Page 34

Margot

“Benny, get up! We have to go.” I whisper frantically, heart pounding.

But this damn dog won’t listen. He just stares at me, stubborn and unmoving, as if he knows. As if he can sense that this isn’t just another walk, this is an escape.

His big, brown eyes glare like he’s saying, ‘ No.’

Damn it.

I grab a bag of treats and shake them. The sound coaxes him up, but he lets out a loud, dramatic huff.

“Shhh! You’re going to get us caught.”

At least he isn’t a barker.

We slip out the side door and into the garage. My gaze flicks to the key rack.

Sports car? Too obvious.

Then I spot it: a Mercedes SUV.

Perfect .

I unlock it and open the back door, bribing Benny with a few more treats, until he finally jumps in. Minutes. I just wasted minutes. Minutes I don’t have.

Matthias will notice we’re gone soon. It’s already been ten minutes since I overheard that .

I climb into the driver’s seat and plug my home address into my phone GPS. Thirty-minute ETA.

I’ll drive home. Grab the emergency cash from my mattress. It’s only three thousand dollars, but it’ll get me out of the state. I’ll swap this car for mine. I have a fake ID from college. It won’t hold up under serious scrutiny, but it’ll buy me time. I need a new identity. A legitimate one.

Where the hell do you even find someone who knows how to make fake IDs?

I’ll figure it out later. Right now, I need to focus on getting past the gate. The gate guard doesn’t look familiar. Good.

I roll down the window, schooling my expression into irritation, not fear.

“I need to get Mr. Montclair’s dog to vet. It’s urgent.”

The guard’s brows furrow. “I didn’t know he had a dog.”

I force my lips into a sneer.

“He obviously does. And he cares about him a lot. The dog is sick and needs medical attention immediately. Mr. Montclair won’t be happy with you if you delay us.”

His eyes flick to the backseat where Benny is lying down obediently. Bless him.

A beat passes.

Then the gate opens.

I floor it.

I made it out.

I made it out.