Chapter 3

Crisha stirred in the backseat, drifting between sleep and wakefulness as the car sped through the darkness. The gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic vibrations of the road beneath them should have been soothing, but her mind was anything but at ease. Flashes of the night's chaos haunted her thoughts—the gunfire, the frantic escape, the fear that clung to her like a second skin.

She had fallen asleep out of sheer exhaustion, her body demanding rest even as her mind raced. But now, something pulled her back to consciousness. Voices—low, urgent, and coming from the front of the car. She kept her eyes closed, her breathing steady, pretending to be asleep as she focused on the conversation between Simon and Tristan.

"This was planned," Simon's voice was cold, edged with anger. "Alejandro knew exactly where to hit us. It's no coincidence they struck tonight."

Tristan gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white. "I don't like it, Simon. They were too prepared, too coordinated. It's like they knew the layout of the mansion."

"They did," Simon replied flatly. "Alejandro's been after me for a long time. He sees me as a threat, someone who could ruin everything he's built. Tonight was his way of eliminating that threat."

Crisha's heart skipped a beat. Alejandro—her uncle. The man who had taken care of her after her parents died and the only family she had left. And Simon, the man who had just saved her life, was his enemy. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. What was she doing with him?

"I've been watching Alejandro's operations for years," Simon continued, unaware that Crisha was listening to every word. "He's involved in more than just legitimate business. He's running smuggling rings, trafficking, laundering money through fake companies. I've been trying to gather enough evidence to bring him down, but he's always been one step ahead."

"Until now," Tristan added, a note of hope in his voice. "Tonight could be the turning point. If we survive this, we might finally have enough to take him down."

Simon sighed, the weight of the situation heavy in his voice. "If we survive this," he echoed. "But it's not just about us anymore. That woman... she's in the middle of all this now. She's innocent, Tristan. She doesn't deserve to be caught in the crossfire."

"Innocent?" Tristan glanced in the rearview mirror, his gaze lingering on Crisha's sleeping form. "We don't know who she is or what she was doing at the mansion on the day you were supposed to kill Alejandro, Simon. We don't know what she knows or what she's capable of."

"She's just a kid," Simon argued, though doubt flickered in his voice. "Do you think she knows something about what's going on? I found her naked and covered in blood."

Crisha's mind raced as she processed their words. They thought she was innocent, unaware of her uncle's dealings. But that wasn't entirely true. She knew bits and pieces, had overheard conversations, seen things that didn't add up. But she had never fully understood the scope of it until now.

She had to be careful. If Simon and Tristan found out she knew more than she let on, they might not trust her. And right now, she needed to be with them, needed to figure out her next move. Simon was her uncle's enemy, but he was also her best chance at survival.

The car slowed, and Crisha sensed they were reaching their destination. She kept her breathing steady, forcing herself to remain still as Simon and Tristan continued talking.

"We're almost there," Tristan said quietly. "Are you sure about this, Simon? Leaving her behind... it's risky."

Simon hesitated, and Crisha felt her pulse quicken. What were they planning to do with her?

"It's the only way," Simon finally said, his voice filled with reluctance. "Alejandro's after me, not her. If I leave her here, she'll be out of harm's way. I can draw his men away and deal with them on my own."

"And if they find her?" Tristan asked, skepticism lacing his tone.

"They won't," Simon replied firmly. "I'll make sure of it. But I can't let her get caught in this, Tristan. She's just a kid, and I owe it to her to keep her safe."

Crisha's heart pounded in her chest. They were planning to leave her behind, in the middle of nowhere, with no protection. Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't let them see her fear—not yet.

The car came to a stop, and Simon turned in his seat to look at her. Even now, Simon still doesn’t know her true identity, not even her name.

"Woman," he said softly, reaching out to gently shake her shoulder. "Wake up."

She feigned grogginess, slowly opening her eyes and blinking as if trying to clear the remnants of sleep. "W-What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

"We're here," Simon said, his tone carefully neutral. "I need to leave you somewhere safe for now. It's not safe for you to stay with me."

Crisha sat up, glancing around at the desolate surroundings. They were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and darkness. There wasn't a single sign of life for miles. "Leave me here?" she asked, her voice trembling just enough to convey her fear.

"It's for your own safety," Simon said, his expression serious. "Alejandro's men are after me, not you. If you stay with me, you could get hurt."

"But... but I don't know where to go," Crisha protested, her mind racing. She couldn't let them leave her here—not when she had so many questions, not when she still needed information. "I don't have anywhere else to go. Please, don't leave me here alone."

Simon hesitated, clearly torn between his desire to protect her and the need to keep her out of harm's way. Crisha saw her opening and decided to take a risk. She needed to convince him to keep her close, to make him believe she was just a scared, innocent girl with nowhere to turn.

"There's something you should know," she said quietly, her voice trembling with fear and desperation. "I... I didn't want to say anything, but I'm Alejandro's niece."

Simon's eyes widened in shock, and Tristan let out a low whistle. "You're his niece?" Simon repeated, his voice a mix of surprise and suspicion.

Crisha nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes. I know you're his enemy, Simon. I've heard things, seen things. I know what my uncle does. But I'm not like him, I swear. I just... I just want to get out of this mess. Please, don't leave me here. I can help you."

For the first time, she called Simon by his name. Simon's expression softened, though the suspicion hadn't completely faded.

"Help me? How?"

"I know things about his business," Crisha continued, her voice urgent. "I've overheard him talking to his men, seen documents. I might be able to give you information that could help you. But please, don't leave me here. I'm scared, Simon. I don't want to be alone."

Simon exchanged a long, uncertain look with Tristan. Crisha could see the conflict in his eyes, the war between his instincts to protect her and his fear of what she might know. Finally, he nodded, coming to a decision.

"Alright," he said, his voice firm. "You can come with us. But you have to be honest with me, woman. If you know anything—anything at all—that could help us, you need to tell me."

Crisha nodded quickly, relief washing over her. "I will, I promise. I just want to get out of this alive."

"Good," Simon said, his tone softening as he reached out to take her hand. "We'll keep you safe. I promise."

They started driving again, the car cutting through the night as they left the desolate place behind. Crisha leaned back in her seat, her mind still racing, but now with a new plan forming. She didn't know if she could fully trust Simon, but for now, she would play the part of the scared, innocent girl. She would gather information, find out more about Simon's plans, and then decide what to do next.

One thing was clear—this was far from over. The night's events had set off a chain reaction, and Crisha knew she was now a key player in a game she barely understood. But she was determined to survive, no matter what it took.