Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 374: Betrayed by Her Own Sister (2)

Her eyes widened, and before she could make a sound, the man pressed his forefinger on his lips in a gesture, signaling her to stay quiet. Valerie’s heart raced as she struggled to comprehend why this person, whom she had known in a completely different context, was now approaching her with such caution.

"Don’t make a sound," Hunter said in a hushed tone as he drew closer to her, checking to see if she had suffered any serious injuries. He was dressed in military attire, and his expression was serious and focused.

"I have no idea you are here," he continued, but his eyes were busy looking around the place, studying the layout, and searching for potential threats.

"Addie called and asked me a favor to see if you were being kept here. She filled me in on what happened, and we were able to connect the dots. You mustn’t have an idea, but your sister, Airi Xia, has just sold you into a human trafficking ring," Hunter whispered urgently, his voice filled with concern. "We need to get you out of here as quickly and safely as possible."

Valerie felt a kind of fear she’d never felt before. Her heart raced as she processed the shocking revelation about Airi’s betrayal. However, she also couldn’t help but shed some tears when Hunter mentioned that Adrienne was looking for her.

Hunter pulled a small blade from his pocket and cut through the ropes binding Valerie’s wrists.

"We don’t have much time," he said, eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. "We must find a way out of here before they realize you’re missing. It’s good that you didn’t make a sound because the men outside are part of the ring. Airi probably hid you here to ask for a higher price on your head."

Valerie shivered as she considered his words. Katherine once told her the violence and danger in the criminal underworld were unimaginable, but experiencing it firsthand was a chilling reality. Young women like her were prized commodities sought after for various illicit activities. She couldn’t believe Airi would sell her to such dangerous individuals to seek revenge.

"We need to hurry. Can you walk?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Valerie nodded, and Hunter helped her to stand up. She stumbled a bit, her legs feeling weak from being restrained for so long. Hunter steadied her, and they began making their way towards the door.

Hunter gestured for Valerie to follow him as he began to navigate through the maze of cargo boxes. They moved as quietly as possible, their footsteps as light as feathers. Valerie’s heart raced as they crept closer to the door, hoping that they wouldn’t run into any of the men outside. As they reached the door, Hunter peered outside to make sure it was safe. The hallway was clear, but they could hear voices coming from the end of the corridor.

"We need to find another way out," Hunter whispered to Valerie. "Follow me."

They moved down the hallway, taking turns and ducking behind boxes to avoid being seen. The voices grew louder as they neared the end of the corridor. Hunter paused and motioned for Valerie to stay still. He moved forward, slowly peeking around the corner to see what was ahead. The moon had already set, and the darkness outside was thick.

Hunter returned, his expression grim. "There’s a group of men up ahead."

They retraced their steps and made their way down another hallway. Valerie stumbled on a loose board, and Hunter caught her before she fell. They paused for a moment to catch their breath.

"We can’t keep going like this," Hunter grumbled.

Their only chance to get out of there was for the other team to distract these men. Once they managed to get out of this area, his team would be more than enough to cover their tracks, and he could bring Valerie to safety.

Valerie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, praying they would safely make it out of there. She knew that Hunter was risking his life to help her, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards him. She never imagined that someone like Hunter would risk his life to save hers, yet here he was, taking her to safety. She knew that she would never forget what he did for her.

Hunter turned to Valerie and gestured for her to follow him. They approached the back of the warehouse, where a small window was left open. Hunter helped Valerie climb through the window, and they both landed outside on the damp grass.

Valerie was shaking with fear and cold, and Hunter looked at her with concern. It was the first time Adrienne asked him a favor, and he wasn’t planning to fail his sister.

They started running towards the nearby street, their hearts pounding with every step.

Finally, they reached a deserted alley, and Hunter stopped Valerie, placing a finger on her lips.

"Stay here, and don’t make a sound. I’ll be back in a minute," he whispered before disappearing into the shadows.

Valerie was alone, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of their escape. She couldn’t believe that just a few days ago, she was sitting in her apartment, planning her vacation. Now, she was running for her life, betrayed by her own sister.

As she waited for Hunter, Valerie couldn’t help but think about the past. She remembered her childhood with Airi, playing together and having fun. It was hard to believe that the same person she had grown up with could now be involved in something so heinous. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of betrayal that lingered within her.

After what felt like an eternity, Valerie heard blaring sirens in the distance, growing louder as they approached the port. The men who had been laughing earlier were now cursing and running to escape as the police and the special agents arrived.

Hunter emerged from the shadows, a small smile appearing on his face. "We’re going to be okay now," he said, relief evident in his voice. "My team is here, and we’ll take you somewhere safe. Let’s wait for a moment and allow them to do their job. It’s risky to step out there at the moment."