Page 84 of Captured Heart

I grab Smith’s jacket and head for the door. If we stay here doing nothing, Vic’s going to lose it. But if I’m out there with Bowman, it sells the lie better. And I need to get out of here before Victor starts asking questions. Questions I can’t afford to answer. Besides, if I happen tonotbe here when the cops arrive, that’s just dumb luck, right? Nothing suspicious about that, especially if Bowman’s with me.

We step outside, and my lungs lap up the cool, fresh air. My head’s pounding from that shitty chloroform, and my chest still burns, but I’m ready to go on this wild goose chase to look for a woman I know isn’t there. Bowman follows, grumbling under his breath.

We don’t even make it to the van.

Out of nowhere, headlights flood the lot, and the roar of engines echoes around us. My stomach drops as black SUVs screech to a halt, doors flying open. Sirens are blaring, red and blue lights flashing everywhere. Men in tactical gear pour out, shouting commands, their rifles raised and ready.

“Shit,” Bowman mutters, already reaching for his gun.

“Don’t,” I warn. “It’s over. Don’t give them a reason to shoot you.”

The rookie bolts like a scared rabbit, but he doesn’t make it five steps before they tackle him to the ground. Bowman lunges forward, but I grab his arm and yank him back. “Don’t be stupid.”

And then they’re on us.

“Hands where I can see them!” an officer bellows.

I drop to my knees, lacing my fingers behind my head. The gravel bites into my skin, but I don’t flinch. Two officers close in, one pressing his knee into my back as he cuffs me. I don’t resist. There’s no point. This was always how it was going to end.

The cold metal bites into my wrists, and I let out a slow exhale. My mind races, but my thoughts inevitably lead to one person. She actually pulled it off. Faster than I thought she would. Two hours. Barely two damn hours, and she got to the cops, convinced them to move. No help. All on her own. That plan wasn’t easy. And I can bet that her execution wasn’t flawless, but fuck, she got it done.

As they haul me to my feet, I catch a glimpse of Victor being shoved into another van, his face twisted in rage. The rookie’s crying like a kid who just got caught stealing candy.

I simply smirk, keeping my head down, so no one sees it.

She did it. She fucking did it.

“That’s my girl,” I mutter under my breath as they drag me toward the police van.

I let the pride settle within me, burning more than the ache in my chest or the cuffs around my wrists. It doesn’t matter what happens to me now. She’s free. She’s safe. That’s all I care about.

17. Katelyn

Zayn parks the car in the driveway, the tires crunching against the loose gravel. My grandparents’ house stands in front of me, quiet and unassuming, but to me, it’s a warzone.

Two weeks ago, this place was ripped apart, both literally and figuratively. Two weeks, and I still feel like my skin is too tight, like my nerves are stretched so thin they might snap. Any sound, any whisper of movement, makes my pulse race. Strangers on the street have turned into potential threats. Every shadow feels like one of Victor’s men creeping up behind me.

At least Christmas break offered some reprieve. For a few weeks, I could step away from the chaos of school and breathe a bit. I spent time with my family, reconnecting with them in a deeper, more appreciative way. It wasn’t perfect. Nothing is these days, but it gave me the space to make a plan. To figure out how I’m going to catch up on the mountain of work I’ve fallen behind on and piece together some semblance of normalcy. If normalcy is even possible anymore.

Zayn hops out of the car mid-argument with Karmani, the two of them bickering like they always do. Their voices are just white noise in the background as I sit frozen for a moment, staring at the house. I’ve been too scared to come back here alone, so I’ve been hiding out at my parents’ place. But I can’t keep running forever. I had to come back, eventually.

I clutch the strap of my bag as Corey glances over at me. “What did the professors say, Kate?” he asks, his voice soft.

“They’ve been...understanding,” I murmur, stepping out of the car. “I have an extension on most of my assignments, and they said I can submit alternate work if I can’t catch up on the practicals. But I need to pick up my textbooks to even start. I’m already so far behind.”

“You’ll catch up,” he says with the utmost confidence in me. “And you know I’ll help wherever I can.”

I force a small smile, but his words barely register. My mind is stuck on something else entirely.

“I just hate that you have to go through all this because of that psycho.” Corey says, his voice laced with disgust.

I clench my fists, swallowing hard because his words sting. Alex isn’t a psycho. He’s a good guy. Misunderstood and misdirected, but he’s brave and selfless. A man who risked everything to get me out of that hellhole. He’s the reason I’m even standing here. But I can’t defend him. I can’t tell them the truth. One careless word, one slip, and I could ruin everything.

I promised him I wouldn’t look for him, wouldn’t ask about him. And I don’t even know where he is. For all I know, he’s sitting in a cold, dark cell, paying for his sins while I’m out here enjoying my freedom. The guilt wraps around me like a vice.

Corey sneers. “What an asshole. And I’m a bigger asshole for introducing you to him. I’m so sorry, Kate.”

“It’s not your fault.” I pull him in for a hug. “I don’t blame you for anything that happened, so please don’t blame yourself.”

---