Chapter 85: Chapter Eighty Five

*Gabriela*

I wake up with a jerk sensing something was happening. It was dark in the room as my heart pounded against my chest afraid that Dario was in the room with me like he was the night he took me from the ranch. Tensing, I wait for my eyes to adjust to with the moonlight streaming through the curtains to see that I was completely alone. Giving out a deep breath of relief I slowly sit up and listen carefully.

Something woke me and I wasn’t getting what it could have been. Was it because I was always on my guard since the attack on my person? Maybe I developed a trauma sense with all this kidnapping and forcing me against my will. I didn’t know but I didn’t like the feeling. I wanted Enzo here with me. Slowly getting out of bed I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get any sleep for the next hour or so. Especially when the nausea hit.

Now that I know I’m pregnant it unfortunately didn’t lessen the outcome at all. If anything the vomiting seemed to have gotten worse. Probably because I was forcing myself to eat the meals giving to me whether I wanted it or not. I needed to make sure this child grows healthy and strong. I still had no idea how I was going to hide it from Dario, but I was hoping Enzo would find me soon.

There it was!

A commotion downstairs.

I stop pacing and listen intently. Muffled voices, scattering feet. I look to the grandfather clock to see it was three in the morning. What were they all doing this late into the night? My entire body tenses when I hear my door unclick, thinking the worst was about to come only to see Tabitha slip in through quietly. She rushes over to me as she says in a hushed whisper,

“Quickly, this is our chance to get the hell out of here!”

I watch in dumbfounded shock as she rushes to my closet and starts pulling clothes out. “Here, wear this. It’s cold out tonight. If we leave now we’ll be able to escape unseen.”

“What’s going on?” I ask, walking up to her just as she shoves a shirt, a pair of jeans and some shoes into my arms.

“I’m not sure. I was asleep when some of Dario’s men started shouting and rushing out of the house. Something has happened. But while they’re all distracted and focused on whatever it is, this will be the only chance we have to leave this place behind and disappear.”

I frown at her words. “Who are you?”

She stops when she grabbed one of the traveling bags that was completely new and unused, shoving even more random clothes in it. Her face becomes downcast, then hard before looking at me.

“We don’t have time for this. We’re wasting it as it is. Here, this will have to do for now. We’ll buy things on the way. I’ve been stashing cash for years without any of them knowing.” She then shoves the bag at me as she rushes back to the door and peers out.

I quickly dress and zip up the bag looking around for anything I may need. But none of this stuff was mine so held no sentimental value for me. If anything, I didn’t want to take a single thing that would remind me of this place or of Dario. So after dressing at the fastest speed I have ever dressed I swing the strap over my head and shoulder and come to stand by the young girl, who was still looking out the doorway.

“Ready.” I whisper.

She nods and beckons me to follow her. The only time I have ever left this room was the first night at the dinner party Dario forced me to go to. At the time I didn’t bother looking around at the place other than to see how many guards were stationed and maybe a possible loophole for escape. Now there was no one and I still didn’t bother to check the place out as it was dark, and I just wanted to get the hell out of here.

We quietly rush down the stairs before she holds out her arm in front of me to stop. She peers both ways of the hallway. The house was big, more than just mansion size so even if I did find a way to escape on my own I would be severely lost without Tabitha guiding me. When the coast was clear she waves me to follow her to the left.

More yelling and movement was faintly heard somewhere in the home. I couldn’t tell which way it was coming from since there were too many rooms. When she opens a giant thick wooden door that I knew didn’t leave to the outside she turns to me and whispers,

“I have to grab something first.”

I follow her in just to see it was a large study that had a small fire in the hearth that was already burning out. But there was no one inside. Maybe there had been before the commotion, of whatever it is, happened. I watch her race to the fireplace where a large wooden vintage grandmother clock that looked so old that it was most likely priceless. She carefully turns it around, grunting from how heavy it was, showing the back.

She then opens a hidden compartment and takes something out. Placing the entire thing back into order as if it was never touched she comes back over to me and grabs my hand. Pulling me back out of the room I couldn’t help wondering who she really was. There was no way a simple maid for hire knew the secrets of the Moretti’s hidden stash, right? She did say she has been saving money for years without them knowing, but what did that even mean?

I don’t voice out my curiosity just yet, however. I wanted to make sure I was well away from this place and these people before I allow myself to relax and let my guard down. We pass another room that held its doors wide open as if whoever had been inside rushed out in a hurry. I could see it was some kind of lounge that had been definitely used moments before. The big glass windows facing the front yard and the curtains thrown wide open caused me to pause as I see dozens of men running and yelling outside as they got into cars while loading guns. The sensor lights were on full blast basically showing everything.

My eyes widen wondering what had happened for all them to act this way when Tabitha snatches my arm and pulls me to keep going. “Come on! We don’t have time for this!” She hisses urgently.

Just as we get to the kitchen area she immediately stops and pulls me down into a crouch, listening to a few men inside.

“God damn those bastards attacking the boss like that!”

“I told you he needed more men with him. The plan didn’t fucking work like I knew it would. It’s the Giordano’s for fucks sake!”

“Is the boss hurt? The police are already on their way to the docks. Explosions were seen miles away. Do we know if he’s still alive?”

My heart pounds loudly in my ears as I listen to their conversation. Dario was attacked by Enzo and their men? The docks? Was that where they held Domenico? Did his trap for them not work after all? I couldn’t help the excitement and hope spear through me at the prospect. But it was too early to celebrate. There may be a chance for things to go wrong still.

“Damn, their blocking the exit.” Tabitha whispers with disappointment.

“What are you still doing here?!” A woman’s screech pierced through the house making us both jump.

I noticed how the girl stiffens from the sound and goes instantly still. Dario’s mother comes rushing in the kitchen from another doorway looking frantic and scared. She was barely dressed, and I wondered if she was here then where was her husband? Tabitha, who was in front of me, shrinks back cursing under her breath. We watch as the woman comes rushing forward yelling at the men still loitering around.

“Don’t just stand there yacking! My son needs you! Get your asses out there and do what you were all hired to do!”

They all hurriedly leave the way she had come through with her on their heels still racking up a storm. Tabitha took the chance to dash in and look down the other hallway. Turning back to me she waves me over nodding her head towards the back door that was on the other side of the room. I follow her into the night as we creep through the backyard where no one was present since they all headed to the front yard getting ready to leave. I couldn’t help looking up to the house wondering what room I had been in, but it didn’t matter because I was planning to never come back to this place ever again.

“Through here.” She whispers, going through a tall hedge that braced against a brick wall that was surrounding the back part of the house.

I watch her disappear and couldn’t see a single thing as moonlight at this point was our only source. I hear a rustling, looking around every now and then afraid someone was going to see me. Then her head pokes out and she reaches for my hand again. I don’t hesitate to dive right in. Once through there was a small hole where she had removed loose bricks from the wall, and I could tell she must have made this over time.

Again the desire to know who she was overwhelms me. As soon as we get out on the other side I see we were faced with trees that were spread out onto flat land. I watch her as she heads inside that mini forest with me having no choice but to follow. She grabs something from behind a tree and I realize it was a duffle bag of her own.

She then gives me a big smile. “Freedom at last. There’s a boat waiting for us. It’ll take us to the next port, and we’ll figure where to head from there.”

“Who are you really, Tabitha?” I needed to know.

Giving me a somber look she states, “My name isn’t really Tabitha. Its Gia, Gia Moretti. I’m Dairo’s little sister.”