Chapter 15

• The roar of the engine was a counterpoint to the frantic beat of Cleo’s heart. Rowan gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, navigating the city streets with a skill born of instinct and years of honed reflexes. Behind them, the relentless pursuit was a symphony of screeching tires and angry horns, a cacophony of chaos that mirrored the turmoil in their souls. Julian’s black SUV, a menacing shadow, clung to their tail, its headlights cutting through the twilight like predatory eyes.
• They were a blur of motion, weaving through the evening rush hour traffic, a desperate dance between survival and capture. Each turn was a gamble, a calculated risk against the overwhelming odds. The city lights, usually a comforting spectacle, were now a kaleidoscope of frantic movement, a backdrop to their desperate flight. Rowan’s focus was unwavering, his every sense hyper-alert, detecting every shift in the pursuit's relentless pressure. Cleo, her eyes glued to the rearview mirror, watched the relentless approach of Julian's vehicle, a stark reminder of the danger that hung over them. Each near-miss, each sudden brake, each hair's-breadth escape, served only to increase the intensity of the chase.
• The escape had begun smoothly enough; a carefully planned exit from the mansion, a pre-arranged getaway car waiting in the shadows. But Julian's response had been swift and brutal, a testament to his power and resources. His network of associates, seemingly omnipresent, had instantly sprung into action, transforming the streets into a hunting ground. This was no ordinary pursuit; it was a coordinated effort, a calculated hunt that played to Julian's strengths.