Chapter 0011: No Safe Haven
The car sped through the dimly lit streets, weaving between traffic as Ryan kept glancing at the rearview mirror. The black SUV was still behind them, its headlights cutting through the darkness like a predator stalking its prey.
Zara clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her chest. "We need to lose them."
Rehan's fingers flew across his phone screen. "I'm sending our location to a contact—someone who can help."
Ryan's jaw tightened. "We can't trust anyone right now."
A bullet shattered the back windshield, sending shards of glass flying. Zara ducked as Ryan cursed under his breath, gripping the wheel tighter.
"Hold on," he muttered.
With a sudden swerve, Ryan took a sharp turn down an alley, barely missing a stack of crates. The SUV followed, tires screeching against the pavement.
"They're not giving up," Zara breathed.
Rehan reached into the glove compartment, pulling out a small pistol. "Then we make them."
The alley ended in a T-junction. Ryan made a split-second decision, jerking the car left. The SUV tried to follow—but miscalculated.
With a sickening crunch, it slammed into a row of parked motorcycles, flipping sideways. Sparks flew as metal screeched against concrete.
Zara turned to look, her breath catching in her throat. "Did we—?"
Ryan didn't slow down. "No time to check."
Rehan was already on the phone. "We need a new safe house. Now."
But when he looked at Ryan, the grim expression on his face told Zara everything.
No place was safe anymore.
The Final Betrayal
The city lights blurred as Ryan drove at breakneck speed, weaving through traffic like a man possessed. Zara sat tense beside him, her fingers gripping the door handle. Rehan was still on the phone, his tone clipped, his words urgent.
"We need extraction. Now."
A pause.
Then his expression hardened. "What do you mean there's no way out?"
Zara's stomach tightened. She had known from the beginning that this fight wasn't going to be easy—but now, it felt like the walls were closing in.
Ryan's knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. "Who are you talking to?"
Rehan hesitated for a second too long.
Zara caught the flicker of something in his eyes—guilt, hesitation, regret. A cold chill ran down her spine.
"Rehan?" she whispered.
And then it hit her.
Ryan must have realized it at the same time because, in one swift motion, he yanked the car to a screeching stop, sending them lurching forward. In a blur, he pulled out his gun, aiming it directly at Rehan.
"Who the hell are you really talking to?" Ryan's voice was low, dangerous.
Rehan raised his hands slowly, his phone still in his grasp. The silence in the car was deafening.
Zara's heartbeat pounded in her ears. "Tell me it's not true," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rehan's eyes flicked to hers, filled with an emotion she couldn't place. "Zara…"
And then the doors of the car were yanked open.
Bright flashlights blinded her as armed men surrounded them.
They had been betrayed.
Captured
Blinding lights. Shouted orders. The cold touch of metal against her wrist.
Zara's mind spun as she was dragged from the car, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The men in black tactical gear moved with precision, forcing Ryan and her to their knees on the cracked pavement.
Rehan stood a few feet away, his head bowed, his fists clenched.
"You set us up," Ryan growled, his voice filled with pure venom.
Rehan's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.
A man stepped forward, his polished boots crunching against the gravel. He was older, with graying hair and calculating eyes. He adjusted the cuffs of his suit before speaking.
"Zara Khan. Ryan Daniel." His voice was calm, almost amused. "You've been causing quite a mess."
Zara forced herself to meet his gaze. "Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "The one cleaning up that mess."
Ryan struggled against the grip of the guards. "If you wanted us dead, you would've done it by now."
The man chuckled. "Dead? No, Mr. Daniel. We need you alive—for now."
He turned his attention to Rehan. "Good work."
Zara felt like she had been punched in the gut.
"Rehan…" her voice cracked. "Why?"
Rehan finally looked at her, and for the first time, she saw the torment in his eyes.
"I didn't have a choice."
Betrayal burned through her veins. The man she had trusted, the friend who had stood by her side, had sold them out.
And now, there was no escape.
No Way Out
The cold metal chair beneath Zara sent a shiver up her spine. The dimly lit room smelled of damp concrete and stale air. Her wrists were bound, the rough rope biting into her skin. Across from her, Ryan sat in a similar position, his face shadowed but tense.
The man in the suit, the one who had orchestrated this nightmare, paced leisurely in front of them.
"You must be wondering why you're still alive," he mused, his voice smooth and calculated.
