The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 528

A few minutes later, several dark figures emerged from the shadows, cursing loudly. "Damn it, this bitch is good at hiding!"

The leader sneered. "She's definitely still close. Search every inch of this place!"

Leilani held her breath, slowing her heart rate down to a barely perceptible thrum. With her slender build, the cloak of night, and her impeccably hidden vantage point, the seven men scoured the area completely oblivious to her presence.

"Are we chasing ghosts? Where the hell is she?"

Suddenly, perhaps infuriated by the fruitless search, one of the men furiously fired his gun into the open lot.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

A flurry of bullets ricocheted off the wall mere inches from Leilani's hiding spot! Concrete fragments exploded outward, and a jagged piece of shrapnel grazed her cheek, leaving a stinging line of crimson.

"Come out! I know you're hiding out there!" the man roared.

Another heavy silence fell.

Swearing aggressively, he stomped a few paces directly toward her hiding spot.

Leilani's pupils shrank. Covering her mouth tightly with her hands, she completely stopped breathing.

After the deafening gunshots, a suffocating silence settled over the lot. Failing to get a reaction, the frustrated man kicked a rusted bucket with immense force.

"Fuck! Keep looking!"

"She'd better pray we don't find her! Because when we do..."

This time, the masked men actually retreated further away.

Leilani knew staying put wasn't a sustainable strategy. The open space around the factory offered virtually no cover. If she moved even slightly, they would spot her instantly. These thugs were fueled by pure rage right now, and they could easily outlast her. They had food and water; she was definitely not going to survive a battle of attrition. She had to create chaos and break their focus while they were still disoriented.

Scanning her surroundings, her eyes locked onto a stack of abandoned fuel drums not far away. If she could ignite those drums and create a distraction, she might buy herself a few precious seconds to bolt.

Taking a deep breath, Leilani hurled the heavy piece of rubble at a metal scaffold on the opposite side of the yard!

“Clang!” The harsh metal collision was deafening in the silent night.

"Grab her!"

There was nowhere to hide! Leilani's eyes iced over. Gripping her dagger in a reverse hold, she threw herself directly at them.

“Slash!” With a single, fluid arc, one man crashed to the ground, desperately clutching his ruined throat!

As the second man raised his weapon to aim, Leilani twisted sharply out of the way. A bullet tore through her side, leaving a spray of crimson in the air!

Gritting her teeth against the fresh agony, she closed the distance, slamming her elbow brutally into his throat. At the same time, she wrenched the handgun from his grip and whipped the butt of the gun into his head, knocking him unconscious!

But more footsteps were pounding against the pavement, rapidly closing in.

Panting heavily, Leilani staggered deeper into the alleyway. Her breaths were ragged and heavy. The wounds on her shoulder and waist were bleeding profusely, warm crimson dripping relentlessly from her fingertips to the filthy ground. Blood loss was taking its toll, and her vision began to blur. If this kept up, she wouldn't last much longer.

Leaning heavily against the damp brick wall, her trembling fingers pressed desperately against the gaping wound on her waist. Yet, the blood refused to stop flowing.

Was she really going to die in this godforsaken place?