Page 62 of Colton
I hear Colton moving around in another room, probably packing his own things. My heart pounds in my chest as I realize this might be my only shot. If we leave together, who knows where he’ll take me? But if I can slip away in the chaos...
The question is, where would I go? I have no money, no ID, nothing. And Xavier’s out there, hunting us both. The thought of him makes my skin crawl, memories of Sophia flooding back. No. I can’t lethimget his hands on me. I’d rather live with Colton for the rest of my life.
Colton.
For a wild moment, I consider staying with Colton. At least with him, I have some measure of...what? Safety? The thought is so ridiculous, I almost laugh out loud. There’s no safety with Colton. Just a different kind of danger.
I step out into the hallway. Colton’s there, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, I see something flicker in them. Concern? Fear? It’s gone before I can place it.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod, not trusting my voice. As we move towards the door, I feel the weight of the decision pressing down on me. Stay with the devil I know, or risk it all for a chance at freedom?
Colton reaches for the doorknob, and I make my choice. In a split second, I grab the nearest object, a fire extinguisher from behind the door, and swing it with all my might at Colton’s head. The thud it makes when it hits him is chilling, and Colton crumples to the floor with a groan. My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears that I can barely hear anything else.
I stand there for a moment, breathless and shocked at what I’ve just done. Then, a rush of adrenaline propels me forward. I drop the fire extinguisher and start rifling through Colton’s duffel bag. I find a bundle of cash, a set of car keys, and a handgun tucked inside. I pocket the cash and the keys but hesitate when I see the gun. Part of me wants to leave it, but the looming threat of Xavier is too real. I tuck the gun into the waistband of my pants, grateful for the protection it offers, even if it’s a fleeting one.
I glance back at Colton, who is still unconscious on the floor. A surge of panic hits me, but I shake it off. I need to go. Now.
For a wild moment, I consider staying with Colton. But no—no more. I refuse to be anyone’s prisoner.
I turn and slip out the front door, running as if my life depends on it—because it does. The bunker is isolated, surrounded by the roaring sea and a winding driveway. I fumble with the keys as I approach the car. I slide into the front seat, my chest heaving. The first doesn’t fit.
Shit.
I try another—finally, the engine roars to life. I hit the gas, the SUV lurching forward. The roar of the engine breaks the silence of the night, and I floor the gas pedal. Tears blur my vision, but I blink them away, determined to keep going. As I speed down the driveway and onto the main road, I feel a brief sense of relief. But it’s quickly replaced by a wave of panic.
Where do I go now? What do I do?
A low moan leaves my lips, and I keep checking the rearview mirror, convinced I’m going to see Colton chasing after me.
I don’t have a plan, but I know I need to put as much distance between myself and both Colton and Xavier as possible. The road stretches out before me, dark and winding. I grip the steering wheel tightly, focusing on the path ahead.
I drive for what feels like hours, taking random turns and avoiding any signs of civilization. The fear of being caught keeps me alert, my senses on high. Every passing car sends a jolt of panic through me, and I can't shake the feeling that Xavier is somehow watching, waiting.
Eventually, I pull over into a deserted gas station, my heart still racing. I need to think, to come up with a plan. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and fears, but I force myself to breathe deeply, to focus.
I have cash, a car, and a gun. That’s a start. But where do I go from here?
I think back to my original plan, my meticulous preparations for revenge. Killing my father, infiltrating Xavier’s home, becomingMary. But all that is gone now, shattered by the chaos of Colton’s influence and Xavier’s imminent threat.
I look down at the gun in my lap, its cold metal a reminder of the life I’ve lived and the choices I’ve made. I can’t go back to being “Mary,” the obedient maid. I can’t go back to the Luella who was broken by her father’s abuse and her sister’s death. I have to find a new path, a new identity.
With a sigh, I put the car back into drive and pull out onto the road, determined to keep moving forward. The destination is unclear, but the goal is crystal clear: survival.
As the miles pass, I formulate a plan. I need to disappear, to blend into the background. I need to disappear. Change my hair, my name. Make him forget I exist. My hands tremble on the steering wheel, but I count my breaths like I did before, urging myself to be calm.
You’ve got this.
I’ll keep my eyes open and my ears alert. Because Xavier Blackwood is still out there, hunting for me. And I won’t let him win. I won’t let him take what’s left of me.
I’ll become the one thing he fears most: invisible. A ghost, a shadow, always one step ahead. And when the time is right, I’ll strike. Not as Mary, not even as Luella. As someone new, someone he never saw coming.
Chapter 29
Luella
The rhythmic hum of tires on asphalt is my constant companion as I drive through the night. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel, eyes darting between the road ahead and the rearview mirror. Every set of headlights in the distance sends a jolt of panic through me.
