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Novel Catalog
Chapter_44
Quinn’s mind raced in a haze of panic and fear, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts. She could feel the vice-like grip of the gangster on her wrist and the humiliation as his fingers dug into her cheek, forcing her to look up at him. Desperation flooded her veins, the situation growing worse by the second.
Her heart hammered against her ribs, and every instinct screamed for her to get away, but she was trapped. The streets were empty, the underpass isolated from any potential help. The weight of helplessness crushed her, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she might lose control of her emotions. But then, something inside her shifted—a surge of adrenaline, a spark of defiance.
With a guttural cry, she jerked her body to the side, twisting her wrist just enough to break free from the man’s hold. Her movements were wild and frantic, but they were fueled by sheer terror. The moment she wrenched herself loose, she bolted, her feet pounding against the cold pavement. She didn’t know where she was running, just that she had to get away, had to escape.
Behind her, the gangsters shouted, their footsteps heavy and urgent as they pursued her. Quinn’s breath caught in her throat as she rounded the corner, her legs screaming with exhaustion, her muscles on fire, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. Her survival depended on it.
Suddenly, she heard the roar of an engine—the sound of a car speeding down the road. Her body instinctively froze, unsure whether to trust the approaching vehicle. But then, the headlights flickered, and the car screeched to a halt in front of her, the engine dying with a soft thud.
Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, a figure emerged from the vehicle, stepping toward her with determined strides. It was a man—tall, imposing—and in that moment, he seemed to be the only thing standing between her and the gangsters who were gaining ground.
“Get in,” the man ordered, his voice low and firm.
Quinn didn’t need to be told twice. She didn’t look back as she scrambled into the car, the door slamming shut behind her with a sense of finality. Her chest heaved with every breath, her heart still racing from the chase, but the moment she was inside, a strange sense of safety washed over her.
The man behind the wheel didn’t waste any time. He peeled out of the spot, speeding down the road and away from the underpass. The gangsters’ angry shouts faded into the distance as the car gained speed.
Quinn leaned back against the seat, her body trembling with exhaustion. Her hands clutched her suitcase tightly, but it felt like a distant weight now. She barely noticed the car’s smooth ride, or the man who was still silently driving, his focus fixed on the road ahead.
“Are you alright?” His voice broke through the silence, a mix of concern and command.
Quinn turned to face him, but she was too exhausted to speak at first. She nodded faintly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you,” she managed, her words heavy with relief.
The man nodded once, but his expression remained unreadable. He didn’t offer her much more than that, instead concentrating on the road. Quinn’s gaze drifted out the window, her thoughts still swirling as the city lights passed by.
For a brief moment, she allowed herself to feel safe, but the nagging feeling that she had just stepped into an unknown world lingered at the back of her mind. She didn’t know who this man was, or why he had stopped to help her. But for now, she had no other choice but to trust him.
