chapter 22: No Where to Hide
776 Words
Alina’s breath came in short, ragged gasps as the car sped down the desolate road. The adrenaline still coursed through her veins, her body trembling with the aftershocks of fear and exhaustion.
She had escaped.
But for how long?
She turned to the driver—a man in his late forties with sharp eyes and a rugged face. He kept glancing at her, clearly uneasy.
"What the hell happened to you?" he asked.
Alina swallowed hard. She couldn’t tell him the truth. She couldn’t say Viktor’s name. It was too dangerous.
"I—I was taken," she stammered. "I need to get far away."
The man frowned. "From who?"
She hesitated.
Would he believe her?
Would he help her?
Before she could answer, her pulse stilled at the sight of something in the side mirror.
Headlights.
Far behind but gaining.
Her stomach dropped.
Viktor.
The car was sleek, black, and moving fast—like a predator closing in on its prey.
"Drive faster," she whispered, panic seeping into her voice.
The driver didn’t need to be told twice. He pressed his foot harder on the gas, the engine roaring as they surged forward.
But it wasn’t enough.
Viktor was closing the distance.
Alina’s hands gripped the seat, her nails digging into the worn fabric.
This couldn’t be happening.
She had been so close—
BAM!
The car jolted violently as something slammed into them from behind.
A warning.
Viktor wasn’t playing games.
He wanted her back.
And he would stop at nothing to take her.
"s**t!" the driver cursed, fighting to control the wheel. "Who the hell is that?"
Alina’s throat tightened.
"Someone I need to get away from."
The man’s grip tightened. "Hold on."
The car swerved, tires screeching as they cut through the winding road.
But Viktor was relentless.
Another hit.
Harder.
The driver gritted his teeth. "I can’t outrun him!"
Alina’s heart pounded. "Take the next turn!"
It was a narrow road leading into the woods—dark and risky, but it was her only chance.
The driver obeyed, jerking the wheel and veering off the main road.
For a moment, it worked. The SUV didn’t follow immediately, giving them a few seconds of breathing room.
But Alina knew better.
This wasn’t over.
"Where are we going?" the driver asked, his voice strained.
"I don’t know," she admitted. "Just—keep driving."
The man nodded, gripping the wheel tighter as they sped through the trees.
Alina dared to hope.
Maybe she had shaken him off.
Maybe, just maybe, she had finally—
CRASH!
The world spun as something hit them from the side, flipping the car over.
Glass shattered.
Metal twisted.
Alina’s scream was drowned by the deafening noise of impact as the vehicle rolled, tossing her around like a rag doll.
Then—
Silence.
For a long moment, everything was still.
Alina’s vision swam, her head throbbing. The car had landed on its side, the driver slumped unconscious beside her.
Pain radiated through her body, but she forced herself to move.
She had to get out.
She had to—
A shadow loomed outside the wreckage.
Her stomach clenched.
Viktor.
The door wrenched open, and strong hands reached inside, gripping her arm in a bruising hold.
Alina struggled, but it was useless.
She was too weak.
Too broken.
Viktor pulled her out effortlessly, cradling her against his chest as if she weighed nothing.
She whimpered, her battered body too exhausted to fight.
His grip was unyielding, his scent surrounding her—dark, dominant, inescapable.
"You ran," he murmured, his voice deceptively soft.
She flinched, her heart hammering as his fingers trailed up her arm, possessive and unforgiving.
"You should know by now, Alina," he whispered against her ear.
"You can never escape me."
She shuddered as his grip on her waist tightened, his voice as cold as the night air.
"You will regret this."
Viktor didn’t throw her into his car. He carried her, walking slowly, deliberately, making sure she felt every second of his control.
By the time they reached the black SUV, her limbs were trembling—not just from exhaustion, but from the icy realization of what was coming next.
He opened the door and set her inside, his expression unreadable as he slid in beside her.
The driver, Luka, glanced at Viktor through the rearview mirror. "Where to, boss?"
"Home," Viktor said simply.
Then his gaze dropped to Alina.
"And make sure no one disturbs us."
Alina’s breath hitched.
She knew what that meant.
No one would hear her.
No one would help her.
Her punishment was coming.
And there was nowhere to run.
To be continued…
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- Writer
