Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 616

Clara never pretended to be a saint. She took a long breath, steadying herself.

"When I get back to the Capital, I'll come back and handle everything at the rehab center. Trust me, Emily. There'll be a chance to get justice for your parents, but not now. Right now, we have to stay alive. That comes first, always."

Emily was curled into herself, sobbing so hard her body shook. "I always thought they just left me behind. They named me Pan-di-'Hope'-like they cared more about my brother. Maybe they just didn't love me enough. They left me here with Grandpa, like we were both forgotten."

Clara didn't know what to say. Everyone knew what a name like that meant for a girl.

Sure, her parents loved her brother more. But it's not like they didn't love her at all. Still, they were gone now, and nothing anyone said could change that.

"Come on. We need to go," Clara said quietly.

Emily nodded, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled. "Let's go. Let's just get out of here."

They'd barely made it halfway down the mountain when the Bolton family's house suddenly went up in flames, the fire raging brighter and brighter, lighting the whole sky as if it wanted to devour everything.

The people from the rehab center must have realized something was wrong and gone over to the Bolton estate-then set it on fire.

Clara squeezed Emily's hand tight. "Don't stop. Just keep moving."

Emily had lived in that house for over twenty years. She loved that place and loved her grandfather even more.

But now she could barely walk, stumbling every few steps, her whole body limp. Clara's patience snapped. She slapped Emily, hard.

"Get up and walk! If we stay here, we'll die too! I barely have any bullets left- don't let your grandfather's sacrifice mean nothing!"

but after Clara's words, she grabbed

knuckles rang out in the stillness. Tears streaked her face, but her voice

"Clara, let's go."

anything else. This girl was stronger than she

of their pursuers

river nearby. She turned to Emily. "Can you swim? When I came into the village, I saw a river not far from here. It's rough, probably feeds into the

swim,"

was all they needed.

melt and last night's storm had turned it

dove in first, letting the water pull both of them

so cold she could barely move. Just when she thought she'd black out, she managed

light. They were on the

she could spot rows

houses in the distance

collapsed beside her, barely

spent, amazed at how much chaos could come from one tiny

found someone nearby and borrowed a

in a meeting and her phone

lips together and

seat when her number flashed on the

still at his place Ryan didn't want him to know Clara had called. So Ryan pretended it was just

he called back, panic in his voice. "Clara, what happened? You sound so

her little brother-she'd been disappointed in him so many times. But right now,

you my location.