PART 2 — IF THEY ASK YOU TO CHOOSE

If they ask you to choose—

Anna stopped breathing.

She unfolded the paper completely.

If they ask you to choose between your family and me, choose your family.

Her eyes blurred.

Not because they deserve you more.

Because I refuse to become the reason you lose everything.

Anna read the words again.

Then again.

“No,” she whispered.

Balloi looked toward the clock above the counter.

Eight minutes.

“You can’t mean this.”

“I do.”

“You’re telling me to leave?”

“I’m telling you to live.”

Anna crushed the paper in her hand.

“You don’t get to decide that for me.”

Balloi stepped closer.

For the first time that night, he touched her.

His fingers gently closed around hers.

“I know what your father can do,” he said quietly. “I know what happens to people who stand in his way.”

“You’re not afraid of him.”

“I am.”

The honesty in his voice hurt more than anger would have.

“I’m afraid of losing you,” he continued. “And I’m even more afraid of what happens if you lose your family because of me.”

Anna shook her head.

“They’ve been deciding my life since I was born.”

“Then maybe you should decide what happens next.”

A sound came from outside.

A car door closing.

Both of them froze.

Balloi released her hand.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

Coming closer.

Anna moved toward the window.

A black sedan was parked across the street.

This time, the headlights were off.

Her father’s driver stood beside it.

And he wasn’t alone.

Anna’s older brother stepped onto the sidewalk.

“Lucas,” she whispered.

Balloi looked at her.

“Is there another way out?”

She nodded toward the back of the shop.

“There’s an alley.”

“Then go.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll stay.”

“No.”

“Anna—”

“I’m not leaving you here.”

The footsteps reached the front door.

The bell above it gave a soft metallic ring.

The door opened.

Lucas walked inside.

His expensive coat was wet from the rain. He looked around the shop, taking in the leaking ceiling, the crooked shelves and the boxes of books stacked against the wall.

Then his eyes settled on Balloi.

“You have five minutes,” Lucas said.

Anna stared at him.

“For what?”

“To say goodbye.”

Balloi’s jaw tightened.

“You came here to threaten me?”

“No.”

Lucas looked at his sister.

“I came here because Dad is already on his way.”

Silence.

Anna felt the room shrink around her.

“How long?”

“Three minutes, maybe four.”

“Why are you helping us?”

Lucas didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into his coat and placed a small envelope on the counter.

Anna recognized the handwriting.

Her father’s.

“He found out about the account,” Lucas said.

Anna’s face went pale.

“What account?”

“The one you’ve been using to save money.”

She looked at Balloi.

He looked just as confused.

Lucas continued.

“Dad knows you’ve been planning to leave.”

Anna’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“You went through my things?”

“No.”

Lucas lowered his voice.

“Mom did.”

Anna stared at him.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Lucas said something that changed everything.

“There’s a train leaving at 10:40.”

Anna looked at the clock.

Seven minutes until the last bus.

Twenty-three minutes until the train.

“What train?”

“Northbound.”

“Where does it go?”

“Far enough.”

Balloi looked at him suspiciously.

“And why are you telling us this?”

Lucas finally looked directly at Balloi.

“Because I don’t want my sister to spend the rest of her life becoming someone Dad can control.”

A car engine sounded outside.

Lucas stepped toward the door.

“He’s here.”

Anna grabbed Balloi’s hand.

“What do we do?”

Lucas opened the door and looked back.

“For once?”

He gave his sister a tired smile.

“Choose for yourselves.”

Then he walked into the rain.

A second later, headlights appeared at the end of the street.

Anna heard the familiar sound of her father’s car approaching.

Balloi looked at her.

The train station was twelve blocks away.

The rain was getting heavier.

There was no time left to be afraid.

Anna grabbed her coat.

“Run.”

They disappeared through the back door just as the black sedan stopped outside the bookshop.

Above the empty counter, the folded piece of paper remained.

The final line was still hidden beneath the crease.

And neither of them had seen it.

Because if you choose me, Anna, don’t look back.

I’m not the only one your father is coming for.