章節 12: Danger 1
A chill crept down Isabella's spine, and she exchanged a glance with Leon, who looked equally disturbed. "Do you know who this man is?" Isabella pressed.
The woman leaned forward, her voice a whisper. "He's connected to a web of corruption that spans decades. The Harringtons have been involved in deals that would shock you, but it's the history of betrayal and revenge that ties it all together."
Isabella's mind spun as she tried to process the information. "What does that mean for my father? Why would he keep this from me?"
"Because he was trying to protect you," the woman replied softly. "But in doing so, he put you in danger. You have to be careful. They're watching you now."
Before Isabella could respond, a loud crash echoed from the café entrance, drawing everyone's attention. A group of men entered, their demeanor aggressive, scanning the room with menacing intensity.
"Get down!" Leon shouted, instinctively grabbing Isabella's arm and pulling her under the table.
Adrenaline surged through her as she ducked down, her heart racing. The atmosphere shifted dramatically, the tension in the air palpable.
"What's happening?" Isabella whispered, panic rising in her chest.
Leon's expression was steely, his focus unwavering. "Stay quiet and don't move. We need to assess the situation."
The men moved further into the café, their voices low but clearly aggressive. Isabella couldn't make out the words, but the danger was unmistakable.
"What do they want?" she asked, her breath coming in shallow bursts.
Leon's jaw tightened. "They're here for the woman. We need to get her out of here before they find us."
The woman's face paled, fear evident in her eyes. "I can't go back to them. They'll kill me."
Isabella felt a surge of anger and fear as she realized the woman had put herself in harm's way to provide them with crucial information. "We can't leave you!"
Before they could devise a plan, one of the men spotted them, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Look what we have here," he called out, making his presence known to the others. The tension in the café reached a breaking point as the group of men moved closer, their intent clear. Isabella's heart raced, and she glanced at Leon, who remained calm and calculating despite the chaos unfolding around them.
"Get her out of here," Leon commanded, his voice low and urgent. "I'll create a diversion."
"No!" Isabella replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can't just leave you!"
Leon's eyes locked onto hers, filled with determination. "You have to trust me. If they catch you, it's over. Get her to safety. I'll handle this."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, and Isabella felt a wave of dread wash over her. She didn't want to leave him behind, but deep down, she knew he was right. If they were caught, it could spell disaster for all of them.
"Come on," she said to the woman, her voice steadier than she felt. "We need to move."
As they crawled under the table, the men began to spread out, scanning the café for their targets. Isabella's pulse quickened, every instinct screaming at her to get out. She could hear the distant sounds of laughter and clinking glasses from other patrons, blissfully unaware of the impending danger.
"Now," Leon urged, gesturing toward a side exit that led to an alley behind the café. "Go!"
With a final look at him, Isabella took the woman's hand and pulled her toward the exit. They crawled quickly, hearts pounding as they made their way out of sight. Once they reached the door, Isabella pushed it open, glancing back to see Leon still seated at their table, his eyes fixed on the approaching men.
"Isabella!" he called out, his voice filled with urgency. "Hurry!"
The sight of him—calm yet focused—fueled her determination. She couldn't lose him, not when they were so close to uncovering the truth. But the men were already advancing toward Leon, their movements predatory.
"Go!" Leon shouted again, and Isabella felt the tug of his command urging her forward.
They slipped through the door and into the alley, the cool night air hitting them like a wave. Isabella's heart raced as she turned to the woman beside her. "What do we do now?"
"We need to find a place to hide," the woman replied, her eyes wide with fear. "They'll be looking for us."
Isabella glanced around the alley, her mind racing. "There's a parking garage at the end of the block. We can hide there until it's safe."
"Lead the way," the woman urged, and they hurried down the dimly lit alley, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the walls.
As they reached the entrance to the parking garage, Isabella glanced back to see if Leon was following. But her heart sank when she saw the men had reached their table. Leon was still seated, his expression unwavering as he faced them.
"Leon!" Isabella shouted, but he couldn't hear her.
The men surrounded him, and she felt a rush of panic. "We can't leave him!"
"Isabella, we have to go!" the woman insisted, tugging on her arm. "If they see you, it'll be worse!"
Isabella hesitated for a moment, torn between the urgency to protect Leon and the reality of their situation. But as she looked into the woman's eyes, she realized they had no choice.
"Fine," Isabella relented, and they dashed into the parking garage, searching for a place to hide.
Once inside, they ducked behind a row of cars, catching their breath as they listened intently for any signs of pursuit. The tension was palpable, and Isabella's mind raced with worry for Leon.
"What's going to happen to him?" she whispered, her heart heavy with dread.
The woman shook her head, her expression grim. "I don't know, but we can't afford to stay here. If they find us, it could be over."
Isabella bit her lip, her heart aching at the thought of Leon facing danger alone. "We need to help him."
"We can't!" the woman insisted, her voice firm. "You don't understand how dangerous they are. They will kill anyone who gets in their way."
Isabella's stomach churned with frustration. "I can't just abandon him. He's risking everything for me."
Just then, they heard footsteps approaching, heavy and purposeful. Isabella's breath caught in her throat as she and the woman pressed themselves against the cold metal of a car, praying to remain hidden.
The men entered the parking garage, their voices low but filled with menace. "He can't have gone far," one of them said, his tone dripping with impatience. "He's alone; we'll find him."
"Let's check the stairwell," another replied, his voice gruff. "He can't get out without a car."
The footsteps grew closer, and Isabella's heart raced as she gripped the edge of the car, willing herself to stay silent. She could feel the woman trembling beside her, a mirror of her own fear.
As the men began to search the garage, Isabella's thoughts raced. She needed to find a way to get to Leon, to warn him somehow. But how could she do that without putting them both in danger?
"Stay here," Isabella whispered to the woman, her voice firm. "I'm going to find Leon."
"No! You can't!" the woman hissed, panic creeping into her tone. "You'll get caught!"
"I have to try," Isabella replied, her resolve hardening. "I can't leave him behind."
With a final glance at the woman, Isabella slipped out from behind the car and moved cautiously toward the exit where she had last seen Leon. Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, but she couldn't shake the urgency to help him.
As she crept along the edge of the garage, she heard the men's voices growing louder. "Split up. We'll cover more ground that way."
The realization struck her like a lightning bolt. If they split up, there was a chance she could reach Leon before they caught him.
Her heart raced as she sprinted toward the exit, adrenaline fueling her every step. Just as she reached the door, she glanced back, spotting one of the men heading her way.
"No!" she whispered fiercely, pushing the door open and stepping outside.
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