CHAPTER 14
I didn’t think. I just ran away.
“Daphne, over here!” Calix‘ s voice blared through the earpiece, followed by Blake‘ s frantic shouts.
But I couldn’t risk it. If I got into the car, the thugs would follow us, and everyone would be in even greater danger. I pressed the earpiece and spoke quickly.
“I’ll find my way back. Trust me. I just need to throw them off.”
“Daphne, don‘ t do this!” Daniel’s voice now, sharp and commanding.
I ignored him, tearing down the opposite street. The sounds of my breath and pounding footsteps filled my ears, blending with the shouts of the gang behind me.
The alleyways twisted ahead like a labyrinth, and I pushed my legs harder, weaving through the narrow streets. My
90% 13.7
1/7
CHAPTER 14
heart thundered, but I kept going, knowing slowing down meant the end.
I turned sharply into a narrow alley and nearly collided with a rickety fence. To my right, I spotted an older woman hobbling toward her apartment, a small grocery bag in her hand. My mind raced.
“Sorry,” I muttered under my breath as I sprinted to her.
Before she could turn the key in the lock, I pulled her inside and shut the door firmly behind us. She let out a muffled scream, but I quickly covered her mouth with my hand.
“Please,” I whispered urgently. “I’m not here to hurt you. I swear.”
Her eyes, wide with fear, darted to the door and then back to me.
“They’re after me,” I continued, my voice. shaking. “I just need to stay here for a few minutes. I’ll leave, I promise.”
.90% 13 17
13:17
217
CHAPTER 14
Her frail body trembled beneath my grip, and I slowly removed my hand. She stepped back, clutching the edge of a table for balance. When she turned around to face me, her expression changed from terror to something else entirely: recognition.
“You‘ re her,” she whispered.
My blood ran cold.
“You‘ re the one they re looking for,” she said, her voice trembling. “The one who killed that man.”
I instinctively reached for the weapon tucked into my pocket but hesitated.
“I’m not staying long,” I said quickly. “You don t have to do anything.”
The old woman stared at me, her gaze flickering between fear and something deeper. Then she took a shaky step forward.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” I
13.17
3/7
CHAPTER 14
added.
“I’m not,” she said softly.
I peered through the dusty curtains, scanning the street outside. The gang was still out there, shouting and searching, but they hadn’t noticed this small apartment.
For now, I was safe.
“Why did you do it?” the woman asked. suddenly.
I turned back to her, surprised by the directness in her tone. “What do you
mean?”
“Kill Victor Salvani,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “Why did you do it?”
Her question was like a knife, cutting through the haze of adrenaline. I met her gaze and saw pain there–raw, unfiltered pain.
“I did it for my mother,” I said, my voice. barely above a whisper. “She died because of his company’s lies. Their system
90% 13:17
417
CHAPTER 14
ruined her life.”
The woman stared at me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to my shock, she nodded.
“I believe you,” she said quietly.
I blinked. “What?”
She sat down on the edge of a worn–out armchair, her hands trembling as she gripped her knees. “That man ruined lives. My life. I was one of his victims.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed silent, letting her speak.
“Years ago,” she continued, her voice hollow, “I needed surgery in Scotland. Something simple, something that could’ve saved my arm. But his company denied my claim. Said it wasn‘ t covered.”
She raised her left arm–or what was left of it. The sleeve of her cardigan hung empty.
“They said it wasn‘ t medically necessary,” she spat, her voice thick with bitterness.
90 13.12
5/7
CHAPTER 14
“So they let me rot. And by the time I could afford help, it was too late.”
A lump formed in my throat.
“I almost died,” she said, her voice
cracking. “And for what? So they could line their pockets?”
Tears welled in my eyes as I listened. This wasn‘ t just my story–it was so many others.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She shook her head. “Don‘ t be. You did
what the rest of us couldn‘ t. What we were too scared to do.”
Her words hit me like a blow.
“I don’t regret it,” I said, meeting her gaze. “What I did… I’d do it again.”
For the first time, the woman smiled, though it was tinged with sadness.
“You’ve got a fire in you, girl. But you have to be careful. The world doesn’t forgive people like us.”
90% 13:17
6/7
CHAPTER 14
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my
throat.
“If you need help,” she added, “I’ll do what I can. This place isn’t much, but it’s safe. For now.”
I glanced out the window again. The gang was dispersing, but my gut told me it wasn‘ t over.
“Thank you,” I said, turning back to her. “But I can’t stay.”
She frowned. “You‘ re safer here.”
“I’ll come back if I need to,” I promised. “But I can’t let them hurt anyone else because of me.”
The old woman nodded, understanding in her eyes.
“Good luck, child,” she said softly.
+90 13:17
