*Sarah*
I couldn’t sleep all night. My mind keeps going to Lucia. I can’t believe she is still alive. Talk about being lucky. I wouldn’t have been so worried if Jason hadn’t said that he was coming to look for her himself. I can’t have Jason here, not because of Lucia. And what if he finds her? I had given up on her because I thought she was already under six feet. What if he hates me when he finds out what I have done to her?
I sat up.
No, I can’t have him here. I can’t have him look for Lucia. I switched on the lamp beside me, removed the blankets from my body, and stepped out of bed. I walked to my study. The hallway was lightened by blue light. I stopped in front of the door, opened it, and stepped into my study. I walked frantically around, my fingers on my mouth as I racked my brain, thinking of the best way to end all this.
I have to kill Lucia. But now the problem was I don’t know how much time I had. Jason had called again to remind me that he would be coming, although he didn’t know when that would be. I was still very much confused as I didn’t know what to do. I had to use all the time I had left.
I had failed to track Lucia last night, and she had gotten away. Now, I had no clue about where she was and who she was with. I have no way of reaching her. What am I going to do? I thought of different ways to reach her. To get her alone with me and finish her off. This time, I’ll make sure I end her myself. I’ll make sure she doesn’t see me the next day when I get her.
Sleep has eluded me at this point, and all that filled my mind was fear, hatred, and nervousness. An idea hit me. Get her number, threaten her until she comes meet me, and finish her off. Getting her number was no big deal as I knew someone who had access to all the numbers you could think of.
I quickly dialed his number, and he picked it up. I wasn’t surprised; Nick never slept. “What do I owe this call?” He asked, his voice hoarsed. I took in a deep breath, walking to stand in front of my floor-to-ceiling window, where I looked into the bustling City, “I need you to find someone.”
For the past few days, I have been trying to reach Lucia. I have sent her numerous messages. Blackmailing and threatening her in all the ways I knew. I have yet to get her to come meet me. I began to wonder if my message reached at all until she replied to me.
I knew getting her to meet me wouldn’t be easy, but I was desperate. I had to try. Jason would be here anytime soon. I have found the place where she works. I tried getting my men on there to get her, but it was to no avail. She was out there, but I couldn’t get her. I tried to get her while she was going home, and my men were in every corner, but they never got her, and I began to wonder if she slept there.
I was puzzled to the point where I had done some research on the club but had found little or nothing on it. I couldn’t get any info on the owner or on how the club was run.
I was still pissed. Why can’t I reach Lucia?
I drove my car back to my base. I sped past all the slowly moving cars. The sun was beginning to set. I put the window down to allow the breeze to rush into the car. I had paid another set of men to make sure they got me into the club and killed Lucia, but it was to no avail. My phone rang. It was Jason.
“How are you doing?” I asked.
“I’ll be in the country in three hours. Come pick me up,” he said. I ignored the fact that he hadn’t answered my question.
“I’m fine too. That was quick. Didn’t know you would be coming today. I would have made preparations to welcome you,” I said, trying not to show how displeased I was with the news he just shared with me.
“You don’t need to. Just come pick me up. We need to find Lucia as soon as possible. It has been long enough,” he said.
“Lucia! Lucia! Lucia, it’s always about her,” I say under my breath.
“Did you say something?” He asked.
“No. I was just wondering where we would start looking for her when you arrive.” I lied.
“We will discuss that when I get there,” he says.
“Alright, see you in a bit, Jas…” the line beeped. He had hung up before I could finish my sentence. I bit the inside of my mouth. When did he become this distant and treat me more like I didn’t exist? It has to be when Lucia came into our life and ruined our friendship.
He was my best friend and we’ve known each other for so long. But along the way I had fallen for him, like who wouldn’t? He was handsome and well-built. The type that took your heart away with just one glance.
I had liked him for so long, and I thought he liked me back.
No.
He liked me back then, but Lucia had come in and ruined everything. She took everything from me. His attention, his friendship, and his love. I was angry. He introduced her to me the same day I planned to confess my feelings to him. He told me that she was his girlfriend, and I swear the world seemed to change.
I could hardly breathe. I felt my heart break into different pieces as if the blade had no pity for me. It had cut to the self of my soul. I quickly became friends with Lucia. It was best to keep your enemies close, and she was my rival. I hated her, but I had to pretend that I loved her. Like she was the best girl I had ever met.
