Chapter 3 Siege at Midnight

Watching his body loom over me as we reached a part of the staircase to evade Marco made my heart race and I can suddenly remember that this isn’t what I signed up for, yet, my body seems to be going along with it, his light green eyes staring back at me as we rushed down, it makes me jolt, I couldn’t decipher whether it was his brazen attitude or his ability to stay calm even in this situation but my body sparked with excitement.

Holding my hand as gently as I could feel, we made our way down to the end of the stairwell, the air heavy with the smell of fear mixed with sweat, my fear and sweat. I don’t ask questions, which is definitely unlike me. Letting him lead the way, we get into the dimly lit parking garage—the air suddenly feels thick with a new smell of gasoline and exhaust.

He pulls me into a sleek black SUV, his eyes glinting with danger and serenity. I couldn’t understand how that could mix but I liked it. Just as he placed his hand on the gear and his foot on the accelerator.

“Don’t let them escape!” A growl came from behind, I put my head just outside the window for a bit, using his free hand, he pulled me by my arm.

“Get strapped in—” he ordered, anger in his tone. Quickly I hold onto the strap of the seatbelt, buckling it as quickly as possible, squinting my eyes, begging my body to let my eyelids shut.

I could hear the screeching of the tires as he speeds through the garage, just as the car moved forward, I could see Marco’s men in front, guns in their grips. I clutch onto Dante’s shirt.

“Dante..” I address him with his name for the first time out of fear and despair, my heart racing as I hold onto his shirt even tighter, hanging on for dear life, he glances at me for a split second,

“You’ve become quite bold” he snickered in a low, modern tone “You have to live to see what comes next”. I shut my eyes finally, my heart pounding my chest, I hold my breath, letting him drive through as the sound of gunshots follow from right behind us, the sounds heavily bouncing off the concrete walls, the noise blaring heavily as I struggle to open my eyes.

“We’re alive” I mumble as I let go of his shirt which is now crunched up. “I’m alive” I chuckle as the car makes its way forward. I look to him, he has hands on the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that princess—” he joked, a smirk on the side of his lips. As he drove, still perturbed by the fact that we might be followed, his phone lights up, there’s a notification at the top, I quickly read the message before he lifts it up and throws it out the back.

‘They’ll never let her go, she’s your weakness’ the text read from his phone, I knew it was from an unknown number because of the ID, I seemingly force the words of questions down my throat just so I can let him drive, because he speeds through the Manhattan streets, weaving through traffic like this was a race car and we had two lives, it wasn’t and we do infact have only one.

He takes an unfamiliar road, I can’t tell where it leads, the car becomes slow, making a little hum as it moves, he was hiding “Where are we going? Where are you taking me?” I question, my heart in my mouth, my hands on the seat, gripping onto them tightly.

“To a safe house” his voice is low, urgent and somewhat alluring, he turns to look at me, his gaze locked onto mine, sending shivers down my spine, “Wh..why?” I stuttered.

“That’s the only place I can guarantee your safety” he answered, driving slowly, yet he leans towards me, his eyes on my lips and then on my cheeks. I could feel my face flush red as I pulled back.

“You’re not scared of me are you?” He asked, a menacing tone in his question “I’m the last person you need to be afraid of” he added, pulling back as he looks to the road.

He drives into a small street, it’s abandoned, the air feels musty and eerie, dark and evil, I recoil in my seat, holding onto the seatbelt “Sir, this place doesn’t seem so safe” I said with my lips parched from trying to find the suitable words to describe a place so desolate.

“Keep your voice down, this isn’t the safe house—it’s throw them off” he reassured me, I don’t turn to look at him but for some reason, I trust his judgement and let him move through the street as slowly as possible.

Suddenly, I hear rustles coming from outside. My curiosity gets the best out of me, I peer at the window, my eyes and heart aching with anticipation. Just as I looked at the window a hand nabs at the window, I almost let out a scream but I felt Dante’s hand go over my mouth, muffling my voice.

“Don’t say a word” he whispered into my ear, his skin brushes against my ear and I could hear him unbuckle his seatbelt as he doesn’t speak. My eyes widen with shock as the hand moves away on its own. My blood runs cold. My heart, almost in my mouth or at least out of my body.

What is this place? Why am I even following him?

Maybe the alluring salary amount is the reason why greed is almost taking out my heart. Then I felt the car move once again, he had begun to drive but then I felt my hand brimming with warmth. I looked down, his hand was clasped with mine. Quickly, I pulled my hand from his.

“That’s gotta hurt—” he chuckled.

I folded my arms, watching the car move into a secluded place, just as his car moved, i caught sight of what seems like a garage door “Here..hold this” he mutters, handing me a small knife. I stare at it for a while, puzzled.

“What do you mean by that sir?” I asked, unsure of what to use a knife for if it’s a safe house “I thought this was meant to be a safe house” I squealed, it was meant to be question but whichever way he interpreted it, he didn’t seem to care so much.

“The inside’s safe—” he replied, placing it in my hand before opening the door of the driver seat, letting himself out.

What in Christ’s name does that even mean?

I noticed him carefully pull out his gun from his back, using his eyes to scan the area. Just as he moved forward, pointing his gun in the directions of the dark, I notice a figure from behind him “Sir, behind you!” I yelled out. He heard just in time, but it seemed to be too late, he moved only a little but the figure in black hit him with a stick, hard and fast, he wasn’t fast enough to evade it.

Just as he lifted the wood for another strike, I jabbed his back with the knife—

Lily Thompson what did you just do?

Chapter 4: The Safehouse