Chapter 169

• Lucia's POV
• Harrow’s SUV screeched in front of our van, blocking the dirt road, his voice barking through the dark. “Victor’s final bomb… your location’s tagged!” My heart dropped like a stone. A bomb? Here? I grabbed Sofia’s hand, eyes darting to Elena’s pale face in the back. “Out! Now!” I yelled, kicking the door open. We spilled into the chilly woods, abandoning the van, its headlights still glowing useless. Elena limped bad, her legs wobbling, but she pushed forward, stubborn. Ryan scooped Mateo up, the kid’s tiny arms clinging tight, his soft whimpers cutting the quiet. Branches snapped underfoot as we ran, the threat of an explosion chasing us like a ghost. I glanced back.. Harrow’s flashlight beams sliced through the trees, too close. My chest burned, fear clawing me raw. We weren’t safe, not even close.
• The woods closed in, dark and damp, our breaths puffing white in the cold. I stumbled over a root, panic spiking hard. “A bomb for us?” I gasped, voice shaking. Elena’s eyes met mine, heavy with guilt. “My fault again… always my fault,” she whispered, her hand squeezing my arm, frail but fierce. I shook my head, tears stinging. “No, Mom… we’re in this together.” Her guilt mirrored mine, a shared weight we couldn’t shake. Sofia, clutching my other hand, piped up, her voice small but steady. “We hide like Mom taught us.” She was thinking of Elena’s old stories.. how she’d dodged Victor’s traps years ago. Those tales gave her strength, and damn, I felt proud. My little sister, brave as hell.