POV: Victoria
“Is there a problem miss, is there something I could help you with, is someone after your life?” The driver asked me, looking into the rearview mirror in fear to see if we were being followed. I forced out a reassuring smile, assuring him that everything was okay with me.
He nodded in understanding, but he didn’t focus on his driving anymore. He kept gazing at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with empathy as if I were a lunatic or an addict. I tried to sit still when I noticed that he was watching me, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I could be followed by those crazy guys.
As if on cue, I received a text from Raphael the minute I got to the spot he asked me to stop. It was right next to a restaurant and I thought he would be waiting for me inside the restaurant. But Ralph is taking extra precautions today, he asks me to board another cab and drive around town for a few minutes.
I didn’t just drive, he made me stop to pick up a few things on my way. I had no idea that his car was following me as I went about like a moron. It was when I got tired of this can and decided to question him about it. That was when he revealed to me that I was being followed by a car.
“Turn around and look to your left. There is a white SUV six cars behind your cab. Do you recognize anyone in it?” he asked me curiously. I turned and strained my eyes to look inside the SUV, but I couldn’t see it properly. I could tell that there were some guys inside the SUV, but I didn’t know if they were the same guys from Kyles building and I couldn’t see them clearly to confirm.
“They have been trailing you since you left that building and…”
“Wait!
Hold on!
Are you telling me that you have been following me since I left that building a few hours ago?
But that was even before I dialed your number, how did you find me, and how did you know what was going on?” I asked him In surprise.
“How long have you been following me, do you have a tracker on me?”
“Focus, Victoria, this is not a joke, it’s very serious. Your life is in danger and you need to be focused right now!” He ordered sternly. But I couldn’t stop myself from feeling this way. I wondered how long he was going to lurk around and watch me roam around town like a lunatic. If I hadn’t called to ask for his help, would he have left me to face this problem alone?
For fucks sake my life was in danger before I even called him. He must have seen those guys threatening me and yet he did nothing about it. He must be watching closely and laughing at me for making a fool of myself. I hope he had a good laugh because that’s the last chance he would have to see me at my weakest.
“What do I need to do?” I asked him. I have no choice but to put my anger away and follow his instructions to the last detail.
“Get down at the next traffic light and cross to the other side of the road. I will be right there waiting for you.” He told me firmly.
“And don’t act suspicious when you cross the road, don’t let them know that they have been made. Keep your head down and just get into my car. It’s a black SUV, all you have to do is !” he added urgently, his voice so stern and commanding. I want to scream at him to stop yelling, I want to scream at everyone and anyone. I think I’m going crazy, I have no idea why everything and everyone annoys me so much. I just want to find my sister, like where the hell is she?
The cab slowed down at the next traffic light. The light was still red when he pulled up. I know he said I shouldn’t look back, but I couldn’t help it. I looked back and I spotted the white SUV somewhere behind us. The driver of the SUV saw me looking, but he looked away quickly, pretending not to be watching me.
I looked across the road and I spotted the black SUV across the road like he told me. So I paid the cab guy and stepped out of the car, turning to glance at the white SUV one last time before a run for the Black SUV across the road. Yeah, I know he told me otherwise, but I was too scared to just walk casually to his car.
So I ran as if my ass was on fire, I ran toward the Black SUV, ignoring the yells and the sound of car doors opening and closing behind me. I got there in record time and I opened the car door and jumped in quickly, shutting the door so furiously that it vibrated and shook the car.
“Go! Go! Go! Go!” I yelled at Raphael urgently as I panted loudly. He actually pulled out of the curb and sped down the road, taking the next turn. I turned to look behind me and I saw that the guys could not move yet because the red light was still on. Their car is still stuck in traffic and the red light is taking too long to turn yellow and I wondered if Raphael has something to do with that.
The thought of Raphael made me realize that he hadn’t said a word to me since I got into his car, he didn’t even scold me for running like a scared chicken and announcing my escape plan to my pursuers. It seems weird that he would not say a word to me after I made such a huge mistake back there. I turned around to yell at him for letting me go through so much when he could have helped. But he wasn’t the one driving the car, it was a stranger. I had no idea who it was and I panicked.
“Who the hell are you and where is my sister?!
Pull over!
Pull over right now!
Tell me what you want from me, why are you following me, what did I do to you?
I just want to find Claire, I want to find my sister, so pull over!” I yelled furious, hitting him angrily as I struggled with him and tried to force him to stop the car. But he didn’t, he just did his best to avoid my attacks and he kept driving until he finally stopped the car a few miles away from where he picked me up.
“Where is this?
Who are you?
What are we doing here?” I yelled at him, my eyes going round and round as I searched for a clue. I was going to attack him again when the door was opened from the outside, and there he was, looking like a prince in shining armor that is here to save me. I sobbed in relief and anger as he gave orders to the guy who brought me,
“Scrub every evidence off that car and wipe off its location map. I don’t want anyone tracing where any of my cars have been to, no one must find their way to any of my houses, got it?”
“Yes boss, I got it. My boys have picked up her cars already. I’ll wipe them both clean and deliver them back to you.” he responded.
“Find that sports car before Dominic gets it wiped. We need to use the GPS from the car to find his hideout. Note that he will be looking for us too, so, I would prefer if we find him first. Keep the tracker on Claire’s phone active, I want to know the minute she turns her phone on. And once it’s on, please get her exact location immediately!” He told him, sounding so serious and urgent.
My anger disappeared the moment I saw him. I got even more emotional when I heard him giving orders to his boys, acting so masculine and tough. He obviously cares and he is trying his best to get me out of this situation alive. I couldn’t hold back anymore, I threw my arms around his neck, sobbing sadly.
“This is not the time to get emotional, Claire. Get out of the car and come with me!” he lets out sternly, ignoring my tears and walking away from the SUV. I stepped own from the car and followed him, wiping my eyes as I did. He did not show any concern about my feelings, he got into the car and turned on the ignition, tapping on the horn to hurry me up.
“Get into the fucking car, Victoria!
Do you want to get killed, do you have a fucking death wish?” he yelled angrily.