Dirty Billionaire: Own Me

Chapter 8: Save Me

|Grace|

"Find her!"

I flinched at the shout echoing behind me, a grim reminder that five minutes had slipped by and my captors had discovered my escape. I kept running, pushing myself forward despite the sweat trickling down my forehead and cheeks. My heart pounded fiercely against my ribs, and my throat felt parched. I fought to catch my breath, terrified of slowing down.

Although the urge to glance back and gauge my pursuers' distance was strong, I resisted. My focus remained fixed on the path ahead, especially as I neared the halfway point to the warehouse. Any distraction could spell disaster.

All I need is to focus on my run.

Gasping for breath, I paid little heed to my surroundings. The razor-like edges of the tall grass sliced through my skin, but I held onto the hope that luck would stay on my side. Yet, fate turned against me when I inadvertently stepped on something sharp.

"Ah!"

I crumpled to the ground, clutching my right foot. Pain surged through me as I examined what had pierced my skin—a sliver of glass. I bit down hard on my lower lip, determined to withstand the sudden, searing agony.

"I heard a woman's voice over there!" The voice echoed distantly behind me. Despite its distance, a sense of urgency gripped me, convincing me they would find me if I stayed put.

Glancing down, I noticed a piece of glass embedded in my right foot. Without hesitation, I yanked it out, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through me. The wound was deep, nearly an inch, and blood welled up immediately.

Fvck.

Despite my desperate need to tend to my own wound, escaping was my priority! I couldn't afford to be caught by those thugs again. If I paused now, everything I had suffered through would be in vain. The opportunity I had been given would amount to nothing. All my efforts would be futile.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up from the ground and resumed running, gritting through the stabbing pain in my foot with each step. I limped onward, my pace slowing as I approached the warehouse.

"I see her!" came a shout from behind. It was like a jolt to my senses, prompting me to glance back involuntarily, assessing how close my pursuers were. Seeing them closing in sent a wave of terror through me, momentarily paralyzing my mind.

The fear of imminent capture pushed me to override my panic and keep running. "Run as far as you can," I repeated to myself like a mantra.

I pivoted swiftly and sprinted towards the warehouse, ignoring the pain in my feet, the burning in my lungs, and the thirst clawing at my throat. Adrenaline surged through my veins, dulling the physical sensations.

It appeared the thugs chasing me had lost patience.

I let out a piercing scream as the sharp cracks of gunfire echoed behind me.

One. Two. Three shots rang out.

My heart raced, eyes wide with terror, body shaking uncontrollably. Had I hesitated for just a moment, those bullets could have found their mark!

"Stop running, Grace! Stop, or we'll shoot!" a voice called out from behind. I knew they meant it; they were ready to take me down without hesitation. But defiance surged through me, fueling my legs to push harder.

I would rather die than surrender to them! They wouldn't capture me without a fight!

"No! Get away from me!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

It felt like a miracle that I had managed to plan my escape. That's why, giving up on running now would be akin to surrendering my life.

My entire focus locked onto the warehouse ahead. If it hadn't been for the brilliant light of the full moon, navigating through the field of tall grass would have been much harder. Eventually, I emerged from its concealment.

Hope surged anew. Just a few more meters and I would reach the warehouse!

Grimacing from the pain of the rough, coarse stones beneath my feet, every step was agony. But nothing could make me stop.

“Get her before it’s too late!” someone hissed behind me. And hearing how near that voice is, I have the feeling that they would be able to catch up in less than a minute!

I forced my feet to get moving.

Run, run, run! Run, Grace!

“I said get away from me!” I screamed once again.

"Stop right there, or I'll shoot your knees!" the man yelled back at me. His footsteps were closing in, echoing ominously in the tense silence. I steeled myself, preparing for the worst.

If they pull that trigger now, they won't miss.

Tears streamed down my face, releasing all the pent-up frustration from the moment those monsters snatched me up while I was running. Is this how it all ends? Is this where my life ends?

Please... I still have so much to live for, so much I want to reclaim. I still needed to get my revenge. I won’t allow Keith to have the last laugh while I suffer the consequences of his actions! I choked on my sobs, the path ahead blurring with tears. But I pressed on, refusing to give up. If I stumble and they catch me, then so be it.

