His Bride, Her Revenge-Chapter 62: The Tides of War

The pressure of the cold metal against Cambria’s temple sent a jolt of adrenaline through her body, making her senses sharpen. She froze, trying to suppress the tremor of fear that threatened to betray her. Behind her, the sound of approaching vehicles, loud engines, screeching tires sent a wave of confusion through her. Was this rescue? Or the final trap Blackwood had set for her?

The man holding the gun wasn’t someone she recognized. His face was masked in the shadow of his hood, but his stance steady, sure spoke of years of training. A mercenary, no doubt. And judging by the way his fingers gripped the weapon, he was far from a novice. She was in danger. She had always known the risks of crossing Blackwood, but now, with her life in the balance, everything she had fought for seemed on the verge of collapsing.

"Don’t move," the man hissed in a low growl, his voice rough like gravel. "You think you’ve won, but you’re just a pawn in a bigger game."

Cambria’s mind raced. She couldn’t afford to panic. She had to think, to act quickly. She had already crawled out of one trap; this couldn’t be the end.

Behind her, the sound of the engines grew louder. Her breath caught as the headlights of a convoy illuminated the area, blinding her for a moment. Were they allies or enemies? She had no idea. But one thing was certain she was out of time. The countdown clock that Blackwood had set was still ticking in her mind, its rhythm relentless. Every second that passed was a second closer to disaster.

The man with the gun was still too close. His breath was hot against her ear as he shifted his weight, preparing to shove her back toward Blackwood’s estate. Cambria’s fingers clenched into fists, her mind working furiously.

"You’re not the one in control here," she said, her voice cold and defiant, as she tilted her head slightly, just enough to make sure she could see her surroundings. "You think Blackwood can save you? He’s already lost."

The mercenary smirked, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "You’re wrong. Blackwood always wins. You’re just a footnote in his story."

Before she could react, the sound of screeching tires and the rapid approach of the vehicles behind her reached its peak. The man turned, his grip on her slackening for just a second enough time for Cambria to act.

In a blur of motion, she dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding his swipe. The gunshot rang out a sharp crack in the stillness but the bullet missed her by inches, embedding itself into the dirt.

Without wasting another second, Cambria pushed herself up, darting toward the headlights, hoping to use the cover of the oncoming vehicles. As she ran, she could hear the man cursing behind her, his boots pounding the earth as he gave chase.

Just as she reached the nearest vehicle, a door swung open, and a hand shot out, grabbing her arm with force. She whipped around, prepared to fight, but then she saw the face of the person pulling her in. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Maddox?" she gasped.

Maddox Raye stood before her, his jaw set with determination, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he pulled her into the safety of the vehicle. The engine roared to life, the tires screeching as they tore away from the estate.

"Get down!" he barked, pushing her to the floor of the car.

Cambria obeyed, her body trembling as she huddled low. The man with the gun had started running toward them, but Maddox’s vehicle was already speeding away, disappearing into the night.

The city’s skyline loomed ahead, distant and cold, as the car barreled through the streets, heading toward an unknown location. Cambria’s thoughts raced, but they were drowned out by the sound of her own pulse pounding in her ears.

After several tense moments, Maddox glanced over at her, his expression unreadable. "What the hell were you thinking, Cambria?" His voice was harsh, but beneath it, there was a note of something softer, concern, or maybe regret. She wasn’t sure which.

"I had no choice," she said quietly, sitting up, her hands still shaking. "I couldn’t let him get away with it. You should’ve known that."

Maddox’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. "You should’ve come to me first. You should’ve trusted me."

"Trust?" Cambria echoed, her voice a sharp edge. "After everything? You think I should trust you?"

For a long moment, Maddox didn’t answer. The tension between them was palpable, thick with unspoken words. The betrayal she felt still simmered beneath her skin, a festering wound that refused to heal.

"I didn’t know what you were planning," Maddox finally said, his voice quieter now. "But I never stopped trying to protect you."

Cambria’s eyes softened for a split second before hardening again. "It’s too late for protection. I’ve been protecting myself for years. And now... now it’s about something bigger."

He glanced at her, confusion flickering across his features. "What are you talking about?"

"The game isn’t over yet. Blackwood thinks he’s won, but this is only the beginning. He’s underestimated me. He’s underestimated all of us."

The car veered into a secluded part of the city, the tall buildings casting long shadows in the dim light. Maddox slowed as they approached a private estate, a place she didn’t recognize but had no doubt was his safe house. He parked the car in the driveway, cutting the engine, and they both sat in silence for a moment.

Cambria was the first to speak. "I need to finish this. I need to expose Blackwood for what he really is."

Maddox’s gaze never left her, his eyes searching her face. "And you think you can do that alone?"

For a moment, Cambria said nothing. She wasn’t sure if she could do it alone. But one thing was certain: she wasn’t going to let Maddox or anyone stand in her way.

"We’ll see," she said, her voice a quiet resolve.

As they stepped out of the car, the doors to the safe house creaked open, and an unexpected figure emerged from the shadows. Who had been waiting for them inside? And was it an ally or an even greater threat than Blackwood?