal. The blinding headlights swallowed them whole, and for a fraction of a second, time seemed to freeze—her pulse hammering in her throat, her breath caught between terror and adrenaline.

Then—BAM!

The SUV shot out onto the open road. Behind them, the trucks blared their horns, slamming on their brakes to avoid crashing into Damien’s pursuing vehicles.

Ethan clung to the headrest, his knuckles white. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

Adrian’s grip on the wheel was a death vise. “If I stop, we’re dead anyway.”

Behind them, Damien’s men weren’t letting up. Another blacked-out SUV tore through the intersection, plowing over the curb and speeding toward them like a missile.

Juniper turned, her stomach twisting. “They’re gaining!”

Adrian didn’t hesitate. “Hold on.”

He yanked the wheel right—hard.

The SUV skidded, tires screeching as it tore onto a side street barely wide enough for them to fit. The side mirror clipped a rusted fire escape, shattering on impact.

Gunfire erupted.

A bullet punched through the rear windshield, glass exploding into the cabin.

“Shit!” Ethan ducked as shards rained down on him. “They’re not playing around!”

Juniper’s heart slammed against her ribs. Her hands clenched into fists. They were boxed in, barely ahead.

“Shortcut,” Adrian muttered.

Juniper’s stomach churned. “Shortcut to where?”

Adrian didn’t answer. His eyes locked on the road ahead, scanning, calculating. Then he made his move.

Without warning, he jerked the wheel left, sending them barrelling toward a construction site.

Ethan’s head snapped up. “This is a bad idea! A really bad—”

CRASH!

The SUV plowed through a wooden barricade, sending debris flying.

Juniper’s scream died in her throat as the SUV hit a ramp at full speed—then lifted.

For a terrifying moment, they were airborne.

No road. No ground. Nothing but a drop.

Her stomach flipped.

Then—BAM!

The SUV slammed onto the other side, the entire frame shuddering violently.

Juniper’s breath came in gasps. “Jesus—”

Adrian barely acknowledged the near-death stunt. “We’re not done.”

Ethan twisted in his seat, glancing at the rearview. Then his eyes widened. “Holy shit. They didn’t make it.”

Juniper spun around.

The black SUV behind them had followed—but hadn’t cleared the jump.

It dangled off the broken edge, its front tires spinning helplessly. Inside, a man scrambled to climb out.

But gravity had other plans.

The SUV slid backward.

Juniper barely had time to register the panic on the driver’s face before—

It plummeted.

A distant splash echoed through the night as the vehicle crashed into the river below.

Silence, except for their labored breathing.

Juniper inhaled sharply, but relief didn’t come.

Because Damien was still out there.

Adrian didn’t celebrate. His jaw was locked, his hands gripping the wheel like he was ready for another battle.

“We need to disappear.” His voice was cold. Unforgiving. “Now.”

Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah? And how the hell do we do that?”

Adrian’s gaze flicked to the side streets. “We get off the grid. Change cars. Wipe our trail.”

Juniper’s pulse was still racing. “Damien’s not going to stop.”

Adrian didn’t flinch. “Then we make sure he can’t follow.”

They sped through the city, weaving in and out of deserted streets until the glowing skyline faded behind them. The urban sprawl gave way to old warehouses, then winding roads lined with trees.

No cars. No streetlights. Just darkness.

Finally, Adrian pulled off the road into an abandoned lot. The SUV rolled to a stop behind an overgrown chain-link fence.

Juniper exhaled. The silence felt suffocating after the chaos.

Ethan climbed out, shaking glass out of his jacket. “So, what’s the plan, genius?”

Adrian didn’t answer right away. His hands rested on the wheel, his knuckles still white.

Juniper swallowed. “Adrian?”

Finally, he spoke. “We switch cars. Ditch the SUV. Lay low.”

Ethan scoffed. “Lay low? Damien’s got people everywhere. You think he won’t find us?”

Adrian’s eyes darkened. “Not if we move first.”

Juniper frowned. “Move where?”

Adrian hesitated, then sighed. “There’s a safe house. Outside the city.”

Ethan raised a brow. “And you didn’t mention this before because…?”

Adrian exhaled sharply. “Because it’s not exactly ‘safe’ anymore.”

Juniper’s stomach twisted. “Meaning?”

“Meaning Damien might already know about it.”**

A heavy silence filled the car.

Ethan rubbed his temples. “Great. Fantastic. Love that for us.”

Juniper leaned forward. “We don’t have another choice, do we?”

Adrian shook his head. “Not unless you want to keep running forever.”

Juniper didn’t.

Neither did Ethan.

“Then we go,” she said firmly.

Adrian nodded. Without another word, he stepped out, heading toward a rusted-out sedan sitting beneath a collapsed roof.

Ethan frowned. “You sure that thing even runs?”

Adrian didn’t reply. He just yanked open the door, hot-wired the engine, and within seconds, the car sputtered to life.

Ethan sighed. “I stand corrected.”

Juniper hesitated before following. Something felt off.

Like they weren’t as alone as they thought.

As she slid into the passenger seat, her phone vibrated.

A cold chill slithered down her spine.

She glanced at the screen.

Unknown Number: You think this is over?

Her breath caught.

No name. No traceable number. Just those six words.

Juniper’s hands trembled.

Ethan frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She turned to Adrian, voice tight. “We have a problem.”

Adrian looked at the message. His jaw clenched.

Ethan leaned forward. “Who is it?”

Juniper swallowed hard. “Damien.”

Silence.

Then, before anyone could react, the darkness outside the car shifted.

A figure moved in the shadows.

Then another.

And another.

Juniper’s heart slammed against her ribs.

They weren’t alone.

Adrian’s eyes flicked to the mirror. “They found us.”

Ethan cursed. “No way out, huh?”

Adrian shifted the car into gear. “We make one.”

Then he slammed his foot on the gas.

The sedan burst forward as figures in the darkness raised their weapons. Gunfire erupted, bullets ripping through the air.

No more running.

This time, it was a fight.