Chapter 105

Chapter 105


Rain had started again, a thin cold drizzle that tapped against the pavement like impatient fingers. Nate, Lila and Mia reached the curb where Mia’s brother was supposed to pick her up, but the street was empty and too quiet, the kind of quiet that made the skin on the back of Lila’s neck tighten.

Mia checked her phone. “He said he was two minutes away.”

Nate frowned. “That was ten minutes ago.”

Lila felt her heartbeat shift. Something was wrong. She could feel it the same way she used to feel storms rolling in when she was little and her mother would run to pull the clothes off the line.

A single car turned onto the street from the far end. Its headlights cut through the drizzle like sharp blades. At first it looked normal, slow, harmless. But then it picked up speed, much faster than it should have, and the engine roared loud enough to make Lila flinch.

Mia squinted. “That is not my brother’s car.”

Nate stepped in front of Lila and Mia without hesitation. “Move back. Now.”

The car kept coming, faster and faster, its tires shrieking as it skidded into the lot. Lila grabbed Mia’s wrist and pulled her backward, just as the car slid sideways in a hard stop that sprayed water across their shoes.

The passenger door opened before the car even settled.

Tessa stepped out.

Her pink hair was soaked flat to her head and her eyes were wild, the kind of wild that came from fear mixed with something twisted. She slammed the door behind her and pointed straight at Lila.

“You ruined everything,” Tessa shouted.

Lila felt a cold knot inside her chest. “Where is your mother.”

Tessa walked toward them, her steps uneven and desperate. “You think she is going to give up. You think she is going to sit and cry because you got away. No. She is coming back and this time she is not messing around.”

Nate moved in front of Lila again. “Tessa, go home.”

Tessa laughed, a sharp, broken sound. “I cannot. Home is gone. Carla is losing her mind because of you. She said if I did not help bring you in, she would leave me with him.”

Lila felt her stomach twist. “Who does she mean.”

Tessa swallowed hard. Her voice shook. “Mr Watkins.”

Mia cursed under her breath. “Oh no.”

Tessa kept talking, her words spilling out like she had been holding them in too long. “Carla met him again. He is angry. She made promises she cannot keep. And she said that if I do not get you back tonight, she will hand me over to him instead.”

Lila stared at her. It was the first time Tessa had ever looked less like a spoiled bully and more like a terrified girl caught in a nightmare she did not create.

Lila took a small step forward. “Tessa, listen to me. You do not have to go back to her. You do not have to help her. You can come with us.”

“No,” Tessa whispered. “She said she will find me no matter where I go. She always finds me. She always knows. You do not understand what she is like when she is scared.”

Lila did understand. Too well.

Before she could speak again, the driver door of the car opened.

And the man who stepped out made all three of them freeze.

He was tall and broad with a shaved head and a face that looked like it had been carved from stone. His arms were covered in ink, and a thick scar ran down the side of his cheek.

Mr Watkins.

He looked older than Lila remembered from whispered stories and passing mentions around town, but his presence was sharp and cold. Every instinct inside her screamed at her to run.

“Well,” Watkins said with a bored tone, “there she is.”

Nate positioned himself in front of Lila so fast she barely saw him move. “You are not taking her.”

Watkins lifted a brow, unimpressed. “Boy, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Mia stepped closer to Lila, her voice tight. “We need to go.”

Watkins tilted his head as he studied them. “Carla said you would fight. She said the girl is stubborn. But she did not tell me you had company.”

Tessa’s voice cracked. “I brought her, just like you wanted. You said you would leave me alone.”

Watkins turned slowly toward her. “I said I would think about it.”

Tessa’s face fell as if he had punched her.

Lila could not stop the anger that shot through her chest. “She is a child.”

Watkins looked at her with mild amusement. “So are you.”

Lila felt Nate’s hand brush hers, not pulling her but anchoring her.

Watkins pointed at Lila. “You come with me quietly and I let your little friends walk away. Make me chase you and I take all three.”

Nate stepped forward. “She is not going anywhere with you.”

Watkins sighed. “I was hoping we could do this easy.”

He reached into his jacket.

Lila stopped breathing.

But instead of a weapon, he pulled out a phone and held it up. “Carla wants to speak to her. Right now.”

Lila stared at the phone like it was poison. “I am not talking to her.”

“You will,” Watkins said.

He tossed the phone at her feet. Nate bent down and picked it up. The screen was already lit. Carla’s name flashed at the top.

A video call.

Carla’s voice came through before Nate could even turn the phone. “Lila. Sweetheart. If you do not come with him, your father will not see tomorrow.”

Lila’s breath caught. “What did you do.”

Carla laughed. “Relax. He is alive. For now.”

Lila’s legs felt weak. “Where is he.”

Carla turned the camera around and Lila saw her father slumped in a chair with tape around his wrists. His eyes were half open. He looked confused, scared and drunk.

Lila felt her whole body shake.

Carla brought the camera back to her own smirking face. “Come home, Lila. Or you will bury him.”

Mia sucked in a sharp breath.

Nate looked like he might break the phone in half.

Lila wanted to scream but nothing came out.

Watkins stepped forward. “Time is up.”

Nate moved in front of Lila again. “You are not touching her.”

Watkins looked almost bored. “You really want to play hero. Fine.”

He snapped his fingers.

Two more men stepped out of the car. Lila had not even seen them inside.

Mia grabbed Lila’s arm. “We need to run.”

Nate whispered one word. “Now.”

All three turned and bolted across the parking lot.

Watkins shouted behind them. “Bring them back.”

Lila ran so fast her chest felt like it was tearing. Her breath came sharp and hot. Her shoes slapped against the wet pavement. The drizzle turned into real rain and blurred the streetlights.

Nate grabbed her hand, not to drag her but to keep her steady. Mia sprinted beside them, her breath ragged and fast.

Behind them, footsteps pounded the pavement.

Lila heard a man shout. She heard Tessa cry out. She did not dare look back.

They cut between two buildings and splashed through a puddle that reached their ankles. The alley was narrow and dark, but Nate pushed forward with a tight grip on Lila’s hand.

“We need a place to hide,” Mia gasped.

Nate scanned the street ahead. “There. Behind the old laundry shop.”

They reached the back door of the shop. Nate pulled the handle. Locked. He slammed his shoulder into it. Once. Twice. The wood cracked. On the third hit, the door burst open.

They stumbled inside.

Nate shoved a crate against the door. Lila leaned against the cold wall, trying to catch her breath.

The rain outside grew louder. Heavy. Constant. Hiding them for now.

Nate looked at Lila with fear mixed with fire. “He threatened your father. Lila, this is not just about blackmail. This is a kidnapping.”

Lila felt tears sting her eyes. “I know.”

Mia stepped closer. “We cannot keep running from this. We need a plan.”

Nate walked toward Lila and rested his forehead against hers. “I will not let anyone take you.”

Lila closed her eyes for a moment. Just one moment. Just long enough to feel strength instead of fear.

Outside, a voice shouted very loudly.

They were not safe yet. Not even close. And the night had only begun.