Chapter 17: The Trap

The alley was narrow and dark, the only light coming from the flickering streetlamp at the end. Evelyn and Lucas ran, their footsteps echoing against the walls as the sound of gunfire followed them. The air was thick with the smell of garbage and damp concrete, and Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to keep up with Lucas's pace.

"This way!" Lucas hissed, pulling her into a narrow doorway. They pressed against the wall, their breathing heavy as the sound of footsteps passed by.

Evelyn's mind raced as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. They had been so careful, so precise. How had the Kanes found them so quickly?

"It was a trap," she whispered, her voice trembling. "They knew we were coming."

Lucas nodded, his sharp green eyes scanning the alley. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Evelyn's chest tightened, and she glanced at the flash drive in her hand. The files they had stolen were their only hope of bringing down the Kanes. She couldn't let them take it.

"Where do we go?" she asked, her voice low.

Lucas hesitated, his jaw tightening. "We split up. It's the only way."

Evelyn shook her head, her heart aching. "No. We stay together."

Lucas met her gaze, his expression grim. "We don't have a choice. They're too close."

Evelyn's chest tightened, but she nodded. "Be careful."

Lucas nodded, then turned and disappeared into the shadows. Evelyn took a deep breath, her mind racing as she moved in the opposite direction.

The streets were eerily quiet, the usual hum of traffic and nightlife muted by the storm. Evelyn moved quickly, sticking to the shadows as she made her way through the city. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with the plan.

She had to get back to the cabin, to Victor. But the Kanes were everywhere, and she wasn't sure if she could make it.

As she turned a corner, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Evelyn's heart skipped a beat, and she quickened her pace, her mind racing. She couldn't let them catch her. Not now.

But as she reached the end of the street, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking her path. Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as she recognized him.

Damian Kane.

He stood in the middle of the street, his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in the air was palpable.

"Evelyn," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You've made a mistake."

Evelyn's chest tightened, and she stepped back, her mind racing. "Damian," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Damian stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. "You should have come to me," he said, his voice low. "I could have helped you."

Evelyn shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "You're part of the problem, Damian. Your family, your empire—it's built on pain and suffering. I can't be a part of that."

Damian's gaze flicked to the flash drive in her hand, then back to her. For a moment, no one moved, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. Then, finally, Damian stepped aside, his expression unreadable.

"Go," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But this isn't over."

Evelyn hesitated, her heart pounding. She wanted to say something, to ask him why he was letting her go. But there was no time. She turned and ran, her footsteps echoing in the night.

As she disappeared into the shadows, Damian watched her go, his expression unreadable. The game had changed, and the stakes were higher than ever.