Without hesitation, Anastasia yanked the emergency brake.

The tires locked up instantly, sending the car spinning out of control. It flipped over and slammed into the guardrail, the impact so violent it cleaved the metal barrier in half before the car tumbled down into the grassy embankment beside the road.

Even with the airbag deploying, Anastasia was hurt. Fighting through the dizziness and pain shooting through her scraped arms, she managed to crawl out of the overturned wreckage.

The cold air hit her face like a slap, clearing her head just enough. Her first instinct was to grab her phone and call Cassian.

The moment the crash happened, his face had flashed through her mind. The terrifying thought that she might never see him again.

The phone rang and rang. No answer.

Anastasia bit her lip, panic rising in her chest. Just when she was about to give up, he picked up.

“Ana?” His deep, familiar voice came through the speaker.

“Cassian, I… I almost died just now…” The second she heard his voice, she completely lost it.

Thinking about what had just happened made her whole body shake.

“What? What the hell happened? Where are you?” Cassian was in the middle of a board meeting, but hearing those words made him jump to his feet.

“It’s… it’s a long story. I’m out in the suburbs. My car’s totaled. Can you send someone to help me?” Anastasia’s voice was trembling.

She was worried there might be more of Rainee’s crew nearby. If they came after her, she wouldn’t stand a chance alone.

“Don’t be scared. Send me your location–I’m coming right now. And stay on the line.” Cassian wished he could sprout wings and fly to her that instant.

He was already heading for the door with his assistant while trying to calm her down.

The executives in the boardroom exchanged bewildered looks, but nobody dared ask questions. They’d never seen their CEO this rattled before–whatever was happening had to be serious.

After hanging up, Anastasia immediately texted him her location.

Knowing Cassian was on his way made her feel like she could breathe again. Having him in her corner was like having a security blanket.

She turned back to look at her car, her heart sinking. Poor thing hadn’t been with her very long, and now it was completely destroyed.

Checking the back seat, she saw Rainee slumped over with blood trickling from her forehead–knocked unconscious.

Anastasia frowned, then opened the door and dragged the girl out of the wreckage.

She pressed hard on Rainee’s pressure point until the girl’s eyes fluttered open.

Seeing Anastasia’s face, Rainee looked genuinely confused–like she couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Why would you save me? You should’ve just left me to die after what I did to you.” Rainee seemed genuinely baffled.

Anastasia looked down at her coldly. “Murder’s a crime, you know. Life isn’t that cheap.”

“I’m not like you. I don’t turn into an animal just for revenge.”

“Who put you up to this?”

Rainee hesitated, then turned away, refusing to answer.

Anastasia gave a cold smile. “Fine, don’t tell me. You can explain it to the cops instead: Assault with a deadly weapon…”

A twisted grimace spread across Rainee’s face. “So you’re playing the saint now? You think I’m gonna be grateful or something? Dream on—just kill me and get it over with!”

Anastasia wasn’t interested in arguing. “Kill you? Where’s the fun in that?”

“What are you planning?” Rainee was suddenly on guard.

Damn it. She’d thought this woman would be easy to manipulate, but underneath that angelic face was a mind sharp as a razor.