Chapter 55
Sapphire.
There was something my father told me when I was
as right, he said 1 had the potential to be great but I was too much of a coward to realize it.
He thought he was cursing me out but he was helping me. Those words stuck to me like glue because I wanted to badly prove him right and I felt like it was the right choice.
The more I fought him, the harder it was to break free, he clipped my wings and made me so dependent on him even when I suffered greatly in his handu
I wanted to fly away so bad but I couldn’t, not without falling off Right now, it felt like I was undipping my wings and setting myself free.
I would no longer be the murderer’s daughter or the spoilt princess but I would be Sapphire.
I was so close to finding my path, being away from this place would give me so much peace. I already said goodbye to Leah, she was the only person Lowed that
The rest deserved nothing from me, har would probably be better off without me, Marcel too. Those were the only people I felt bad for not saying goodbye to them.
I decided I wasn’t going with my things, just the essentials I needed. I had a plan, I would go to school normally and just never return.
it was greatly planned and all I needed was for Benita to come through on her part of the deal
I paused mid–pack when my phone vibrated, the familiar buzz tugging at my attention. I reached into my pocket and pulled it out, my lips curling into a smile as I saw the message from Benita She was ready
Finally.
I grabbed my backpack, making sure everything I needed was inside. I’d been waiting for this, but I didn’t expect her to come through so early. Still, the timing worked for me. It wasn’t too far off from my normal routine, and I was already dressed for school, which would make everything look innocent enough. No one would suspect a thi
I descended the stairs, trying to be as casual as possible, but my heart raced with the thrill of what I was about to do. As I reached the bottom, I froze. Aragon was there, leaning against the doorframe, his sharp eyes watching me.
I plastered a smile on my face, hoping he wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, and tried to walk past him. But just as I made to move by, he stepped into my path, blocking my escape
“I’ll drive you to school today,” he said.
I felt my stomach drop. This was not part of the plan. I couldn’t go to school, I wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near it today. But if I refused, if t protected too much, he’d know something was up.
1 forced a smile and nodded, trying not to let my unease show. “Okay, thanks.”
As we headed out to the car, I sucked in a deep breath, feeling the weight of my plan pressing on me. This was going to be harder than I thought. I climbed into the passenger seat and immediarely noticed how the car smelled–clean like pine and leacher. It was a scent I always associated with him, it was suffocating to say the least.
He did into the driver’s seat and glanced at me, his eyes dark but curious. “How are you doing?
His question sounded harmless, but I knew better. He was always probing, testing. He never just asked how I was for no reason. I think he never fully believed what I sald when Benita called me into his office.
I gave him the most neutral, polite answers could muster, keeping my gaze fixed straight ahead. I wasn’t about to ship up now, not when I was so
close.
The drive to school felt like an eternity and my mind raced through the steps of my plan, trying to anticipate anything that might go wrong. When we finally pulled up to the school, I had to remind myself to keep my breathing steady.
As I reached for the door handle, ready to make my escape, his voice stopped me
“Wait
Itumed, my heart thudding in my chest. His expression had softened, and there was something unreadable in his eye
“I owe you an apology,” he said. “For the way I treated you before. I was blinded by the wrong things. I am sorry,”
Thlinked, taken aback. Of all the things he could have said, this was the last thing I expected.
He continued, his hands gripping the steering wheel as if he needed the support. “I’ve realized that I was wrong, and I don’t expect you to trust me night away, Bull I’m hoping maybe we can start over. Be friends.”
Ha words hung in the air between us, heavy with sincerity. For a moment. I didn’t know what to say. Aragon apologizing? This was new temtory.
“I. Td like that,” I said, finding my voice again. “Thank you.”
Before I could second–guess myself, I leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. It was instinctive, a gesture to show I meant what I sand but it was mostly to throw him off
He looked startled but didn’t pull away. 1 smiled at him, feeling a strange mix of relief and guilt, then quickly climbed out of the car.
Chapter 551
I walked into the school, I could feel his eyes on me. I waited until his car disappeared from the parking lot before turning around and heading in the upposite direction. 1 lud no intention of staying at school today.
But just as I reached the edge of the loc, 1 heard a familiar snicker behind me. My stomach twisted, and I turned to see Tyla standing there with her group of sycophants.
Tyla. Of course.
She was smirking at me, that superior look on her face that always made my skin cred. Her posse stand behind her, giggling like she’d and something funny.
I smirked back, the adrenaline from my encounter with Amgon still coursing through me. Something inside me snapped, and before I could stop myself, I strode up to her. Her smirk faltered as I closed the distance between us, but she didn’t have time to react.
I punched her.
Hard
The satisfying crunch of my fist meeting her nose echoed in my ears. She stumbled back, her hand flying to her face, her expression a mix of shock and pain. Her friends gasped, frozen in place, 100 stummed to move.
I didn’t wait for her to recover. I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart pounding in my chest, a wicked grin spreading across my face
Ir fel so damn good.
I had dreamed of doing that for some time now, she had her moment with me but that alone evened it out.
It walked out of the school’s front gate and I felt lighter than I had in ages. I checked my phone for any updates, but there was nothing yet from
Denita, Good. That meant I still had time.
The sound of my wings unfolding themselves made me out a pep to my step
I slipped into the shadows of the street, heading toward the rendezvous point. I pulled my backpack tighter over my shoulder, my mind racing with
what was to come.
