New beginning: Billionaire love story

The roar of the motorcycle's engine grew louder, the rider closing in like a predator sensing victory. The glint of his gun aimed directly at their car was enough to send a chill down Adrian's spine. "Claire, do something!" he shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

"I'm trying!" Claire snapped, frustration and pain competing for control of her voice. She steadied her grip on the pistol, took a deep breath, and squeezed the trigger.

BANG!

The shot rang out, and the front tire of the motorcycle exploded with a violent pop. The bike swerved uncontrollably before careening off the road into a ditch, the rider tumbling into the darkness. Matthew let out a triumphant whoop. "That's my girl!"

Claire slumped back into her seat, her hand shaking as the adrenaline began to wear off. Her arm throbbed painfully where the bullet had grazed her.

Adrian reached over from the back seat, grabbing her hand. "Let me see that."

"I said I'm fine," Claire muttered, but she didn't pull away as Adrian examined the wound.

"You're bleeding," he said, his voice quieter now, concern softening the edge.

"It's not that bad," Claire replied, brushing him off. "We have bigger problems right now."

Matthew nodded, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. "She's right. Eligos won't stop. He'll send more men if he hasn't already. We need to put some serious distance between us and them."

Claire turned to look out the rear window. The motorcycles were gone, but in the far distance, she could see headlights-a convoy of vehicles closing in fast.

"Eligos," she muttered, her jaw tightening. "He's coming himself."

"Perfect," Adrian said sarcastically, sitting back with a groan. "Because that's what we needed a personal touch."

Matthew pressed harder on the gas pedal, the car's engine roaring as they sped down the dark, winding road. The headlights behind them grew brighter, and Claire gritted her teeth, feeling the tension in the air. "Matthew," Adrian said, gripping the handle above the door, "I know you're in a hurry, but is it possible to drive like you're not auditioning for a stunt double?"

Matthew smirked but didn't slow down. "Not a chance. If I drive like you want, we'll be caught in five minutes. Just hold on and enjoy the ride."

Adrian's head slammed back against the seat as Matthew swerved hard to avoid a pothole. "Enjoy it? This isn't a roller coaster, Matthew!" Claire, despite her pain, turned to glance at him. A look of concerned cross Claire face. "Are you okay, Adrian? Do you have car sick?"

"Oh, I'm fine and no I don't have carsick." Adrian replied with a strained smile, gripping the seatbelt tightly. "But if I survive this, I'm driving next time." "Assuming there's a next time," Matthew quipped, his eyes fixed on the road.

Suddenly, Claire's gaze snapped forward. "Matthew, watch out!"

A dark SUV appeared out of nowhere, blocking their path as it skidded to a stop in the middle of the road.

"Hang on!" Matthew shouted, yanking the wheel to the right. The car veered off the road, crashing through bushes and onto a dirt path. The impact jolted everyone inside, and Adrian let out an undignified yelp. "Warn me next time you decide to go off-road!" Adrian complained, clutching his side.

"No time for warnings," Matthew said, his voice tight with concentration. He glanced at Claire. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said through clenched teeth, though she pressed her hand against her injured arm.

"We need a new plan," Adrian said, twisting around to look out the back window. "Because if this keeps up, we're either going to crash or run out of gas."

In the lead SUV, Eligos sat in the passenger seat, his sharp eyes scanning the dark road ahead. His jaw was set, his expression a mix of irritation and determination.

"Didn't think she'd be this slippery," he muttered, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of menace.

One of his men, driving the vehicle, glanced at him nervously. "Should we block off the other exits, sir?"

"Already done," Eligos replied, his lips curling into a smirk. "They're running out of places to go."

Back in the car, Matthew made a sudden turn, heading toward an overgrown path that led deeper into the woods. "Where are you taking us?" Adrian asked, holding onto the dashboard as the car bumped along the uneven trail.

"Somewhere safe," Matthew replied cryptically.

"Define 'safe," Adrian said, his voice rising.

Claire interrupted, her tone firm. "Don't worry. It's safe." Claire turned to him her face softened and she shot him a soft smile. "Trust me."noveldrama

Adrian leaned back, muttering under his breath then sighed. "Fine. But I should think that we should keep going instead of stopping."

The car eventually came to a stop near a secluded clearing, hidden by dense trees. Matthew killed the engine and motioned for everyone to get out. "We're walking from here," he said, grabbing a backpack from the trunk.

"Walking?" Adrian said incredulously. "To where?"

"A safe house," Matthew replied. "It's not far."

The group trekked through the woods; their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. The moonlight filtering through the trees provided just enough light to see the path ahead.

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Claire stumbled slightly, the adrenaline wearing off and the pain in her arm becoming more noticeable. Adrian was by her side in an instant, steadying her. "You should sit down," he said, concern evident in his voice.

"I'll sit when we're safe," Claire replied stubbornly.

Adrian sighed. "Of course you will."

Back on the road, Eligos's SUV skidded to a halt near the dirt path Matthew had taken. His men were scattered, searching the area with flashlights. "They're not far," one of them reported.

Eligos stepped out of the vehicle, his sharp gaze scanning the woods. "Then find them," he said coldly. "And bring Claire to me. Alive."

The men nodded and fanned out, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.

After what felt like an eternity,

Matthewded them to a small,

abandoned cabin nestled deep in the

woods. It was barely visible through the thick foliage, blending perfectly with its surroundings.

"This is your idea of a safe house?" Adrian asked, eyeing the rickety structure skeptically.

"It's safe because no one would think to look here," Matthew replied.

Claire leaned against the doorframe, her energy waning. "It'll do. Let's just get inside."

The group entered the cabin, which was sparsely furnished but clean enough. Matthew immediately went to a hidden compartment on the floor, pulling out a first aid kit. "Sit," he told Claire, motioning to a chair.

She didn't argue, too tired to protest. Adrian hovered nearby as Matthew cleaned and bandaged her arm.

"You're lucky it was just a graze," Matthew said.

"I'm lucky you guys showed up," Claire replied, her voice soft.

Adrian sighed as he crossed his arms. "Consider yourself lucky that the bullet doesn't penetrate your arm."

"I sure am lucky," Claire muttered as she looked down at her bloodied arm.

Adrian stood at the center as he

looked down at them both with

seriousness in his eyes. "Ok, now we are currently safe. We have time to talk about what happened and someone needs to explain to me what happened." His eyes move to Claire and a look of hurt crosses his face and Claire feels guilty.

"I-"

"Please, no secret between us again, Claire."