Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 510

He could only force himself to get up, numb and exhausted, and drive to the hospital. On the way, his mind was so foggy he nearly got into an accident.

Scarlette grew more and more confused. Why did he look so out of it? Something was definitely wrong.

She tried calling Clara to ask what was going on, but the call wouldn't go through.

*

Clara woke up to the sight of her familiar bedroom ceiling. She was finally home.

She rubbed her temples, slowly sat up, and called out, "Z?"

No answer. She got up and walked into the kitchen. There was a plate of warm food waiting, but nobody else was around.

A note was stuck to the fridge: Had to run out for something urgent. Eat when you wake up.

She didn't have much of an appetite. It was already three in the afternoon anyway, and she had other things on her mind.

Last night, when she'd been grabbed, she remembered people calling the leader "Timmy."

Back when she'd been chased to Z's place, she'd heard that name too-Timmy- and someone had even given her an address.

She'd meant to look into it eventually, but now all the puzzle pieces seemed to be falling into place at once.

Clara pulled out her phone and called Eli.

He'd told her before that he was pretty capable. If she took him along, maybe she'd be safer.

At that moment, Eli was being kept in a room under watch. When he saw his phone light up with Clara's name, his eyes sparked.

"Let me go-she's calling me," he said.

people guarding him were all business, faces blank. One glanced at

breath and scoffed, but when he answered, his tone was light, almost teasing.

to come with me

this dump. "Absolutely! I'll be

but she didn't sense any bad

"Okay, I'll wait."

his chin up. "I've got to head out. Clara needs me. Tell

treating his guards like nothing more than someone

all. No matter what he called them, they stayed stone-faced, almost robotic. It

to make a call, came back,

quickly caught a cab

shocked to see him show up so quickly. She couldn't help but

Seth were basically

had some stuff, but today I've got free

seat, didn't push further. She started the car and headed toward

had just barely healed. He'd mouthed off to the wrong guy and almost paid for it but he knew that man wouldn't really dare go all

still breathing, he'd get

needed to find Timmy. It was the only way to

that person stayed hidden, she'd never really be

go directly to Timmy's place. Instead, she parked

hour later,

had no idea anyone was watching. He was just planning to drop off some things for Megan, who lived nearby, like

soon as

from your phone. If anyone asks, just say your contact always stayed hidden and you never saw their face—you were just doing the job for

Megan had her own plans.

much with thinking things through. Anything complicated, Megan always handled

"Got it," he said.

all his years in the slums, people knew he had a girl he liked, but no one knew where she was. Some even thought he made her up as an excuse to