Evelyn’s POV
Calvin hadn’t hung up.
Through the phone, he heard everything I was saying to the children, and I could sense his panic growing with each passing second.
"Evelyn, don’t do anything stupid!" Calvin’s voice ca through the speaker, desperate and commanding.
I had already made my decision.
"Alpha Calvin, we’re still twenty minutes from reaching the main road!" I heard soone shout on his end.
Beta Zeon must have instructed his driver to floor it, likely mobilizing every available pack mber in the vicinity. But the tension in Calvin’s voice told he knew what I knew—they might not make it in ti.
After a long silence, I spoke directly into the phone again.
"Calvin, it’s Liri Johnson behind this." My voice was steady despite the chaos around us. "If anything happens to , please take Alexis to Evelink Biosciences and leave her with Gary. He knows what to do."
Calvin’s voice hardened. "I’m not taking her anywhere because nothing is going to happen to you. Just hold on. I’m coming."
I heard him command his driver, "Faster!"
The sounds of collision continued, punctuated by cries of pain that made my heart race.
anwhile, Liri was driving like a woman possessed, aiming straight for our vehicle. Eryx swerved sharply, narrowly avoiding her attack.
Rowan and Rhys’s heartbeats seed impossibly loud in the confined space of the car. They exchanged a glance before gripping each other’s hands, their palms sweaty with fear.
I looked down at my sons, trying to keep my voice calm. "Rowan, Rhys, are you scared?"
Their faces were ghost-white as they nodded and then shook their heads in confusion.
"Mom," Rowan said, his voice small but determined, "Rhys and I aren’t afraid. Dad will be here soon. He’ll protect us!"
His innocent voice carried such complete trust in his father that it made my heart ache.
I nodded reassuringly. "That’s right. Your father will be here soon. Make sure your seatbelts are fastened tight."
Staying passive while Liri continued her assault would only keep us trapped. After checking both boys’ seatbelts, I exchanged a aningful look with Eryx . The sound of my door unlocking seed unnaturally loud in the tense silence.
In one swift motion, I pushed open the rear door.
Simultaneously, the driver’s door of the security vehicle beside us opened. Two additional cars pulled up to create a shield, blocking the view of our attackers.
I quickly switched places with one of the security team mbers. He would stay to protect Rowan and Rhys while I took another vehicle.
The mont the doors locked, I floored it, charging toward Liri’s car as she attempted to turn around. She had no ti to react as I slamd into her vehicle three tis in rapid succession, forcing her off the main road and into the dense forest undergrowth.
Our vehicles faced each other, engines roaring at the sa pitch, neither giving ground. I kept my face expressionless, my deep hazel eyes locked on Liri’s frantic ones, my foot steady on the gas. I was prepared to end this right here if necessary.
The night air seed to crackle with tension.
Through her window, I could see Liri’s eyes gleaming with manic excitent as she directed the other vehicles to surround . She was determined to see die tonight.
I glanced in the rearview mirror at the approaching black cars, then at the vehicle containing my precious boys. My grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white.
Looking out the window, I noticed the mountain slope nearby. The path appeared gentle, but I knew it concealed a steep drop. If I could lure these cars to follow there, then bail out at the right mont, I might take out a significant portion of our attackers.
Fearing Liri might catch on to my strategy, I pretended to panic. I allowed her car to push mine backward several tis before suddenly flooring it, ramming her vehicle with everything the engine had.
With a deafening crash, Liri’s car tumbled into a ditch.
The ditch wasn’t deep. She quickly crawled out, grabbing her radio to screech, "Whoever takes out this bitch gets an extra five million dollars!"
The rogues she’d hired were the type who valued money over their lives, and I could tell Clara had recomnded them. The n who had been fighting my security team on foot quickly returned to their vehicles, and a dozen cars began pursuing up the mountain.
As my speed increased, they matched it, not one of them slowing even for the dangerous curves ahead.
I watched the darkness of the forest rushing toward , slightly easing off the accelerator. Using the blind spot created by a sharp turn, I jumped from the moving vehicle, rolling several tis before coming to a stop.
My body was on fire with pain as I realized how close I’d co to the cliff’s edge. I was just inches from plumting to my death.
Ignoring the throbbing in my limbs, I quickly concealed myself in the dense underbrush, watching as one car after another followed my now-driverless vehicle over the cliff edge. I held my breath, not daring to feel relief yet.
Three cars managed to brake in ti, leaving long skid marks on the ground. Seven or eight n in black clothing exited the vehicles, weapons drawn.
"Search everywhere!" one commanded.
I gripped the small knife in my hand and held my breath as one of them swept his blade toward my hiding place. When he ca close enough, I lunged, driving my knife deep into his heart.
He let out a muffled groan, dead before he could alert the others.
The remaining n heard the slight disturbance and converged on my position. I seized the fallen man’s weapon and moved with lethal precision. Each strike gave my opponents no chance to counterattack. Within monts, all of them lay still.
I stood alone in the darkness, my posture straight despite my injuries, the bloodied blade in my hand.
After confirming none of the attackers had survived, I took one of their vehicles and headed back down the mountain.
Seeing one of her own cars returning, Liri’s lips curved into a triumphant smile. But as the vehicle drew closer and she recognized behind the wheel, her expression twisted with rage.
"How the hell is she still alive?" she scread.
She leaped into the nearest car, ordering the driver, "Ram her! Kill her!"
When I saw more vehicles closing in on the car containing Rowan and Rhys, all my carefully maintained calm shattered. I swerved to avoid Liri’s approaching vehicle and raced toward my sons.
Glancing at my watch, I realized half the ti Calvin had estimated had already passed. I just needed to hold out for another ten minutes.
Fighting against overwhelming odds wasn’t new to . All we had to do was survive until Calvin arrived.
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