Chapter 5 - The Desperate Drive
Marco did not surrender.
He grabbed Evelyn by the shoulder and dragged her under the thick canopy of a massive oak tree.
The helicopter's spotlight swept wildly across the forest floor, searching for their heat signatures.
"We need a vehicle, now," Marco shouted over the roar of the rotor blades.
They sprinted toward a small, dimly lit caretaker's cottage near the edge of the estate grounds.
An old, battered Land Rover was parked in the driveway, its keys miraculously left in the ignition.
Marco jumped into the driver's seat, but his right arm was suddenly coated in fresh blood.
He had caught a piece of shrapnel during the shootout in the wine cellar, and his hand was completely useless.
Evelyn shoved him into the passenger side and jumped behind the steering wheel.
She slammed the vehicle into gear and tore down the muddy driveway just as the helicopter circled back.
"Drive straight into the dense trees to break their line of sight!" Marco yelled.
Evelyn gripped the wheel, utilizing the same focused calm she used during severe mid-air turbulence.
She navigated the treacherous, unpaved logging roads, turning the headlights off to avoid detection.
They bounced over deep ruts and exposed roots in total darkness, guided only by the faint moonlight.
The sound of the helicopter eventually faded, leaving only the aggressive hum of the Land Rover's engine.
Evelyn exhaled a shaky breath, realizing she had successfully evaded a squad of professional killers.
"Take the highway toward Limerick," Marco instructed, wrapping a torn piece of his shirt around his bleeding arm.
They drove in tense silence for nearly an hour before the lights of the city finally appeared.
Marco directed her to a heavily guarded, unmarked medical facility hidden in an industrial park.
Evelyn parked the battered vehicle in the alleyway, hoping they were finally safe.
They walked through the back entrance and entered Antonio's private recovery suite.
The hospital bed was completely empty, and the heart monitor was flatlining.
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A cold voice spoke from the shadows of the dark room.
"You took your time getting here, Marco," Antonio's brother whispered.
