All Chapters of Ruined By Mafia: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The morning air was frigid as we raced through the narrow alleyways, our breath visible in the early light. Every nerve in my body was on high alert, and each sound, every shadow, felt like it was Dante’s men closing in on us. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of what I’d done pressing down on me like a lead weight. I had made my choice, but now, every step I took felt like it brought me closer to my end.Robert Haines followed closely behind me, his footsteps uneven. He wasn’t used to running, especially not for his life. We didn’t speak. There wasn’t any time for words, and frankly, what could either of us say? We were fugitives now. I had spared his life, but it had cost me mine. Dante wouldn’t let me walk away from this.I led us through the alleys and side streets, keeping as far from the main roads as possible. The city was waking up around us, the sounds of early morning traffic echoing faintly in the distance, but it felt like we were trapped in a world apart, where eve

The forest was eerily quiet, save for the sound of our footsteps crunching through the underbrush. The cold air stung my skin, but I barely felt it. All I could focus on was the way my legs burned from exhaustion, the sharp sting of branches that had scratched across my arms and face, and the constant, gnawing fear that Marco’s men were still close behind us.We had been running for what felt like hours, weaving through the trees, staying off any trails, trying to keep ourselves hidden. Every now and then, I’d glance back at Haines. He looked like he was on the verge of collapse, his face pale and streaked with sweat. But he didn’t complain. He kept moving, pushing himself beyond his limits.I admired his resilience, but I knew it wouldn’t last. Neither of us could keep this pace for much longer.“Let’s… let’s stop for a minute,” I said breathlessly, slowing my pace until I came to a stop near a large tree. I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. My lungs felt like they were o

We made our way to the cabin, slipping inside through the broken door. The interior was dark and musty, the air thick with the smell of damp wood. It was small, just one room with an old, broken-down fireplace and a single window that had long since been shattered.Haines collapsed onto the floor, his body trembling with exhaustion. I leaned against the wall, my legs shaking as I tried to steady my breathing. The weight of everything we had been through pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. My mind was a whirlwind of fear and exhaustion, but for the first time in what felt like hours, we had a moment to catch our breath.The cabin was silent except for the sound of Haines’ ragged breathing. He was on the verge of collapse, and I couldn’t blame him. We were both pushed far beyond our limits.I glanced toward the broken window, my eyes scanning the forest beyond for any signs of movement. Marco was still out there, hunting us, and I knew he wouldn

The tension between them was palpable, and I could feel the man’s indecision in the way he shifted his weight. He wasn’t sure what to do, and that gave me just enough time.With a burst of adrenaline, I twisted beneath him, bringing my knee up and slamming it into his side. He grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to slip free.I scrambled to my feet, backing away from both men, my heart pounding in my chest.Marco watched me for a moment, then turned his attention back to the man. “You should leave while you can.”The man sneered, clearly unhappy with the turn of events, but he knew he was outmatched. He gave me one last look—cold and full of promise—before he turned and disappeared into the shadows.I stood there, panting, my body trembling with fear and exhaustion as I watched him go. Marco remained where he was, his expression still unreadable.Finally, he turned to me, his voice low.

We ran, the forest closing in around us, the branches tearing at my skin, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Every step was a desperate attempt to stay ahead, to keep moving. Marco’s footsteps weren’t far behind, and even though his voice had faded into the distance, I could still feel him closing in.Haines stumbled next to me, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He wasn’t built for this. He’d always been someone who thrived in quiet spaces, far from danger, and now, here we were, running for our lives. I wanted to shout at him to keep going, to push through the exhaustion, but I could feel his strength fading. We couldn’t last much longer.“Elena…” Haines wheezed, grabbing my arm for support. “I—I can’t keep up.”I glanced at him, the moonlight catching the lines of fear etched into his face. His legs were trembling, his chest heaving. I knew if we kept pushing him, he’d coll