Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

The old man raised his hand, about to strike again, but Clara darted forward and blocked him.

No one knew how she slipped past the men in black holding her back.

She crouched in front of Dylan, her hand gently cupping his cheek, eyes full of worry. "Does it hurt?"

Blood still stained the corner of his lips, but he managed a small smile and shook his head.

A wild, furious energy burned inside Clara. She wanted to scream, to lash out. "Alright. If being the heir makes you this miserable, then don't do it."

She tried to pull Dylan away, but suddenly a dozen men in black drew their guns, pointing them straight at her and Dylan.

Clara froze, her expression turning cold.

The old man's voice was quiet but deadly. "If he's not the Ferguson heir, he's not one of us. Outsiders can't enter the family crypt. If you try, you're asking to die."

Clara wanted to curse him-how could he be so utterly heartless?

But she couldn't take the risk. What if these men really fired? The old man had been cruel enough to hurt his own wife. Killing his son clearly meant nothing to him. All he wanted was a perfectly obedient heir-a pawn to move as he pleased.

Her hand fell away from Dylan. Then she heard the old man say, "Dylan's already lost consciousness. Clara, do you even know what I gave him? Without the antidote in an hour, he's dead. Where do you think you can take him? You really believe a girl from a small family like yours can protect him? That you deserve to stand by his side?"

Clara barely registered the insult-her only concern was Dylan.

He really was about to pass out.

She held his face, voice soft but urgent. "Dylan, can you hear me?"

Dylan forced his eyes open, sweat pouring down his face. When he saw her, he managed a weak smile.

Clara's heart twisted painfully. She glared at the old man. "What do you want from me? What will it take for you to let him go?"noveldrama

The old man's gaze was icy. "Clara, you still don't get it? You have no choices today. Do what I say, and Dylan stays the Ferguson her. Disobey, and you both die here."

Everyone in the Ferguson family was stunned. They'd always thought the old man doted on Dylan, always supported him. No one expected he'd be this ruthless.

Some people looked on with anticipation, even excitement. Others were worried— Dylan was, after all, the best of them.

Clara knew she couldn't waste another second. She let go of Dylan and stepped back. "What are you planning to do to him?"

The old man, Looked at her with pure indifference. That's not your business. You have no right to meddle in Ferguson affairs. Besides, didn't Aaron tell you? The boyfriend

you cared about most died because of Dylan. I doubt you believed it. Dylan hasn't been back to Palm Bay lately-you must've noticed

something was off."

Clara stayed silent. She'd sensed something strange about Aaron showing up that day-now she realized the old man had sent him as a warning.

A wall of men in black closed in on her, done with talking.

The old man walked away, heading out to greet the other families arriving for the memorial. "Take him to rest. Tell everyone he's heartbroken and needs time to recover."

Clara was forced out by the men in

black, not through the main

entrance too many people were coming and it'd be hard to explain. They took her through a side door. The old man clearly had no intention of letting her leave freely today.

The moment they stepped outside, barking exploded nearby.

The men fired their silenced guns, but Clara kicked the weapons out of the closest hands, and the rest were bitten on the wrists by Milo and Buddy.

Charles screeched up in a car, pulling right in front of her. “So? Was that cool or what?"

Clara dove through the window, her voice steady. "Get Milo and Buddy out of here."

There were way too many Fergusons around today if things got messy, there'd be no fixing it.

She'd told Charles to wait nearby in case things went sideways. She hadn't expected to actually need the escape plan.

The car sped off, leaving the Fergusons far behind.

Charles glanced over. "Where's Dylan?"