Chapter 7 - THE LONG ROAD TO SALVATION
The chase through the rain-slicked streets of Massachusetts was a blur of neon signs and screeching tires. Maya pushed the sleek, high-performance sedan to its limit, dodging traffic and taking sharp turns that sent the car drifting on the wet pavement.
"They're getting closer," Caleb whispered, his voice small.
"Not for long," Maya muttered. She pulled a sharp left into an industrial park, weaving through the maze of shipping containers. She knew the layout—she had studied these maps for weeks, imagining the paths she’d take if she ever needed to escape.
She turned off her headlights, plunging the car into total darkness. She skidded to a halt behind a row of rusted containers and held her breath. The pursuit vehicles roared past them, their lights scanning the area.
She waited until their taillights faded into the distance before moving again. She knew she couldn't outrun them forever. She needed a plan. She needed to contact Marcus. But his phone, his burner, his radio—everything he had given her was likely being tracked.
She looked at Caleb. "Do you have your father's emergency beacon? The one he gave you after the incident at the gala?"
Caleb reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, silver coin. "He said it was a last resort."
"This is it," Maya said, pressing the center of the coin. It glowed with a faint, blue light, pulsing rhythmically.
Within minutes, the air around them seemed to shift. A sleek, black helicopter appeared in the sky, its searchlight cutting through the rain like a laser. It wasn't one of the attackers; it was the Blackwood signature.
But as the chopper lowered, a rocket whistled through the air. The explosion rocked the ground. The helicopter swerved, smoking, and the attackers emerged from the darkness, surrounding them.
Maya gripped the wheel, her hands white-knuckled. She realized then that this wasn't just an attack on the Blackwoods. It was a corporate coup, involving the highest levels of the government and the underworld. And she and Caleb were the only witnesses who could bring the truth to light.
"Hold on," she said to Caleb, putting the car into gear. She didn't run away. She turned the car directly toward the group of men. "We're not running anymore. We're going through."
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The car slammed into the group, sending them scattering like bowling pins. Maya felt the impact vibrate through the steering wheel, but she didn't slow down. She accelerated until they were back on the open road, heading for the coast.
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