Unraveled Secrets

Chapter 11: Into the Inferno

Izzy

The fire still raged behind us, and I could feel the heat licking at my back, urging me forward. My lungs burned from the smoke, and my legs felt like they might give out at any second, but I couldn't stop. Not now. Not with danger so close behind us. Every crack of a branch or gust of wind felt like another one of Damian's father's men closing in.

Damian's grip on my hand was the only thing keeping me grounded, pulling me through the dense trees as we raced deeper into the forest. Each time I stumbled, he pulled me up, his silent urgency pushing us both to keep moving.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how far we ran, we were never going to be truly safe.

"Damian," I gasped, trying to catch my breath, "where do we go?"

"We just need to stay ahead of them," he replied, his voice strained but determined. "We'll find a way out."

But the dread settling in my chest told me differently. We couldn't run forever. This was catching up with us faster than I could handle.

Suddenly, we burst through the trees and found ourselves at the edge of another cliff. Below, I could hear the rushing of water-sharp and dangerous against the jagged rocks far below. There was nowhere left to go.

Damian

I looked at the cliff and then at Izzy, her wide, panicked eyes searching mine. There was no time. Luca's men were too close, and they weren't going to stop until they found us-or worse. My heart pounded in my chest, not from the running but from the desperation of knowing what came next.

I couldn't let them take her.

"Stay behind me," I said, pushing her slightly toward the cliff edge while I stepped in front of her, ready to fight off whoever came first. My fingers tightened around the gun I had taken from Luca, the weight of it feeling foreign but necessary. I wasn't a killer. But I would do anything to protect her.

The sound of footsteps grew louder. They were here.

"Izzy," I whispered without turning back, "whatever happens, don't look back. Just run."

Her voice trembled as she replied, "I'm not leaving you."

I clenched my jaw. She didn't understand. They weren't just coming for me-they were coming for us both. If she stayed, I couldn't guarantee her safety, and that thought terrified me more than anything else.

"Izzy," I said more firmly, "run."

Izzy

He couldn't be serious. There was nowhere to run. The cliff was at my back, and Damian stood like a shield in front of me, but I couldn't leave him. I wouldn't.

"Damian, no-"

Before I could finish, he turned to look at me, his expression dark and determined. "Trust me."

I wanted to. God, I wanted to trust him more than anything, but the fear gnawed at me, making it hard to breathe.

The first man burst through the trees, his gun raised. I froze, my body rigid with fear. Damian fired first, the sound deafening in the still night air. The man dropped, but I could hear more coming.

"Go!" Damian shouted, and before I could argue, he pushed me backward, closer to the edge.

I felt the sharp sting of the cold air against my skin as I stumbled toward the cliff, my heart slamming in my chest. I didn't want to leave him, but I couldn't be the reason he was distracted. I couldn't be the reason he got hurt.

More gunshots echoed through the forest, and I heard Damian grunt as he fired again. I couldn't see him anymore-couldn't see through the blur of fear and the haze of smoke.

I had to do something.

Damian

I couldn't keep this up. Two more men came through the trees, their guns already trained on me. My heart raced, but not from the danger. It was Izzy. I had to keep her safe. If they got to her... No, I wouldn't let that happen.

I fired again, hitting one of the men square in the chest, but the other one ducked, moving too fast. Pain shot through my shoulder as the second man's bullet grazed me, but I didn't stop. I couldn't afford to.

"Izzy!" I shouted, turning toward her, just in time to see her standing right at the edge of the cliff, frozen in place.

My heart lurched.

"No!" I roared, but it was too late. The ground beneath her crumbled, and before I could reach her, she was falling.