Home / Romance / The Devil's Game / Chapter 28 - A Frantic Chase

Share

Chapter 28 - A Frantic Chase

Author: Tabitha
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-16 02:08:00

“Who the hell are these people?!” Ayra yelled, her voice raw with unfiltered panic.  

Lucian didn’t answer immediately, his focus on the cars chasing them. When he finally spoke, his words were clipped. "Funnily enough, I also want to know.”  

Her hands curled into fists. “They were after me before you showed up! Why?”  

Lucian glanced at her, his eyes dark, angry. But she felt he wasn't angry at her - at least not right now. “Why don’t you tell me?”  

The SUV pulled onto a highway, the speedometer climbing as the driver tried to put distance between them and their pursuers. 

Lucian’s jaw was tight, his knuckles white as he gripped his weapon.

The SUV weaved through the traffic at an alarming pace, the hum of the engine growing louder as it accelerated further. 

Lucian leaned forward, his jaw clenched and his eyes scanning the road ahead. 

Ayra sat frozen in the backseat, gripping the edge of her seat tightly, the adrenaline coursing through her leaving her both terrified and acutely aware of her surroundings.

Behind them, the three pursuing vehicles maneuvered with unnerving coordination. 

Ayra watched in horror as one car pulled up to their left, another sped up on their right, and the third remained directly behind.

Lucian’s eyes darted to the side mirrors. His fingers gripped the weapon tighter.

“They’re trying to box us in, sir! I'm going to attempt to make a hole!” the driver shouted, his voice strained.

Lucian pulled Ayra into his embrace the very next second, the suddenness of his actions leaving her with no time to react and sending a mild scent of cologne drifting into her nostrils. 

She tried to struggle out of his arms but his grip was firm. 

"Stay still and hold on," Lucian said, the gentleness in his tone surprising Ayra. 

The driver tightened his grip on the wheel, his knuckles almost as pale as Lucian’s. But he was an old hand at this.  

It wasn't his first time driving for The Director. 

The SUV veered left, hard, fast. The tires squealed in protest as the driver slammed the side of the car into the sedan attempting to entrap them. 

Metal screeched against metal. Ayra yelped, her body lurching sideways as the impact threw her against the door. 

Lucian held her tight, his arms the only safe place in the world it seemed, as he cushioned her with nary a grunt. 

The sedan didn’t stand a chance. The lighter car spun out, its tires shrieking as it skidded across the asphalt. Seconds later, it slammed into the guardrail with a deafening crunch.

“One down,” the driver muttered, though his voice carried no triumph. 

"Are you okay?" Lucian whispered into her ear, making her start with surprise. 

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine," she said, pausing. "Thank you."

The car on their right surged forward, gunning for the open stretch ahead. Simultaneously, the vehicle behind them accelerated, its bumper kissing theirs with an audible thud. The jolt rattled Ayra’s teeth.

Lucian gave her a little pat. 

“Get down. Now.”

She obeyed without question and slid down in her seat until she was half-curled in the footwell. Her pulse roared alongside the car as it SUV swerved again. 

The driver edged closer to the second car, forcing it to the shoulder, but the move left little room to maneuver.

The pursuing car behind them struck again, harder this time, causing the SUV to fishtail briefly. 

Lucian shot at the offending vehicle, shattering its windshield and making it go off course as its driver sought to dodge. 

Ayra braced herself, gripping whatever she could as the vehicle zigzagged between lanes. Horns blared around them, angry drivers swerving to avoid the chaos.

The pursuers faltered, but only for a moment. 

Up ahead, traffic thickened, a wall of red brake lights glowing like a warning. The driver spotted an exit ramp at the last second. 

Without hesitation, he veered sharply to the right, tires screeching as the SUV skidded onto the ramp.

The pursuing cars hesitated just long enough to give them a sliver of breathing room. Lucian’s sharp voice cut through the cabin. “There’s some cover in the trees ahead. You see it?”

The driver nodded tightly. “Yeah.”

"We have a safe house nearby. Drop us off."

The driver gave a curt nod. 

