Chapter 16 - THE CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY
The bus pulled away from the curb, merging into the wet highway traffic as the Chicago skyline faded into the distance.
Chloe pressed her forehead against the cool glass window, watching the endless streak of red taillights flashing in the rain.
"Do you think they saw us get on the bus?" Chloe asked quietly, her voice trembling slightly in the dark cabin.
Ethan wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close against his chest to share his body heat.
"Even if they checked the passenger manifests, bus tickets bought with cash don't link back to our names," Ethan reassured her softly.
"My father will hunt us to the ends of the earth, Ethan. The Vance family doesn't lose control easily," Chloe murmured fearfully.
"Neither do we," Ethan replied with absolute conviction, kissing her temple gently.
As the miles ticked away on the interstate, physical exhaustion finally caught up with Chloe's frayed nerves.
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Her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted into a restless sleep against Ethan's shoulder, dreaming of falling glass and flashing badges.
The bus barreled eastward through the night, carrying the two fugitives closer to the heart of American political power.
