My Second chance Love

Narrow escape

Ava's POV

I ran like my whole life depended on it and soon I heard some footsteps behind me and turned to see Daniel running to catch up and slowed down so we could meet up.

"I kicked him unconscious, we have some time to get out of here" They darted through the narrow alleyway, Daniel’s breathing heavy beside her. Behind them, the distant hum of a car engine idling sent a chill down Sarah’s spine. Whoever was after them wasn’t giving up.

“We need to get out of here,” Daniel muttered. “Now.”

I didn’t argue. I led him toward a side street, my mind racing. I wondered if I was helping a killer escape. But if Daniel was telling the truth, then someone was trying to frame him and I had to find out why or not because it was really none of my business.

“Where are we going?” Daniel asked.

“My car’s two blocks away,” I said. “We get in, we drive, and you tell me everything totally . No half truths"

He hesitated, but then nodded. My beath came in sharp, ragged gasps as I gripped Daniel’s wrist, pulling him forward. The alley smelled of damp earth and rotting wood, but I barely noticed. All I could think about was getting away before whoever was hunting us caught up.

Behind us, the distant hum of an idling engine sent a fresh surge of fear down my spin and I didn’t dare look back, but I could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching us.

Daniel’s voice met me, low but urgent. “Ava, we need a plan. Running won’t fix this.”

“Then tell me the truth,” I shot back, yanking him behind a rusted dumpster as a set of headlights swept over the alley’s entrance. “A woman thinks you killed her sister. And if she believes it, others might too. I need to know what really happened.”

Daniel’s jaw clenched. “I told you I didn’t kill Sophia. My brother did.”

I studied his face, searching for any evidence of lies and I smart enough to see guilt in them. It might not be murder but he was definitely hiding something from me

“Then what did you do, Daniel?”

He groaned, looking to the side “Not here. We need to move.”

I let out a sigh and nodded, swallowing the thousand questions pressing against my tongue and led him toward the side street, my pounding.

My car was just two blocks away and if we could reach it, then we had a chance to escape but immediately we stepped onto the main road, the roar of an accelerating engine shattered the silence.

“Get down!” Daniel shouted, pulling me behind a parked van just as bullets ripped through the air.

My hands flew to my ears , covering them as glass shattered above us. The gunfire ceased, followed by the screech of tires. When I dared to peek, I saw a black SUV speeding away.

Daniel pushed himself up, his face pale. “They found us.”

I gritted my teeth in anger. “You think?”

I hated that he had dragged me into this mess but this wasn't the time. I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward my car and locked the doors immediately and started driving,

Daniel ran a hand through his hair. “They won’t stop, Ava?"

“Then start talking,” she said, gripping the wheel. “Why the hell is the woman after you? Did you see those men? They looked ready to kill in case you didn't see it” I ranted and another sigh escaped his lips

“While I went to save the day by marrying Sophia, her nuclear family knew I wasn't the father of her child but allowed it to save them the embarrassment"

“Okay and?” I asked carefully, dreading what he was about to say

He stared out the window. “Things got out of hand and I got into an affair with Mabel, Sophia's sister"

"An affair like you both were together while you were with Sophia?"

"I wasn't with Sophia. It was just a faux marriage"

"I see" I but down on my lips because I honestly had a lot to say but it wasn't the right time.

"She's after me because Victor, my brother killed Sophia and I wouldn't stay with her as some sort of compensation because I said I was already in love with you"

I felt a chill creep down my spine. “So you’re saying she wants you dead because you're in love with me?" I stole a glance at him. “If that's the story, then why did you come back?”

His eyes softened as he looked at me. “No Ava, she wants you dead so she can have me. She's a crazy woman and I came back because she's trying to kill you to get me and I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

I swallowed hard. I didn’t know what to say but I knew I was scared as hell. I kept one hand tight on the wheel and continued driving, my mind spinning. Daniel’s confession made my stomach churn and if he was telling the truth, then I needed to find a way to protect myself but how?

“Where are we going?” he broke the silence with a low voice and I shrugged

“I don’t know. Somewhere safe, I suppose"

He let out a dry chuckle. “Nowhere is safe, Ava. Not as long as Mabel's people are after us"

My fingers were turning white from pressing down on the steering wheel with force "Then make them stop chasing us down"

He raised his brow at me. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying we need to find Mabel and tell her that you don't love me anymore and you're ready to be with her"

Another sigh escaped his lips but he remained silent"

"What is it? Isn't it something you can do?" I asked and he shook his head

"She won’t believe that and besides, I love you Ava so it's no point lying.”

I glanced at him. “Oh my God. You're such an i***t " I said but he didn't respond, his gaze was fixed on the side mirror and I followed his eyes and felt my blood turn to ice.

A pair of headlights was right behind us. It was too steady and close. We were being followed and as if they realized that we were onto them, the car picked up speed.

“They found us,” I whispered and Daniel looked at me, his eyes filled with fear

“Drive faster"

I floored the gas, swerving onto a side street but the SUV behind followed without hesitation.

“Left!” Daniel shouted and I took the turn hard, tires screeching but the SUV kept up, closing the distance.

A gunshot rang out and the back windshield exploded at the same time scream escaped my lips and I ducked instinctively.

Daniel twisted in his seat, cursing. “Keep driving”

I swerved onto a main road, barely missing an oncoming motorcycle. The city lights shining past in a blur.

Daniel grabbed the glove compartment and yanked it open but it was empty because I didn't own a gun. I bit down on my lips

"Tell me you have a plan.” I said and he groaned,

“Yeah. Don’t die.” he shrugged and I almost laughed but the SUV was still behind us, the driver pressing forward aggressively. Then, to my horror, another black car merged onto the road ahead, blocking our path. How many were they even? I screamed in my head, looking around for an escape

“Hold on,” I said, taking a sharp right as the tires skidded making me lose control for a minute before I regained control and the SUV hesitated for a second, giving us some time to escape.

Just then, Daniel’s phone buzzed and when he looked at the screen, he cursed under his breath.

“Who is it?” I asked and he hesitated before reluctantly, he turned the screen toward me. It had Mabel written on the screen and for some reason I didn't like it.