Dangerous Sin

Chapter 6: The Escape

Damian pushed Elena into the back of the black sedan, his grip rough on her arm. She stumbled, catching herself on the leather seat, her heart pounding.

"Where to?" he demanded, sliding in beside her.

"Drive north," she said. "I'll give you directions."

He signaled to the driver, and the car pulled out of the driveway. Elena's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. She had no idea where the evidence was—it was in the box, hidden in the safe in Alexander's study. But Damian didn't know that.

"The Castellans," she said, playing for time. "What do they want with the evidence?"

"I thought you were smart," Damian said. "They want to destroy it, of course. Those documents could put them all in prison for life."

"And you're helping them because...?"

"Because they pay me. Because they gave me power, respect, a future. Things my family never gave me."

Elena studied his face, seeing the bitterness beneath the surface. He was a man who had been living in his brother's shadow, a man who had chosen the wrong path.

"That's why Alexander and I are taking them down," she said. "Because they're monsters."

Damian laughed. "You're naive. Everyone's a monster. Some are just better at hiding it."

They drove for an hour, the city giving way to suburbs, then to countryside. Elena gave random directions, her mind racing. She needed to buy time. She needed to get out of this car.

"Stop here," she said finally.

They were on a quiet road, surrounded by trees. Damian pulled over, his eyes narrow.

"This is nowhere."

"It's where I buried the evidence," she lied. "In the woods. I need to get out."

He hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But if you run—"

"I won't run."

They got out of the car, Elena leading the way into the trees. She had no plan, no weapon. But she knew these woods—they were on the edge of the Blackwood estate, a place she had explored on her first day.

She led him deeper, her heart racing. If she could just get him close enough to the edge of the property, maybe the security team would find them.

"Stop playing games," Damian growled. "Where is it?"

"Just a little further."

She walked faster, her eyes scanning for any landmark. There—a fallen tree she recognized. The edge of the property was just beyond.

She bolted.

Damian shouted behind her, his feet pounding on the forest floor. She ran faster, branches whipping her face, roots tripping her feet.

"Help!" she screamed. "Someone help!"

A gunshot rang out. She felt a searing pain in her shoulder and fell, crashing to the ground.

Through the blood roaring in her ears, she heard footsteps. Then a voice—familiar, welcome, wonderful.

"Get away from her!"

Alexander. He had followed. He had saved her.

There was a struggle, the sound of fists on flesh, of bones breaking. Elena tried to sit up, but the pain was too great. Darkness crept at the edges of her vision.

The last thing she saw was Alexander bending over her, his face twisted with anguish.

"Stay with me," he said. "Stay with me, Elena."

She wanted to tell him she would. She wanted to tell him everything—the secrets, the fear, the feelings she had tried so hard to bury.

But the darkness came, and she knew no more.