Chapter 13:The Billionaires Escape

**Chapter Thirteen: The Billionaire's Escape**

Jane didn't have time to pack.

Carlo grabbed her hand and pulled her through the side door of the mansion. A black SUV with tinted windows was already running in the driveway. Two of Carlo's private guards were in the front seat, alert and tense.

"Where are we going?" Jane asked, trying to calm her breathing.

"A safehouse," Carlo replied, opening the back door for her. "No one knows about it. Not even Evelyn."

Jane hesitated. "But what about the flash drive? The files—"

"I've encrypted everything," Carlo said. "I made a backup and sent it to my lawyer. If anything happens to us, the whole truth will come out."

Jane slid into the car, heart hammering.

The ride was quiet, except for the constant pulse of fear in the air. Jane kept glancing behind them, half-expecting a car to tail them or someone to jump out of the shadows.

After nearly two hours of driving into the countryside, they reached an old cabin hidden behind tall pine trees and surrounded by hills. It looked abandoned—perfectly ordinary.

"Welcome to one of my secrets," Carlo said with a faint smile as he opened the door. "I used to come here to escape the press after my father died."

"It's peaceful," Jane whispered.

"Peaceful is good," he replied. "We need that right now."

The guards stayed outside, patrolling the area. Inside, the cabin had two bedrooms, a fireplace, and a small kitchen. Jane touched the dusty bookshelf, surprised by the number of old novels and biographies.

"You read?" she asked.

Carlo chuckled. "Don't sound so shocked."

"I just… didn't picture you as the bookish type."

He raised a brow. "And what type do I seem like to you?"

She bit her lip. "The brooding billionaire who doesn't sleep and takes his coffee black."

He laughed softly, the sound low and unfamiliar. "Well, you're not entirely wrong."

They settled in. Jane took the guest room, but sleep didn't come easily. The echo of that threatening message still haunted her.

*"Even your precious billionaire won't save you…"*

The next morning, Jane found Carlo in the kitchen, shirtless, making scrambled eggs. The sight stopped her breath.

"What?" he asked with a smirk.

"Nothing," she said too quickly, turning away.

Carlo handed her a plate. "Eat. You need energy if you're going to keep fighting."

She nodded, trying not to stare at the scar on his shoulder. "Where'd you get that?"

"Motorcycle accident," he said. "A long time ago. Before the boardroom suits and fake smiles."

Jane glanced at him. "You were different back then?"

Carlo's face turned serious. "Yeah. A lot different. Losing my father changed everything."

She wanted to ask more—but before she could, a loud knock interrupted them.

They both froze.

One of the guards opened the door slightly.

"It's me," said a gruff voice. "Samuel. The lawyer."

Carlo rushed forward and opened the door fully.

Samuel entered, wearing a gray trench coat and holding a briefcase. "I decrypted the drive and reviewed the files. You were right. There's enough to bury Evelyn and Maxwell for good."

Jane stood. "Then why do you look worried?"

Samuel glanced around before locking the door behind him. "Because they know you're onto them. Evelyn tried to transfer over ten million dollars last night—to a fake charity linked to Clarissa. I've frozen the transaction, but they're desperate now. If we make a wrong move, they'll panic."

"We can't go to the police," Carlo said. "They've got people inside."

Jane clenched her fists. "Then what do we do?"

Samuel looked at Carlo. "We leak the truth. All of it."

"Leak it?" Jane repeated.

"Yes," Samuel said. "I've contacted an investigative journalist. Someone I trust. If we send her the files, she'll blow this story wide open."

Carlo nodded. "Do it."

"I'll need Jane to verify the documents," Samuel added. "She's the only family member of David's still alive."

Jane's throat tightened. "Okay. I'll do it."

Carlo touched her hand under the table. "You don't have to do this alone."

She looked at him.

His fingers were warm, steady.

And something in his eyes—something soft—made her heart flutter.

Later that evening, after Samuel left to begin the leak, Jane stood outside the cabin, staring at the stars. She wrapped her arms around herself as the cold wind whispered through the trees.

Carlo came outside and draped a jacket over her shoulders.

"You always come out when it's cold," he said quietly.

"I like the silence. It helps me think."

"Thinking too much can be dangerous."

She gave a sad smile. "Not thinking was worse."

They stood in silence for a while.

Then Jane turned to him.

"Why are you really helping me, Carlo? You could've walked away from all this."

Carlo's jaw clenched. "Because you made me care again."

She blinked.

"What?"

He stepped closer, eyes burning. "You made me see things I've ignored for years. You challenged me. You didn't care that I had money or power. You called me out when I was wrong. You… made me want to protect something real."

Her lips parted, but no words came.

Carlo touched her face gently. "I'm falling for you, Jane. Every time you look at me, I lose a little more control."

Her heart thundered in her chest.

"I don't know if I'm ready," she whispered. "Everything is so broken."

"I don't care," he said. "I want all of it. Even the broken parts."

And then—

He kissed her.

Softly.

Like he was afraid she'd disappear.

Jane didn't pull away.

For once, she let herself feel.

Let herself fall.

But the moment shattered too quickly.

A loud bang echoed in the distance.

Gunfire.

Then another.

Carlo yanked her behind him. "Inside. Now!"

The guards were shouting outside.

Then—

Silence.

Dead silence.

Carlo rushed to the window and peeked through the blinds.

Jane clutched his arm. "What is it?!"

He turned to her, voice low and cold.

"They've found us."

A figure stepped into view, dressed in black, face hidden.

They held something up to the security camera outside.

A photo.

Of Carlo.

Jane.

And her father.

Crossed out in red ink.

And beneath it—

A message:

> **"One of you dies tonight."**

**To Be Continued…**