How in the hell did I go two weeks without texting Caroline! She's probably gone insane trying to get ahold of me. I guess it just slipped my mind I mean I did just lose my mom in a freak accident which caused me to go into hiding because some Russian dude wants me and my family dead! But in other news I wonder how she's doing..we didn't exactly leave off on good terms the last time we spoke.
My thoughts continue to race as I pace the new furnished bedroom that I claimed a few days ago.
After the way things went with Damian, I decided to move to another room on the floor above him. He surprisingly let me go without a fight, didn't even turn to look at me. He just walked out and didn't come back for hours.
I don't have time to think about that right now. The explosion at my house has been all over the news days. I'm surprised Caroline hasn't tried to get in touch with me.
I gotta say, with all the people that I've managed to lose and push away over the years, I have this strange feeling that I need her right now and if I don't talk to her soon I feel like I might go crazy and do something stupid.
"I need to find my phone."
Without a second thought I run to the door that is already partially open and race down the stairs to Damian's room.
I slip on the rug leading to his door and catch myself with a squeal.
"Heh glad no one saw that," My giggling stops when I realize that my hand is about to knock on his door. When do I ever knock?
I grab the door knob and it doesn't budge. It's locked...
Okay what the hell is going on here.
I ball my fist and go to bang on the door when a high pitched 15 year old giggle throws me off guard.
Oh?
I lean my ear to the door, brushing a few strands back from of my earlobe to get a better listen.
"Hushwehehewh."
It's hard to hear anything. This door is way too thick. But from what I can hear it sounds like a woman.
Young..around Damian's age.
"You're so bad." Is all I hear before I release a round of bangs against the thick piece of wood that depresses the three of us.
That. Stupid. Idiot.
"OPEN THE DOOR."
The whispering comes to a stop and someone shuffles around. And then there's a thump!
The rustling starts back up and soon the door creaks open. Before anyone can stop me from getting in I push my way through with all my might.
The broad has the nerve to scream and Damian does nothing but cover himself up next to her. I don't even look at them. I came for better things.
"Rachel what are you loo-!" He screams, but I ignore him.
"Don't." I yell pointing a finger at him.
"Who the hell is she?" She whispers in his ear but I can hear her. Who yells when they whisper?
"I am nobody. I just came to get something. Please. Proceed."
"Are you insane?"
"Okay she's crazy. I'm out of here."
"No. Just-"
I shake my head and laugh at how pathetic they both look. I mean she clearly doesn't want to stay here.
My mind races as run back and forth across the room throwing everything around like a human tornado.
"Rachel stop!"
The woman is up on her feet pulling in her shorts and t shirt as I check the bathroom and closet drawers.
"Look just call me when all of this is handled." The woman yells before rubbing out the bedroom.
"Latanya. Wait."
Where could it be?
"RACHEL WHAT ARE YOH LOOKING FOR AND -" Damian yells from across the room. I stand in the bathroom looking at myself in the reflection. The girl who looks back at me isn't me. Her skin is battered. Hair a filthy mess. Neglect appears all over her face.
Thoughts of him and me the other night and my missing phone resurfaces and I just sag my shoulders. I don't want to argue anymore. I don't want to feel sorry for myself anymore. I just want my life back.
"I'm gone," I whisper.
I'm not wasting another breath on him.
"What?" Damian whispers. Now standing behind me.
"I was looking for my phone and I can't find it so I'm done."
He stares at me in confusion.
"Okay-" He begins and instead of acknowledging him I just continue to walk, out of the room and down the steps.
"If you needed to use a phone -Can you just stop for a second," He screams.
I stand at the bottom of the staircase, my front to his back. He stands at the top of the staircase with his torso wrapped in a thin white sheet.
I take a look at my surroundings and breathe in deep.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO HUH? THE PLACE IS SURROUNDED."
I look around at all of his men. They stare at waiting to attack. They found my give two shits about me.
"I'm leaving one way or another."
