ROGUE HEIRESS: THE RISE OF EVELYN KANE

Chapter 3

She crossed the room quickly, her eyes scanning the shelves that lined the walls. They were stocked with emergency supplies—everything from food and water to weapons and cash. She grabbed a backpack and began filling it with the essentials, her mind racing as she tried to piece together her next steps.

She knew she couldn’t stay there for long. Once Lucas realized she had escaped, he would send his men after her. And Damian, with his connections to the mafia, would have no shortage of resources to track her down. But she also knew that running blindly into the night would only get her killed. She needed a plan, and she needed to put as much distance between herself and her pursuers as possible.

As she zipped up the backpack, her eyes fell on a small, black book tucked away on one of the shelves. Curious, she pulled it out and flipped through the pages. It was a journal—her father’s journal. The pages were filled with notes, names, dates, and details about the empire he had built, both the legitimate businesses and the darker dealings that had secured his power.

Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat as she scanned the entries. This was the key—this journal held the information she needed to take down Lucas and Damian. It contained the names of their allies, the locations of their assets, and the secrets they had tried so hard to keep hidden. With this, she could dismantle their empire piece by piece, just as they had done to her.

She slipped the journal into her backpack, her mind already racing with possibilities. But before she could make her move, she needed to get out of the estate and find a safe place to regroup. The forest would provide cover, and from there, she could make her way to the city, where she could disappear into the crowds and start her search for allies.

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn slung the backpack over her shoulder and headed for the metal door. She punched in the code on the keypad, and with a heavy click, the door swung open, revealing a narrow staircase that led up to the forest floor. She hesitated for only a moment, glancing back at the safe room one last time. This was the last remnant of her old life, the life she had known before everything had been ripped away. But there was no time for sentimentality now. That life was over.

As she climbed the stairs, the cool night air greeted her, carrying with it the sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, and the soft whisper of the wind. It was a stark contrast to the cold, hard reality she had just left behind, but Evelyn knew better than to let her guard down. The darkness could be her ally, but it could also conceal dangers she wasn’t prepared for.

She emerged from the tunnel into a dense thicket of trees, the moonlight filtering through the canopy above. The estate was a sprawling property, surrounded by acres of forest, and for once, its isolation worked in her favor. If she could make it to the main road without being spotted, she had a chance of evading her pursuers long enough to disappear.

But as she made her way through the underbrush, the sound of approaching vehicles reached her ears. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. They were closer than she had anticipated. She couldn’t afford to be caught now, not when she was so close to freedom.

Quickly, she ducked behind a large tree, pressing herself against the rough bark as the headlights of the vehicles cut through the darkness. There were at least three of them, black SUVs with tinted windows—Lucas’s men, no doubt. They were combing the estate, searching for any sign of her.

Evelyn held her breath, willing herself to remain still, to blend in with the shadows. The vehicles passed by, their lights sweeping over the trees, but they didn’t stop. It seemed they hadn’t spotted the hidden entrance to the tunnel, but Evelyn knew it was only a matter of time before they realized she was gone.

As soon as the vehicles were out of sight, she bolted, moving as quickly and quietly as she could through the trees. Her muscles burned, her lungs ached, but she didn’t slow down. Every second counted. She had to reach the main road, find a way to the city, and disappear before Lucas and Damian could tighten their grip on her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spotted the faint glow of streetlights through the trees. The main road was just ahead. But as she approached, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her—fast, heavy, and getting closer.

Panic surged through her, but she forced it down, focusing on the path ahead. She couldn’t let them catch her. Not now, not ever. She burst through the last line of trees and onto the road, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of help.

And then she saw it—a lone car parked by the side of the road, its engine running, its driver’s side door open. It was a gamble, but it was her only chance. She sprinted toward the car, her heart racing, her mind screaming at her to move faster.

Just as she reached the car, she heard a shout behind her. They had seen her. Without thinking, she threw herself into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut, her hands shaking as she fumbled with the gearshift. The footsteps were almost upon her, and she could see the shadows of her pursuers closing in.

But before they could reach her, she floored the gas pedal, the car lurching forward with a screech of tires. The adrenaline surged through her veins as she sped down the road, leaving her pursuers behind. The trees blurred past her, the wind whipping through the open window as she pushed the car to its limits.

Evelyn didn’t know where she was going, only that she needed to get as far away as possible. The city lights loomed in the distance, a beacon of hope in the darkness. She was free, for now. But she knew this was only the beginning. Lucas and Damian wouldn’t stop until they had her in their grasp again.