45

45
Emilia’s POV
The mall was busy for a weekday morning, but I had promised myself a little bit of shopping. I needed a distraction-something to clear my head and make me feel a tad bit normal. I’d finally received my first paycheck as Francesca’s nanny, and while it wasn’t a lot, it was mine. I felt a strange sense of pride as I held the crisp bills in my wallet, like I had achieved something tangible on my own.
I pushed open the glass doors of the mall and stepped inside, the cool blast of air conditioning a welcome relief from the heat outside. It felt good to be out here, on my own, away from the constant watchful eyes in Alaric’s mansion. I loved Francesca, but there was something freeing about moving through a crowd anonymously, blending in with the regular people going about their everyday lives.
I headed straight for the clothing section of my favorite store, losing myself among racks of jeans and dresses. It had been a while since I’d shopped for myself without feeling guilty, but today was different. Today, I felt like I’d earned this.
After picking out a soft knit sweater and a pair of jeans, I made my way to the checkout, smiling as the cashier rang up my items. It was such a small thing-buying a new outfit-but it felt like a victory.
“Have a great day!” the cashier chirped as she handed me the bag.
“You too,” I replied, grinning as I tucked the receipt into my purse. I headed back toward the mall exit, already thinking about the coffee I’d treat myself to next.
As I stepped outside, the sun was brighter than I expected. I blinked against the glare, digging through my purse for my sunglasses. I was distracted, not paying full attention to where I was going as I started to cross the parking lot.
A sudden, loud honk cut through the air. I froze, looking up just in time to see a black car barreling toward me, the tires screeching against the asphalt. My heart lurched into my throat, and for a split second, I couldn’t move. It was like my feet were glued to the spot.
“Hey! Watch out!” Someone yelled, but it was drowned out by the sound of the car’s horn blaring again. My body finally responded, and I jumped back, stumbling over my own feet and landing hard on the pavement.
The car swerved, missing me by inches. It sped off without stopping, disappearing around the corner as if nothing had happened. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath, the adrenaline pounding through my veins.
“Are you okay?” A woman rushed over, her face etched with concern. She reached down to help me up, her grip firm and steady.
“Yeah, I think so,” I managed, still shaken. I looked down at my scraped palms, tiny bits of gravel embedded in the skin. “I didn’t see it coming.”
“That driver was crazy!” the woman exclaimed, glancing in the direction the car had gone. “They didn’t even slow down!”
I nodded, feeling a mixture of shock and anger boiling inside me. “Thanks for helping me,” I said, brushing myself off. My knees stung, but it was nothing serious-just a scrape and a bruise.
“Be careful,” she said, giving me a sympathetic smile before walking away.
I stood there for a moment, trying to steady my breathing. It all happened so fast. One second, I was thinking about coffee, and the next, I was almost roadkill. The realization of how close it had been made my legs feel weak. I bent down to pick up my shopping bag, which had slipped from my hand when I fell.
The bag was torn, and the sweater I’d just bought was now dusted with dirt. I sighed, shaking it out as best I could. What a mess. I glanced around the parking lot, still half-expecting the car to reappear, but it was gone.
I made my way to a nearby bench, sinking down onto the metal slats. My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone, needing a moment to just breathe. I considered calling Matteo, but I didn’t want to worry him. He’d probably drop everything and rush over here, and the last thing I needed was for him to see me like this-scared and rattled.
Instead, I opened a message thread with Rosa.
Me: You won’t believe what just happened. Almost got hit by a car at the mall.
Her reply was almost immediate.
Rosa: WHAT?! Are you okay??
I typed back quickly, not wanting her to panic.
Me: I’m fine. Just a little scraped up. But the driver didn’t even stop. It was like they didn’t care at all.
Rosa: That’s insane! People are so reckless these days. I’m glad you’re okay, but damn, Em. That’s terrifying.
I bit my lip, looking down at the tiny cuts on my palms. It was more than terrifying-it felt intentional. I’d seen the driver’s face, just for a split second. It wasn’t an expression of panic or surprise. It was cold, calculated. Like they knew exactly what they were doing.
Me: Yeah, it was. I don’t know. It just felt weird.
Rosa: Weird how?
Me: I don’t know how to explain it. Just… off. Like they didn’t care at all.
There was a pause before Rosa replied.
Rosa: Maybe it’s just adrenaline messing with your head. But please be careful, okay? The city’s a different place than what we’re used to.
Me: I will. I promise.
I tucked my phone back into my bag, taking a deep breath. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to it.
Pushing myself up from the bench, I brushed the dirt from my jeans and started walking toward the coffee shop on the corner. I needed something to calm my nerves, something sweet and warm to help me forget the way my heart was still pounding.
The line at the cafe was short, and within minutes I was holding a cup of my favorite caramel latte. I took a sip, letting the familiar taste wash over me. It helped, a little. I leaned against the counter, staring out the window.
I couldn’t stop replaying it in my head-the way the car came out of nowhere, the sound of the horn, the look on the driver’s face. It wasn’t like I was standing in the middle of the road. I was crossing at the right place, looking both ways like I always did. It didn’t make sense.
I took another sip of my latte, trying to drown out the thoughts. Maybe it really was just a careless driver. Maybe I was overthinking it.
But deep down, a nagging voice kept whispering that it wasn’t an accident.
Shaking off the unease, I straightened up and walked out of the cafe, the bell above the door jingling behind me. I still had other things to do, and I wasn’t going to let a close call ruin my entire day. Still, I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder as I made my way back to the mall entrance, half-expecting to see that black car lurking nearby.
It wasn’t there, of course. But the unsettling feeling stayed with me long after I’d left the parking lot.