Gunfire echoed like thunder.
Too loud.
Too close.
Too real.
---
"Move!" Lester's voice cut through the chaos.
His hand tightened around Teresa's wrist—firm, unyielding—as he pulled her up from the ground.
She stumbled slightly, her head still spinning, but he didn't let go.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't hesitate.
---
"Left!" Marcus's voice barked from somewhere behind them.
Another gunshot followed.
Closer this time.
---
Teresa's heart slammed violently against her ribs.
She didn't look back.
Couldn't.
Because right now—
Lester was the only thing keeping her grounded.
---
They burst through a side door.
Cold night air hit her instantly.
Sharp.
Freezing.
But there was no time to process it.
---
"Car's compromised," Marcus said, appearing beside them out of nowhere. "They're blocking the exits."
Lester's jaw tightened.
"Of course they are."
---
Teresa's breath came out uneven.
"What do we do?"
Lester looked around quickly.
Calculating.
Always calculating.
Then—
"This way."
---
He pulled her again.
Faster this time.
Through narrow alleys.
Past shadows that felt like they were watching.
Waiting.
---
Her legs burned.
Her lungs screamed.
But she didn't stop.
Because stopping meant—
Getting caught.
---
A sharp sound cut through the night.
A bullet.
Too close.
---
Lester reacted instantly.
He shoved her hard against the wall—
His body covering hers completely.
Shielding her.
---
Her breath hitched.
Because suddenly—
There was no space between them.
None.
---
His chest pressed against hers.
His hand braced beside her head.
The other gripping her waist.
Holding her in place.
---
Her heart raced.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
---
"Stay still," he murmured.
His voice low.
Close.
Right against her ear.
---
Another shot rang out.
But it missed.
---
Her fingers curled into his shirt instinctively.
She didn't even realize she was holding onto him—
Until he didn't pull away.
---
Seconds passed.
Then—
"Clear," Marcus called.
---
Lester didn't move immediately.
---
Teresa swallowed.
"…Lester?"
---
His grip tightened slightly.
Just for a moment.
Like he didn't want to let go.
---
Then—
He stepped back.
Abruptly.
Like he remembered himself.
---
"Keep moving," he said.
His voice was controlled again.
But something had changed.
---
She felt it.
---
They ran again.
This time deeper.
Further.
Until the city noise faded.
Until the danger felt… distant.
---
Marcus slowed first.
"We can't keep running," he said. "They'll track us."
Lester nodded slightly.
"I know."
---
Teresa leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath.
Her body was shaking.
Not just from fear.
From everything.
---
"Where are we going?" she asked.
Lester didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"There's a safehouse nearby."
---
Marcus frowned.
"That location isn't secure."
"It is for now," Lester replied.
---
Something in Marcus's tone shifted.
Subtle.
But there.
"…If you say so."
---
Teresa noticed.
And something inside her twisted.
---
They moved again.
Slower now.
More careful.
---
The safehouse was small.
Hidden.
Nothing like Lester's world.
---
The moment they stepped inside—
The door locked behind them.
Heavy.
Final.
---
Silence fell.
---
For the first time since everything started—
They were alone.
---
Teresa exhaled shakily.
"I can't believe this is happening."
---
Lester turned to her.
And this time—
He didn't look away.
---
"You should've taken the money."
The words hit harder than she expected.
Her chest tightened.
"So this is my fault now?"
"That's not what I said."
"It sounded like it."
---
Silence.
Tense.
Sharp.
---
"You lied to me," he said.
Quiet.
But cutting.
---
"I told you the truth," she shot back. "I just didn't tell you everything."
"That's the same thing."
"No, it's not!"
---
Her voice cracked.
And that—
That made him pause.
---
"I didn't think it mattered," she added, softer now. "I didn't know it would turn into this."
---
Lester ran a hand through his hair.
Frustration clear.
---
"They targeted you before you even met me," he said. "That's not coincidence."
"I know that now."
"Do you?" he pressed.
---
She stepped closer.
Despite everything.
Despite the tension.
