Page 33 of The Player

They were being chased.

Hope’s mind raced as she tried to calculate their chances of escape. The park was vast, but they were exposed, with few options for cover. She could feel Seth’s tension, his determination to protect her, but she knew they were running out of time.

“This way!” she gasped, veering off the main path and into a denser part of the park. They crashed through the underbrush, the branches tearing at their clothes as they pushed forward. The sound of their pursuers was nearly deafening now, the rapid footfalls and heavy breathing closing in.

Just when Hope thought they were out of options, she spotted a small, overgrown gate at the edge of the park. Without thinking, she sprinted toward it, Seth right behind her. They slammed into the gate, forcing it open with sheer momentum, and stumbled out onto a side street.

They didn’t stop. They couldn’t. They kept running, their feet pounding against the pavement as they made their way towards Baker Street. The city was beginning to wake up, the streets slowly filling with the early morning crowd, but Hope didn’t allow herself to feel safe. Not yet.

“We’re almost there,” Seth panted, his voice laced with urgency. “Just a few more blocks.”

Hope nodded, her legs burning with exhaustion, but she pushed herself harder. They turned the corner onto Baker Street, the familiar buildings coming into view. Relief flooded through her, but it was short-lived.

As they neared their destination, a black car pulled up a block ahead of them, cutting off their path. Hope’s heart sank as she recognized the sleek vehicle—it had to belong to the cartel. They were trapped.

Before she could react, a figure stepped out of the shadows—a tall, imposing man with a confident stride and a sharp, calculating gaze. Hope’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized him: Nigel Pederson, Fitzwallace’s unofficial second in command from Cerberus London.

“Nigel,” Seth breathed, his relief palpable.

Nigel wasted no time, his expression serious as he approached them. “We need to move. Now.”

Hope and Seth followed him without question as Nigel led them down a narrow alley, then through a discreet side entrance into a nondescript building. Hope’s nerves were still frayed, but the sense of safety she felt in Nigel’s presence was a balm to her frayed emotions.

“They’ve got eyes on the front,” Nigel said as they made their way through the building. “But they don’t know about this entrance. We’re safe here—for now.”

Hope exhaled a shaky breath, glancing at Seth, who gave her a reassuring nod. They had made it, but just barely.

Nigel led them up a secure set of back stairs to the top of the building—Cerberus’s headquarters. He ushered them into the conference room, allowing them both to collapse into comfortable chairs at the big conference table, where they could finally catch their breath.

“We’ve got to be careful,” Nigel said, his voice low. “The cartel is onto you, and they’re not going to stop until they’ve got what they want.”

Seth nodded; his expression grim. “We know. But we’ve got something they don’t know we have—a lead on the Cobra.”

Nigel’s eyes widened slightly; his interest piqued. “The Cobra? You’ve found something?”

Hope nodded; her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “We’re close. But we need more time to decipher the code. If we can figure out where the Cobra is operating from, we might be able to stop what they’re planning.”

Nigel’s gaze was sharp as he considered their words. “Fitzwallace believes you’ve been compromised. He’s not going to want to risk either of you. But if you think you can crack this, I’ll back you.”

Hope felt a surge of gratitude, but she knew the road ahead was still fraught with danger. “Thank you, Nigel. We’re going to need all the support we can get.”

Nigel nodded; his expression serious. “You’ll have it. But for now, get some rest. You’re going to need it.”

The safe room at Cerberus’s London Headquarters, tucked discreetly within 221-A Baker Street, was a stark contrast to the bustling lifestyle club that shared its location. Known simply as Baker Street, the BDSM club catered to London’s elite and not-quite-so-elite, but above and below its opulent Victorian steampunk main floor lay the hidden operations of Cerberus. The safe room was soundproof, fortified, and isolated from the rest of the building—designed to be a sanctuary for clients and agents in the direst of circumstances.

As night fell, the tension that had permeated Hope’s being since their escape began to ease, but only slightly. She sat on the edge of the bed in the room she was to share with Seth. She wondered for a moment why no one had even raised an eyebrow when Seth told them they only needed one room, but she’d let it pass. She really didn’t want to be alone anymore. Staring at the thick steel door that sealed them off from the rest of the world, the events of the day had left her exhausted, but her mind was still racing, trying to piece together the puzzle that was the Cobra. The threat outside was real and imminent, but in this room, at least for the moment, they were safe.

Seth entered the room, his presence a calming force as he moved to stand beside her. The low hum of the ventilation system was the only sound, adding to the sense of isolation. He was silent for a moment, then he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“You okay?” he asked softly, his voice filled with concern.

Hope nodded, but the weight of the day’s events pressed down on her. “I’m just… tired. And scared.”

Seth sat down beside her, his hand resting on her knee. “You’re allowed to be scared, Hope. But we’re going to get through this. We’ve both faced worse before, and Cerberus has our back. And before you raise the mole again—our presence here is need-to-know only.”

Hope turned to look at him, her heart swelling with emotion. The walls of the safe room felt close like they were keeping the world at bay, allowing her to finally let down her guard. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Seth. You’ve been my rock through all of this. I’m sorry for what happened the last time we were both here.”

Seth’s gaze softened, his hand moving to cup her cheek. “It’s okay, baby. I think that I might have felt the same if the situation had been reversed. And for the record, I feel the same way about you. You’re the reason I keep going.”

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