STRANDED

HE DIDN'T SEE ME. Atlas didn't see me. I stepped back into the closet, softly closing the doors behind me.

His footsteps became louder as he neared the closet. I clamped a hand over my mouth. My heart hammered against my chest as I listened to his footsteps fading the further he walked down the corridor.

As soon as the silence returned, I slipped out of the closet. I moved like a shadow as I ran outside, the cold biting into the soles of my feet.

The smell of gunpowder hit me first. The sharp crack of rifles followed. My legs felt like they could cave in at any second, but I didn't let my fear get the best of me.

I searched my surroundings and found Ares standing on a balcony, rifle in hand. He was focused on a target 500 yards away. He took his enemies out with expert ease.

How the hell was I supposed to get past him when his job was literally to spot targets? I sucked in a deep breath before slipping past a gigantic pot plant.

I spotted a car idling five feet away from me. I didn't think twice. I ran straight toward the vehicle, jumping behind the steering wheel and slamming the door shut behind me.

I placed my hands on the steering wheel and sped down the long driveway to the front gates. I checked the mirrors and breathed out in relief once I was sure nobody was following me.

By now, Apollo has probably realized that I was gone. They must be searching the mansion right now.

Once they realize I'm no longer on the estate, they'll send all their men after me.

A small light, flickering red, caught my attention. A tracker. They probably placed one in all of their cars.

I drove 27 miles out of the city before I parked the car on the side of a quiet road. I jumped out of the vehicle and walked the rest of the way.

I kept the gun tucked inside my waistband.

The sun was out now. Morning had come. Still, not a single car has passed through here in hours. And my throat had become dry as sandpaper. I stopped feeling my legs a while ago but I refused to give up.

I looked over my shoulder and noticed that the car was no longer in my line of view. And there were still no signs that I was being followed.

The sound of a car approaching began to fill the silence. I immediately moved to the side of the road before signaling the driver to stop.

The car slowed to a stop and my eyes filled with hopeful tears. The window was lowered by a woman dressed in a grey hoodie.

"Are you heading into town?" She asked, concern lacing her words.

"Yes," I managed to croak out.

A small smile rested on her face. "Hop in, I'll give you a ride. Mia, Bee, move over so the nice lady can get in the car."

I opened the door and found two little girls sitting in the backseat and a newborn baby in the front. She was a mom. Moms were good, well most of them were.

I slid into the backseat, keeping my gaze on my hands resting on my lap.

"Are you alright? Do you need me to call 911?" The lady kindly questioned, her gaze fixed on the isolated road ahead of us.

"No, I'm fine. Just a dare gone wrong," I lied through my teeth and the lady slowly nodded in understanding.

"Mia, give the nice lady some water," she told one of the girls.

One of the girls handed me a bottle of water. She shot me a kind smile and I thanked her before taking the water from her.

I screwed the cap off before gulping the water down in one go. I set the crumpled-up bottle on my lap and found three pairs of shocked gazes on me.

"Thank you," I muttered before flattening my palms on my shorts.

"Where should I drop you off?" The lady asked as we finally reached an unfamiliar town. I'd never been here before. I didn't even know where we were.

"Right here," I uttered as we passed a small 24-hour diner. She slowly pulled off on the side of the road.

"Thank you," I uttered, jumping out of the car.

"Be safe, I can tell you don't belong out here," she advised softly. "Call your family," she uttered before handing me a bunch of coins.

A broken smile curved my mouth. I nodded before walking past the diner, making my way over to a grimy payphone.

My fingers trembled as I dropped in the coins.

I sucked in a deep breath as I dialed the only number I had memorized since I was a child. He was my last hope.

I placed the phone against my ear. The phone rang three times before a deep, gravelly voice answered.

"Speak," he coldly commanded.

"It's me," I whispered, my voice sounding normal for the first time since the vault. "Kian sold me to the Graves to pay off the neighborhood's debt. I escaped but now I have nowhere left to go." I explained.

There was a long silence on the other end, the kind of silence that made my skin crawl.

"I told you that boy would be your ruin, Livia," he finally said. "Where are you?"

I looked at the faded sign above the diner. "Hollow Creek. Please... don't tell the Triplets."

"The Triplets are the least of your worries now. Stay put. Vissarian Federov and every bounty in the city are out looking for you." He calmly informed me and my blood ran cold.

Before I could say anything else he ended the call in my ear. The phone dropped from my hand as I became paralyzed with fear.

Vissarian was Kian's friend. The boss of the Russian mob. I didn't stand a chance against him and his men.

I didn't stand a chance against any of them.

I pulled the gun out of my waistband, holding it tight against my chest. I kept myself hidden inside the phone booth, hoping not to be seen by anyone.