His Ultimate Favor Is Me

XII. Breaking Chains

The night sky stretched above us, infinite and uncaring, its blanket of stars obscured by drifting clouds. The SUV sped along the gravel road, its headlights slicing through the oppressive darkness. I sat in the backseat, my body tense, gripping the gun in my lap like it was the only anchor keeping me from falling apart.

Beside me, Hannah stirred, her exhaustion evident in the slump of her shoulders. She rubbed her eyes and yawned softly. "Are we safe now?" she asked, her voice heavy with sleep but tinged with fear.

I glanced at Seraphina, who sat in the driver's seat, her face unreadable. "Are we?" I echoed, my tone sharper than I intended.

Seraphina's gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, her lips curling into a smirk. "Safe is a relative term," she said cryptically. "But for now, no one knows we're here."

The words did little to comfort me. The memory of Adrian's threats was still fresh in my mind, his voice a dark echo. "You can run, but you can't hide." He had meant it. Adrian wasn't the type to let go easily, and Navarro... well, he was even worse.

Hannah shifted uncomfortably beside me. "Where are we going?"

"A neutral zone," Seraphina replied. "It's the only place Navarro's influence doesn't reach."

"And Adrian?" I pressed.

Seraphina's expression hardened. "He won't find us there—unless you do something stupid."

The bite in her tone made my blood boil, but I bit back a retort. Arguing wouldn't help. We were stuck with her for now, whether I liked it or not.

The SUV turned off the main road, the tires crunching over uneven ground as we entered a dense forest. The trees loomed tall and foreboding, their branches intertwining to create a canopy that blocked out what little moonlight there was.

"Why does this feel like a trap?" I muttered under my breath, my grip tightening on the gun.

Seraphina must have heard me because she chuckled softly. "Paranoia's a good trait to have, Isabella. It keeps you alive."

I didn't respond. My instincts screamed not to trust her, but she was the only one who seemed to know the rules of this deadly game. For now, I had no choice but to follow her lead.

After what felt like an eternity, the trees gave way to a small clearing. In the center stood a cabin, its wooden walls weathered and worn. A single light flickered in one of the windows, casting an eerie glow.

"This is it?" I asked, skepticism dripping from my voice.

Seraphina cut the engine and turned to face me. "This is where we regroup. You'll get answers inside."

"Answers from who?" Hannah asked nervously.

"From someone who knows more than you do," Seraphina said cryptically.

I exchanged a glance with Hannah. She looked as unsure as I felt, but there was no turning back now.

The cabin's door creaked as Seraphina pushed it open. The air inside was heavy with the scent of damp wood and faint traces of smoke. A single oil lamp sat on a wooden table in the center of the room, illuminating the sharp features of a man seated there.

He looked up as we entered, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "You're late," he said, his voice smooth but laced with authority.

"Traffic," Seraphina replied flatly, closing the door behind us.

The man's eyes narrowed as they flicked over me and Hannah. "So, this is the infamous Isabella."

I straightened, my grip tightening on the gun. "And you are?"