Twisted Veil of Devotion

Part 22

RYAN POV

The van was cold and quiet. Screens lined the inside, glowing in the dark like watchful eyes. A generator hummed beneath the floor. Every word inside was spoken low. Controlled. No mistakes.

We were parked in the trees, just beyond the outer perimeter of Zane's estate. Close enough to see. Far enough to disappear if we had to.

I watched the monitors.

Front gate.

Rear road.

Helipad.

Every route in and out.

My jaw had been tight for hours.

"Nothing yet," one tech whispered.

I leaned closer. I didn't blink much anymore. I couldn't. If anything shifted, I needed to catch it first.

Then movement hit the corner of the screen.

A car shot past the outer gate, headlights cutting through the night, engine screaming like someone was ripping through the world.

"Zoom," I said.

The camera tightened.

My heart slammed.

Stella.

Hands gripping the wheel too tight. Face pale. Eyes wide with fear.

For a second, everything inside me went silent.

Then it snapped back.

"She is out," I said. 

The tech looked stunned. "How? He has guards everywhere."

"I don't care how."

I was already pushing the van door open.

Cold night air hit my face.

I sprinted to my SUV, yanked the door, slid into the seat, and started the engine. Gravel spit under the tires as I pulled out, headlights off until I hit the main road.

I caught sight of her car ahead. Fast. Reckless. She kept swerving like the road itself was chasing her.

She thought Zane was behind her.

Fear rolled through my chest, sharp and heavy.

"Come on, Stella. Hold it together."

I flashed my headlights twice. Soft. A signal. A plea.

She did not slow.

If anything, she pushed harder.

Then my phone buzzed.

"I send back up for you, they are right behind you. Plus Zane men are also in pursuit," one of the techs said in my ear. "Looks like the car Stella is driving has a tracker. They are coming."

Of course.

He would tear the world apart now.

I pressed my foot harder, closing distance but not enough to scare her.

She looked in the mirror. I could almost feel her panic from here.

Then, in the far distance behind us, I heard it. Engines. Big ones.

Black SUVs merged into the road like predators.

Zane's crew.

My grip tightened on the wheel.

This was about to turn into war.

If they reached her first, she would vanish into his world again, and this time there would be no cracks to slip through.