Chapter 16: Run With Me
879 Words
Ava Sinclair’s POV
I stood at the edge of the woods, heart hammering in my chest, the cold air biting through my jacket. The early morning mist clung to the earth like a secret. Behind me, Lucas was crouched in the brush, his eyes scanning every shadow.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, my fingers twitching.
He handed me a small radio device. “Channel three. Only speak if you’re in danger.”
I took it and tucked it into my coat.
“What if they catch me?”
“They won’t,” he said firmly. “You’re fast, and I’ll be tracking them from the ridge.”
I met his eyes. “And if they do?”
He reached for me, cupping my cheek. “Then I burn the forest down to get you back.”
My breath caught.
Before I could respond, he turned away, melting into the trees like he was part of them. I counted to ten. Then I ran.
---
The trees blurred around me. Leaves crunched underfoot. I ducked under branches, leaped over roots, and forced myself to keep going even when my lungs begged me to stop.
I could hear them.
Not Lucas—but them. The men in black, crashing through the underbrush. Chasing me.
The wind stung my eyes. My legs ached. I had no idea where I was going. Only that Lucas had told me to head east, toward the marker. I spotted the red flag tied around a tree trunk and veered right, just as instructed.
A shot rang out behind me.
I screamed and hit the ground, rolling behind a fallen log.
“They’re shooting at me now?” I hissed into the radio device.
Lucas’s voice crackled back. “They’re not supposed to get that close yet. Stay low. I’m coming.”
I bit back my fear and peeked over the log.
Two men.
Both armed.
One scanned the area with binoculars. The other was speaking into his comm.
“She’s moving east. Confirmed. Closing in.”
I ducked back down.
Something rustled behind me—and then a hand gripped my arm.
I shrieked and swung.
Lucas caught my fist midair.
“It’s me.”
I exhaled shakily.
“You said I’d be safe.”
“I didn’t say you wouldn’t have to fight.” He tossed me a flashlight. Follow the beam. There’s a cave ahead. Go inside, wait for my signal.
“What signal?”
“You’ll know.”
I stared at him. “You’re not coming?”
“I need to draw them out further. They think they’ve got you cornered. Let’s not disappoint them.”
“Lucas—”
He kissed me.
Just a breath. A moment. But everything inside me stopped.
“I’ll find you,” he said.
And then he was gone.
---
Lucas Grayson’s POV
I moved like a shadow through the trees, circling the intruders. There are three now, not two. One had taken position on a high ridge, likely spotting from above. Smart. But not smart enough.
I activated the EMP pulse from my transmitter. It would knock out any nearby drones for sixty seconds. All I needed was thirty.
I crept behind the one on the ridge. He was too focused on the clearing to notice me. One hit the back of his knee, another to the neck, and he dropped without a sound.
Two left.
They were closing in on the cave. Ava was inside. I had minutes.
I drew my gun.
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Ava’s POV
I crouched behind a cluster of rocks, gripping the flashlight with white-knuckled fingers. The cave smelled like earth and damp stone. My breath was loud in my ears.
And then—
The signal came.
A burst of light from the forest, followed by the unmistakable crack of gunfire.
I didn’t wait.
I bolted from the cave just in time to see one of the men collapse, a dart embedded in his neck. Lucas tackled the other, slamming him into a tree. They struggled. Fists. Grunts. Dirt flying.
I ran forward.
The man pulled a knife.
“Lucas!” I screamed.
He dodged, twisted the attacker’s wrist, and drove his elbow into his face. The man crumpled.
Panting, Lucas turned to me.
“Next time,” he said breathlessly, “you run with me.”
I nodded, speechless.
Then he pulled me into his arms and didn’t let go.
---
Later – back to the safe house.
We returned before dusk. Clara greeted us at the door, eyes wide with fear and relief.
“You’re both alright?”
“Barely,” Lucas muttered. “But we got one alive.”
He dragged the unconscious man inside and tied him to a chair.
I stared at the stranger. His face was bruised, bloodied, but his eyes still burned with arrogance.
“You’re making a mistake,” he croaked.
Lucas crouched before him. “No. You did.”
The man laughed. “Kill me. It won’t matter. The Circle has others. Dozens.”
Lucas looked over at me. “You have the ledger?”
I nodded.
He turned back to the man. “Then I hope they’re ready to bury another secret.”
Because we were done hiding.
—
- Writer
