Chapter 23

• As Maya's anguished cry pierced the air, Romeo's heart sank like a stone in his chest. He knew he had to act quickly if he wanted to escape the fury of Nicklaus and the repercussions of his actions. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprang to his feet and bolted towards the nearest exit.
• With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Romeo reached the window in a single bound, his hands fumbling with the latch as he desperately tried to open it. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind him, growing louder with each passing moment as Nicklaus closed in on him.
• Ignoring the pain that flared in his side from the earlier altercation, Romeo threw open the window and leaped out into the night, his heart pounding in his chest as he landed on the ground below with a thud. He stumbled slightly, his injured leg protesting the sudden impact, but he pushed through the pain and kept running, his only thought to escape the danger that pursued him.