Chapter 160
Chapter 160:
“Did you get it?” Skye asked.
“Every second,” Gabriel confirmed. “I have video of her admitting to being Sarah Jones. I have the thugs confirming her identity. It’s over, Skye p>
“Not yet,” Skye said, walking back to her car. “We don’t have the body yet. Without the body, it’s just a debt collection gone wrong. But I have enough to destroy her credibility. Liam needs to see this p>
Skye waited until the police secured the scene before slipping away. She drove back to the city, her mind racing.
Seraphina was in the wind now. No money, no phone, hunting for survival. A cornered animal was dangerous, but a desperate one was predictable.
Meanwhile, deep in the treeline, Seraphina stumbled through the underbrush. Branches whipped her face, drawing blood. She fell into a ditch, the freezing muck soaking her to the bone.
She crawled, weeping silently, until she found an unlocked service shed behind a gas station miles down the road. She huddled under a tarp, smelling of rot and fear, clutching the stolen locket around her neck.
She had survived worse. She was Sarah Jones. She would survive this.
The next morning, the headlines were confusing.
POLICE RAID ABANDONED SCHOOL. MYSTERY WOMAN FLEES SCENE.
There was no mention of Seraphina. She had escaped.
Skye sat in her office, tapping a pen against her desk.
Liam walked in. He didn’t knock. He looked energized. The transfer of the proxy rights had given him a false sense of intimacy with her.
“I saw the news,” Liam said. “Rough neighborhood. You should be careful p>
“I’m always careful, Liam,” Skye said.
“About our dinner,” Liam pressed. “I fulfilled my part of the deal. Tonight p>
Skye looked at him. She thought about the video Gabriel had. She thought about the mud on Seraphina’s hands.
𝘛𝗁𝗶ѕ 𝗰on𝘁𝖾ո𝘵 iѕ 𝗮𝘂𝘵𝗵eո𝘁𝘪𝘤 𝗳𝗋𝗈𝗆 be.𝗰𝗼𝘮
“Tonight,” Skye agreed. “But I pick the venue p>
“Anything,” Liam said with a smile.
“The Royal Restaurant,” Skye said. “Private room. 8:00 PM p>
“Perfect,” Liam said. “I’ll wear a tux p>
He turned to leave, but paused at the door.
“Skye p>
“Yes p>
“Who is Gabriel Ross to you? Really p>
Skye looked up. “He’s an employee, Liam. And a friend. Two things you never knew how to be p>
Liam flinched, but then nodded. “I’m trying to learn p>
As soon as he left, Skye picked up her phone.
“Zoe,” she said, “leak a rumor. Tell the press that Skye Sterling is meeting a ‘mystery lover’ at the Royal Restaurant tonight. Make sure the paparazzi are there p>
“And Seraphina?” Zoe asked.
“Send the location to her burner phone,” Skye ordered. “Tell her that Liam is meeting a lawyer there to finalize her settlement p>