“Back off,” Ethan said, his voice menacing even through the helmet. He turned to Priya and asked, “You okay?”
Panic prickled Priya’s skin like a thousand tiny needles. Chaos pressed in from all sides. She couldn’t see Ethan’s face behind his visor, but the moment she turned toward him, something in her stilled. She gave him a quick nod even though her hands were shaking inside her gloves.
The simple act drew another wave of rapid flashes from the paparazzi, each frame capturing the moment like a trophy. Ethan’s entire posture radiated protectiveness. He revved the engine, frustration simmering as the light refused to change.
“Hey, sweetheart,” a man called, stepping closer and tapping Priya’s shoulder. “Why don’t you show us that pretty face?”
In an instant, Ethan swung off the bike, kickstand down with a sharp snap. The other photographers backed off as he advanced on the man. Priya’s heart surged into her throat. She wanted to call out, to call him back—but she sat paralyzed, caught between fear and the electric thrill of watching him charge into the crowd forher.
“Touch her again,” he growled, his voice low and menacing, “and it’ll be the last thing you do. You want a face?” Tearing offhis helmet, he grabbed the man’s camera and shoved the lens up to his own face. “Here it is. Take your best shot, but leave her the hell out of it. I’m the one who signed up for this, not her. Clear?”
The man stumbled back, his camera still caught in Ethan’s grip. The strap around his neck snapped taut, pulling the camera free and sending it crashing into his chest with a loud thump. Cameras flashed nonstop as the other photographers seized the opportunity. Ethan’s fiery reaction made the situation even spicier.
“Anybody else want a shot?” Ethan’s eyes swept over the crowd. “No? Well then, we’ll be on our way.”
Ethan got back on the bike and turned to Priya. “It’s not over,” he said. “They’ll keep tailing us. If we head back to Moksha, they’ll turn the place into a circus. We have to lose them. You ready for this?”
Priya nodded, though her chest tightened. Even with her helmet on, she felt exposed and defenseless. Traffic had come to a halt. People gathered at the edges of the road, drawn by the commotion.
“Look, it’s Ethan Knight!” someone shouted before Ethan slipped his helmet back on.
Phones rose high in the air as the crowd burst into cheers. Ethan revved the engine, warning everyone to move out of the way. The paparazzi scrambled to get back to their vehicles.
“Brace yourself,” Ethan said, over the roar of the engine.
Priya’s arms tightened around him as they shot forward. Looking back, she saw a convoy of cars chasing them. Ahead, the traffic light turned amber, but Ethan didn’t slow. He pushed through the intersection as three cars barreled after them, narrowly missing a pedestrian. Horns blared and chaos erupted behind them.
Priya’s eyes widened as they passed familiar landmarks. They were nearing Knight Estates, Ethan’s old stomping ground, an area he knew like the back of his hand. He took a sharp turn down a dead-end street, spinning the bike around to face their pursuers. As the paparazzi scrambled to reverse, Ethan and Priya gained a fleeting lead. But more cars converged on them, closing the gap.
Ethan raced past the funeral home and his father’s property, veering into the parking lot of a local hiking trail. The paparazzi followed, kicking up clouds of dust in the unpaved lot. Priya’s heart raced as she scanned her surroundings. The path ahead led straight into a steep embankment. Behind them, photographers sealed off the only exit. They were cornered with nowhere left to run.
Ethan swiveled the bike around to face the reporters. “Hey, Pri,” he said, scanning the line of cars blocking them. “Remember when we first met? That crazy stunt I pulled?”
“This isn’t a stunt, Ethan. You can’t jump over those cars!”
“Trust me?” he asked softly, his voice steady over the engine’s hum.
Priya swallowed hard and nodded. “Completely.”
“Then hold on to me, tight as you can.” He revved the engine as photographers advanced toward them on foot.
Priya braced herself, ready for Ethan to charge toward the exit. Instead, he whipped the bike toward a grassy slope beside the lot. They tore up the incline, tires clawing the earth beneath them. For a heartbeat, they lifted off the ground at the top. Priya tensed, her mind flashing back to a younger Ethan crashing the bike. This time, he landed with controlled precision. The bike hit the ground with a thud, jostling Priya out of her seat before she settled back.
They thundered down a narrow, rugged trail. Tree roots and rocks jolted the tires beneath them. The trees merged in a blur of shifting greens as Ethan dodged and twisted to avoid the branches. Priya’s senses went into overdrive, her body moving instinctively with his, every reflex tested as they made their escape.
It wasn’t until they reached a clearing deep in the woods that Ethan finally slowed. He killed the engine and removed his helmet, listening to their surroundings. The only sounds Priya could hear were the gentle flow of a nearby stream and the call of birds in the trees.
“I think we lost them,” he said.
Priya let out her breath and released her hold, feeling a surge of blood flow back into her arms. She flexed her fingers to shake off the numbness, then removed her helmet. As soon as it was off, she began to shiver uncontrollably.
“Hey.” Ethan hopped off the bike and eased the helmet from her hands.
Priya tried to stand, but her legs felt weak, muscles quivering as if she was still running for her life. With the adrenaline subsiding, the full weight of the ordeal pressed down on her. Ethan helped her dismount and sat her down on a tree stump. Crouching before her, he peeled off her gloves.
“It’s over, Pri,” he said, rubbing her hands between his palms. “You’re safe now.”
Priya knew they’d shaken off the paparazzi. She knew the immediate threat was gone, but her body hadn’t caught up. She couldn’t stop trembling. Her hands and feet were like ice, her heart racing so fast that she couldn’t take a full breath.