I turn and walk to the kitchen conjuring something up. If I walk out the front door I could be shit down. If I harm one of his men-
"You must have really pissed him off his time." A voice speaks behind me. I turn to this new person I've never seen or heard of.
"Trust me the feeling is mutual,"
My eyes scan the new guy. He looks too normal to work for Damian. He could have a family and kids. Maybe a grandchild?
"I wouldn't stare at me too long. You could the both of us in trouble," he chuckles. Running a hand through his full head of hair.
"Who are you? I've been here for weeks now and i have never seen you before..Are you new?"
He smiles and walks over to the fridge.
"Eh you could say that.." Ge shuts the fridge door closed and walks over to where I'm sitting with two water bottles handing me one.
"Thanks." I take a sip as he takes a seat next to me at the kitchen table.
"So..how does a young girl like yourself get mixed up with someone like Mr.Castellano?" I chuckle as if this was my choice.
"I didn't." I stare ahead as the past comes back.
"His men kidnapped me and took me to some underground dungeon,"
"I was almost unconscious when Damian-" I scoff as the name leaves my lips.
"-em Mr.Castellano showed up. He threatened the men that had beaten me senseless and sent them out. The next thing I know I'm here." I gesture around me at the empty kitchen.
"Look. I know I don't know you and I probably shouldn't trust you telling you all of this but I have to get out of here,"
The man looks at me and shakes his head.
"I've already said too much really-"
"No you didn't. You didn't sa-" He stops me with a finger to my face, anger ecident in his eyes. But it isn't just anger it's like he's trying to tell me something with his eyes.
"Punch me" He whispers.
"What?" I say taking a step back.
"Do it. Take my keys. It's parked in the back of the house just do it." He rushes out.
"YOU LITTLE BITCH. I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHI A REAL MAN IS." He lunges at me and before I can think we're both in the floor. Him on top of me.
"What are you doing you were supposed to punch me?" He whisper yells.
"Well you went too fast-"
"Just shut up and do it."
"Okay." I bring my knee to his nuts and roll us over as he yells out in pain.
"YOU SICK PERVERTED FUCK" I kick him as he leans over in pain.
"Alright a bit much."
"Sorry," I whisper as I take both his keys and gun giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Waayy woah make sure the safety is on."
"Okay." I turn back and look at the man who saved my life.
He flags me off with a half smile and i slide the kitchen door open. I've never been to the back back of the house so I choose to run until I find it.
"Okay okay okay okay,"I chant as I run past bushes hopping over nick backs that had clearly been forgotten about back here.
Footsteps approach behind me and I speed up.
Why am I always running from people?
The back of the house approached but I don't see a vehicle.
He really was an old pervert!
The footsteps get closer and I begin to panic.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh," My inner voice screams.
Screw it.
I run and go to hop over the fence, as I speed past the grey car packed in the far left between the house and back of the garage garage -wait grey car parked next to the garage?
Great.
I dig my heels in the ground as I slip onto my ass pushing back up onto my feet unlocking the car.
"HA. YES." I scream as I open the door thrusting the key into the ignition.
The road is a few feet away from me and I'll have to go through security but who cares!
The car roars to life and I am off. I sled past the acres and acres of land that I barely got to see while I was here. The sky is a beautiful blue but as beautiful as it is it does not symbolize anything that I have been through or what I'm going through now. Damian should be coming after me in a few minutes and I honestly don't know what my plan is.
I gas it past the security clarence, taking out the steel gate that separates the villa from the rest of California. I look in the rear view mirror to see if I'm being followed and to my surprise I am not.
I stop at a red light to gather my thoughts and also fix myself up a little. I am a mess mentally and physically.
"It's okay. We're fine." I say into reflection on the side of the car. I feel my cheek and wipe under my eyes.
"We're gonna be okay."
Moments later I pull into Caroline's drive way, but her car isn't parked outside.
Maybe she's in school?