At least… At least I tried my best.

I shook my head fiercely, rejecting the thought. No way! I couldn't afford to give up now. I refused to fall back into their grasp. I absolutely refused!

My eyes squeezed shut as I kept running, my breath coming in ragged gasps that threatened to overwhelm me. Dizziness crept in, whether from exhaustion or lack of air, I couldn't tell. My ears rang with each pounding step.

Just a few more meters, Grace. You've got this. You can find a place to hide, save yourself. Just make it to the warehouse.

I blinked and refocused, only to be startled by an unexpected sight before me.

There were figures gathered in front of the warehouse, unnoticed until this moment. They were moving towards me, and their presence ignited a spark of hope that had been fading inside me.

"Help! Help!" I cried out, waving my arms desperately. It was as if their approach depended on me making my presence known.

I found myself smiling suddenly, a flicker of relief washing over me. But then, my optimism soared when I spotted new arrivals armed with guns. It never occurred to me that these individuals surrounding me might be in league with my abductors.

That single realization halted me in my tracks. Hope plummeted like a meteor crashing to earth, obliterating all signs of life. The impact was staggering, akin to a blow to my very being. I stood frozen in shock, gazing at the group of men. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as I grappled with the truth—I had nowhere left to flee.

"Heh…" A laugh escaped me, tinged with exhaustion. Tears streamed down my face, the culmination of my efforts and resilience now dashed.

I sank to the ground, feeling hope crumble within me. I laughed again, a bitter sound filled with disbelief at the scene unfolding before my eyes.

Seriously… look at them. Just look at these handful of armed men.

Throughout my life, I've held onto the belief that hard work always leads to eventual rewards. I believed that with enough determination, anything was achievable. But now, facing this situation before me, it's clear that not everyone reaps the fruits of their labor. Not all struggles culminate in success.

Tears flowed unabated down my cheeks, a testament to my disbelief. Reality crashed down on me with unforgiving force. The pain in my feet, the ache in my limbs, and the exhaustion creeping in after mere minutes of running were beginning to take their toll on my body.

Had I realized there was truly no escape, I would have surrendered to my fate long ago. I had been overly optimistic about my ability to rescue myself, foolishly thinking I could outrun my troubles.

Tears streamed down my face unnoticed until strong arms unexpectedly lifted me from the ground. As I looked up, it dawned on me that the man standing before me could only be... Viktor. Who else would it be? It was Viktor's frantic commands that echoed as his people pursued me earlier.

As desperate as I was to flee once more from him, the reality sank in—I was now hemmed in by the same group of people. What was the use of struggling then? It would only drain what little strength I had left.

Lost in my turmoil, I hadn't noticed the sudden hush around me. I attempted to stand but found my legs weak, resigning myself to my fate. The only sounds that pierced the silence were my own sobs and the labored breaths of the man standing before me.

"Get up, Grace."

His voice, deep and raspy, tugged at my heart immediately. The last time I heard it was just a few weeks ago, after our intense night together. My heart raced as his face flashed through my mind, accompanied by the familiar scent of musk and oak that still lingered in my senses. Why was he here?

I tried to stand as he instructed, summoning the last of my strength. But my adrenaline was fading fast. Despite my efforts to straighten my legs, I ended up collapsing back onto the ground. Before I could slump completely, he reached out, catching me in his arms and wrapping them around my waist. The electric sensation that coursed through me at his touch confirmed my suspicions, prompting me to lift my head and meet his gaze.

Upon seeing his familiar face and meeting his intense gaze, I abruptly ceased my sobbing.

"Silver..." I murmured his name, tears still wet on my cheeks, stunned that someone I knew stood before me. I was oblivious to the fact that our faces were mere inches apart.

"Why the fvck are you with them? Why the fvck are you here?" Silvester demanded sharply, his words piercing my ears with their intensity.

I couldn't respond immediately. It took me a moment to grasp the weight of his questions. When the realization hit, tears welled up once more, streaming down my cheeks. I began to sob uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the reason I found myself in his embrace.

Burying my face in his neck, I clutched his crisp white shirt tightly as if my life depended on it.

"P-Please... save me," I managed to choke out.