Chapter 57
The Chase Begins
Elena’s lungs burned as she sprinted through the darkened field, her boots pounding against the uneven ground. The smell of burning fuel still clung to the air behind them, but there was no time to stop—Vincent’s men were coming.
Naomi ran beside her, breath steady despite the grueling pace. Amira was a few steps ahead, moving like a ghost in the shadows. Richard, though slower, was keeping up, determination etched across his face.
Jordan’s voice crackled in Elena’s earpiece. “They’ve deployed drones. I count three in the air and at least two ground teams moving in from the west.”
Elena cursed under her breath. They needed to disappear. Fast.
“The service road,” Naomi panted. “How much farther?”
Amira pointed toward a break in the trees. “Quarter mile. If we move fast, we make it before they cut us off.”
Richard groaned. “I’d love to move fast, but I don’t exactly train for midnight sprints.”
Elena shot him a look. “Then run like your life depends on it.”
Because it did.
Suddenly, a sharp hum filled the air. A drone.
Naomi yanked Richard down just as a burst of gunfire tore through the space where he’d been standing. The drone’s mounted rifle shredded through the branches above, sending leaves and bark flying.
They were exposed.
“Move!” Amira barked, raising her weapon and firing a quick burst. The drone jerked sideways but remained airborne.
Jordan’s voice came back in. “You need to reach cover! They’ve locked onto your heat signatures!”
Elena scanned the terrain. A low ravine cut through the field just ahead—a perfect hiding spot.
“There!” she shouted, grabbing Richard’s arm and dragging him toward it.
The team dove into the ditch just as another spray of bullets rattled the air above them. Amira slid in last, panting. The drone hovered overhead, searching.
Naomi pulled a small device from her vest, pressing a button.
The drone sparked—then plummeted from the sky.
Richard’s eyes widened. “EMP?”
Naomi smirked. “Always come prepared.”
Elena didn’t waste time. “Go! Before more of them show up.”
They scrambled out of the ravine and sprinted toward the service road. The distant rumble of engines sent a spike of adrenaline through Elena’s veins. Mateo was close. But so were Vincent’s men.
Jordan’s voice was urgent now. “You have company. A black SUV, two bikes. They’ll reach you in sixty seconds.”
Amira gritted her teeth. “That’s about fifty seconds too soon.”
Ahead, twin headlights appeared through the darkness. A sleek, armored SUV screeched to a halt, kicking up dust.
The driver’s door flew open, revealing a muscular man in dark clothing. Mateo.
“Get in!” he shouted.
No one hesitated.
Naomi and Richard dove into the back, while Elena and Amira jumped into the middle row. Mateo slammed the gas pedal before the doors even shut.
Gunfire erupted behind them.
The SUV jolted as bullets struck the reinforced exterior. Richard yelped. “I thought this thing was armored!”
Mateo didn’t flinch. “It is. Mostly.”
Elena turned to Jordan. “Where’s our safe house?”
Jordan’s voice came steady. “South side of Madrid. Forty minutes out—if you don’t get tailed.”
Amira loaded her rifle. “Something tells me we’ll get tailed.”
As if on cue, the roar of motorcycles filled the night. In the side mirror, two bikes were closing in fast, riders armed and ready.
Mateo clenched his jaw. “Buckle up. This is going to get rough.”
Elena gripped the handle above her seat. They had escaped the crash.
But the chase had only just begun.