As the ramp curved, the SUV slowed dramatically, the engine growling in protest. Ayra blinked up from her crouched position, confusion and fear warring in her chest.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice cracking. She'd never been in such a situation before and it was telling. She was scared and panicked and-

“Trust me,” Lucian said. Before she could press him, he was out of his seatbelt, moving fast.

He yanked her arm, pulling her to him, and this time, Ayra didn't resist. He swept a hand behind her knees and got her into a half princess carry. 

"Open the door," he said. 

Before she could even register what she was doing, she had yanked open the door behind him. With nary a delay, he jumped out with her in his arms. 

The SUV was still moving when they hit the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of her, and for a moment, everything was pain—sharp, jarring, relentless pain.

Lucian cushioned her fall, his arm braced around her. They rolled together into the ditch, gravel biting into her palms as they skidded to a stop. Ayra gasped, sucking in air as her body trembled.

“Come on, we've got to move.” Lucian’s voice snapped her back into focus. He pulled her to her feet, half-dragging her toward the treeline. 

But Ayra was tuckered out. A second later he simply carried her princess style and sprinted for the trees. 

Behind them, the SUV sped off, its driver continuing the ruse. The pursuing cars gave chase, unaware their targets had abandoned ship.

Ayra stumbled after Lucian, her legs weak and unsteady. The forest swallowed them quickly, the dense canopy above blocking out the harsh glow of the afternoon sun. 

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Related chapters

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 29 - A Gas Station

    When they got away from the road, Lucian put Ayra on her feet. The dense foliage offered some respite from the open road, but Ayra’s lungs burned as she struggled to keep up with Lucian’s long strides. He slowed only slightly, his hand gripping her wrist to ensure she didn’t fall behind.After what felt like eternity they emerged onto a narrow dirt road. Ayra doubled over, gasping for breath, but Lucian didn’t let her rest for long.“We've arrived,” he said, pointing to a dilapidated gas station a short distance away. Its flickering neon sign cast an eerie glow over the otherwise desolate area.Ayra followed him silently, her legs trembling with exhaustion. He was all but carrying her once more, honestly. The gas station was quiet, fluorescent lights overhead casting a harsh glare over the aisles of dusty merchandise. Lucian led her toward the back, keeping a careful eye on the door.“You can sit,” he said, gesturing to a worn-out bench near the restrooms.Ayra sank onto the bench a

    Last Updated : 2024-12-16
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 30 - More than a Gas Station

    "Believe it or not, I don’t want to see you hurt," he said quietly. His words hit Ayra harder than she expected, leaving her momentarily speechless. She wanted to argue, to push him away, to remind him that he was the reason she was running in the first place. But the words wouldn’t come. Not when his touch was so careful. His voice so steady, and his actions so at odds, with the image of him she’d built in her head. With the literal monster she had pegged him for. Confused, she remained silent for the remainder of the treatment."All done," Lucian said, sitting back on his heels as he finished wrapping her arm in a neat bandage.Ayra glanced down at his work, then back at him. "Thank you," she mumbled. Then wanted to hit herself upside the head. Why mumble the thanks?!Lucian simply nodded, standing to return the first-aid kit to its place. Ayra watched him move, her mind racing with emotions she couldn’t quite name. She hated that she felt grateful to him. She hated the way his k

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 31 - Who He Is

    It seemed that, finally, she had a moment of peace. It was ironic, actually. She had never felt safe these past few days. Not at the cabin, where the thought of her father finding her occupied her nights and a faint anxiety that her hideout had been found suffusing her days. Yet to find peace with Lucian of all people. What a joke. The moment of peace didn’t last long. A soft knock on the door startled her, but before she could respond, Lucian pushed it open. He leaned casually against the doorframe, holding a deck of cards she’d noticed earlier in the living room. He had changed as well, now wearing a plain white t-shirt that clung to his lean frame and a pair of dark gray sweatpants that looked oddly casual on him. Lucian's hair was damp, suggesting he had showered as well, and the sharp demeanor he usually exuded seemed to have softened.“Didn’t think you’d wait for permission?” Ayra said dryly, eyeing him.Lucian gave a soft smile, holding up the cards and shaking them. “Th

