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Married Before Midnight - Married Before Midnight by Sienna Quinn - Chapter 48
Author: Novels Audio
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Married Before Midnight
Chapter 48 : "Breaking Point"
The cabin plunged into darkness, the sudden absence of light leaving Hannah disoriented. The only sound was her own ragged breathing and the slow, deliberate footsteps outside—boots crunching against gravel, moving closer. A metallic click echoed through the silence. A gun being cocked. Lucas’s hand clamped over her wrist, his grip firm but steady. He didn’t speak, but she felt the silent command in his touch: Don’t move. Hannah’s pulse hammered in her throat as she clutched the hard drive tighter. The audio file—Leigh’s voice, the damning evidence—was all they had left. If they lost it now, everything would be for nothing. Lucas shifted, his body tense as he listened. The intruder was at the front door now, testing the lock. A heavy thud rattled the frame as the door shuddered under the force of a kick. We have to move. Lucas tugged her toward the back of the cabin, navigating the darkness with practiced ease. Hannah stumbled once, her knee hitting the edge of a table, but she bit back a gasp. The kitchen window—small, but wide enough to squeeze through—was their only chance. Lucas lifted the latch as quietly as possible, the hinges groaning softly. He turned to her, mouthing the words, Go first. Hannah hesitated, but another crash from the front door sent adrenaline surging through her. She hoisted herself up, her fingers digging into the wooden frame as she wriggled through. The cold night air hit her face as she dropped onto the damp grass outside. Lucas followed, landing beside her just as the front door splintered open. They didn’t wait. Hannah sprinted toward the tree line, her breath coming in sharp bursts. The woods were thick, the moonlight barely piercing through the canopy. Behind them, the cabin door slammed against the wall, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps giving chase. Lucas grabbed her arm, pulling her behind a cluster of bushes. "Stay low," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Hannah pressed a hand over her mouth, willing her breathing to slow.
The footsteps grew louder, then stopped. Silence. Then—a voice. Not Dawson’s. Deeper, rougher. "I know you’re here." Hannah’s blood ran cold. Who the hell is that? Lucas’s jaw tightened. He motioned toward a narrow path deeper into the woods. Run. They moved as one, darting between the trees. The underbrush snagged at Hannah’s clothes, branches whipping against her arms. A sharp pain flared in her side, but she pushed through it. A shadow lunged from the darkness. Lucas reacted instantly, slamming into the man with enough force to send them both crashing to the ground. The attacker grunted, grappling for the gun at his hip. Hannah didn’t think. She grabbed the nearest heavy object—a fallen branch—and swung. The man dodged, but the movement gave Lucas the opening he needed. He drove his elbow into the man’s ribs, then wrenched the gun from his grip. "Who sent you?" Lucas demanded, pressing the barrel against the man’s temple.
The stranger smirked, blood trickling from his lip. "You really think you’re the only ones looking for that file?" Before Lucas could respond, a deafening explosion rocked the night. Hannah whirled around just in time to see the cabin erupt in flames, orange tongues licking at the sky. The heat seared her skin even from a distance. They’re destroying everything. Lucas cursed, shoving the man away. "We have to go. Now." They ran, the firelight casting long, flickering shadows behind them. Hannah’s mind raced. The audio file—Leigh’s voice had named Dawson, but that second voice… it wasn’t him. Which meant Dawson wasn’t acting alone. Someone higher up was pulling the strings. Lucas stumbled suddenly, his hand flying to his side. Even in the dim light, Hannah saw the dark stain spreading across his shirt. "You’re hurt!" "It’s nothing," he gritted out. "Keep moving." Hannah hesitated, but the sound of distant shouts spurred her forward. They needed shelter. A phone. Someone they could trust. The trees thinned as they reached the edge of the woods, a deserted road stretching ahead. Hannah fumbled for her phone, her fingers shaking as she checked for a signal. A single bar. Then—a vibration. An unknown number.
A text. "You can’t run forever, Hannah. Trade the drive, and maybe you live." Her breath caught. Lucas leaned over her shoulder, his expression hardening as he read the message. "They’re bluffing." Hannah stared at the screen, her stomach twisting. "Are they?" Because one thing was clear now—they weren’t just being watched. They were being hunted