Despite the danger.
---
"What are you trying to say?" she asked.
---
Lester held her gaze.
And for a second—
There was something raw there.
Something unguarded.
---
"I'm trying to figure out," he said slowly,
"if you're a victim…"
A pause.
Heavy.
---
"Or part of the plan."
---
That hurt.
Deep.
Unexpected.
---
Her eyes stung slightly.
"You really think I'd do that?"
"I don't know what to think."
---
Silence.
---
That was worse than a yes.
---
Before she could respond—
Marcus's voice cut in.
"Phones are down. We're off-grid."
---
Lester nodded.
"Good."
---
Teresa turned slightly—
And that's when she saw it.
---
Marcus.
Watching her.
---
Not like before.
Not suspicious.
Not guarded.
---
But… knowing.
---
Her stomach dropped.
---
"…What?" she asked slowly.
---
Marcus tilted his head slightly.
Then—
"Tell him."
---
Her heart stopped.
---
Lester's gaze snapped back to her.
"What is he talking about?"
---
Teresa shook her head immediately.
"No."
---
Marcus stepped forward.
Calm.
Too calm.
---
"He deserves to know," he said.
---
"No, he doesn't," she snapped.
---
"Yes," Marcus replied,
"he really does."
---
The tension in the room shifted.
Again.
---
Lester's voice dropped.
Lower.
More dangerous.
---
"Teresa."
---
Her name again.
That tone again.
---
"What aren't you telling me?"
---
Her breath became uneven.
Her thoughts scattered.
Her past—
Catching up.
Fast.
---
"I didn't want this," she whispered.
---
"Want what?" Lester pressed.
---
Silence.
Then—
---
"My father," she said quietly.
---
Everything stilled.
---
"…What about him?" Lester asked.
---
Her hands trembled slightly.
---
"He's the one who sent the offer."
---
Silence exploded.
---
Lester froze.
---
Marcus didn't move.
---
Teresa's voice shook now.
"He's the one who wanted information on you."
---
Lester's eyes darkened instantly.
---
"…Why?" he asked.
---
Her throat went dry.
---
"Because…" she hesitated.
Then forced it out.
---
"…he used to work with your family."
---
Lester's expression changed.
Not slightly.
Completely.
---
Recognition.
Shock.
Something darker.
---
"…Name," he demanded.
---
Teresa looked at him.
Her heart pounding.
---
"…Victor Hayes."
---
The air shattered.
---
Lester stepped back slightly.
Like the name hit him physically.
---
"That's not possible," he said.
---
But the way he said it—
He already knew it was.
---
Teresa's chest tightened.
"You know him."
---
Lester laughed.
Once.
Bitter.
Cold.
---
"Know him?" he repeated.
---
His gaze snapped back to hers.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
---
"He's the man who destroyed my family."
---
Her breath caught.
---
"And now," he added quietly,
"he's your father."
---
The truth hung between them.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Explosive.
---
Teresa's world tilted.
---
"I didn't know," she whispered.
---
Lester didn't respond.
---
Didn't move.
---
Didn't look at her.
---
And somehow—
That hurt more than anything else.
---
Outside—
A faint sound echoed.
---
Marcus turned instantly.
"Someone's here."
---
Lester's head snapped up.
---
"Already?" Teresa whispered.
---
Marcus's expression hardened.
---
"They found us."
---
Lester moved toward the door—
Then stopped.
---
Turned back.
---
Looked at Teresa.
---
Really looked at her.
---
Trust.
Doubt.
Anger.
Something deeper.
---
All colliding at once.
---
"…Stay here," he said.
---
But his voice—
Wasn't steady anymore.
---
Another sound.
Closer.
---
A lock breaking.
---
A door creaking open.
---
Footsteps.
---
Not one.
Multiple.
---
Coming for them.
---
Teresa's heart pounded violently.
---
Because this time—
There was no escape route.
---
No plan.
---
No way out.
---
And the last thing she saw—
Before the lights cut out again—
---
Was Lester reaching for her.
---
END OF CHAPTER 6