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 32 - Thoughts of Isa

    Lucian left Ayra’s room with his hands tucked in his pockets and let the door click shut behind him. He leaned back against the wall, eyes closed, exhaling a long, shuddering breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding. Relief coursed through him like a drug. He took a deep breath, and his shoulders sagged as if he had been holding himself upright through sheer willpower for days. Which he had been, in a way. The relief coursing through him was almost palpable. He had finally found her - or at least, someone he was now convinced was Isa.There was no one thing that convinced him, and perhaps he had rushed to a conclusion, but heaven knows he believed it with all his heart. His lips quirked upward in a rare, unguarded smile - small, almost imperceptible, but simply happy. He ran a hand through his dark hair, pushing it back as his thoughts raced. Every moment they’d just shared replayed in his mind like a precious memory he wanted to hoard.Ayra was so much like Isa it wasn't e

    Last Updated : 2024-12-20
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 33 - Slipping Away 

    Lucian abandoned the whiskey entirely, pushing the glass away and capping the bottle with an air of finality. It had tasted wrong anyway. Instead, he paced the small kitchenette, his mind a whirlwind of emotions and plans. What came next? How could he ensure her safety without scaring her off? How could he make her see that he wasn’t the enemy she thought him to be?Lucian paced the small kitchenette, his hands restless. Memories of Isa kept flashing in his mind and they were overwhelming. The way her eyes used to light up when she smiled, the way she always managed to keep him grounded when his world threatened to spiral out of control. She had been his anchor; more than he'd realized. Losing her had felt like losing a part of himself.Isa had been what made him human. He stopped pacing and leaned heavily against the counter, his head bowed. He didn’t realize his hands were trembling until he looked down and saw them. He clenched them and reached into his pocket for a pack of c

    Last Updated : 2024-12-20
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 34 - A Drive 

    The car hummed softly as it cut through the quiet, winding roads. The early morning sunlight danced across the sleek hood of the vehicle. It glinted like liquid gold as they sped past rolling fields and sparse woodlands. Ayra glanced out the passenger window, the world beyond passing by in a blur. She felt oddly relaxed.Lucian was focused, his hands steady on the wheel. He hadn’t said much since they left the safehouse, which wasn’t unusual for him, and it wasn’t like it was uncomfortable either. Lucian had this way of making silence seem less awkward and more deliberate. Like it wasn’t just an absence of words but a space to breathe.Ayra wasn't sure how that worked or why those words popped into her head either. She stole a glance at him, taking in his sharp profile. His jaw was set, his expression unreadable, but there was a calmness to him that she hadn’t noticed before. He looked... almost at peace.“Do you ever talk while you drive, or is this some kind of meditative thing

    Last Updated : 2024-12-21
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 35 - More of the Same

    No one had been around when Ayra stepped through the doors to her house. One of two servants were within the estate grounds but avoided Ayra like the plague.Hours passed with neither her father nor Lisbeth coming back and so she decided to simply go to bed. It was better than staying awake to be tormented by the dread of confronting the two. ....Ayra stirred from her sleep and the very next second, the sound of the door slamming against the wall jolted her awake. The warm cocoon of dreams shattered, leaving her blinking in confusion as the harsh light from the hallway poured into the room.Ayra shot up in bed, her heart racing, disoriented by the sudden intrusion. She squinted in the dim light, trying to make sense of the figure standing in the doorway. It was Lisbeth."Ayra!" Lisbeth’s voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness like a whip.Ayra blinked, still groggy from sleep, and rubbed her eyes, trying to shake the remnants of her dreams. She sat up slowly, feeling the co

    Last Updated : 2024-12-22
  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 36 - Midnight Frustrations

    As the sound of Lisbeth’s footsteps faded, Ayra sank back onto the bed, her body trembling with the effort of holding herself together. The room felt suffocatingly quiet now, the echoes of their argument still ringing in her ears.Her hands shook as she rubbed her face, trying to steady her breathing. Every word Lisbeth had said replayed in her mind, cutting deeper with each repetition.For the first time, Ayra felt a burning hatred toward her sister. It wasn’t just anger or frustration - it was something darker, something more final.She thought of her mother. Of the quiet strength and teachings she’d tried to pass on to Ayra; of the way she’d always managed to keep her safe even when everything was falling apart.She thought of her mother's death. Her cold, stiff corpse lying forlornly on the asphalt, blood pooling beneath her.And now Lisbeth had trampled all over her memory, reducing her to nothing more than a failure.And Ayra found within herself a rapidly blooming hatred and d

