Chapter 90

Chapter 90


The laundromat felt too quiet after all the shouting and gunfire. The machines hummed in a steady rhythm, almost peaceful, but Lila could not relax. Her clothes were damp, her hands were shaking, and her heart felt like it was trying to punch its way out of her chest. Nate stood near the back door, listening for any sound outside, his body tense and ready to move.

Ethan paced by the dryers, running a hand through his hair again and again. His nerves were eating him alive. Mia sat on top of one of the washing machines, hugging her knees, her eyes flicking between all of them.

Lila stood by the window and peeked through the dusty glass. The street outside was empty, but she knew that did not mean safety. It only meant the danger was close, waiting for them to make a mistake.

Nate stepped away from the door. “We need a clean exit. They know we’re on foot. They will sweep block by block until they find us.”

Mia groaned softly. “Can we please skip the part where we get murdered in a laundromat? This is the worst place to die. It smells like wet socks.”

Lila let out a shaky breath. “They want the journal. As long as I have it, they will keep coming.”

Nate looked at her, his eyes softening for a moment. “They are not getting it. Or you.”

His voice was steady, warm, and firm, and something in her chest eased for a second. He always spoke like he could control the world if he had to, even when everything was falling apart.

But Ethan scoffed. “You keep saying that like you have some plan written in the sky. You have no idea how many men Daniel has. You have no idea what he has planned. We should leave town. All of us. Right now.”

Nate shot him a cold look. “Running will only make things worse. He will follow us anywhere. Until we take his power away, he owns the board.”

Ethan threw his hands up. “And how do you plan to do that? You wanna walk into Daniel’s office and politely say, Please stop hunting us?”

“Something like that,” Nate said, his tone dry but steady.

Mia blinked. “I hope you are joking.”

Lila stepped away from the window. “If we find the account, and we learn what Daniel wants, maybe we can use it against him. It might be the only way to stop this.”

Nate watched her, and she felt the weight of his gaze. “That means we go to the bank. Today.”

Ethan looked horrified. “Today? You want us to walk into the center of town while Daniel’s men search every street?”

“Yes,” Nate said simply. “Before they expect it.”

Lila swallowed hard. The thought of walking right into danger made her stomach twist, but hiding had not saved them so far. Running only pushed the fear to a new street each time. She wanted this to end. She wanted her life back.

“If we go,” Lila said slowly, “we go smart. We don’t go together. That will get us spotted faster.”

Nate nodded. “Agreed. Two groups.”

Mia hopped off the machine. “I’ll go with Lila. No offense to the boys, but Lila needs someone who does not punch people first and ask questions never.”

Nate looked offended. “I do not punch everyone.”

Ethan crossed his arms. “You punched me.”

“You deserved it,” Nate muttered.

Mia raised her hand. “Case closed.”

Lila almost smiled. Almost. The fear was still there, crawling under her skin, but having them here made it feel less heavy.

Nate stepped closer to her until she could feel the warmth of his breath. “Stay close to Mia. Do not let the journal out of your hands. If anything feels wrong, call me.”

She nodded. “And you be careful too.”

He brushed a strand of wet hair from her cheek. “I always am.”

Her breath caught for a second, not because of the danger, but because of the quiet way he said it. Like she mattered. Like her safety was carved into him.

Ethan cleared his throat loudly. “Are we done? Can we please leave before someone kicks this door open?”

Nate stepped back, the moment broken. “Fine. Let’s move.”

They slipped out the side door of the laundromat and entered a narrow back street lined with dumpsters and old brick walls. The smell of wet concrete filled the air. Far away, a siren wailed.

Nate pointed to the left. “Mia and Lila, take the east side. Stay on small roads. Keep your heads down.”

He turned to Ethan. “You’re with me.”

Ethan looked like he wanted to argue, but he kept quiet and followed.

Mia squeezed Lila’s hand. “Let’s go before my knees give up from fear.”

They moved down the street, staying close to the walls. The town was waking up. A few cars rolled by. A woman walked her dog along the opposite sidewalk. Everything looked normal, but Lila knew the danger was woven into the air.

They reached the first intersection. Lila froze when black cars passed slowly at the end of the block. Mia gently pulled her back into the shadow between two buildings.

“We wait,” Mia whispered.

The cars kept moving, their windows dark, their engines low. Lila felt the journal press against her ribs. She wondered what secret could make grown men hunt her like she was prey.

When the cars finally disappeared, they rushed across the street and ducked behind a row of trash cans. The bank was only three blocks away, a clean white building with tall pillars. It looked calm and safe from a distance, but Lila knew that calm places often held the biggest storms.

“Almost there,” Mia whispered. “We can do this.”

Lila nodded. “Yes. We can.”

They moved again, slipping between a pharmacy and a bookstore. As they reached the corner near the bank, Lila’s breath caught.

A man stood by the entrance, leaning against the wall, scanning the street with sharp eyes.

Mia whispered, “He is not a regular customer.”

Lila felt her hands tighten. The man straightened slowly, like he could smell their fear.

Mia leaned closer. “Lila, do not panic. Walk like you belong here. Act normal.”

Lila stepped out of the alley. She forced her legs to move. She forced her breath to stay steady. They walked straight toward the bank. The man’s eyes followed them the whole time.

Just as they reached the steps, the man pushed off the wall and said in a smooth voice, “Ladies. Going somewhere?”

Lila stopped. Mia stopped beside her.

The man smiled. It was not a kind smile.

“Daniel wants a word,” he said.

And Lila knew they were caught.