Emma ran until she couldn’t run anymore, her body collapsing against a tree. She struggled to catch her breath, her ears straining for any sound of pursuit. But all she heard was the rustling of leaves in the wind.
She had no idea where she was, and fear gripped her chest. She was alone, with no one to turn to, no one to trust. She felt tears prick at her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. She couldn’t afford to break down—not now.
Suddenly, she heard a voice—a soft, feminine voice, calling her name.
“Emma?”
Emma’s head snapped up, her eyes widening as she saw a figure approaching. A woman, her face partially obscured by the shadows. She stepped closer, and Emma felt her heart skip a beat.
It was Claire.
“What are you doing here?” Emma whispered, her voice trembling.
Claire moved closer, her eyes filled with worry. “Sarah sent me,” she said. “She told me Jack might not be trustworthy. I came to find you.”
Emma’s heart swelled with a mix of relief and fear. She wanted to believe Claire, but after what had just happened, she didn’t know if she could trust anyone.
“Why should I believe you?” Emma asked, her voice breaking. “How do I know you’re not working with him?”
Claire’s eyes softened, and she reached out, her hand gently touching Emma’s arm. “I know you don’t have any reason to trust me,” she said. “But I swear to you, I’m not working with Alexander. I’m here to help you. Please, you have to believe me.”
Emma looked into Claire’s eyes, searching for any sign of deception. All she saw was sincerity, worry, and something else—something that looked a lot like fear.
Finally, Emma nodded, her body relaxing slightly. “Okay,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll go with you.”
Claire smiled, her eyes shining with relief. “Thank you,” she said. “Come on, we have to keep moving. There’s a car waiting for us a little ways up the road.”
Emma followed Claire, her heart still pounding, but for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt a glimmer of hope. She didn’t know what was going to happen next, but she knew one thing—she was done running.
YOU ARE READING
Bound by Secrets
ActionEmma, a fiercely independent secretary, has spent years under the thumb of the enigmatic billionaire, Alexander-a man whose power extends beyond wealth, into the shadows of organized crime. When she discovers a devastating secret that could bring Al...