    Last Updated : 2024-12-23

Latest chapter

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 68 - Unintended consequences

    The silence gnawed at Ayra.For all her careful orchestration—for the balcony appearances with tousled hair and artful smudges of lipstick, for the planted photographs handed to Nico, for the media blitz that followed—Lucian had yet to respond. No message. No confrontation. No fury.No presence.Ayra wandered through the silent halls of the manor like a ghost in her own haunting. It had been two days since she fed the flames of the scandal herself, tipping the scales and watching Lucian’s pristine, untouchable image buckle under the weight of betrayal. It had spread like wildfire—first, the hushed reveal of their secret marriage, then the carefully timed photos of her supposed affair with Leon. The media had eaten it up, ravenous for every scandalous morsel.The silence that followed was not relief.It was strange, like waiting for an earthquake after watching the ground crack beneath her feet. She expected retaliation, the burn of his fury, maybe even for Lucian to return and demand

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 66 - Media Frenzy

    He set the envelope down, fingers tightening against the edges. "You’re playing a dangerous game," he murmured.Ayra tilted her head. "Am I?"He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned back, assessing her with a careful, measured look. "What exactly are you trying to accomplish here?"She smiled, but there was no warmth behind it. "That’s for Lucian to figure out, isn’t it?"A beat of silence. Then:"You want me to do something with this."Ayra reached for her wine glass again, swirling the liquid absently. "I want it to be known," she said simply. "I want the world to talk."Nico exhaled, setting the envelope down as if it were something poisonous. "You do realize that if I take this to him, you’ll regret it?"Ayra’s gaze sharpened."I’ll regret nothing," she said quietly.Another silence stretched between them.Finally, Nico let out a slow, resigned breath. "You really don’t care if he burns everything down over this, do you? And by the way, it's practically impossible for him

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 65 - A Scandal Unfolds

    She told herself it was necessary, what she was doing.But in the past few days, something inside her twisted in ways she couldn’t quite name.It was easy enough to play the role, to smirk when she needed to, to let her fingers trail over the stem of a wine glass as if she had all the time in the world. But every time she stepped onto that balcony, feigning the remnants of an intimate encounter, a part of her coiled tight in discomfort.Lucian had done nothing but let her fester in silence, leaving her with no choice but to force his hand. She needed him to react—to do something. If he wanted to play the game of indifference, she would break that facade piece by piece.And yet, she hated that it had come to this.That she had to use someone else just to make herself seen.At night, when the estate was quiet, she would stand by the mirror in her room, staring at her own reflection as if it held the answers.What did she expect Lucian to do?What did she want him to do?She wasn’t sure a

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 64 - The Slow Unraveling 

    Ayra led Leon into her chambers with steady steps, her fingers brushing against his arm in a way that suggested intimacy. Yet as she stepped over the threshold, a quiet revulsion coiled deep in her stomach.The thought of him here—of his presence in this space—left a bitter taste in her mouth.Still, she had to see this through.She glanced at the walls, at the high corners of the ceiling. She suspected Lucian had placed surveillance somewhere in the house. That would explain his silence—his patience. He’s waiting for proof. Waiting to see if she would really go through with it.Fine.If he needed proof, she would give it to him.Leon, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her, exhaled a slow breath as he stepped into the room. "You know," he murmured, turning to face her, "I wasn’t expecting this tonight."She forced a small smile. "Change of plans."He studied her for a moment, his gaze dark, his amusement barely concealed. "And here I thought you enjoyed the chase.""I do." She cros

