Millionaire Marriage

The Escape

Chapter 18

The air in the shed felt charged with anticipation as Ava, Ethan, David, and Lisa held their breath, waiting for the moment to act. Outside, the voices grew louder, echoing ominously in the night.

"David!" the voice called again, frustration creeping into its tone. "We know you're in there! It's not too late to make a deal."

Ava exchanged glances with Ethan and Lisa, her heart pounding. They had to act, but the risk was immense. She could feel the weight of their decisions pressing down on her.

"Ethan," she whispered, urgency lacing her voice. "What's the plan? We can't stay here much longer."

Ethan's jaw tightened as he scanned the room, his mind racing. "We wait for them to make their move, then we slip out the back. If we stick to the shadows, we might make it to the trees."

"Are you sure it's safe?" David asked, his voice low and tense.

Ava could see the worry etched on his face, and it twisted her heart. "We have to take the chance, David. We can't let them take you."

Another crash sounded outside, this time accompanied by a voice laced with anger. "David! We're giving you one last chance! Come out, or we'll come in and drag you out ourselves!"

The threat hung in the air, heavy and menacing. Ava felt a shiver run down her spine, and she knew they were running out of time.

"Okay, here's the plan," Ethan said, voice steady despite the chaos. "When I say go, we move fast and quiet. Follow me closely. Don't look back."

Ava nodded, determination flooding her veins. "Let's do this."

Ethan took a deep breath, tension radiating from him. "Now!"

They burst out of the shed, the cool night air hitting them like a shockwave. Ava's heart raced as they sprinted toward the tree line, her feet pounding against the ground.

"Over here!" Ethan shouted, veering left toward a cluster of trees.

They darted behind the trunks, the darkness enveloping them as they pushed deeper into the woods. The sounds of their pursuers echoed behind them, growing fainter but still too close for comfort.

"Keep moving!" Ethan urged, glancing back to ensure they weren't being followed. "We need to get far enough away to regroup."

Ava's lungs burned as they ran, her mind racing with thoughts of what would happen if they were caught. But there was no time for fear—only survival.

After what felt like an eternity of sprinting, they finally slowed, hiding behind a large oak tree. Panting heavily, they leaned against the rough bark, the darkness wrapping around them like a protective cloak.

"Are we safe?" Lisa asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"For now," Ethan replied, eyes scanning the area. "But we can't stop. We need to put more distance between us and them."

David looked shaken, but there was a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you for coming for me," he said, his voice low. "I didn't think anyone would care."

"Of course we care," Ava said fiercely. "You're family. We'll always look out for each other."

"Now let's focus on getting out of here," Ethan interjected. "We need to find a way to get to the main road without being seen."

Ava nodded, determination settling in her chest. "Let's go."

They moved cautiously through the trees, the sounds of the night surrounding them. Ava could hear the rustling of leaves and the occasional call of an owl, but the tension was palpable, and she could feel the danger lurking in the shadows.