Chapter 39 Revelation
I thought driving out of the mansion would end the chaos but it followed us. Two other cars were driving behind us and many more were beside us trying to budge the car down as they kept shooting the car but thankfully, it's bulletproof.
My head was on Carlos’s lap as the men behind kept on with the firing.
"Make sure they stop following us. I can’t let them get to her," Carlos said, panicking, obviously talking about me.
"I’ll try." The man in front said as he shot at them and then pulled back
Carlos scoffed "Don’t just try. Put in your all. You know how important this is."
He nodded.
The driver increased his speed but it felt like no matter how fast he drove, the men chasing us would catch up anyway.
The sound of gunfire and the restless motion of the car was so loud that my ears could not take it. I pressed my hands against them, desperate to block it all out. Carlos must have noticed because he quickly tugged my hand away and asked, "You good?"
"Yeah," I said quietly
"It’s going to be over soon. I promise you." He said. But deep down I could tell it would only get worse. Those people clearly did not care how many others they hurt. They just want to get to me.
But why me? I don’t even know any of them. Why would they want to hurt me? What is it about me that makes them want me?
I’ve been thinking about it over and over again but it wasn’t making any sense to me. If anything, Carlos should be their target, after all, he’s way more important and powerful than I.
I closed my eyes, hoping to tug away all those thoughts from my head as I hoped it will all be fine. My eyelids were heavy with tears, and my heart was racing faster than ever.
Every part of me felt like it was breaking. I could not take it anymore. I just want it to be over.
After what felt like forever, Carlos tapped me. "It’s over. We’re safe now."
"Really?" I asked, wanting to be sure before I raised my head.
He nodded. "Yeah, it’s over."
I slowly lifted my head, needing to see it for myself. Once I saw that there were no cars following us, no gunfire, no signs of danger, my heart finally sank in relief. Even though the car looked like a mess, I knew I was safe.. at least.
"Who were they?" I asked turning my attention to Carlos.
He hesitated for a moment before responding. "If I tell you, would you believe me?"
I nodded. "Yes, just tell me who they were," I said, my voice rising in panic.
"They are the same people I told you about. I told you they would come for you, but you didn’t listen."
"Ohh." I sighed heartily "I thought you were messing around."
"Why would I mess around like that?" He scoffed. "They are the reason I kept you away from everyone. They are the reason I’m doing everything I can to make sure you can defend yourself," He said, his voice rising slightly. "You have no idea what they could have done to you if they got you, Nala."
His words scared me but I knew they were true. I’ve seen the way they are, I’ve seen how they carelessly kill people without a second thought and I can’t imagine my fate in their hands. "I’m sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" He asked, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"For this… all of this," I said quietly. For some reason, I felt really bad. It’s all my fault that Carlos is going through this and my fault that many people died
"It’s fine. I chose this for myself. I want to protect you, so this is nothing to me," He said "I will do more than this as long as you’re protected."
Even though his words sounded sincere, I could not help but wonder why.
"Why?" I asked
Carlos went silent for a moment before he finally spoke "Because you are very valuable Nala…. very valuable."
"What does that mean?" I asked, confused. He didn’t say a thing but kept staring at me. I knew he wouldn’t respond so I asked "Just tell me who were those people, Carlos?"
"They are dangerous people. That is all you need to know."
"No, I want to know everything. Who are they and why are they after me?" I insisted, my voice rising
"They are members of a mafia gang. Just like I have my people, they have their own boss.. a very dangerous one."
"Menendez?" I asked quietly.
He scoffed. "It seems like you went through my things too good."
"Yes, but I also saw him there. He was part of them."
Carlos nodded. "He’s not part of them. He IS them." He said, "He’s the bastard that wants to take you away from me."
"Why?" I asked quietly
"Since you’ve checked the files and already have a hint of it, I guess there is no point hiding it anymore," He said as he took a moment before adding "You are Erica Menendez."
Even though I had already suspected it, somehow my heart stopped. "What?"
He nodded. "Yes, you are her. And that man is your father," He said casually, as if it meant nothing.
"I… umm… I…" I stammered as images of his face blurred through my mind.
I had thought of this but still, it’s really hard to process. It felt like someone had just took away everything I ever knew and replaced it with something else.
"I know it is a lot to take in, but it is true." He said, "I never wanted to tell you this but I guess he left me no choice."
"But…" I started, my heart racing "It doesn’t make any sense. Why would my father want to hurt me? Why would he do this?"
Carlos sighed softly. "It is a long story. I know you won’t believe my words so I’ll show it to you…. Everything."