Chapter 0009: No Way Out
Zara's blood ran cold at the sound of that voice. It wasn't just familiar—it was haunting.
Ryan's grip on her tightened as he pulled her upright. "Keep moving," he ordered, his voice low but urgent.
She wanted to. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to run. But her feet felt glued to the ground, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.
"Zara…" The voice called again, closer this time.
Ryan swore under his breath and yanked her forward. They stumbled through the trees, the thick undergrowth clawing at their legs. The road was just beyond the clearing—so close.
Then, headlights flashed through the darkness.
Zara's hope soared—until she realized the car wasn't just passing by. It was waiting.
Ryan pulled her to a stop, his jaw clenched. "Damn it."
Figures emerged from the shadows, stepping into the dim glow of the car's headlights. Zara's breath hitched. There were at least four men, all dressed in dark clothing.
And then, from the center of them, he stepped forward.
A slow, deliberate stride. The confidence of a man who knew he had already won.
Zara's stomach twisted in fear.
Adeel.
Her past had finally caught up with her.
He smirked. "Going somewhere?"
Ryan shifted slightly, positioning himself between Zara and Adeel. His voice was calm, but Zara could hear the steel beneath it. "Let her go."
Adeel chuckled, shaking his head. "Ryan, Ryan, Ryan… You really don't understand what you've stepped into, do you?" His gaze flicked to Zara. "She and I have unfinished business."
Zara found her voice, though it came out as a whisper. "I have nothing to do with you anymore."
Adeel tsked. "That's where you're wrong. You always belonged to me." His eyes darkened. "And you should know by now—I don't let go of what's mine."
Ryan took a step forward, his fists clenched. "She's not yours. She never was."
The tension was suffocating. The men behind Adeel shifted, ready to act.
Zara knew this wouldn't end in words.
There was no way out.
Unless…
She glanced at Ryan, a silent understanding passing between them.
They had one chance.
And it involved doing the last thing Adeel would expect.
Zara took a deep breath.
Then, she ran—straight toward Adeel.
The Unexpected Move
Time seemed to slow as Zara sprinted toward Adeel. She could feel Ryan's startled reaction behind her, but she didn't stop.
Adeel smirked, arms slightly open, as if welcoming her. "That's more like it."
But he wasn't expecting what came next.
At the last second, Zara ducked low and twisted to the side. Her movement was swift, precise—years of survival instincts kicking in. Before Adeel could react, she reached for the gun holstered at his waist and yanked it free.
The shock on his face was priceless.
A gunshot rang through the night.
Not from her.
Ryan had moved at the same time, tackling one of Adeel's men. A fight erupted in the clearing—fists colliding, grunts of pain, bodies hitting the ground.
Zara stumbled back, gripping the weapon tightly. Adeel's men hesitated, unsure whether to attack.
Adeel, however, recovered quickly. He took a slow step toward her, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Come on, Zara. You won't shoot me."
Her hands trembled, but she didn't lower the gun. "Don't be so sure."
His smile faltered.
Behind him, Ryan slammed one of the attackers to the ground and turned toward her. "Zara! Move!"
Too late.
Adeel lunged.
Zara's finger squeezed the trigger.
Click.
Her heart stopped. The gun was empty.
Adeel's laughter rang in her ears as he grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully until the gun fell from her grasp. "Nice try, sweetheart," he whispered.
She struggled, kicking, thrashing, but he was too strong. He yanked her toward him, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Ryan was already rushing toward them, but Adeel pressed a knife to Zara's throat, halting him in his tracks.
"Enough." Adeel's voice was calm, deadly. "Unless you want to see her bleed."
Ryan froze, his jaw clenched, eyes burning with fury.
Zara's heart pounded. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
She wasn't supposed to lose.
But she wasn't out of moves just yet.
Taking a shaky breath, she met Ryan's eyes and did the last thing anyone expected—
She drove her elbow hard into Adeel's ribs.
He grunted, his grip loosening just enough.
And that was all the chance Ryan needed.
Breaking Point
Adeel staggered backward, his grip on Zara faltering just long enough. She didn't hesitate. Twisting free, she dropped low and swept her leg against his knee. He stumbled, cursing under his breath.