Whatever happened next, one thing was certain, I wasn’t the same girl I had been when I woke up this morning. Something had shifted inside me, and I had a feeling there was no going back.
Not even for a mate who realized your worth just when it was le
I walked into the warehouse with a casual stride, though my heart was racine beneath my calm exterior. I had no idea if I was walking into an ambush but I believed she was genuine about her devilish plans
The dim lighting and the echo of my footsteps made the place feel eerie, but I’d been in far worse situations. The smell of oil and metal lingered in the air, and I could hear the faint hun of machinery somewhere in the distance
Benita was standing in the middle of the large, empty space, her posture rigid but relaxed in that effortless way she had. Beside her stood a man, her only guard for this meeting. His face was expressionless, hund folded in front of him, but I knew he was dangerous just by the way he carried himself. Benita didn’t keep anyone around who wasn’t.
She glanced at her watch and then lifted her eyes to meet mine, pinning me with her sharp gaze. “Right on time,” she said her voice smooth, with just a him of amusement.
I smirked, approaching slowly, my eyes scanning the room out of habit. “I always abu My tone was cool, matching her energy- everything I asked for!”
–“Do you b
you have
She gave a slight nod, stepping aside as if to showcase the scene behind her like a price. “Of course,” she said “Would over disappoint you?”
That was the wrong question to ask.
My eyes shifted to the sleek black car sitting in the shadows behind her. A Porsche 911 Turbo. The glossy paint reflected the dim warehouse lights, its curves and sharp angles making it look like it was built for spend and precision. The twin exhaust pipes at the rear gleamed, promising raw power, and the iconic logo on the hood gleamed faintly in the low light, I raised an eyebrow, impressed despite myself.
“Nice.” [mattered. “You have taste.”
She chuckled, clearly enjoying g my reaction. “Only the best for you
She popped the trunk with a click of the key, and the hatch lifted smoothly. Inside were three large black duffel bags, their zippen glinting ominously in the light. The faint smell of cash filled the air, mixed with the scent of leather. She gestured toward the bags, her expression unreadable.
“There’s a total of fifteen million dollars in there. Should be enough for what you need.”
Iwustled low under my breath, walking closer to the car and inspecting the bags. My fingers brushed one of the rippen, though I didn’t open it. I trusted her, but it was a trust built on mutual benefit, nothing more. “That’s a lot of money for a simple favor,” I said, msing my gaze to meet hers
She shrugged, her lips quirking in a small smile. “Consider in insurance. In case things get complicated. You know how these things go. I don’t ever wam to see you back here so 1 paid extra.”
I nodded, catching the key as she tossed in my way. The cold metal felt solid in my hand, a reminder of the freedom this car and that money would buy me. But I wasn’t about to let my guard down just yet, “This better be complete,” I said, iny Lone dropping. “Or you’ll be seeing me again.” Her eyes darkened for a moment, a flicker of seriousness crossing her face. “It’s all there. Every dollar. You have nothing to worry about.” Estudied her for a moment, weighing her words. I could never fully trust anyone in this line of work, but she was desperate to make slings happen.
Cupter 35
To make me disappear.
I nodded, satisfied for now. “Good.”
Without another word, 1 walked around to the driver’s side of the car, feeling the sleek handle beneath my fingers as I opened the door. Sliding into the leather sea, 1 couldn’t help bu admire how comfortable it was. The interior was just se immaculate as the exterior, with its state–of–the–an. controls and high–end finishes. I glanced at the dashboard–everything about this car screamed lussury and danger.
She stood a few paces away, watching me with that knowing smile, as if she could read every thought running through my mind. She raised a hand in a casual wave signaling the end of our little transaction
I returned the gesture with a nod before revving the engine. The car parred beneath me, the powerful hum vibrating through my chest. It was like the beast was waiting to be unleashed.
I took a moment to enjoy the sensation, then pulled out of the warehouse, the tires gripping the ground with a satisfying precision as I hit the gas. The dark streets stretched ahead, and the city lights flickered in the distance, beckoning me toward the future I was about to create.
Isped down the deserted road, the wind rushing past. I allowed myself to exhale. Fifteen million dollars. That was more than 1 needed, but having it made everything easier. More money meant more options. More leverage..
The warehouse and Benin faded into die rearview mirror, and with them, the last ties to my old life. I wasn’t looking back. Not noir, Not ever. The streets were quiet, sive for the sound of the engine purring beneath me as I drove. My mind wandered, piecing together the next steps. A new life. A fresh start. Everything I’d been working toward was finally within reach. Tjust had to be smart about it, cautious. In this world, there was no room for miuakes.
1 had my plan. I had the resources. And now, I had the means to disappear, to slip away from the life that had been holding me down for too long. I glanced at the duffel bags in the rearview mirror, their presence both a comfort and a reminder of the risks I was taking.
Bus I wasn’t afraid. If anything, the danger made me feel alive.
Imerged onto the freeway, my foot pressed harder on the gas pechl, the car surging forward with ease. The city lights blurred into streaks of color. and the burn of the engine became a steady rhythm that drowned out everything else. I was free, and the world was mine for the taking.
My father’s words schned in my mind: “You know how these things go.”
Yeah. I knew. I knew all too well.
Ben this time, I was in control
This time, no one would stop me.
And as I drove out of the city, the horizon stretching endlessly before me, I couldn’t help but smile. I was ready to start a new life, and nothing–not the past, not old enemies, not even the ghosts that haunted me was going to stand in my way.
