Chapter 28 - A Frantic Chase

“Who the hell are these people?!” Ayra yelled, her voice raw with unfiltered panic.  

Lucian didn’t answer immediately, his focus on the cars chasing them. When he finally spoke, his words were clipped. "Funnily enough, I also want to know.”  

Her hands curled into fists. “They were after me before you showed up! Why?”  

Lucian glanced at her, his eyes dark, angry. But she felt he wasn't angry at her - at least not right now. “Why don’t you tell me?”  

The SUV pulled onto a highway, the speedometer climbing as the driver tried to put distance between them and their pursuers. 

Lucian’s jaw was tight, his knuckles white as he gripped his weapon.

The SUV weaved through the traffic at an alarming pace, the hum of the engine growing louder as it accelerated further. 

Lucian leaned forward, his jaw clenched and his eyes scanning the road ahead. 

Ayra sat frozen in the backseat, gripping the edge of her seat tightly, the adrenaline coursing through her leaving her both terrified and acutely aware of her surroundings.

Behind them, the three pursuing vehicles maneuvered with unnerving coordination. 

Ayra watched in horror as one car pulled up to their left, another sped up on their right, and the third remained directly behind.

Lucian’s eyes darted to the side mirrors. His fingers gripped the weapon tighter.

“They’re trying to box us in, sir! I'm going to attempt to make a hole!” the driver shouted, his voice strained.

Lucian pulled Ayra into his embrace the very next second, the suddenness of his actions leaving her with no time to react and sending a mild scent of cologne drifting into her nostrils. 

She tried to struggle out of his arms but his grip was firm. 

"Stay still and hold on," Lucian said, the gentleness in his tone surprising Ayra. 

The driver tightened his grip on the wheel, his knuckles almost as pale as Lucian’s. But he was an old hand at this.  

It wasn't his first time driving for The Director. 

The SUV veered left, hard, fast. The tires squealed in protest as the driver slammed the side of the car into the sedan attempting to entrap them. 

Metal screeched against metal. Ayra yelped, her body lurching sideways as the impact threw her against the door. 

Lucian held her tight, his arms the only safe place in the world it seemed, as he cushioned her with nary a grunt. 

The sedan didn’t stand a chance. The lighter car spun out, its tires shrieking as it skidded across the asphalt. Seconds later, it slammed into the guardrail with a deafening crunch.

“One down,” the driver muttered, though his voice carried no triumph. 

"Are you okay?" Lucian whispered into her ear, making her start with surprise. 

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine," she said, pausing. "Thank you."

The car on their right surged forward, gunning for the open stretch ahead. Simultaneously, the vehicle behind them accelerated, its bumper kissing theirs with an audible thud. The jolt rattled Ayra’s teeth.

Lucian gave her a little pat. 

“Get down. Now.”

She obeyed without question and slid down in her seat until she was half-curled in the footwell. Her pulse roared alongside the car as it SUV swerved again. 

The driver edged closer to the second car, forcing it to the shoulder, but the move left little room to maneuver.

The pursuing car behind them struck again, harder this time, causing the SUV to fishtail briefly. 

Lucian shot at the offending vehicle, shattering its windshield and making it go off course as its driver sought to dodge. 

Ayra braced herself, gripping whatever she could as the vehicle zigzagged between lanes. Horns blared around them, angry drivers swerving to avoid the chaos.

The pursuers faltered, but only for a moment. 

Up ahead, traffic thickened, a wall of red brake lights glowing like a warning. The driver spotted an exit ramp at the last second. 

Without hesitation, he veered sharply to the right, tires screeching as the SUV skidded onto the ramp.

The pursuing cars hesitated just long enough to give them a sliver of breathing room. Lucian’s sharp voice cut through the cabin. “There’s some cover in the trees ahead. You see it?”

The driver nodded tightly. “Yeah.”

"We have a safe house nearby. Drop us off."

The driver gave a curt nod. 

As the ramp curved, the SUV slowed dramatically, the engine growling in protest. Ayra blinked up from her crouched position, confusion and fear warring in her chest.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice cracking. She'd never been in such a situation before and it was telling. She was scared and panicked and-

“Trust me,” Lucian said. Before she could press him, he was out of his seatbelt, moving fast.

He yanked her arm, pulling her to him, and this time, Ayra didn't resist. He swept a hand behind her knees and got her into a half princess carry. 

"Open the door," he said. 

Before she could even register what she was doing, she had yanked open the door behind him. With nary a delay, he jumped out with her in his arms. 

The SUV was still moving when they hit the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of her, and for a moment, everything was pain—sharp, jarring, relentless pain.

Lucian cushioned her fall, his arm braced around her. They rolled together into the ditch, gravel biting into her palms as they skidded to a stop. Ayra gasped, sucking in air as her body trembled.

“Come on, we've got to move.” Lucian’s voice snapped her back into focus. He pulled her to her feet, half-dragging her toward the treeline. 

But Ayra was tuckered out. A second later he simply carried her princess style and sprinted for the trees. 

Behind them, the SUV sped off, its driver continuing the ruse. The pursuing cars gave chase, unaware their targets had abandoned ship.

Ayra stumbled after Lucian, her legs weak and unsteady. The forest swallowed them quickly, the dense canopy above blocking out the harsh glow of the afternoon sun.