CHAPTER NINETY NINE – ON THE RUN

"Florian!" he bellowed. "Stop this madness now!" Florian ignored him, pulling Cassie towards the station entrance. They stumbled inside, gasping for breath. "Two tickets for the next bus out of here," Florian demanded, slapping money on the counter. The bored-looking clerk raised an eyebrow but started typing on his computer. Karl burst through the doors, his eyes wild. "Brother, please. Think about what you're doing." Florian turned to face him, positioning himself protectively in front of Cassie. "I have thought about it, Karl. This is what I want. What we both want." Karl's gaze flickered to Cassie, his expression a mix of anger and hurt. "You'll regret this," he snarled. "Both of you." "Your tickets," the clerk interrupted, sliding two slips of paper across the counter. Florian snatched them up. "Let's go," he said to Cassie. They hurried towards the boarding area, Karl's shouts echoing behind them. As they climbed onto the bus, Cassie allowed herself to breathe a sigh of