Zara's jaw tightened. "If you're waiting for us to beg, don't hold your breath."
Ryan smirked despite the situation. "Yeah, not really our style."
The man chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I like you two. You have fire." He leaned in slightly, his expression hardening. "But fire can be extinguished."
The door creaked open, and Rehan stepped in. His eyes met Zara's for a fraction of a second before he looked away.
Ryan clenched his fists. "Still playing the loyal dog, Rehan?"
Rehan didn't respond. Instead, he slid a file across the table. The suited man flipped it open and studied the contents.
"You both have made some powerful enemies," he said, looking up. "People willing to pay a great deal to see you disappear."
Zara's heart pounded. This wasn't just about business anymore. This was personal.
Ryan exhaled sharply. "So what's the deal? You want money? Power?"
The man smiled. "I want silence."
Zara felt a chill run through her. Silence.
As in permanent silence.
Rehan took a step forward, his voice low. "There's another way."
The suited man arched a brow. "I'm listening."
Rehan hesitated before looking directly at Zara. "Let me talk to her. Alone."
Ryan tensed. "Not happening."
The suited man considered it for a moment before nodding. "Five minutes. That's all."
The guards pulled Ryan out of the room, leaving Zara alone with the man who had betrayed her.
She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Rehan… if there's anything left of the man I knew, tell me—why did you do this?"
Rehan's hands trembled at his sides. "Because if I didn't, they were going to kill you."
Zara's breath hitched.
"They still might."
A Desperate Gamble
Zara's pulse thundered in her ears as she searched Rehan's face for the truth. His hands were clenched into fists, his breathing uneven.
"You expect me to believe that?" she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief.
Rehan's jaw tightened. "You don't have to. But you need to listen." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "There's a way out—but you have to trust me."
Zara's eyes narrowed. "Trust? You sold us out, Rehan. Ryan and I are in this mess because of you."
Regret flickered in his gaze. "I didn't have a choice." He exhaled sharply. "I bought you time. But we don't have much of it."
The door creaked slightly, and they both stiffened. The suited man's shadow loomed just outside.
Rehan leaned even closer, his voice barely audible. "When they move Ryan, there will be a window—maybe a few seconds. When I tell you to run, you run. Don't hesitate. Don't look back."
Zara's stomach twisted. Was this another trap? Or was Rehan truly trying to redeem himself?
A heavy knock on the door interrupted them.
"Time's up," a guard barked.
Rehan straightened, his expression carefully neutral. As the guards stepped inside, he locked eyes with Zara.
"Be ready."
Before she could respond, Ryan was shoved back into the room. His lip was bleeding, but his eyes burned with defiance.
"What now?" Ryan muttered, wiping the blood from his mouth.
The suited man smirked. "Now? Now you decide how painful this gets."
Zara's fists clenched beneath the ropes.
Because no matter what happened next, one thing was certain.
This wasn't over yet.
The Escape Plan
Zara's heart pounded as the guards stepped closer, their imposing presence suffocating the small room. Ryan met her gaze, his expression unreadable, but she saw it—the silent communication between them.
Rehan shifted uncomfortably. "There's no need for this," he said, addressing the suited man. "I told you—I'll handle it."
The man scoffed. "You had your chance." He motioned to his men. "Take them."
The guards grabbed Ryan first, yanking him toward the door. Zara felt panic rise in her throat, but Rehan's words echoed in her mind. When I tell you to run, you run.
She had to trust him.
Just as Ryan was shoved forward, Rehan made his move. In one swift motion, he struck the nearest guard, knocking him off balance. Chaos erupted.
Zara's instincts took over. She twisted her body, forcing her tied hands over the back of the chair and slamming it into the guard behind her. The impact gave her just enough time to yank free of the loosened ropes.
Ryan, despite his injuries, fought fiercely, landing a solid punch on the second guard. Rehan had already taken down the first.
"Run!" Rehan yelled.
Zara didn't hesitate. She grabbed Ryan's hand and bolted toward the door. The suited man cursed loudly, reaching for his gun. A shot rang out, splintering the doorframe just inches from her head.
She kept running.
Ryan was right beside her, his grip firm. They tore through the dimly lit hallway, alarms blaring behind them. Footsteps thundered in pursuit, but Zara pushed herself harder.
A door at the end of the hall—freedom was just beyond it.
But as they reached it, a shadow stepped in front of them.
And Zara's blood ran cold.
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(To be Continue...)