Chapter 1: The Stranger in the Storm
Chapter 1: The Stranger in the Storm
The black sedan cut through the rain like a shadow disappearing into the night.
Sophia Harper curled herself against the leather seat, her entire body trembling. Water dripped from the hem of her crimson dress, forming tiny puddles beneath her feet. Every breath hurt. Every bruise reminded her that she had barely escaped.
She kept glancing through the rear window.
"They're coming," she whispered. "They'll find me."
The man beside her never looked back.
"They won't."
His voice was low, calm, and impossibly certain.
The chauffeur adjusted the rearview mirror. "Sir, three SUVs have left the Ashcroft estate. They're following."
The man didn't even blink.
"Take Route Nine."
"But they'll intercept us at the bridge."
"They'll try."
Sophia stared at him. Who could remain this calm while being hunted?
Lightning flashed across the sky, briefly illuminating the sharp lines of his face. The cuts on his cheek were fresh, but he ignored them as though pain had long ago become meaningless.
One of the black SUVs suddenly appeared behind them, its headlights filling the rear window.
"They found us!" Sophia gasped.
The chauffeur accelerated.
The SUV closed the distance.
Another appeared beside them.
"They're boxing us in."
Sophia's heartbeat became deafening.
The man slowly loosened his tie.
"Stay down."
Before she could ask why, the lead SUV lunged forward.
Then—
A pair of armored vehicles emerged from the darkness ahead.
Their headlights exploded through the rain.
The pursuing SUVs slammed on their brakes.
Armed security officers surrounded them within seconds.
The convoy never touched the sedan.
The man looked out the window only once.
"Continue."
The chauffeur nodded.
The sedan rolled forward as if nothing had happened.
Sophia could barely speak.
"Who... who are you?"
For the first time, he looked directly into her eyes.
"My name is Adrian Knight."
May you like
He offered nothing more.
Yet somehow, the name alone carried enough weight to silence every question.
