Page 32 of The Player

They slipped out the back door, moving swiftly and silently through the garden. The midday sun had begun to cast long shadows across the ground. Hope’s pulse raced as they made their way toward the back gate, every rustle of leaves, every distant sound setting her nerves on edge.

As they reached the gate, Seth signaled for her to stop, his hand raised in a silent command. Hope held her breath, her eyes locked on his as he carefully opened the gate just enough to peer through.

“What do you see?” she whispered; her voice barely audible.

Seth’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. “Two men, watching the front. They don’t know we’re back here—yet.”

Hope felt a surge of both relief and terror. They had a chance to escape, but it was razor-thin, and any mistake could cost them everything.

“On three,” Seth murmured, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. “We run, and we don’t stop until we’re clear. Understand?”

Hope nodded, her fear mingling with a fierce determination. “I’m ready.”

Seth counted down, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air. “One… two… three.”

They bolted from the gate, sprinting across the narrow alley that ran behind the row of townhouses. Hope’s breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as they ran, her heart hammering in her chest. She could hear Seth beside her, his footsteps pounding against the pavement, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of panic threatening to consume her.

They reached the end of the alley and ducked into a side street, their pace never slowing as they zigzagged through the quiet streets of London. Hope’s legs burned with the effort, but she pushed herself harder, knowing that their lives depended on it.

Finally, they reached a small park, the trees and foliage offering some cover. Seth pulled her behind a thick hedge, both of them crouching low as they caught their breath. Hope’s chest heaved as she tried to calm the frantic beating of her heart, her hands trembling with the aftermath of their escape.

“Did we lose them?” she whispered; her voice shaky.

Seth nodded, his own breath coming in short bursts. “For now. But we can’t stay here. We need to keep moving.”

Hope wiped the sweat from her brow, her mind still reeling from the close call. “Where do we go?”

Seth’s eyes were dark and focused, his mind already working through their next steps. “To make a move like they did, we’re busted. We need to get to Baker Street. I already let Fitz know something was off as you didn’t acknowledge my check-in. We’ll regroup, figure out our next move.”

Hope nodded, pushing herself to her feet. They were still in danger, but they had made it out—barely. And now, more than ever, they needed to stay one step ahead of the cartel.

As they slipped away down the alley, Hope couldn’t shake the feeling that they had just narrowly escaped a deadly trap. The cartel was on to them, and now they knew that the Cobra was closing in. Whatever came next, they would need to be at their best to take down the Cobra and the Obsidian Cartel.

CHAPTER 14

HOPE

They stayed on the run for the rest of the day, dodging in and out of underground stations, hiding in alleys and parks and anywhere else they could think of. They didn’t call Cerberus for fear of tipping off the mole. By the early morning hours of the following morning, the streets of London were eerily quiet as Hope and Seth moved swiftly through the city, their footsteps echoing off the cobblestone streets that were so common in certain parts of the city. They kept to the shadows, avoiding the pools of light cast by the streetlamps, their senses on high alert. Every corner they turned, every alley they crossed, felt like another step deeper into a labyrinth of danger.

Hope’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in short, controlled bursts as they navigated their way through the city. The encounter with Basil Hargrove had shaken her, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on it now. They had to stay focused, had to get to safety before the cartel or the Cobra’s operatives caught up with them.

Seth was a steady presence at her side, his hand gripping hers tightly as they moved. His eyes were sharp, scanning the streets ahead of them, but Hope could feel the tension radiating from him. They both knew they were being hunted.

“They’re too close,” Seth murmured, his voice low as they ducked into another alley. “We can’t risk being out in the open.”

Hope nodded, her mind racing as she tried to map out the safest route. “Regent’s Park is up ahead. We can cut through there and head toward Baker Street.”

Seth glanced at her; his expression grim. “It’s risky, but we don’t have much choice.”

They quickened their pace, weaving through the narrow alleys until they reached the edge of Regent’s Park. The sprawling green space loomed before them, the trees and bushes offering a semblance of cover, but also a potential trap. Hope hesitated for only a moment before they pushed forward, slipping into the park’s shadowy embrace.

The park was empty at this hour, the early morning light filtering through the canopy of trees, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground. Hope’s heart raced as they moved deeper into the park, every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig setting her nerves on edge.

“We need to stay low,” Seth whispered, his grip on her hand tightening as they crouched and moved through the underbrush. “If they’re following us, this is where they’ll try to catch us.”

As if on cue, the sound of footsteps behind them sent a jolt of fear through Hope’s system. She glanced over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of dark figures moving swiftly through the trees. They were closing in fast.

“Go!” Seth urged, pulling her to her feet as they broke into a run. Hope’s lungs burned as they sprinted through the park, dodging low-hanging branches and vaulting over fallen logs. The footsteps behind them grew louder, closer, the sound of their pursuers echoing in her ears.

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