His Ultimate Favor Is Me

X. A Desperate Gamble

The dim light in the narrow hallway seemed to flicker as I stared at Adrian, his smug smile taunting me from the shadows. Hannah clutched my arm, her face pale with terror, but she didn't let go. I could feel her tremble, but her grip was like iron—a silent promise that she wouldn't abandon me, no matter what.

"Well, Isabella," Adrian drawled, stepping closer. His eyes glinted with a malicious satisfaction that made my skin crawl. "It's a shame, really. I thought you'd be smarter than this."

Panic threatened to consume me, but I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't let him see my fear. Adrian fed on weakness, and the last thing I could afford right now was to give him more power.

"What do you want, Adrian?" I said, my voice steady, though my heart was pounding in my chest. "Are you here to report me to Navarro?"

His smile widened, sending a chill down my spine. "Oh, Navarro already knows everything. He always does. I'm just here to make sure you don't try to weasel your way out of this."

Hannah's grip tightened on my arm, and I glanced at her, noticing the flicker of determination in her eyes. Whatever happened next, I knew she was willing to risk everything to help me. And that thought gave me a strange sense of courage.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, keeping my gaze fixed on Adrian. "So, what now?" I asked, masking my fear with defiance. "You're going to drag me back to Navarro and collect your reward?"

He chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "You really don't get it, do you? Navarro has given up on you. He doesn't want you back. He wants you gone—for good."

I swallowed, the weight of his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. Navarro didn't just want me out of his life he wanted me erased. The realization settled in, cold and suffocating. There was no escape if I went back.

"So that's it, then?" I asked, forcing a smirk even as dread filled my veins. "You're Navarro's executioner now?"

Adrian tilted his head, an amused glint in his eyes. "If you want to put it that way. It's nothing personal, Isabella. Just business."

Just business. The words echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of how ruthless Navarro and his world could be. Loyalty, trust—it all meant nothing in the end.

But I wasn't about to go down without a fight.

In a split-second decision, I lunged forward, catching Adrian off guard as I threw a punch at his jaw. My fist connected, and he stumbled back, surprise flashing in his eyes before they narrowed with anger.

"Run!" I shouted to Hannah, and we bolted toward the secret door, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I shoved it open and stepped into the dark passageway beyond.

But Adrian was fast. I could hear his footsteps thundering behind us, his curses echoing through the narrow walls.

"Keep going!" I urged Hannah, pushing her forward as we sprinted down the dark, twisting corridor. The passage was damp and cramped, the air thick with the smell of earth and stone. It felt like we were descending into the depths of the mansion, farther and farther away from any possible exit.

Adrian's footsteps grew louder behind us, his anger palpable as he closed the distance. "You can't run forever, Isabella!" he shouted, his voice bouncing off the walls. "You're only making this harder on yourself!"

Ignoring him, I pressed on, my lungs burning as I pushed myself to go faster. We turned a corner, and Hannah suddenly stopped, her eyes wide with fear.

"There's a gate," she whispered, pointing to the iron bars blocking the way ahead. They were old and rusted, but still solid enough to stop us from passing through.