Ryan was already moving. He surged forward, his fist colliding with Adeel's jaw in a brutal strike. The sound of bone meeting bone echoed through the night. Adeel fell back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Zara scrambled to her feet, her breath coming in short gasps. Her pulse pounded in her ears, but she forced herself to focus. Adeel was down—but not out.
Ryan stood over him, chest rising and falling rapidly. "It's over."
Adeel wiped the blood from his lip, his dark eyes gleaming with something twisted. "Is it?"
From the shadows, more figures emerged. Adeel's reinforcements.
Zara's stomach clenched. They were outnumbered.
Ryan's stance shifted, prepared for another fight. But Zara wasn't sure they could win this one. Not without backup.
Adeel chuckled, getting to his feet. "You should've known, Ryan. I never come unprepared."
Zara scanned their surroundings. There had to be a way out. She wouldn't let this be the end—not after everything.
Then she saw it. A narrow alleyway behind the warehouse, barely visible in the dim light.
She caught Ryan's eye and subtly tilted her head toward it. He understood instantly.
They had one shot.
Adeel took a step closer, grinning like he had already won. "What now, lovers?"
Zara answered by grabbing Ryan's hand—and running.
Adeel's furious shout followed them as they sprinted toward the alley.
Gunshots rang out, bullets whizzing past them.
But they didn't stop.
They couldn't stop.
Because survival was the only thing that mattered now.
The Escape
Zara's lungs burned as she sprinted down the dark alley, her fingers tightly wrapped around Ryan's hand. The sound of gunshots echoed behind them, ricocheting off the crumbling brick walls. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, pushing her forward despite the exhaustion creeping into her limbs.
"We need to get out of here!" she gasped.
Ryan pulled her forward, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. "There's a way," he said, leading her toward a side street. The alley was narrow, lined with rusting dumpsters and flickering streetlights. It smelled of damp concrete and desperation.
Behind them, Adeel's men were gaining ground. Their footsteps pounded against the pavement. Zara risked a glance over her shoulder and saw the glint of a weapon.
"They're armed!" she cried.
Ryan didn't hesitate. He grabbed a loose metal pipe from the ground and swung it against a stack of wooden crates, sending them crashing into the alleyway. The sudden barricade slowed their pursuers, giving them a precious few seconds.
"This way!" he urged, yanking Zara down another path. They emerged onto a quiet street, the neon glow of a late-night café casting long shadows.
Ryan's car was parked just ahead.
Zara's heart leaped. They were close.
But just as they reached it, a black SUV screeched to a halt in front of them. The driver's door flung open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out. His expression was unreadable, but his stance screamed authority.
Zara froze.
Ryan tensed beside her. "Damn it."
The man's eyes flicked between them before settling on Ryan. Then he spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"Get in. Now."
Zara's pulse pounded. Who was he? And more importantly—was he a friend or just another enemy?
A Dangerous Alliance
Zara's breath hitched as she exchanged a quick glance with Ryan. The man standing before them wasn't one of Adeel's thugs—his calm, calculated demeanor was different. More dangerous.
Ryan clenched his jaw. "Who the hell are you?"
The man smirked, unfazed by the tension crackling in the air. "Someone who just saved your lives." He nodded toward the alley. "Adeel's men won't stop until you're either dead or in his custody. Now, get in the car, or take your chances on the street."
Zara hesitated, but Ryan made the decision for both of them. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the SUV. "We don't have a choice."
The man climbed into the driver's seat as Ryan and Zara settled in the back. The door slammed shut, sealing them inside.
As the vehicle sped off, Zara's mind raced. The streets blurred past them, but her focus was on their so-called savior.
"Who are you?" she asked.
He glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "Call me Rehan."
Ryan's eyes narrowed. "And why should we trust you?"
Rehan chuckled, the sound low and dry. "You shouldn't. But right now, I'm the only one who can get you out of this mess."
Zara exhaled slowly, trying to make sense of the situation. "So, you're not working for Adeel?"
Rehan's smirk faded. "No. But let's just say I have my own reasons for wanting to see him taken down."
Ryan folded his arms. "And what do you want from us?"
Rehan took a turn onto a desolate road before answering. "Information. And if you have any hope of surviving this, you're going to need me just as much as I need you."
Zara exchanged another look with Ryan. Their night had taken yet another unexpected turn, and something told her that trusting Rehan would be just as dangerous as running from Adeel.
But at this point, did they really have a choice?
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(To be Continue...)