Chapter 9

Isabella's POV

The night is suffocating, thick with shadows, and the only light that filters through is the weak glow of the moon. It's barely enough to see, but enough to make everything feel sharper, colder. My hands tremble as I press down hard on Tony's side, trying to stop the blood that won't seem to slow. The gash is deep, jagged, and it's pulling the life from him with every breath he takes. I can feel it, his heartbeat growing slower, fainter, and it's tearing me apart.

"Stay with me, Tony," I whisper, my voice breaking, though I try to keep it steady. My fingers press harder, feeling the warmth of his blood soaking through. There's too much blood. Too much for me to handle alone, but we don't have a choice. Enzo is ahead, his eyes scanning the dark woods, his hand hovering near his weapon. Vince is right beside him, always the calm one, always calculating. But it's the sound of those damn dogs-barking, growing closer-that sends chills running through me.

"We need to move," Enzo says, his voice tight, low, and urgent.

I look up at him, my throat tight with panic. "He's not going to make it if we keep going like this."

Enzo's gaze flicks over to Tony, his face unreadable. "We don't have a choice. We need to get to cover. Now."

I nod, forcing my legs to move, even though they feel like they're made of lead. Every step is a gamble, every breath I take feels like I'm choking, but I can't stop. Tony's life is slipping away, and I can't afford to waste any more time. We keep moving, but it's hard to ignore the growing sound of the dogs, their barking growing louder, closer. The air is thick with the tension, and I can feel every ounce of my energy draining as I struggle to keep Tony upright.

"Get ready," Vince mutters, his grip tightening on his weapon. The dogs are still coming, their scent sharp in the air.

Enzo motions for us to move faster, but my legs are weak, Tony's body growing heavier with each passing second. He's pale, his breathing shallow, and I don't know how much longer I can carry him. The underbrush scratches at my skin as I push through the woods, but I hardly notice. The only thing that matters is getting Tony to safety.

We round a bend in the trees, and I see a clearing ahead. A sliver of light catches something metallic in the distance-shelter, maybe. A place to hide.

"We're almost there," I whisper to Tony, trying to urge him to keep going.

But just as hope sparks, the sound of rapid footsteps reaches us, too close, too fast. My heart drops into my stomach. I turn, panic flooding my chest, and I see them-at least five men, maybe more. They're armed, closing in on us faster than I can process.

"Enzo!" I hiss, my voice frantic.

He doesn't hesitate. "Keep moving!" His tone is sharp, commanding. "Get to cover, now!"

I want to argue, to tell him Tony can't go any further, but the words get stuck in my throat. Another bark rings out-closer now, and the dogs are right behind us.

I stumble forward, dragging Tony along, but every step feels like I'm wading through molasses. His weight is unbearable, his body limp against me. I'm terrified-terrified that we won't make it, that he won't survive this. His blood is soaking through my hands, and I don't know how much longer I can hold on. My heart is in my throat, and I can barely catch my breath.

"Stay with me," I whisper to him, my voice barely more than a tremor.

We plunge deeper into the trees, moving as fast as we can, but the sound of the dogs is getting louder. Closer. I can feel their presence-just behind us, the hunt is relentless.

And then, the unmistakable snap of a twig. Too close. I spin, my breath catching in my throat, but it's too late. Enzo is already pulling me forward, dragging me away from danger.

We run, stumbling, crashing through the woods. The trees blur around me, the night swallowing us whole. I can't stop. I won't stop. Not when Tony's life is hanging by a thread.

But then, the barking stops.

The silence is suffocating.

It's the kind of silence that freezes you in place, the kind that fills you with dread. My pulse is racing, my chest tight, and I'm certain something is wrong.

Enzo's hand wraps around mine, pulling me forward. "Keep going," he urges, his voice tight with urgency. "We can't stop now."

I don't argue. I can't. But then, I hear it. A long, drawn-out howl that seems to echo from every direction. It's the dogs. They're coming again.

The baying is louder now, closer. Every step I take is heavier than the last, and my heart is pounding in my chest. I can feel the weight of it, the relentless pressure of being hunted. The dogs are closing in on us, their growls echoing through the trees like a countdown.

Tony's weight is unbearable now, his body limp against mine. His breathing is shallow, a weak rasp that cuts through me with every passing second. His blood is slick on my hands, and I'm losing him-losing him in a place where no one will find us, no one will save us.

"Come on, Tony," I whisper, barely able to keep my voice steady. "Stay with me. Stay with me, okay?"

But he doesn't respond. His eyes are closed now, his face pale and still. It's a silence that gnaws at me, an aching dread that grows with each breath he doesn't take.

"Enzo!" I shout, panic in my voice. "We need shelter. We can't keep going like this."

Enzo turns, his gaze flicking over me and then down at Tony. His face hardens, jaw tightening. "Is he?"

I shake my head. "He's not okay. We need to find shelter. We need to stop."

Enzo's expression hardens, but I see the flash of something-something I can't quite place. He clenches his jaw and looks at Vince.

"Move," Enzo orders, his voice sharp and resolute. "We're not stopping until we get there."

Vince's eyes flick toward the distance, scanning the woods. He's already planning, already calculating. "There's a cabin up ahead. If we can make it, we'll have cover."

I nod, my breath coming faster now, my chest tight with anxiety. The forest is closing in around us, every crack of a branch, every rustle of leaves like a warning. I'm terrified of what's coming, but we can't stop. Not now.

Tony stirs weakly in my arms, a low groan escaping his lips. I freeze, my heart stopping for a second. His eyes flutter open, but there's nothing coherent in them. He's not with me. Not really.

"Tony!" I shake him gently. "Stay with me. You're not dying here. We're going to make it."

His eyes flicker, and for a moment, I think he's going to speak. But all he manages is a weak cough, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth.

"Shit," I whisper. "We need to move faster."

Enzo crouches beside us, his eyes scanning the woods. "We need to get to that cabin," he says, his voice steady but urgent. "It's the only chance we have."

But as we push forward, dragging Tony along, something is wrong. I can feel it in the air, in the way Enzo is moving. His usually steady demeanor is cracked, and I don't know why.

But we can't stop. We can't afford it.

We move faster, half-dragging, half-carrying Tony through the dark woods. The cabin is up ahead. I can see it now, faint against the trees.

But then I see something that makes my blood run cold-smoke. Thin tendrils of it rising from the chimney.

Someone is inside.

And I can't help but wonder-are they friend or foe?

Tension mounts as the footsteps behind us grow louder. The enemy is closing in faster than I ever thought possible. We can't outrun them forever.