The SUV sped through the streets, weaving in and out of traffic. Sophia's heart was still racing from the explosion, and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
Xander's phone rang, and he answered it, listening intently. "Okay, got it," he said, before hanging up.
"What was that?" Sophia asked.
Xander's expression was grim. "My security team has confirmed that the explosion was a deliberate attack," he said. "They're reviewing the footage to see if they can identify the perpetrators."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "We need to get Sophia to a safe house," he said. "Now."
Xander nodded. "I've arranged for a secure location," he said. "We'll be there soon."
The SUV turned off the main road and onto a smaller street. Sophia looked out the window, seeing a nondescript building with a metal door.
"Is this it?" she asked.
Xander nodded. "This is the safe house," he said. "You'll be safe here."
Sophia felt a surge of relief as the SUV pulled up to the building. She was grateful to be alive, and she knew that she owed Xander and Sebastian her life.
But as she looked at the building, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap. Who was behind the attack? And what did they want with her?
As she stepped out of the SUV and into the safe house, Sophia knew that she was about to find out.
As they entered the safe house, Sophia was struck by its stark simplicity. The walls were a plain gray, and the furniture was minimal. There was a small kitchenette in the corner, and a door that led to a bedroom.
Xander nodded to Sebastian. "Check the perimeter," he said.
Sebastian nodded and disappeared out the door.
Xander turned to Sophia. "You're safe here," he said. "No one knows about this place."
Sophia nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was grateful to Xander for taking care of her.
But as she looked around the safe house, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped. She was being kept hidden away, like a secret.
And she wondered what Xander was hiding from her.
Sebastian returned, his face grim. "The perimeter is secure," he said. "But we need to stay vigilant. Whoever attacked us is still out there."
Xander nodded. "I'll increase the security detail," he said. "We'll keep Sophia safe."
Sophia felt a surge of gratitude towards Xander. He was putting himself out to protect her.
But as she looked at him, Sophia couldn't help but wonder what his true motives were.
Was he really just trying to keep her safe? Or was there something more to it?
As the night wore on, Sophia found herself growing more and more uneasy. She was trapped in a safe house, with no way out.
As the night wore on, Sophia grew more and more restless. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped, that she was a prisoner in the safe house.
Xander seemed to sense her unease. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, sitting down beside her on the couch.
Sophia nodded, trying to smile. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said. "Just a little...restless."
Xander's eyes narrowed. "You're safe here, Sophia," he said. "I promise."
Sophia looked at him, searching for reassurance. But as she gazed into his eyes, she saw something there that made her heart skip a beat.
A flicker of doubt.
Xander's expression smoothed out, and he smiled. "Let's get some rest," he said. "We'll figure everything out in the morning."
Sophia nodded, feeling a sense of unease. She didn't know what to believe anymore.
As she lay in bed, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that she was in grave danger. She didn't know who to trust, or what was going on.
But she knew one thing for sure: she had to get out of the safe house.
She kept thinking she saw shadows moving out of the corner of her eye, but every time she turned to look, there was no one there.
She tried to focus on her breathing, to calm her racing heart. But her mind kept wandering back to the explosion, to the feeling of being trapped in the safe house.
Suddenly, Sophia heard a faint noise coming from the living room. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest.
The noise came again, louder this time. Sophia threw off the covers and crept out of the bedroom, her eyes scanning the darkness.
As she entered the living room, she saw a figure huddled on the couch. It was Sebastian, his eyes fixed intently on the TV.
Sophia approached him quietly, not wanting to startle him. But as she got closer, she saw that he was watching a news report.
The anchor was talking about the explosion, and the police were searching for a suspect. Sophia's eyes widened as she saw a picture of herself flash on the screen.
"You're a suspect?" Sebastian asked, turning to her.
Sophia shook her head. "I don't know what's going on," she said.
Sebastian's expression was grim. "We need to get you out of here," he said. "Now."
Sebastian quickly turned off the TV and stood up, his eyes scanning the room. "We need to move, now," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Sophia nodded, her heart racing. She didn't know what was going on, but she trusted Sebastian.
Xander appeared in the doorway, his eyes narrowing. "What's going on?" he asked.
Sebastian gestured to the TV. "The police are looking for Sophia," he said. "We need to get her out of here."
Xander's expression turned grim. "I'll take care of it," he said.
But Sebastian shook his head. "No, we need to get her out of the city," he said. "Somewhere safe."
Xander's eyes flashed with anger, but he nodded. "Fine," he said. "Let's move."
Sophia felt a surge of fear as they quickly gathered their things and left the safe house. She didn't know where they were going, or what would happen when they got there.
But she knew one thing for sure: she was in grave danger. And she had to trust Xander and Sebastian to keep her safe.
As they made their way through the city, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see someone following them.
But every time, there was no one there.
It wasn't until they reached the outskirts of the city that Sophia saw it: a black SUV following them.
Her heart skipped a beat as she realized they were being pursued.
"Xander, look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the SUV.
Xander's eyes narrowed as he looked in the rearview mirror. "Hold on," he said, his voice low and urgent.
And with that, the car surged forward, speeding down the highway. Sophia felt her heart racing as they tried to lose the SUV in the traffic.
But as she looked back, she saw the SUV keeping pace with them, its tires screeching as it took the turns.