Chapter Eight

I quickly scanned the restroom, searching for another way out. The windows were too high and small, but my eyes landed on a door labeled Staff Only. Taking a deep breath, I made my way toward it, my heels clicking against the tile floor.

I hesitated for a second, listening for any sounds from outside the restroom. The guard was still waiting, but he wasn’t inside. This was my chance. I pushed open the door and stepped into a dimly lit hallway. It was quiet, with faint noises of activity coming from the other side of the building.

I hurried down the hallway, my heart racing as I tried to figure out where to go. My plan was simple: get out of the building, find a cab, and disappear. Far away from Theo, from his control, and from this suffocating world.

As I turned a corner, I saw a small exit sign glowing above a door. Relief washed over me as I rushed toward it. The door led outside to the back of the event hall, where delivery trucks and staff vehicles were parked. The night air hit my face, and I took a deep breath, feeling a momentary sense of freedom.

But I couldn’t stop. I had to keep moving. I walked quickly toward the edge of the parking area, trying not to draw attention to myself. Just as I reached the main road, I spotted a cab idling near the corner. Waving it down frantically, I climbed in as soon as it stopped.

“Where to?” the driver asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

“Take me to 1450 Maplewood Street,” I said, trying to steady my voice. It was my home address, where my father would be waiting. The driver nodded and started driving, the hum of the engine drowning out the pounding of my heart.

I leaned back in the seat, my mind racing. My father didn’t know I was coming, but I had no choice. We needed to leave the city tonight. Theo’s reach was long, and staying here would only make it easier for him to find me.

The cab weaved through the city streets, the bright lights and bustling traffic a stark contrast to the storm of emotions inside me. I kept glancing over my shoulder, paranoid that Theo’s men might already be on my trail. But there was no sign of anyone following us.

After what felt like an eternity, the cab pulled up in front of my house. I quickly paid the driver and stepped out, my heels clicking on the pavement. The house was dark, but I knew my father was inside. He always stayed up late, either watching TV or reading.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside. “Dad?” I called out softly, trying not to sound panicked.

“In here,” his voice came from the living room. I walked in to find him sitting on the couch, a book in his hands. He looked up, surprised to see me. “What are you doing here? I thought you were with Theo.”

“We need to leave,” I said urgently, cutting him off before he could ask more questions. “Now.”

My father’s eyes widened, but he didn’t argue. He nodded, setting the book aside as he stood. “Alright,” he said simply. “Let me grab a few things.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me at his quick compliance, but it didn’t last long. Every second felt like an eternity as I stood in the living room, listening to the faint sounds of him gathering his belongings in the other room. I hurried to my bedroom, grabbing a small backpack and stuffing it with the essentials: a few changes of clothes, important documents, and the emergency cash I’d been saving for months. I paused for a moment, staring at the framed photo of my mother on my nightstand. It was one of the few things I had left of her. Swallowing hard, I slipped the photo out of the frame and tucked it into my bag.

When I returned to the living room, my father was there, holding a duffle bag. He looked at me with a mix of determination and worry. “Where are we going?” he asked.

“Anywhere but here,” I replied, my voice trembling. “We’ll figure it out once we’re out of the city.”

My father and I moved toward the front door, our bags slung over our shoulders. My heart pounded with every step, the adrenaline coursing through me. I reached for the doorknob, my fingers trembling, and slowly turned it.

The door creaked open, revealing the cool night air—and Theo.

He stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, his dark eyes glinting with a dangerous mix of amusement and fury. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he tilted his head slightly.

“Going somewhere?” he said, his voice low and cutting.

My breath caught in my throat, and my father stiffened beside me.