And she was desperate to be loved, so it was quite easy to fool her into thinking we were friends while I carefully bided my time.
Thinking about the old times made me mad. I cursed at a car in front of me. “Move that carton of yours before I crush you, you fucking bastard,” I yelled.
I stopped my car in front of my vase but didn’t come down immediately. I rested my head on the steering wheel, trying to calm the rapid emotions within me.
I was on the verge of going crazy, and I knew I had to do something about it. After I had gathered myself, I stepped out. I had just come into the house when my car exploded. I fell to the ground. Pieces of the car flew towards me. “What just happened?” I felt a rush of adrenaline rush through me. My hands and feet went cold.
I couldn’t stand up, and slowly, I turned to see my car in flames.
I had been inside that car a few seconds ago. What if… just what if I hadn’t stepped out and was still inside? Steve came running down.
“Sarah, are you alright?” I shook my head. He got me to my feet. I shook as I stood. He pulled me close to himself. He attempted to move, but I stopped him. My legs felt wobbling. I could barely feel it. I fear that I might end up on the floor if I attempt to take another step.
Steve held me to himself for some time before we walked into the house with him supporting me by my side. I had barely sat down when one of the men that were outside a while ago came running along. In his hands was a bouquet of black roses. “What is that?” I asked upon seeing him.
I have never seen black roses, never sent them and now I was going to receive them?
Even dead people get red flowers.
I had a feeling that the rose was sent by the same person who bombed my car. But who? I had no enemies that would try such. I have tried to keep a good relationship with those who were higher than me and only stepped on those I knew I had more power than them, and I was aware that none of them would dare pull this nonsense on me except if they wanted to be six feet away.
He handed me the flowers. “There is no name.” He says.
I was a bit scared to receive the flower. What if there was another bomb on it? I closed my eyes, summoning courage. I shouldn’t be this afraid. It was me, Sarah.
A white paper was attached to the flower, and I opened it.
“If you send another text, you may not get to step out,” these were the only words on the card. My hands shook.
Who the hell was this person?
Steve took the card. The man had excused us, so we were the only ones there. He read it, and for a moment, fear flashed through his eyes. “Did Lucia send this?” He asked.
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be looking this confused,” I said. I knew it was definitely from Lucia, although it may not have been directly from her. “Who else knows about the threats?” He asked.
“No one,” I answered. I couldn’t think of anyone. “Except,” “she has a person backing her up.” Steve completed.
“And I don’t think this person is to be played with,” he said. His eyes twitched. I clenched my fist. I felt helpless. This was my worst feeling.
I always felt I could do anything and I could get everything done, but this has just told me otherwise. “Any news on the owner of the club?” I asked. I was a bit calm, although fear still settled at the bottom of my stomach.
“Yes.” He pulled out his phone and showed me a photo.
“His name is Bruno,” my jaw dropped.
I have never seen a man this handsome. Sharp jaws and brown eyes perfectly matched his brown hair. Plumb lips and a tattoo peeked out from his chest as he left two buttons undone.
“He is known as the king of mafia. He is the most ruthless and respected mafia lord.” He paused. “And to think he is still very young, I just don’t know what to say about him or all the wealth he has accumulated. But what I do know is that he should not be crossed. We would not want any type of feud with a person this powerful,” he concluded.
I didn’t need him to tell me that I had no chance before him. “How did Lucia find such a powerful man? I asked, still unable to get him out of my mind.
“Who knows? Maybe she seduced him or something,” he said. “But I doubt Lucia would be able to fall for any other man. She was so much in love with Jason,” Steve said.
That reminded me to push him away from my head. No matter how handsome he was, he was an enemy. I wished Lucia would fall for him. It would be easy for Jason to forget her, and then I’ll have a chance with Jason. I spent some more time talking with Steve.
“Please take care of the car. Don’t leave any trace of it behind. Jason will be here soon, and I don’t have any sign of Bruno or Lucia.” I ordered.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Jason. Cold passed through me, and I could feel the hair in my hands standing. “I’m at the airport; where are you?” He asked, his voice sharp.
I gripped my phone tightly. “I’m almost there,” I said, picked a jacket, and walked out.