What time is it? What day is it?
I turn off the engine and sit for a second calming my heart beat. If Caroline or anyone sees I'm all worked up they'll call the police and ask me how I'm feeling and I don't want that right now.
I rip off my Jean jacket so that I'm just wearing my light blue tank top and jeans. I take my hair out of its pony tail and rough my hair up a bit. I take a look in the rear view mirror and lock my lips.
"I've seen better. But it'll do." I smile at myself admiring my dark brown hair and brown eyes. Just then my mother is sitting beside me.
"You're so beautiful. Ya know I always wished you would put your beauty toward something and compete in pageants." She coos as she takes my head in her hands smoothing down my wild mane.
"Yeah because everyone would've wanted a fat, weak beast to win one of those awards." I whisper back.
"Don't say that. You're beautiful and have always been. And never and I mean EVER let anyone call you weak. You are strong and intelligent. Never let anyone take that away from you." She kisses the tip of my nose as a tear escapes down my face.
"But I'm not mom. I need you." I whisper and grip her hands.
"But you don't.." She whispers back and I open my eyes to look at her once again but just as she came, she went.
I sit looking into the back seat where she was a few seconds ago and cry.
We have to move.
My body numbingly opens the car door and I step out. When my foot hits the pavement I take a deep breath and pull the rest of my body out of the car.
I'm safe. I know it.
Ascending the concrete stairs, I prepare myself for the brief encounter that I'm about to face.
My foot barely touches the last step as the door swings open.
I lock eyes with a teenage girl with blonde hair.
"Can I help you?" She says. Her small figure covered in a beautiful summery dress. The kind that would roll around a field in.
"Um hi, I'm looking for Caroline. She does live here right? 2727 Fredrick street?" I ask as I glance around.
"Caroline isn't here." Short and to the point. She goes to shut the door scrolling through her phone and I shove my foot into the doorway.
"Hey-" She pushes on the door but I won't let it close.
"Hoo hoo still here! Do you know when she will be back? This is important" I yell gripping onto the door from the outside.
"WHAT NO GET OFF YOU PSYCHO,"
"RACHEL?" A voice booms behind me. I know that voice. Quite frankly I wasn't ready to see him yet.
I let go of the door turning to throw myself into his arms.
"Holden." I whisper into his shirt. God he always smells good.
"Oh my god. I can't believe you're here. You're alive." He squeezes me tight against his chest breathing in my scent taking small breaths. He leans back staring into my eyes and takes my face into his hands. As if Im not real.
"I thought you were dead." He whispers.
"I'm here. I'm okay. Where is Caroline? I need to y'all to her. Is she okay?" A tear escapes and I don't even acknowledge it.
"She-she's fine. Come inside. Oh my ghod." He pulls into the house. The blonde long gone. Must be Caroline's little sister. She only spoke about her once.
Once inside I close the door and lock it. Shouldn't be long before Damian appears locked and loaded.
"Holden where is Caroline? I need to speak to her" I plead. I can't stay here. I can't risk anyone else getting hurt.
"I don't know." He says scratching his head.
"What do you mean you don't know. How don't you know. Whe-"
"I DONT KNOW OKAY?" I stand appalled and quite frankly surprised. He's never yelled at me before.
"Look I'm sorry. I. I just don't understand. First your place is on the news, in flames might I add and hen you disappear into thin air, and you show up demanding answers from me? Have you any idea how crazy we've both went looking for you?!" What the hell? Why am I getting yelled at right now and who is this guy because this is not the same Holden I met a while ago.
"Look" I scream cutting him off. " I don't have time for this. And I know it's a lot to take in right now, but yelling at each other will get us nowhere. Now I can't explain what the hell is going on because I don't know myself. All I know is is two weeks ago my life was completely normal and now it isn't. My mother is dead, my father is gone, and some Russian guy is trying to kill me. SO CUT ME SOME SLACK." I breathe deeply finally taking the breathe I don't realize I'd been holding.
