Chapter 610

At the very last second, someone grabbed Sylvia and pulled her into a tight embrace, rolling with her off the street and onto the sidewalk.

All around them, people were screaming, but Sylvia could only hear her own ragged breathing-well, that, and the pained grunt of the man holding her.

Instinctively, she clung to his shirt, knuckles white.

Sensing her fear, the man tightened his hold just a bit more. "It's okay. Let's get up."

His voice snapped her back to reality. Sylvia glanced up at him, a swirl of emotions tangled in her chest. Read complete version only at find⦿novel.net

It was Rupert.

Or maybe it was her imagination, but his lips looked a little pale.

"You..." she started, but before she could finish, a concerned bystander rushed over to help them up.

"Are you two alright?"

Sylvia shook her head, but the words got stuck in her throat.

When she looked at Rupert again, he was as calm and composed as ever, giving the Good Samaritan a grateful nod.

Just then, the SUV driver rolled down his window and, in classic jerk fashion, started yelling.

"What the hell are you doing? Flirting in the street? You wanna get yourselves killed? Don't drag the rest of us into your mess!"

With that, he stomped the gas and sped off, dumping all the blame on Sylvia and Rupert.

Sylvia made a move to chase after the car, but Rupert caught her wrist.

"Don't. That's exactly what he wants."

She froze, replaying the last few seconds in her mind: someone had shoved her into the road, and the SUV had come barreling out of nowhere at just the right moment.

That wasn't an accident. That was staged.

Just thinking about it made her shiver. Was this how people tried to kill you these days-right out in the open?

Sylvia backed off, debating what to say to Rupert, when she spotted the college kid from earlier in the crowd.

He was tugging at his hoodie, moving against the flow of people straight toward them.

A bad feeling jolted through her. She grabbed Rupert's hand.

"We need to go. Now."

Rupert glanced down at their joined hands, his voice low. "You're not usually this forward."

She shot him a look. "I'm not joking. The guy who pushed me is coming over." Rupert's eyes flicked sideways, then he steered her away into the crowd.

By the time Sylvia came back to her senses, she realized they'd ended up on a nearly empty street.

"We should've stayed where there were more people. Why are we in this alley? There's barely anyone here."

Rupert's tone was cold and steady. "If we let them go today, they'll just come after you again tomorrow."

She got what he meant instantly. Planting her feet, she refused to go any further into the dark alley.

"No! Your injury-"

She cut herself off, realizing she'd said too much, and tried to let go of her right

his hand. But Rupert pulled o

back, holding her close s

"Finish what you were saying."

"There's nothing to say," Sylvia muttered, lips pressed tight.

"I'll pretend you said it anyway."

He looked down at her, eyes sharp even in the dim streetlight. It felt like he could see straight through her.

Sylvia

esca Oka

step back, trying to

just

never leaving

his gaze, but Rupert moved closer, his eyes never hers, finally dropping to her neck. s

"Lend me your scarf."

"No-"

She didn't have time to refuse. He'd already snatched her scarf, wrapping it tight around his fist.

"Go hide."

With that, Rupert strode off into the alley.

Sylvia didn't have time to think before she heard footsteps closing in behind her. She ducked into a shadowy doorway.

She was no fool-these guys weren't amateurs, and she'd only get in the way if

she tried to fight. Hiding was her best move.

Seconds later, two men strode

under the streetlight at the mouth of

bow all

Sylvia recognized them

both the college-looking guy and the Suy driver s