Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Eli shifted nervously, trying to stand, but got kicked right back down.

He knelt on the floor, stubbornly tilting his chin up. "What's so funny? What drugs are you even talking about? Dylan, don't try anything stupid-Clara's got my back. If anything happens to me, she'll make you pay."

Dylan stood up, his dress shoe pressing slowly onto Eli's hand.

Humiliation and anger flared across Eli's face. "Just you wait! I swear, one day I'll get you for this!"

Dylan didn't even bother replying. Instead, he glanced at Seth, who'd been silent this whole time.

From day one, Seth hadn't said a word—just sat there, looking like he'd already accepted his fate.

Funny thing about quiet guys: they're usually the ones you have to watch out for. The loudmouths are always the easiest to handle.

Eli kept spitting threats, totally missing the quick, meaningful look that passed between Seth and Dylan.

One cold and empty.

The other, thoughtful.

*

Flynn stepped out of his study and nearly collided with someone sprinting toward him, panic written all over their face.

"Sir! The rehab center's been hit!"

Flynn froze, thinking he must've misheard. "What did you say?"

The man was sweating bullets, voice rushed. "The police have the whole place surrounded-there's been a massacre. That Bolton girl survived and now she's under heavy police protection. Give it an hour and the media will be all over this. Should we get out of the country?"

That place had run quietly for over a decade. Now, out of nowhere, the cops had shut it down.

"Who did it?"

"No clue. The security footage from that night's gone-completely wiped. Everyone except the patients is

dead. Lasked around; this case Yone

huge,Sir. Some big-name

philanthropists are caught up in it. Give it one hour, tops, and it'll be trending everywhere. We need to leave, now."

Flynn narrowed his eyes. The only thing that had changed lately was Clara, and she was the one who'd gotten the Bolton girl out.

Clara was a problem-she'd survived being buried alive, and the night he sent a dozen men to grab her brother and finish her off, not one of them came back.

Now the rehab center was gone. He couldn't help but suspect her.

But she was just one woman. How could she possibly pull all of this off?

After years of everything going smoothly, he was suddenly tripping up at the worst possible time.

Still, he kept his cool, booking a ticket out of the country on the spot.

That's when Tara called. "Uncle, why is Clara still alive?"

PouT

Flynn was always the picture of calm, but now there was an edge to his voice. "Tara, Clara's not what you think. She's not some nobody without connections. I'll leave a few people behind to help you look into her. For now, don't confront her again until we know more."noveldrama

Tara's face was stormy. Every time she thought she had Clara, the woman slipped away.

Now she heard Clara was back in Palm Bay, and it was driving her insane.

Why wouldn't that bitch just disappear already?

She took a steadying breath, but didn't blame Flynn. "Uncle, why are you leaving

the country all of a sudden? Did something happen?"

Flynn was already halfway to the airport, sounding steady. "It's a long story. The police might start looking into the Warren family soon. If they do just put everything on me.”

Tara felt even more uneasy. She honestly had no idea what Flynn had been up to

all these years.

He was always so in control, so careful if he was running now, it had to be something big.

Just a few days ago, he'd said he was planning to stay in the Capital for a while.

After hanging up, Tara sat there, staring into space.

An hour later, the entire internet blew up with the news.