He just looks at me with confusion and putty and hurt. I roll my eyes and walk over to him wrapping my arms around sow waist.
"I'm scared." I whisper.
He takes a deep breath and brings his arms around my waist. Then he picks me up and sits me on the counter so that I'm almost eye to eye with him.
"It's gonna be okay. We're gonna get through this, but first you have to tell me what happened." He takes my face in his ands again and I place my hands over his taking them off.
"I told you. Some Russian guy and his gang or group or whatever is trying to kill me. I met this guy-"
"Guy? What guy? Is this why you've been acting weird lately?"
"What? No you're not listening to me."
Before I can get anything else out the front door swings open. I jump back ready to run or fight or what ever.
Holden stands, his hands balled into a fist. I stretch my legs to see who it could be, but no one is there.
"Relax." He turns his top half to look at me while I crouch behind the kitchen counter.
"It's probably just the wind or something-" Bullets come flying in faster than the speed of light and like the snap of a finger; slow motion. A bullet flies straight through Holden's shoulder and my mouth flies open. He falls to the floor, blood gushing out of his mouth. I rush over to him with a kitchen towel in my hands and quickly press it on his shoulder. He winces and cries out in pain.
"No. Not again. Breathe. Please breathe" He coughs and pushes me pack.
"GO. GO."
"I'm not, I'm not leaving you here." I cry.
He digs in his pocket. The shooting has stopped. He pushes his phone into my hands.
"Take it and go. I'm fine. I promise. Please just go. Find Caroline and get out."
"Get out of what." I take his hands into my face.
"Look in the cabinet next to the stove and take the car keys. The car is in the shed. You won't miss it. Find Caroline. Take Grace and get out." He continues to ramble on.
"Holden you aren't making sense-"
"JUST DO IT," Just then I hear footsteps. We both freeze and he looks at me signaling to get the cast iron off the stove.
I nod and do as I'm told.
I slide across the floor and ease my hand up to get the cast iron turning to hut someone but halt once I get to my feet. It's the girl with the blonde hair. She's clutching a bat in her hands shaking. I breathe out a breath of relief.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? WHERE IS HOLDEN." She rushes over to me and sees Holden on the floor.
"HOLDEN." She rushes to his side as he pushes his self up and leans against the counter.
"Gracie I'm alright. I'm okay go with her. She'll keep you safe."
"But why? What's going on who is she?" She cries. He takes her face into his hands like he did me, calming her down.
"She'll explain it to you." A man appears in the front door holding a gun and I crouch down as fast as lightening shushing them both.
"We need to go. Do not make a peep or he will shoot." I whisper with my hand firmly pressed against her mouth. She whimpers blinking out tears nodding in response. I look at Holden and he nods for us to go.
I slide back over to the stove and slide the cabinet drawer open. I feel for the key and when my hand is on it I hear a gun click right behind me.
"Get up." The man sneers. His accent thick.
I grip the cast iron in my hand and swing it back hitting him in the face.
Blondie, who I'm assuming names is Grace let's a out a squeal, covering her mouth. I kick him to make sure he's unconscious. He doesn't move. I get one more good look at him and grab Grace.
I apply more pressure to Holden, one last time.
"Go." He grabs my wrist.
"Take care of her."
"What are you gonna do? Come with us" I whisper.
Grace shivers between the both of us.
He lets out a deep breath and eyes the man on the floor.
"Take his gun. I'll catch up with you. I promise."
I punch his other shoulder and he winces in pain.
"You better." I rub my nose against his neck and breathe out.
He chuckles as I turn to get the gun from beside the unconscious Italian and pull Grace behind me. I check out the kitchen door to make sure the coast is clear and head out.
"Where is the shed?" I whisper.
She takes my hand and pulls me towards the back of the house.
Centuries pass as we run beside the house. As each second passes I imagine us both getting shot down.
