Page 69 of The Chaos She Brings

She nods, her face pale. “Let’s go.”

We move quickly, heading down the staircase. The house feels eerily quiet; every creak of the floorboards amplified in the stillness. My heart pounds as I disable the alarm system at the door once again.

“Stay close,” I murmur to Tess as I ease the door open.

The cool night air hits us, but we don’t stop. Nico appears in front of us a moment later, armed and scanning the area like a hawk.

A gunshot rings out and I grab hold of Tess, picking her up and shielding her with my body as I sprint towards one of the cars. She squirms but my hold remains. Nico lets off a couple shots of his own as he follows behind.

I shove Tess in the back, buckling her seatbelt with shaky hands then yank open the driver’s door and get in.

“They’re coming,” I say, starting the engine.

Nico jumps into the passenger seat, and I throw the car into gear, tires screeching as we speed off into the night.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, I see headlights flash in the distance, and my chest tightens.

“Drive faster,” Nico hisses, his voice unusually serious.

I press the accelerator harder.

The chase has begun.

Tess

My body trembles as Kai tears down the country roads, taking sharp corners like a man with no regard for death. Gravel spits under the tyres, the engine growling as he pushes it harder.

Nico—not Happy anymore, not after he just helped us escape—pulls out his phone, his fingers slick with sweat as he dials. “I’m calling Enzo. Keep driving.”

“Put it on speaker,” I demand.

The line rings once. Twice. Then Enzo’s voice snaps through the speakers. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Matteo was a fucking snake. He sold us out,” Nico grits out.

A string of Italian curses follows. Then, “Where are you now?”

“On the road. They’re following us.”

My breath catches. I whip my head around to look out the back window. Shit. Headlights. Closer than before.

“Tess?” Enzo’s voice wobbles slightly, just enough to betray his nerves.

“I’m here,” I say quickly, leaning forward as if that will somehow help.

A sharp exhale of relief. Then, “Thank fuck.”

“I’m fine too. Thanks for asking, asshole,” Kai mutters, gripping the wheel tighter.

Then—blinding light.

A car barrels toward us from the front, appearing out of nowhere.

Kai swears and slams on the brakes. The force slams me into the seatbelt, my skull snapping forward, pain ricocheting through my head. My vision wavers.

A glance behind. Another set of headlights.

We’re boxed in.