Chapter 281: Desperate plea for help
Gianna twisted the rusty faucet, and a weak stream of water trickled out. She cupped her hands and drank greedily, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat but doing nothing to ease the gnawing hunger in her stomach.
For two days, she had survived on nothing but water, trapped within the crumbling walls of this abandoned house. She was afraid—afraid to step outside, afraid of the cops, and even more afraid of Dylan’s men, who were hunting her like wolves on a scent.
But she couldn’t go on like this. She was starving, exhausted, and running out of money. She needed help.
There was only one person who might help her. Erica.
With her trembling hand, she picked up the phone and switched it on. Taking a deep breath, she dialed Erica’s number.
The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before the call was finally answered.
"Why are you calling me?" Erica’s voice was sharp, laced with irritation.
Gianna squeezed her eyes shut, forcing down the lump of desperation in her throat. "Erica, please, help me get out of the country," she pleaded. "I swear, after this, I won’t be your problem anymore. Just this once—help me, for the sake of our old friendship."
A bitter laugh came from the other end of the line. "You messed up again," she hissed. "You were supposed to kill Ava, but you hurt Dylan instead. And now you expect me to help you? Do you really think I’d lift a finger for the person who put my cousin’s life in danger?"
Tears welled up in Gianna’s eyes as she clutched the phone tighter. "Please, Erica... I’m begging you." Her voice shook with despair. "I have no money and haven’t eaten for two days. I won’t survive much longer. Just this one time... please."
Erica parted her lips to snap back, but before she could utter a word, the phone was yanked from her grasp. She spun around, startled, and found herself face-to-face with her mother’s furious glare. Lydia’s dark eyes burned with quiet rage, and Erica instinctively took a step back.