Chapter 36. The Escape Plan

Evelyn

“What’s the plan?” I asked Chloe, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand after finishing the water she’d given me.

God. I hadn’t realized how parched I was until now. It was like pouring water over a desert—bottomless, dry, aching.

She looked at me for a moment, then exhaled slowly. “If I’m being honest? There’s no perfect plan. Nothing with a hundred percent chance of success. Not against a man like Tyler.” Her eyes were honest—raw and unguarded. “But what I can promise you is this: you’re going to make it out of here. Alive. With your baby. Even if the plan fails, I’ll make sure you don’t.”

She gave me a small, weary smile and reached across to squeeze my hand.

“It’s late,” she added gently. “You should try to sleep a little.”

“B-but—” My voice cracked with resistance. I didn’t want to sleep. Sleeping felt too much like surrender.

“I know,” she cut in softly. “But I can’t make the call to Jacob right now. Even though I want