We finally reach the shed and it's locked. There's a giant chain and everything.
"What the hell?!"
"Crap the key is inside. What are we gonna do." She whispers looking behind us.
I look around for anything to break the chain and find a pair of hedge clippers laying against the house.
"Watch guard." I order.
"Okay." She whispers and looks around the house. I tuck the gun in my jeans under my shirt like they do in the movies and grip the hedge clippers.
Seconds later the chain falls and we're in. I walk around taking in all the dust.
A small convertible sits patiently under a charcoaled color sheet and I rip it off. An old tatttered clever stares back at me and I grimace.
"This is supposed to get us to safety." I turn asking Grace." This car has to be older than my parents.
"I don't know," She whines. She runs over to the guard and I unlock the doors.
"Seatbelt." I say once we're settled in and turn on the engine.
"Seriously as if that's important right now go!" She screams and I mentally roll my eyes as I start the car.
Teenagers.
I pull out slowly.
We can't go past the front of the house.
I look at my surroundings to think of a good exit.
"What are you doing woman go!"
"SHUT UP IM THINKING."
If I go straight we will get shot at. If I He left or right I'll smash the fence running through several houses or Caroline's house.
Without a second throught I step in the gas a drift to the left smashing the fence.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?"
"Hey these houses don't have pools do they? Just a thought" I yell as I ram into another fence. Grace screams the whole way until we reach the last house.
"Yea I can see where this might look bad."
I look at her and smile but she continues to scream as we hit the main road.
"AT LEAST I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE." I glance back to see if anyone is following us as we head toward the highway.
"Who are you?" Grace screams.
I don't say anything as I'm forced to stop at a red light.
"Listen to me! This isn't a game."
"I know. A man just held a gun to the back of your head. Who was that?!"
"I don't know! But what I do know is that they're trying to kill me and as long as you're with me you're in danger too. And also where is your sister?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her in a few days."
"What? Where did she go? Your parents didn't notice?"
"Of course they noticed, but she's 18. What are they going to say?"
"You say this like its normal. What did she say when she left?"
"I. I don't know. Stop questioning me I can't think. I almost died. You almost died. Oh my god we're going to die." She panics.
I roll my eyes checking our surroundings as she rambles on about death.
"Enough! Just stop! We're not going to die . We just need to hide out for a while. To think. I don't know."
"What do you mean. You're only a year or two older than me. You're going to get us killed!"
"I SAID ENOUGH." I slam my hand hard on the breaks sounding he horn.
"AARE YOU CRAZY-" I point the gun at her temple cutting her off.
"I said enough." Her hands fly in the air as she looks at me in fear.
"Now I know you're scared and you probably don't trust me, but listen to me when I tell you this. I don't know care. But damnit your sister means the world to me and if I don't find her. I just might shoot the both of us. Now talk."
In seconds she breaks down into sobs. Regret washes over me as cars race past us on the side of the hide way.
She's just a kid. She just witnessed her cousin get shot. Her emotions are all over the place.
You of all people should know where she's coming from."
"I. I. Don't know. I. I just want to to to to go h-home." She cries. I put the gun down and take her into my arms. Cars honk in back of us and I know I should go but I can't help that I just broke this girls heart.
"I know. I know sweetie and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but I can't help you if you don't tell me something. Anything." I rub her back in circles and try to shush her. I even rock her back and forth like my mom used to do me.
"It's okay." I whisper.
"We have to get off the side of the road. Okay." I let her go but keep my hand in hers as she whiles her tears.
A few minutes pass as we drive past farmland.
"Crockland County." Grace whispers, hiccuping from crying so hard.
"What sweetie?"
"Crockland County. Whenever Caroline gets stressed about something like a break up or school she usually goes there." She turns to look at me with hope in her eyes.
"Are you sure?" She doesn't speak. She just nods.
"Where is it? How do we get there?"
"Follow 84. It should lead us right there."
"Ugh this car doesn't have gps. Where is 84. Are we even on it?"
