Chapter 35 Emergency Evacuation
Present Day
Sade
I waited, listening for what was happening. I could hear Zoey still complaining in the living room, and then I heard the door open and her speaking. Then there were shoes on the marble foyer, and suddenly I heard Angelo, our house manager.
“Miss. Russo, these officers have requested to speak with you.” I heard her indrawn breath.
“Officers, how may I help you?” I could hear the waver in her voice.
“Miss. Russo, you are the daughter of Derek and Suzanne Russo. Is this correct?”
She cleared her throat, “Well, he’s my father, but she’s technically my stepmother.”
“We are sorry to inform you that there has been an accident. The driver of your parents’ car was killed instantly, and both of your parents have been taken to Mercy General, they are listed as in critical condition.”
“What?” I heard the sound of soft crying, wondering at her acting skills, because we both knew she wouldn’t actually care.
Then I heard her clear her throat, “Angelo, I need a car brought round. I need to go to the hospital immediately.” I heard him agree and then leave the room.
“Thank you officers, I will go right now and be there. Do we know what the fucking hell happened? Who hit them?” She was trying to still sound distraught around the rage she was now displaying.
“It was a hit and run ma'am, there's an ongoing investigation. I’m sure the detectives responsible for the case will be contacting you with any information they have.” I just smirked, knowing they would have no information to impart.
They were here for a few more minutes speaking with Zoey, and then I heard Angelo escort them to the front door. As soon as it closed, I heard Zoey’s heels pounding on the stairs. She stopped at the door, just looking me up and down. Did she think I had been the one out driving and causing the accident?
“What did you do, Sade?” She asked with fire in her eyes.
I looked at her calmly with a blank face, which was quite usual for me, “I have no idea what you are talking about Zoey.” She looked down at Rain in my arms, and looked at me in disgust, then raced back down the stairs. Shortly after the front door slammed behind her.
I looked down and saw that Rain was awake, but just staring blankly off into space. I kissed her forehead and felt her jerk, and I frowned. Then I sat her away from me, laying her down on her side, looking away from the door. I pulled out my phone as it alerted me to an incoming message.
I pulled up the app and froze at the message showing on the screen.
“Get out, there are incoming heading for your location. 6 men, armed, mercenaries. You need to move!”
I didn’t bother to respond. I rushed to my room and threw my things into my backpack. Then I ran to Rain’s room, grabbed her, and pulled her across the bed, then I threw her over my shoulder and headed down the stairs.
A bunch of the staff had huge-eyed expressions of surprise when I rushed through to the garage with her hung over my shoulder. They could also see the guns that were strapped to me. I paid them absolutely no mind, just concentrating on getting to my SUV.
I got it unlocked, got Rain in the passenger’s seat, and got her belted in and secure. She was awake and just watching me.
“The parents and Zoey had a plan in place to sell you to traffickers. So, now that I am here with you that threw a wrench in their plans. So, they hired mercenaries to come and take me out and grab you. So, we’re leaving before they get here so I don’t have to kill them all to keep you safe, which, make no mistake, I would very much do.” She actually blinked a couple of times, no doubt attempting to assimilate this new information.
I threw my backpack into the back seat and jumped into the driver’s seat. I pushed the button to open the garage door and reversed out. Just as we turned to head to the gate, I saw a man in tactical gear with a large weapon raise it in my direction. I pushed Rain’s head down to keep her out of the line of fire and hit the gas. The bullet struck the back door behind me, and the window shattered, but we were moving, and no second shot followed. The gate was open, so I didn’t pause, just rushed through.
As we flew at high speed down the road, I watched all around, checking for pursuing vehicles. So far, none had been spotted. Of course, if those tried to reach my father to find out about pursuing her, and work out payment, they would be disappointed to find he was in the hospital. I did wonder just how badly they were both injured. I would have to follow up soon.
Now, I decided it was safe to pull out my phone. I stopped at a stop sign and typed in, “Evac complete, going to secondary location, will inform when destination reached.”
It wasn’t long till I heard the notification, I looked down briefly, “Understood” was all that was showing on the screen.
I pulled into an underground parking lot to give myself a chance to get things set up. I pulled up an app to schedule a hotel room. I made sure it was an extremely secure location. Once the room was reserved and paid for I turned and looked at Rain. So far she was looking outside away from me. Not once in all of this had she uttered one single word. Which only increased my concern about her state of mind.
“Just before we had to leave, the police came to the house and spoke to Zoey. The parents have been in an accident. Pete, the driver, died at the scene. The parents were taken to Mercy General. I will check up on their condition, just so you know. However, after knowing that they were about to try to sell you, I don’t really have any feelings about them dying. I just wanted you to be informed.” At this, she actually turned her head and looked at me.
There wasn’t a lot there, she was obviously having trouble absorbing everything. So right now her stare looked quite similar to the one I greeted in the mirror every day. I would be very happy when she snapped out of this current state, and I would rack my brain to see how I may facilitate that.
Then I left the parking garage and headed to the hotel to check in. Then I’d have to take stock and figure out the next moves.