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 63 - The Illusion of More

    The game unfolded slowly, piece by piece, each move carefully placed on the board.It started with simple meetings—casual, almost meaningless to an outsider. Ayra and Leon continued their rendezvous in high-end cafés, lounges with dim lighting, and restaurants tucked away in discreet corners of the city. They never once met at the same place twice. That alone was enough to stir whispers among those who paid attention.She ensured Lucian’s men saw them. She played her part well, letting moments linger, leaning in a fraction closer than necessary despite the roiling in her gut, letting a smirk or a laugh escape at the right moments. There was no real intimacy, but to anyone watching, it didn’t matter. The illusion had begun to take root.And then, she took the next step.She invited Leon to the house.It was a slow escalation, deliberate in every way.The game unfolded over two weeks, methodical and deliberate. Ayra knew the power of suggestion, the weight of unspoken words, and the way

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 62 - Playing with Fire

    The message came just before dinner.Leon: Had a great time chatting today. Wouldn’t mind another round—this time, somewhere quieter?Ayra sat back on the plush sofa of her sitting room, twirling the phone in her fingers. She had been expecting him to reach out. Encouraging it, even. Yet, staring at the message, she hesitated. The line between playing a game and getting caught in it was dangerously thin.But Lucian had yet to react to anything she’d done. Not the staff replacement, not the disorder she’d caused in the estate, not even her blatant attempts to provoke him. He remained distant, untouchable, as though she didn’t even exist. It burned.Maybe this would be the thing to get under his skin.She typed her response carefully.Ayra: I wouldn’t mind that. Where do you suggest?His reply came within moments.Leon: I know a private lounge near the East District. Great wine, even better company.She smiled faintly. He was charming, smooth. Just enough to make this easier.Ayra: Send

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 61 - Another Phase

    The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the city as Ayra stepped out of the car, the sleek black vehicle blending seamlessly with the polished luxury of the district. The streets here were lined with designer boutiques, private lounges, and high-end cafés—places that oozed exclusivity, where only the elite could afford to linger. It was the kind of setting she had been raised in for the later part of her life, yet now, standing before one of the finest cafés in the city, she felt strangely like an outsider.The café, Bellaria, was known for its privacy and refinement. It wasn’t a place for loud conversation or rushed meetings; here, the rich came to drink imported coffee, discuss business, and subtly flaunt their power. It was exactly the kind of place Lucian would be seen in.That was part of the reason she had come.Ayra pushed open the glass door, a small bell chiming above her head. Inside, the space was decorated in dark wood and gold, the air rich with the scent of roasted co

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 60 - A Thorn in His Side

    Nico stepped into Lucian’s office, the weight of his report pressing down on him. The room was dimly lit, the glow of the evening cityscape filtering through the large windows behind the man seated at the desk. Lucian didn’t look up immediately, his attention fixed on the documents before him, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood.“Speak,” Lucian said, his voice low, controlled.Nico took a slow breath before delivering the news. “It’s about Ayra.”Lucian’s fingers stilled. He finally looked up, his expression unreadable. “What did she do now?”“She’s replaced the staff.”Silence.Lucian leaned back in his chair, studying Nico with an eerie calm. “Come again?”Nico’s jaw tightened. “She fired the entire estate staff. Threw them out and replaced them with her own people. None of the original staff are left. Worse, they refuse to return.”Lucian’s gaze snapped up. “Refuse?”Nico hesitated, then nodded. “They’re scared, boss.”Lucian scoffed, leaning back in his cha

  • The Devil's Game   Chapter 59 - Come to Talk

    By the time the dust settled, the house was eerily quiet.The last of the protesting staff had been escorted off the premises, their voices still ringing in Ayra’s ears.The replacement staff stood awkwardly near the foyer, waiting for orders. But Ayra had none to give.She should have felt victorious.She had made her statement. She had taken control.But all she felt was exhaustion.The butler was the only one who hadn’t been forcibly removed. He still stood by the staircase, arms clasped behind his back. Unlike the others, he hadn’t fought. He hadn’t shouted.And that made him all the more annoying.Ayra met his gaze, a strange tension hanging between them.“You’re still here,” she observed.“I am,” he replied.“I told you to leave.”“You told them to leave,” he said with an insipid little look on his eye. “But you did not fire me.”Ayra exhaled through her nose. “Do you really think Lucian would let me? Would he be happy if I did so?”The butler smiled slightly, but it was devoid o

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status