CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE – AN UNEXPECTED SAVE

A blur of movement in her peripheral vision, the unmistakable silhouette of a gun barrel glinting in the dim light – Charlotte reacted on instinct, her body propelling itself into motion as the first shots rang out. She weaved through the maze of alleyways, her heart thundering in her ears as she fought to put as much distance between herself and her pursuers as possible. The von Beckers' goons were relentless, their footsteps echoing off the damp pavement as they gave chase, shouting taunts and threats that chilled Charlotte to the core. She could feel the walls closing in around her, the once-familiar streets taking on a labyrinthine quality as she struggled to navigate the twists and turns. Ducking into a shadowy alcove, Charlotte pressed herself against the cold brick, her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath. She could hear the pounding footsteps drawing nearer, the voices of her pursuers growing louder with each passing second. "She can't have gone far," one of th