Chapter 53
Aria’s POV
What? Zane?
“How is he?” I asked urgently.
“Mr. Elrod is fine,” she said. “But he’s really worried about you. He sent me to check on you.” She pulled a tiny earpiece from her pocket. “He wants to talk
to you.”
I slipped it in with shaking hands, my breath catching, “Hello… Zane?”
“Arial” His voice–God, it made my eyes sting. “We you okay? That bastard didn’t do anything to you, did he?”
“No…I’m okay. But my grandmother and May… My throat tightened. “Wee you still at Red Stone Pack!”
He let out a cold laugh. “Grayson let me go. But not before he called my Alpha. Now my own pack is hunting me down like an international fugitive. I can’t even go home”
God. Gult slammed into me. “Zane, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I never should’ve dragged you into this
“That’s enough. I made my choice. And I don’t regret one bit.” He paused. “In fact, I want to ask you again–do you want to leave here with me?”
froze. He was still asking me that?
“I’m heading to a small pack in Europe to lay low. I can’t fly or take a train–they’le watching everything 11 hitch a ride in a cargo truck, then switch to a small boat to cross. You can come along”
Sweat started forming on my back, “I can’t keep dragging you down with me. Look at what happened last time.”
“That only happened because he caught us. This time, everything’s planned. I’ve got a smuggler I trust. You said Grayson’s hurting your family and friends, right? Bring them too. Let them be safe.”
My heart slammed so hard it made me nausOUS
That last thing he said got to me.
Grayson was using Grandma and May to control me. As long as we stayed here, they’d live under his control forever.
But that changed if we left Zane. It might be my only chance to save them.
God. If I had known who Grayson truly was, I never would’ve signed that damn contract.
“So what do you say, Aria?” Zane said, voice low and urgent. “You know I’m dead serious”
“Time is short, Miss Collins,” the nurse whispered near my ear. “They could come check the room any minute.”
Fuck Screw it.
“Yes” I blurted out
“What? Did I hear that right? You said yes?!”
“You heard me.” I swallowed hard, probably owe you the whole world after this… but if you’re still willing to take me, then go with you.”
I felt dizzy. This was insane.
1/4
Chapter 53
But deep down, I knew was making the right choice. Staying with Graj was way throu
“Hell yes!” Zane growled. “Okay, listen carefully. We’ve got to move fast. You need to get out of that hospital room before dawn, 11l be wa Cng at Partne Tower F5, second floor, off Central Avenue.”
Shit. Getting out wasn’t going to be easy–there were soldiers right outside my door.
But I had to try.
“What about my familyLasked urgently.
“I’ll send someone to get them. Don’t worry.”
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hallway, getting closer,
“We have to go” the nurse hissed…
*See you soon, Aria. Good luck.”
The nurse yanked the earpiece away and shoved it back into her pocket–just as the door burst open.
A bodyguard stormed in
“What are you doing in here for so long?” he eyed the nurse, suspicious
Lacted fast. I smacked the cup of pills out of her hand and shouted, “I’m not taking another damn pill. These things you feed me are making me so dizzy and weak all the time!”
The nurse straightened and gave the guard a cold look, “See? She wasn’t playing along”
The bodyguard trusted our little act. His tone softened. “No one’s trying to hurt you, Miss Collins, But missing one dove probably won’t kill you. You just
need test
He motioned for the nurse to leave with him. As she reached the door, she glanced back and mouthed two words at me
Before sunrise..
After they left, I chocked the clock. It was a little past 1 a.m.
Thad maybe 4 or 5 hours to pull this off
What the hell was I going to do?
I rolled over in bed, eyes darting around the room for anything useful.
Then I saw it.
My untouched dinner plate on the tray, and the small metal fork and butter knife beside it
I got up, grabbed the knife, and ran my fingers along its serrated edge.
No, I couldn’t fight a guard with this. But there was something I could do to myself
There was no time for hesitation.
I took the knife and locked myself in the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror, I pulled my gown off one shoulder and ripped the bandage away.
My shoulder wound had been stitched, but it wasn’t fully healed. The flesh underneath was raw and red.
2/4
Chapter 53
Traised the kille and aimed it at the wound.
Shit, this was going to hurt.
Ishoved a towel into my mouth. Then hard and fast, I drove the knife straight into the wound.
FUCK!!!
I nearly passed out. The pain exploded, my vision went black for a second. But didn’t fail I held on
I threw the knife into the trash and stumbled out, slamming the ency call button.
The door few open instantly. The bodygated rushed back in, followed by Zane’s nurse
“My wound–whispered. “It opened again…
“Holy
by fuck! What the hell–how did this happen?” The bodyguard looked horrified. “Il Alpha finds out he’ll kill us for not taking care of her
Then why
hy are you standing here?” the nurse barked “Go get a doctor! Now!”
He took off, nearly tripping over himself.
The nurse helped me onto the bed and whispered, “That’s smart.”
Then she started pushing the hospital bed out of the room.
it was late. No doctors around. Everyone was in a panic, running to get help. No one questioned her as she rolled me down the hall
We got into the elevator. But instead of pressing the surgical floor, she hit the button for the basement.
“There’s a car packed in the basement. It’ll get you to Parking Tower 15. She pressed a key into my palm. “Can you drive?”
“I’ll manage. Thanks.”
The second those elevator doors opened, I bolted.
There’s no time. Any minute now, they’d realize I was gone.
I found the car, jumped in, and sped out of the hospital and toward Central Avenue.
The streets were empty, streetlights flickering over the pavement. Not a single car or soul around, I hit a red light and finally exhaled a shaky breath,
Then-
Aroar of engines shattered the silence.
Blinding headlights. A fleet of black cars flew past in the opposite lane, not even slowing for the red light
The one in front was a silver Rolls Royce.
My heart stopped, I quickly ducked under the wheel, pulse racing
They didn’t see me. The cars howled past, heading for the hospital.
…It’s him.
He must’ve already heard my wound. Now he’s coming for me. Even faster than I thought
I stared at the taillights vanishing in the rearview mirror, wiped the tears from my cheeks, and slammed on the gas
– 23:23 Frħ 8 Aug:
Chapter 53
Goodbye, Alpha Grayson