"I don't know," she cries.
"It's okay." I squeeze her hand.
"Do you have your phone?" I ask with hope.
"No. I. I dropped it when I heard the-" She stops.
"Great. Okay. Do you know the way?"
"Kinda. Not really. I've never seen this part of California before. We take another way."
"We'll have to get directions." I notice a rest stop is 30 miles away. We have a half a tank of gas. We should make it.
Minutes pass and we finally reach the rest stop. I park the car and turn to Grace.
"Stay here. If I'm not back in five minutes get to a phone and call someone."
"Who?"
"Anyone. Do not fight me on it." I turn to get out the car adjusting my clothes. I head toward the cashier last the snack section. I turn back to look at which pump I parked on and take in the big five. I also check to make sure Grace hasn't gone crazy.
"20 on 5 please." The man behind the counter smirks at me as I slide the 20 across the counter.
"You're mighty pretty if I might add. Travelin somewhere?"
"No. Thanks." I turn to get a map from next to him.
I pick it up and go to open it when a clammy hand grabs my wrist.
"Off."
"Five dollars." I throw the 20 across the counter giving him a strong don't fuck with me look.
He rushes to get my change and I snatch it from him.
"H-have a nice day."
I grip the map and turn to back to the snack section. I take a bag of chips and turn back to look at him.
"I-it's on the house." Good.
I walk out scanning the map.
"Junesville?"
I fill up the tank and get back in the car.
"Is everything alright?" Grace asks. I envy her innocence. I hand her the chips and start the car, pulling out the rest stop
Part of me wishes I would have called Damian while I was at that rest stop, but I didn't.
"Everything's fine." I hand her the map and turn to adjust the radio.
" I need you to tell me where to go. I have no idea where I'm going and quite frankly I'd prefer not to get lost in the country side."
" It says on the map that we have to exit on 32." I look at the signs on the road and we're at 21.
"Okay. 32."
I adjust the nob on the radio and smooth jazz quickly fills the car. I turn the nob again and a radio talk host is going on about a shooting.
"Yes. Police say that the woman was 5'5 Caucasian woman with brown hair. She apparently left the house after guns went off and smashed a car through several backwards. If you ask me she sounds crazy. This is Kelly-"
I turn the radio off with a flick.
"Unbelievable. I'm the bad guy."
"Rachel. What are we gonna do? What if the bad guys get the details of our car and they come after us. "
"I don't know." I say taking a deep breath. I feel like I can't breathe. If Damian was here he'd know what to do, what to say, but oh I can't think about that right now because if I freak out then the child sitting next to me will freak out and then we'll both be no good.
I glance around. There's land for miles and miles all around us.
"We need a phone. Search the car. The glove department, everywhere until we find one."
Grace rips open the glove department and moves papers around moving her arm back and forth.
"Nothing." She unclicks her seatbelt and looks in the back seat, under the chair.
I notice 32 is coming up at the next exit.
"Grace, Grace 32 is coming up where do we go." She doesn't answer. I take the exit.
"GRACE."
"I FOUND ONE."
"Okay great. I'm driving remember. Where do I go?"
Grace hops back into the front seat grabbing the map.
"Uh uh go into the right lane and make a right up here. Then keep straight"
I follow suit as she checks the cellphone.
"Let me see that." She hands it over. The thing is covered in dust. Its an old Lg flip phone.
I flip it open and hit the power button. Surprisingly it turns out.
"Woah." I whisper. A red low battery pops up.
"Oh no. Find a charger." I scream trying to keep my eyes on the road. Please don't die. Please.
Hours pass. The sun is going down and the phone is connected to a charger. Grace is fast asleep with her head against the window.
"Stop being a child and just call him." I whisper. I've been having this argument with myself ever since the first rest stop two hours ago.
"Ugh. Okay. Fine. Okay. Just do it-I cut myself off and dial his number. Surprised I know it by heart.
