Chapter 8: A Safe Haven
The car sped through the city, the streets blurring into a maze of lights and shadows. Daniela clutched the door handle, her knuckles white, as Ethan navigated the roads with a focused intensity. The cut on his forehead had stopped bleeding, but the sight of it made her stomach twist. He had risked everything to protect her, and she didn’t know how to thank him.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan glanced at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “Somewhere Alexander won’t think to look. A friend’s place. He’s… off the grid. We’ll be safe there for a while.”
Daniela nodded, though her mind was still reeling. The image of Alexander’s cold, calculating expression haunted her. How had she not seen this side of him before? How had she been so blind?
After what felt like an eternity, Ethan pulled into a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. The houses were small and modest, a stark contrast to the luxury Daniela was used to. He parked in front of a weathered bungalow with a dim light glowing in the window.
“Stay close,” Ethan said as they got out of the car. He led her up the creaky steps to the front door and knocked twice, then paused, and knocked once more. A code.
The door opened a crack, and a pair of sharp eyes peered out. “Ethan,” a gruff voice said. “You’re late.”
“Had some trouble,” Ethan replied, his tone casual despite the tension in his shoulders. “Can we come in?”
The door opened wider, revealing a tall, wiry man with a scruffy beard and a wary expression. He stepped aside, letting them in, and closed the door quickly behind them. The inside of the house was cluttered but cozy, with mismatched furniture and shelves filled with books and odd gadgets.
“Daniela, this is Marcus,” Ethan said, gesturing to the man. “Marcus, Daniela. She’s in trouble, and we need your help.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow, looking Daniela up and down. “Trouble, huh? What kind of trouble?”
“The kind that involves Alexander Bennett,” Ethan said, his voice low.
Marcus’s expression darkened. “Bennett? You’re messing with fire, Ethan. You know what that guy’s capable of.”
Daniela’s chest tightened. “What do you mean? What is Alexander capable of?”
Marcus hesitated, then sighed. “Sit down. Both of you. You look like you’ve been through hell.”
They settled onto a worn couch, and Marcus handed them each a glass of water. Daniela sipped hers slowly, her hands still trembling. Marcus leaned against the wall, his arms crossed.
“Alexander Bennett isn’t just some businessman,” Marcus began. “He’s connected. Deep. Runs a lot of shady operations under the guise of his legitimate companies. Drugs, money laundering, you name it. And he’s got people everywhere—cops, politicians, you can’t trust anyone.”
Daniela’s stomach churned. She had always known Alexander was powerful, but this… this was something else entirely. “Why would he marry me if he’s involved in all of this?” she asked, her voice breaking.
Marcus shrugged. “Could be a cover. Could be he actually cared about you. Doesn’t matter now. What matters is that you’re a liability to him. And if there’s one thing guys like Bennett don’t tolerate, it’s liabilities.”
Ethan leaned forward, his expression serious. “We need to take him down, Marcus. But we can’t do it alone. We need evidence—something concrete that can’t be ignored.”
Marcus rubbed his beard, thinking. “Evidence, huh? That’s not easy to come by. Bennett’s careful. But if anyone’s got dirt on him, it’s his ex-partner. Guy named Victor Kane. They had a falling out a few years ago, and Kane’s been laying low ever since. Rumor has it, he’s got a stash of files that could bury Bennett.”
Daniela’s eyes widened. “Where is he? Can we talk to him?”
Marcus shook his head. “Kane’s paranoid. Doesn’t trust anyone. But if anyone can get to him, it’s Ethan. They’ve got history.”
Ethan nodded, though his expression was grim. “I’ll reach out to him. But it’s not going to be easy. Kane’s not exactly the trusting type.”
Daniela looked between the two men, her heart pounding. “What can I do? I can’t just sit here and wait.”
Ethan turned to her, his gaze softening. “You’ve already done more than anyone could ask. But right now, the best thing you can do is stay safe. Let us handle this.”
Daniela wanted to argue, to insist that she could help, but the exhaustion in Ethan’s eyes stopped her. He had been through so much already, and she didn’t want to make things harder for him.
Marcus cleared his throat. “You two look like you could use some rest. There’s a spare room down the hall. Get some sleep. We’ll figure out the next steps in the morning.”
Ethan stood, offering Daniela his hand. She took it, her fingers trembling as they intertwined with his. He led her down the hall to a small, sparsely furnished room with a single bed and a window covered by heavy curtains.
“It’s not much,” Ethan said, his voice apologetic. “But it’s safe.”
Daniela shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s more than enough. Thank you, Ethan. For everything.”
He hesitated, then reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
For a moment, they stood there, the air between them charged with unspoken words. But then Ethan stepped back, his expression guarded. “Get some rest. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
Daniela nodded, though her heart ached at the distance between them. As he closed the door behind him, she sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing. She thought about Alexander, about the life she had left behind, and about the uncertain future that lay ahead.
But one thing was clear: she wasn’t going to let Alexander win. No matter what it took, she was going to fight back—for herself, for Ethan, and for the truth.
As she lay down and closed her eyes, she clung to that thought like a lifeline. The road ahead would be dangerous, but she was ready to face it.
Because sometimes, the only way out was through.