BLOOD & BETRAYAL

Chapter 4: No Safe Haven

Ellie's smirk lingered as she leaned against the doorframe, eyes flicking between Alex and Maya.

"Didn't know you were into the whole 'rescue and romance' thing, Cross," she teased.

Maya crossed her arms, the towel barely clinging to her damp skin. "Who the hell is she?"

Alex sighed. "Maya, meet Ellie. Ellie, Maya."

"Pleasure," Ellie said, her voice dripping with amusement.

Maya wasn't buying it. "She a friend of yours?"

"More like an informant," Alex admitted. "Sometimes useful, always annoying."

Ellie put a hand to her chest in mock offense. "Ouch. And here I came all this way to warn you."

"Warn me about what?" Alex asked, crossing his arms.

Ellie's smirk faded. "The people who are looking for her? They're not just cartel. They're something worse. You need to get out of the city. Now."

Maya's jaw tightened. "I'm not running."

"Then you're going to die," Ellie shot back.

Silence hung between them. The tension in the room was thick, the air heavy with something unspoken.

Alex glanced at Maya. She was stubborn, but he could see the worry in her eyes. She wasn't scared easily, which meant whoever was after her wasn't just your average thug.

Ellie took a step closer. "Look, Cross. I get that you don't trust me. Hell, I don't trust you. But I know one thing—you stay here, you're both dead by sunrise."

Alex sighed, rubbing his temples. "Where do you suggest we go?"

Ellie hesitated. That was new.

"You've got somewhere, don't you?" Alex pressed.

Ellie exhaled. "Yeah. But you're not gonna like it."

Maya stepped forward. "Try me."

Ellie met her gaze. "There's a safe house outside the city. It's off-grid, no one will find you there."

"Then let's go," Maya said.

"It's not that simple," Ellie warned. "Getting there means driving through territory that's crawling with people who want you dead."

Alex cracked his knuckles. "Sounds like a challenge."

Ellie shook her head. "You're an idiot."

"But you love me," Alex smirked.

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Get dressed, princess," she said to Maya. "We leave in five."

Maya didn't move right away. Her eyes were still locked onto Ellie's, and Alex could feel the silent tension between them. Something told him this was just the beginning of a very long night.

The Road to Hell

Thirty minutes later, they were on the road. Alex drove, his hands tight on the wheel, eyes constantly checking the rearview mirror. The rain had stopped, but the city felt different. Too quiet. Too still.

Maya sat in the passenger seat, her expression unreadable. Ellie was in the back, loading a gun.

"You always carry a shotgun in your trunk?" Maya asked, glancing at the weapon.

Ellie smirked. "You don't?"

Maya exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "What the hell am I getting into?"

Ellie leaned forward. "That depends. What did you see, Maya?"

Maya's fingers tightened around her seatbelt. "Enough."

"Not good enough," Ellie pressed. "The people after you—they don't leave survivors. You're not just some runaway."

Maya stared out the window. "I saw them kill a man. Torture him first. He begged, and they just… laughed."

Alex clenched his jaw. "Who?"

Maya's voice was barely above a whisper. "The Disciples."

Ellie swore under her breath.

Alex frowned. "Who the hell are the Disciples?"

Ellie didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was colder than he'd ever heard.

"They're not just a gang. They're executioners. Mercenaries. They don't just kill people, they erase them. No bodies, no records, nothing. And if they know Maya's alive?"

She met Alex's gaze in the mirror.

"They won't stop until she's dead."

Silence filled the car.

Then—

A pair of headlights appeared in the rearview mirror.

Alex's gut tightened.

Ellie looked back. "Shit."

Maya turned. "Are they—"

Before she could finish, the car behind them accelerated.

Alex slammed the gas pedal. "Hold on!"

The SUV behind them roared forward, smashing into their bumper. The impact jerked the car, tires screeching against the wet pavement.

"Jesus!" Maya shouted.

Ellie cocked the shotgun. "Drive, Cross!"

Another hit. This one was harder. The back of the car fishtailed, skidding dangerously close to the edge of the highway.

"These guys don't quit," Alex growled.

Ellie rolled down the window, leaned out, and fired. The shotgun blast lit up the night, shattering the SUV's windshield. The vehicle swerved but didn't stop.

"Persistent bastards," Ellie muttered.

Maya grabbed Alex's arm. "There's a tunnel up ahead!"

Alex gritted his teeth. "Hold on!"

He jerked the wheel hard, sending the car into a sharp turn. The tires screamed in protest as they shot into the tunnel. Darkness swallowed them.

Ellie ducked back inside. "That won't stop them!"

Alex focused on the road. "No. But it'll give us a chance."

The tunnel was long and winding, the kind of place that turned into a death trap if you weren't careful. The SUV's headlights filled the rearview mirror, getting closer.

Maya looked at him. "What's the plan?"

Alex smirked.

"Something stupid."

He yanked the emergency brake.

The car spun, screeching sideways just as the SUV barreled forward.

Too late.

The bigger vehicle couldn't stop in time. It swerved, lost control, and slammed into the tunnel wall. Metal crunched. Glass shattered. Flames burst from the wreckage.

Silence.

The tunnel smelled of burnt rubber and gasoline.

Maya exhaled. "Holy shit."

Ellie shook her head. "You're insane."

Alex grinned. "But effective."

Maya looked back at the wreckage. "Are they dead?"

Ellie pumped the shotgun. "Doesn't matter. More will come."

Alex put the car back in gear. "Then we keep moving."

He pressed the gas.

The night wasn't over yet.

And the real fight was just beginning.