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CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

Cam

The engine roars as I steer the speedboat out into open water.

My hands grip the wheel tightly, my knuckles white.

The night air is sharp against my face, the salt stinging my skin.

The sound of the burning compound grows softer behind us, alarms going, smoke rising in a few tendrils against the sky before I turn away. I don’t look back.

Not yet.

Paigelynn sits beside me, her hair wet and tangled, her eyes wide and searching.

She’s quiet at first, clutching the side of the boat like it’s the only thing keeping her steady.

I can feel her staring at me, the questions building in her mind.

We made it from the docks to this boat, keys in the ignition.

Meant for Niall’s security force, the convenience pays off for us.

I don’t know how the hell I’ll get Paigelynn out of this mess alive, but I do know that open water is safer than back there.

Finally, she speaks. “The explosions,” she says, her voice soft but steady. “The fires. Did you do all that?”

I glance at her, my jaw tightening. “No,” I say, keeping my eyes on the horizon. “But we have secret allies.”

“Allies?” she repeats, her voice rising. “Who?”

I shake my head. “Not now,” I say firmly. “Just trust me. We’re not alone in this.” As I stare out at the horizon, I hope I’m right.

She doesn’t press me, but I can feel her tension. She wants answers, but right now, all I can think about is getting us out of here. The water is dark and choppy, the waves hitting the boat hard, but I keep us steady.

I have to.

The compound fades farther into the distance, the orange glow of the fires lighting up the night sky. For a moment, it feels like we’re finally safe. Like we might actually make it.

Then I see it. Another boat, cutting through the waves behind us. My chest tightens as I squint into the darkness, trying to make out the figures onboard. The boat is fast, faster than I want it to be.

And then I see him.

Dominic Luisi.

He’s standing at the bow of the speedboat, his face glowing with pure rage. His jaw is set, his eyes blazing with anger. His hand grips a rifle, and he’s shouting something, but the roar of the engines drowns him out.

Beside him is Sandor Javics. He’s barking orders, his movements sharp and aggressive. He’s armed too, a pistol in one hand and a radio in the other. There's movement behind them, so they didn't come alone. My stomach twists as I watch them, the memories flooding back.

Dominic’s voice cuts through the noise over his megaphone, loud and furious. “Get back to shore. You’re dead either way but get back to shore with her. Now.”

I grit my teeth, my hands tightening on the wheel. His words hit harder than I want them to. Dominic Luisi. The man who raised me. The man who told me I owed him my life.

And now he’s hunting me.

“You’ll never escape!” he shouts, his voice echoing across the water.

Paigelynn stiffens beside me, her hand clutching my arm. “Who is that?” she asks, her voice trembling.

“Dominic,” I say, my voice low. “And Sandor Javics.”

Her grip tightens. “What do we do?”

I glance at her, my jaw tight. “We don’t stop,” I say. “No matter what.”

I push the throttle forward, the engine roaring louder as we pick up speed. The waves crash against the boat, spraying water into the air, but I don’t let up. I glance back and see Dominic’s boat gaining on us, Sandor at the wheel, Dominic's rifle raised.

A shot rings out, the bullet hitting the water just behind us. Paigelynn gasps, ducking down, but I keep my focus on the horizon. “Stay low!” I shout, my voice cutting through the chaos.

Dominic’s voice booms again, his words filled with venom. “You think you can turn your back on me, Cam? After everything I did for you? After everything the family gave you?”

I grit my teeth, the anger bubbling inside me. The family . That’s what they always called it. But it was never a family.

It was control.

It was manipulation.

And Dominic was at the center of it all.

“You owe me!” he shouts, his voice breaking with rage. “That girl is mine!”

I glance back, my chest tightening as the memories hit me. The years I spent under Dominic’s roof, thinking I was part of something bigger. Thinking I had a purpose. He made me believe I was special.

But it was all a lie.

Just like my mother.

Just like the prophecy.

The next shot is closer, the bullet zipping past the side of the boat. Paigelynn ducks lower, her hands covering her head.

“Dominic’s not going to stop,” I say, my voice tight. “He won’t let us go.”

Paigelynn looks up at me, her eyes wide but determined. “Then what do we do?” she asks.

I don’t answer right away. My mind races, searching for a way out, hoping the miracle I need comes through. Dominic’s boat is faster, and Sandor is with him.

They won’t stop until they catch us.

Until they end this.

But we’re not done yet.

Not by a long shot.

“Hold on,” I say, pushing the throttle as far as it will go. The engine roars, the boat lurching forward as we speed across the water. The waves crash harder, the spray soaking us both.

Dominic’s boat closes in, his voice growing louder. “You’re a traitor! You’ll never be free!”

The word "traitor" twists in my chest, but I shove it aside. He doesn’t know me. Not anymore. I glance back, my jaw tightening as I see Sandor raising his weapon.

He fires, the bullet hitting the edge of our boat, splintering the wood.

Paigelynn flinches, but she doesn’t scream. She’s tough. Tougher than anyone I’ve ever known.

And she’s counting on me to get us out of this.

I steer hard to the left, the boat tipping dangerously as we cut across the waves. Dominic’s boat swerves to follow, his shouts growing louder. He’s relentless.

I expect nothing less.

Another shot rings out, this one hitting the water just inches from the hull. I grit my teeth, my body tense with anger and determination.

They won’t win.

Not this time.

The distance between the boats narrows, and I can see Dominic’s face more clearly now. His expression is twisted with rage, his eyes burning with hatred. Sandor stands beside him, barking orders to a driver, one of Dominic's guards, his weapon ready.

I glance at Paigelynn, her face pale but strong. She looks back at me, and in her eyes, I see something I’ve never seen before. Hope. For both of us.

“We’re going to make it,” I say, my voice steady. “I promise.”

She nods, her grip on the side of the boat tightening. “I trust you.”

I focus on the horizon, the waves crashing around us, the engine roaring beneath my feet. Dominic’s boat is closing in, but I won’t let them win.

This is a death match.