I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 127

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**
**Chapter 127**

Talya stood there in silence for a moment, her mind racing. The desire to return home was strong, but the unsettling realization that those men—whatever they truly were—had managed to track them across multiple states sent a chill down her spine. It was clear that if she wanted to stay safe, her best chance was to stick close to Liam for the time being.

“Okay,” she finally replied, the word feeling heavy on her tongue.

“Okay,” Liam echoed, his tone steady yet urgent. “First things first, you need to take off your shirt and put this on.” He gestured toward the stall with a sense of purpose.

“Why do I need to do that?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“My shirt will help mask your scent,” he explained, his eyes serious.

With a reluctant nod, Talya complied. Moments later, she emerged from the stall, clad in Liam’s shirt, which hung loosely on her frame. She handed him her shirt, feeling a strange mix of vulnerability and determination.

She had also removed the apron she had forgotten she was still wearing, its presence now feeling like a remnant of a life that seemed far away. Liam reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, tapping the screen a few times before handing it to her. “You’re going to follow these directions. They’ll lead you toward my place, but you won’t go all the way there. We’ll catch up with you, but this will get you moving in the right direction.”

Talya frowned, her heart racing. “What are you talking about?” Just then, a knock interrupted their conversation, a sharp sound that made her jump.

“Liam,” a voice called from outside the bathroom door.

Liam opened the door, retrieving his keys from the person waiting outside. “Thanks,” he said, his demeanor shifting back to business. He turned to Talya, his expression serious. “This key fob unlocks the door and goes in the ignition. We’re going to lead them away, and then you’re going to make a run for my car and drive. Just drive. Even if you end up going the wrong way, that’s fine. The main thing is to get away from here. Once we’ve handled the threat, I’ll catch up to you. I’ll call you from Garrett’s phone—he’s my boss, the one who was in the front passenger seat, okay?”

Talya blinked, trying to process everything. “Did you get all that?” Liam asked, gently shaking her shoulders to bring her back to the moment.

“Why am I going by myself?” she asked, confusion lacing her voice.

Liam shook his head, a look of regret crossing his features. “Because I need to stay with my friends and deal with these guys.” He fell silent, and Talya didn’t press further. The fear of knowing just how dangerous those men were gripped her, and she knew she might just bolt if she learned more. “Do you understand the plan?” he asked, his eyes searching hers for confirmation.

Talya nodded, her resolve hardening. “Good. Now, after I leave, count to one hundred slowly before coming out. If you don’t see any of us, then make a run for my car and get out of here. But if you see any of us, don’t go out just yet, okay?”

“Why do you need my shirt?” she asked, her stomach churning at the thought.

“So I can lure them with your scent,” he replied, a grimace crossing his face.

“No, no, no,” panic began to bubble within her. She needed to contact Liam, but what if calling his boss’s phone alerted the men to their presence? What if they were in the middle of a confrontation? Biting her lip, she wrestled with her options. Then, an idea struck her. She grabbed Liam’s phone and pulled up his recent calls. There it was. She hit the call button and switched to speaker mode.

The phone rang only once before a familiar voice broke through the tension. “Liam, buddy, kidnap any more girls lately?” Kyle joked, laughter lacing his tone.

“Um, this is Talya,” she began, her voice shaky.

“Oh, sorry, Talya, uh what can I do for you?” Kyle asked, the humor fading as he sensed her urgency.

“I think I’m being followed, and I don’t know what to do. Every time I speed up, this black SUV speeds up too. Can you do that thing you did for Liam and check for any police nearby? I need to know how fast I can go,” she pleaded, her voice rising with anxiety.

There was a brief silence on the line. “Um, did you kill Liam and steal his car?” Kyle asked, his tone half-joking, half-serious.

“What? No! Liam and his friends are handling some vampires. He made me leave in his car. They’re supposed to catch up with me after they deal with the vampires. I didn’t want to call his boss’s phone because I didn’t want to distract him or put him in danger,” Talya rambled, her words spilling out in a rush.

“Okay, give me a minute to get set up,” Kyle said, his voice turning serious as he took her concerns to heart.