Chapter 4
1301 Words
The gunshot rang out, echoing through the street like a death knell. Amelia’s scream caught in her throat as she ducked down in the SUV, her heart slamming against her ribs, her whole body shivering and shaking.
She peeked through the shattered rear window, her breath hitching when she saw Ethan standing.
The taller man’s arm was outstretched, smoke curling from the barrel of his gun, but Ethan hadn’t moved at a single bit. The shot had missed already.
“I don’t miss twice,” the man growled, his smirk vanishing as he raised the gun up again.
Ethan moved fast, too fast for Amelia to follow up with his movements. Before the man could pull the trigger, Ethan was on him, grabbing his arm and twisting it violently. The gun clattered to the ground, and the man let out a pained roar, while Amelia stood there watching.
The other two men lunged forward, but Ethan was ready to do what he does the best. He threw a punch that sent one of them sprawling to the pavement, then pivoted, dodging the other’s attack with practiced ease.
Amelia couldn’t breathe at this point. She had known Ethan was successful, powerful evil, but this? The calculated precision in his movements, the sheer dominance he exuded, was something she hadn’t expected.
“Stay down!” Ethan barked at the men, his voice cutting through the chaos.
But the leader wasn’t giving up sooner.
He staggered to his feet, clutching a knife that glinted under the streetlights.
“You think you’ve won, Collins? This isn’t over. Dylan will….”
“Dylan doesn’t scare me and you know that,” Ethan snapped, cutting him off already. He kicked the knife from the man’s hand and shoved him back against the car.
“Go back and tell him all I said, If he comes after her again, I’ll destroy him. Piece by piece, until there's nothing left of him.”
Amelia shivered at the ice in Ethan’s tone. It wasn’t any familiar Hollywood threat, it was a promise.
The sound of sirens in the distance made everyone freeze up. The leader glared at Ethan before motioning for his men to retreat. Within seconds, they were gone, disappearing into the shadows like phantoms.
Ethan turned back to the SUV, his eyes locking on Amelia’s.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, her hands trembling as she opened the car door.
“What the hell was all that about? Who are you, Ethan? And why does it feel like my entire life has turned into a bad action movie to watch off?”
He didn’t answer immediately, his gaze scanning the street before motioning for her to follow him.
“We can’t stay here. The cops will ask too many questions and we don't have time to answer any of them. Let’s go.”
Amelia hesitated, her mind racing at this point. She wanted quick answers, and needed them urgently. But the urgency in his voice made her follow him back into the car.
The drive was tense and silent, the city lights flashing by in a blur. Amelia stole glances at Ethan, who sat in the passenger seat, his jaw clenched and his phone in hand.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore.
“You need to tell me what’s going on please. What do those men really want? Why did Dylan send them after me?”
Ethan didn’t look at her, his fingers tapping rapidly on his phone screen.
“It’s not just you, Amelia. It’s about what you represent. You know things about Dylan, things he doesn’t want anyone else to find out in the outside world.”
Her stomach twisted.
“What kind of things?”
Ethan glanced at her, his expression unreadable and Stren.
“His business dealings aren’t as clean as they look or sound. He’s been laundering money through fake charities, bribing officials, and hiding assets offshore. If someone, like, say, his ex-wife, were to testify against him, his entire empire would crumble.”
Amelia’s head spun around at this point.
“But I don’t know anything about that! I was just his wife, Ethan. He kept me in the dark about everything he owns.”
Ethan’s lips curled into a faint smirk.
“You know more than you think. And Dylan knows it, too.”
She opened her mouth to argue with the words of Ethan, but the car suddenly veered sharply, throwing her against the door.
“Hold on!” the driver shouted, his voice tense and wild.
Amelia turned to see another car barreling toward them from the opposite lane. The headlights were blinding, and her pulse spiked as the vehicle swerved, trying to cut them off.
“Not again,” she muttered, her nails digging into the seat.
Ethan grabbed the steering wheel, steadying the car as the driver slammed the brakes. The pursuing vehicle skidded to a halt, blocking the road ahead.
Ethan’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. His expression darkened.
“It’s Dylan. He’s calling the shots now.”
Amelia’s blood ran dry cold.
“What does he really want?”
Ethan met her gaze, his voice grim.
“He wants you.”
The driver backed the SUV up, trying to find an alternate route, but the sound of tires screeching behind them made Amelia’s heart sink. Another car appeared, trapping them from both sides.
“We’re boxed in,” the driver muttered, gripping the wheel tightly.
Ethan cursed under his breath, his mind racing. “There’s a safe house nearby. We’ll make a run for it on foot.”
“What?!” Amelia’s voice rose up.
“You can’t be serious, Ethan!”
“Do you have a better idea on how to save our lives?” Ethan shot back, his tone sharper than first.
“Because sitting here is a death sentence.”
Before she could respond, the men from the cars stepped out, their weapons gleaming under the streetlights. Ethan didn’t wait for them to get closer. He opened the door, pulling Amelia out with him.
“Run!” he ordered, dragging her toward a narrow alley.
Amelia’s legs moved on autopilot, her heart pounding as gunshots rang out behind them. She stumbled, but Ethan’s grip on her arm kept her steady. The sound of footsteps grew louder, their pursuers closing in.
“This way,” Ethan said, yanking her into a hidden doorway. He pressed her against the wall, his body shielding hers as they caught their breath.
“Do you trust me now?” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.
Amelia glared at him, her chest heaving.
“Trust? I don’t even know who you are anymore or what you are!”
His lips quivered into a humorless smile. “You’ll have to figure it out fast yourself. Because this isn’t over.”
Before she could respond, the door behind them creaked open.
Ethan turned sharply, his body tense. But instead of a threat, a woman stood there, her face partially hidden by the shadows.
“Took you long enough,” she said, her tone clipped up already. “Get inside before they find you.”
Amelia stared at the woman, her unease growing. “Who is she?”
Ethan didn’t answer, his expression unreadable.
The woman’s eyes flicked to Amelia, a knowing smirk on her lips.
“You have no idea what you’ve stepped into, do you?”
Amelia’s stomach twisted. “What are you talking about?”
The woman’s gaze darkened. “Welcome to the game, Amelia. You’re either a player or a pawn.”
A deafening crash sounded outside as their pursuers broke through the barricade. The woman turned, her expression sharp. “Time’s up for you, Amelia Sam,”.
- Writer