"CIAO" He yells in Italian. I flinch debating on if I should speak.
Taking a deep breath I swallow the lump in my throat.
"It's me." I bite my lip and turn to look at Grace. Gosh I wish I was her right now.
"Where are you? You invaded my space, knocked out one of my men and stole one of my vehicles. Are you crazy? After everything I've done for you." Okay first of all it wasn't his car.
"Okay first of all it wasn't your car!" Grace stirs in her sleep and her breathing quickens again.
Crap. I rub her head to soothe her back to sleep.
"Just listen okay."I whisper.
"I will not and why are you whispering? Ugh are you in trouble? Where are you I'm coming to get you-"
"No just listen. I don't know where I am."
"You don't know?"
"No." I seethe. Gaaah doesn't he understand English?
"Im in the middle of nowhere. I'm taking Grace to her sister Caroline.-"
"Who is Caroline?"
"The blonde that was at my house the night before the explosion? She's in danger and I can feel it. I went to her house and there was a shoot out and her cousin was shot and there was a gun to my head and I had to break into a shed to take a car and then me and Grace had to ram through like ten gates to get to safety and then I had to calm her down and now I, I don't know where I am I'm on a highway and there's trees for miles and miles and-
"Bambino breathe." I don't know what that means but I finally take a breath and not a regular I'm okay breath, an actual breath. The only real breath that only he can make me take. We hate him this isn't about us.
"What do you mean there was a shout-out? Where are you. Give me your location."
"These men came. I didn't know if they were yours or someone else's," I sniff " and there aren't any signs I can see from where I'm sitting just road-oh wait the map." I whisper as I turn to Grace to get the map.
"Map?-" he murmurs. I take the phone away from my ear to look for the road that we're on.
"I'm in Arizona. Some place called Pineberry?"
"Pineberry? Why are you in Arizona? And what car are you in? You said you switched cars? Where are you going? And who is this Grace?!"
"I'm going to find Caroline!"
"No. Pull over at a motel and wait for me to get to you. Don't go searching for something that may not be there when you get there. You've done enough."
"No. I have to keep going. I'm only a few hours away. "
"I SAID NO. YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED-" I hear rustling on the other like he's moving around or something.
"Look I didn't call to have a screaming with you I called because even though I'm super pissed at you I don't know what the hell is going on!."
The line goes quiet for a few seconds as I take a deep breath wiping my tears. Even miles apart he still makes me want to rip my head off.
A door slams on the other line making me jump and Damian takes a breath cursing under his breath.
"Alright...I'm only going to say this once so listen up. Get off the main road and ditch the car. Lay low. You're a few hours from Crockland and the men that gunned you down are following you. And no they were not my men. If I wanted you I would've came and got you myself...." he clears his throat in the last part and continues.
"Get off 84 and drive through the valley. Go to this location and give them my name." He mumbles the location and I save in the phone.
"Thanks." I whisper and look over to Grace one more time.
"I'll be there in the morning. Don't do anything crazy and take care of the kid." The anger has left his voice. I look over as the sun lowers behind the mountains.
"Okay." I say and he hangs up. A pinge shoots through my heart.
He could have at least said goodbye. Or gave me an explanation for what happened this morning.
"Who was that?" I flinch. Gosh I thought she was asleep.
"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you up." I say as I wipe a tear away.
"Are you okay? Is he gonna save us? Has he heard from my parents?"
"I'm fine and no. Sorry." Her back sinks into the seat.
"Can I at-least call them. What if they're dead?"
"Not yet. We're a few hours away. When we get off the highway and get near a pay phone then I'll let you call. For now we can't take any chances"
"O-okay." She nods. No argument.
And just like the silence is back.
"Hey Dk you know Caroline's number by any chance?"
"Uh yeah"
"Call her. I have to know she's safe."
I give her the phone and she dials the number.
"Voicemail."
"Try again."
Caroline where are you? Please. I need you.