Chapter 60
I’d face my past instead of letting it control me.
But here I was again, forced into an impossible decision with no time to think, only react.
I slipped out the safe house door, rain immediately drenching me.
Cold drops mingled with the hot tears streaming down my face. The weight of my decision crushed against my chest.
Two seconds.
The image of Caspian holding me in the factory flashed before my eyes his arms around me like a shield, his voice in my ear promising I’d never have to face my demons alone again.
The way he’d carried me despite his own gunshot wound. The way he’d looked at me tonight, like I was something precious he’d found after years of searching.
Then another image:
Rachel’s cold smile as she pressed the gun against Caspian’s shoulder. The blood blooming across his shirt. The terror in his eyes–not for himself, but for
- me.
I couldn’t let him get hurt again.
I couldn’t let him lose everything he’d built.
One second.
I made my choice and ran
–
not toward Caspian’s penthouse, not toward the car, but to the surveillance camera I’d spotted on the safe house exterior.
Looking directly into the lens, I pulled out my phone, typing frantically as the final second ticked away.
Zero.
My phone buzzed with an incoming call — Caspian.
I answered, heart in my throat.
“SAGE!” His voice was raw with panic.
“Where are you? What’s happening?”
“Listen carefully,” I cut him off. “Rachel’s watching us right now. She set a trap. There’s an envelope under the car seat and a bomb in your penthouse. I think I can–‘
The explosion rocked the night, a flash of orange–red blazing against the stormy sky.
I turned to see flames erupting from a building–not Caspian’s penthouse, but an adjacent structure.
“She lied,” I whispered. ‘Wrong building. It was a distraction.”
“Stay exactly where you are, Caspian commanded, voice thick with fear. I’m coming to you. Don’t move, Sage. Please.”
The desperation in his voice made my heart clench. Six years ago, I’d run from him after hearing about that bet. Now he was terrified I was running again.
I’m not running from you this time,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. I’m trying to end this-
Ahand clamped over my mouth, dragging me backward. A familiar voice whispered in my ear as my phone clattered to the wet pavement.
“Sorry about the misdirection, Rachel’s voice was honey sweet venom. But I needed to separate you from your protectors.”
I struggled against her grip, my elbow connecting with her ribs.
She grunted but held firm as something sharp pricked my neck.
1/2
Chapter 60
Immediately, my limbs grew heavy.
“Don’t worry, little sister, Rachel murmured as darkness crept into the edges of my vision. “I’m not going to kill you. Not yet. First, you need to meet someone who’s been dying to reunite with you.”
Through dimming consciousness, I saw Victoria Palmer emerge from the shadows, her smile as cold as the rain soaking through my clothes.
“Hello, Sage,” she purred. “It’s time we had a proper conversation about Caspian.”
As blackness claimed me, I heard Rachel’s final words: “Say goodbye to your quarterback. When you wake up, you’ll be in another state–with your real family.”
My last thought before consciousness slipped away was of Caspian reading my final text message, sent in that desperate moment when I thought I could outsmart Rachel:
It’s a trap. Bomb is fake. Under seat is evidence against Palmer. Go to police. Don’t follow me. I’m sorry for running again. I think I’m falling for you.
Chapter Comments
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Mike De Vries
sureeee she just walks outside the building and nobody follows her?? they just miraculous find her where ever she is? still holding onto the same phone? come on, watch some police series, they may be drama but they give some good ideas haha.
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