“Wait here.“‘

Baz would arrive soon with the bodyguards. Cedric knew he had to buy some time for Maia.

Shaking her head, she said earnestly, “No, it’s too dangerous. He has a gun!”

Cedric saw her gripping his palm with both hands and smiled. “I’ll be fine.”

He sounded casual and confident, but Maia knew how dangerous it was.

“Cedric-”

Before she could say anything further, the door was closed, and she was left alone in the cramped and dark room.

Peering out through a narrow gap, she watched Cedric move away.

Still feeling the warmth of his palm, she covered her mouth to stop herself from making any sound lest she would spoil his plan.

‘Pull yourself together, Maia! You must not cry or make any sound…‘

She kept telling herself.

However, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Suddenly, she heard a flurry of rapid footsteps.

Maia saw Theo chasing after Cedric.

As she was the one Theo wanted to kill, she knew she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Biting her lips, Maia glanced around through the narrow gap.

She took out her phone to see where her car was.

Making sure that Theo had run away, she pocketed her phone and hurried toward her car in quick steps while staying low to the ground.

Having a good sense of direction, Maia was relieved when she soon found her car.

She got into the car in the dark.

She knew full well what would happen if she were to start her car now–Theo would be drawn by its lights and sound, and she would become a live target.

Yet, she knew she had to do it. Shutting the car door, she started the engine and floored the

gas.

Driving around, she searched around for Cedric.

quickly opened the

79 Don’t

pace and glanced to see who was behind her using the rear- view mirror of a

a man wearing a black baseball cap and a

frame to

Who was he?

it as she knew the man had to be watching

move.

give herself away, she didn’t

turned a corner, she swiftly removed her high heels and threw them to the other side to make some

the man hurried toward the shoes. Seizing the moment, Maia made

for her car.

with the key fob. However, when she was about to open the car door, a gunshot was

Her plan had failed!

charging over and ducked behind her

would not be

car door to shield herself from view and scrambled backward before breaking into a run–she knew the security booth was not far

her car and carefully approached the open door. Aiming his sight at it, he stepped closer and

“Fuck!”

cursed and started to search the parking lot. “You can’t hide

hurried over, she realized there. was blood all over the glass door and a man was sitting lifelessly in

her hand over her mouth, Maia stopped herself from screaming. She should have seen this coming, as the security guard would surely have come running as soon as he had heard

deep breath, she hid behind the

  • 15 RONUS

noticed she had several missed calls.

came in.

It was Couric’s number.

up and tried to send him her location. However, as

a glimmer of hope as she finally saw that the message

that read, “Wait for me” and felt strangely

guard down. Overcome with panic and

man’s voice then echoed in the

Maia. Do you think

stunned as she recognized

his

trying to trick her into responding, she dared not make a

over at the man as he moved in her direction and said, “You’re a smart and pretty woman, Maia, and I couldn’t bear to hurt you too. But you left me with no choice by trying to make me give

went on. “Only by killing you, I can continue to take money from Starlight and avoid paying you. You’re too smart, Maia, and unless I eliminate you, you’ll always be

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