Chapter 3
571 Words
Every pair of eyes turned toward the dark corridor where Elena was hiding.
One of Zack's men smirked slowly.
“You got company tonight huh, Ryder?”
Ryder didn’t answer immediately.
His expression remained cold as he slowly stepped in front of the hallway, blocking their view.
Like he was protecting something or someone inside.
Zack noticed it instantly.
A dangerous grin spread across his face.
“Well, well…” he mused. “Didn’t know the great Ryder Kane was hiding something in there, I’m really curious about it.”
Elena froze behind the wall, her breath caught in her throat.
The dim hallway suddenly felt too small, too silent.
Ryder's jaw tightened instantly, but his expression remained unreadable.
“Check it,” he ordered coldly.
Heavy footsteps echoed closer.
One.
Two.
Three.
Elena quickly pressed her hand against her mouth, trying not to panic as the shadow of a man slowly appeared across the hallway floor.
She looked around desperately.
No exit.
No place to run.
The footstep stopped right in front of her hiding spot.
Then-
“Ryder!”
A loud voice suddenly burst from downstairs.
“The cops are here!”
Chaos exploded instantly.
Chairs scraped against the floor. Men started shouting. Someone cursed loudly while another rushed toward the back door.
The man in front of Elena turned away immediately.
“s**t-move!”
Before Elena could even react, a strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist from the darkness.
Ryder.
“Come with me if you want to live."
Elena stumbled as Ryder pulled her through the dark hallway.
“What the hell is happening here?!” she whispered harshly.
“No time”
Gunshot suddenly echoed from downstairs.
Elena flinched.
Her heart pounded violently against her chest as Ryder shoved open a hidden back door behind an old storage shelf.
Cold night air hit her instantly.
“Move,” his voice came out sharp enough to make Elena flinch instantly.
The alley behind the building was narrow and drenched from the rain earlier. Neon lights flickered above them while distant police sirens screamed through the city.
Elena struggled to keep up with him.
“Wait…wait!” she gasped. “Why are the cops here?!”
Ryder stopped walking for the first time.
His dark eyes met hers.
“Because someone betrayed me”
Before Elena could respond—
BANG!
A bullet hit the metal dumpster beside them.
“Down!”
Ryder immediately pulled Elena against him as another gunshot rang through the alley.
“Oh my god—"
“Stay behind me.” Ryder’s voice turned dangerously calm as he pulled her against his chest.
Two armed men suddenly appeared at the end of the alley.
“There he is!”
Ryder cursed under his breath and reached behind his jacket.
Elena’s eyes widened.
A gun!
Without hesitation, Ryder fired back.
The sound exploded through the narrow alley.
One of the men dropped instantly while the other disappeared behind a parked car.
“Ryder!” Elena cried, grabbing his arm. “We have to go now!”
He grabbed her hand again and started running.
Fast.
Too fast.
Rainwater splashed beneath their feet as they disappeared deeper into the sleeping city.
But Elena couldn’t stop thinking about one thing—
Who exactly was Ryder?
And why did it suddenly feel like meeting him was the biggest mistake of her life?
To be continued
- Writer
