The room fell silent, the weight of Lucas's words hanging heavy in the air. Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she processed the news. The Kanes were outside. They had found them. And now, there was no way out.
Victor sat up on the makeshift bed, his face pale but determined. "How many?" he asked, his voice hoarse but steady.
Lucas moved to the window, peering through a crack in the curtains. "Enough," he said grimly. "At least a dozen, maybe more. They've got the building surrounded."
Evelyn's stomach churned, and she glanced at Victor, her chest tightening. They had just gotten him back, and now they were trapped. She couldn't let the Kanes take him again. She wouldn't.
"What's the plan?" she asked, her voice low and urgent.
Lucas turned to face them, his sharp green eyes scanning the room. "We hold them off as long as we can. There's a back exit—if we can create a diversion, we might be able to get Victor out."
Evelyn nodded, her mind racing. "What kind of diversion?"
Lucas hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Something big. Something that will draw their attention long enough for us to make a run for it."
Evelyn's chest tightened, and she glanced at Victor, her heart aching. He was still weak, his movements slow and unsteady. But there was no other choice. They had to get him out of here.
"I'll do it," she said, her voice firm. "I'll create the diversion."
Lucas shook his head, his expression grim. "No. It's too dangerous. I'll do it."
Evelyn met his gaze, her eyes filled with determination. "You're the only one who can get Victor out safely. I'll be fine."
Lucas studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Be careful," he said, his voice low. "And don't do anything stupid."
Evelyn forced a smile, though her heart was pounding. "When have I ever done anything stupid?"
Lucas didn't smile back. He turned to Victor, helping him to his feet. "Let's go," he said, his voice steady. "Stay close to me."
Victor nodded, his jaw tightening. "I'm ready."
Evelyn watched as they moved toward the back door, her chest tightening. She had to buy them time. She had to keep the Kanes distracted. She took a deep breath, her mind racing as she scanned the room for anything she could use.
Her eyes landed on a small gas canister near the kitchen. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. She grabbed it, her hands trembling as she unscrewed the cap. The smell of gasoline filled the air, sharp and acrid.
She moved to the front door, her heart pounding in her chest. The sound of voices outside grew louder, and she knew they were running out of time. She poured the gasoline along the floor, creating a trail that led back into the room. Then she grabbed a lighter from the counter, her fingers trembling as she flicked it open.
The flame sparked to life, small but steady. Evelyn took a deep breath, her mind racing. This was it. The point of no return.
She dropped the lighter onto the trail of gasoline, the flame catching instantly. The fire spread quickly, the heat intense as it roared to life. Evelyn stepped back, her heart pounding as the flames climbed the walls, filling the room with smoke.
The sound of shouting erupted outside, and she knew the Kanes had seen the fire. She moved to the window, peering through the curtains as the men outside scrambled, their attention focused on the burning building.
This was her chance.
She turned and ran toward the back door, her footsteps echoing in the narrow hallway. The smoke was thick, making it hard to breathe, but she pushed through, her mind focused on one thing: getting out.
She burst out into the alley, the cool night air hitting her like a slap. The sound of shouting and gunfire echoed behind her, but she didn't look back. She couldn't.
She ran through the rain-soaked streets, her heart pounding in her chest. The safe house was several blocks away, and she had to get there before the Kanes realized what had happened.
As she turned a corner, she saw Lucas and Victor up ahead, their figures silhouetted against the dim light of a streetlamp. Relief flooded through her, and she quickened her pace, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Evelyn!" Lucas called, his voice urgent. "Over here!"
She reached them, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Victor nodded, his face pale but determined. "We're fine. But we need to keep moving."
Lucas glanced over his shoulder, his expression grim. "They're going to figure out what happened soon. We need to get out of the city."
Evelyn's chest tightened, and she nodded. "Where do we go?"
Lucas hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I've got a place. It's off the grid—somewhere the Kanes won't find us."
Evelyn met his gaze, her eyes filled with determination. "Let's go."
They moved quickly through the streets, sticking to the shadows as they made their way to Lucas's car. The city was eerily quiet, the usual hum of traffic and nightlife muted by the storm. It felt like the world was holding its breath, waiting for the next blow to fall.
As they drove away, Evelyn glanced out the window, her mind racing. The Kanes were still out there, and they weren't going to stop until they found her. But she couldn't back down now. Not when so much was at stake.
The game had changed, and the stakes were higher than ever.