CHAPTER 69

CHAPTER 69
I ran into Carla walking out of the restroom. Her face bore none of the anger I'd expected, impassive in a way that still showed how all of this was affecting her.

“I'm really sorry about that,” I began to apologise but she shook her head.
“It doesn't matter,” she stopped me, and that scared me more than any angry outburst I'd expected. This left me with uncertainty and I hated that.
I knew that eventually those two parts of my life would collide; I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. The man I was with Carla, was very different from who I was with everyone else.

“This Gala has been a bit anticlimactic, so I think I’m gonna go home, if that’s okay with you.” She added, and I frowned at her, wondering why she phrased it like that.

“If you wanna go home, then we are going home.” I accepted, and she nodded.

I sent Luca a text, and we headed for the garage.

She was silent, and I couldn’t help but imagine how the night would have gone if Elizabeth hadn’t interfered. This was the reality, though. I could be a different person with her, but somehow, I could never outrun the past.
Carla didn’t know who I was. She didn’t know what I’d done. She’d run if she did. There could be nothing between us, yet I found myself watching her, watching the way her hip swayed, the way the dress clung to her body.

The silence continued on the drive home. This wasn’t how I expected the night to go.

“Thank you for tonight.” Carla cut through the stifling silence, and I smiled, “This is just the beginning. You were wonderful tonight. You handled your Uncle quite well.”

“I wasn’t too rude?” She frowned, and I chuckled, because it was obviously a trap.

“You were amazing. With more practice, everything will be smoother.” I trailed off, looking at Viola, who had been glancing at the rearview mirror a lot.

“Problem, Viola?” I asked, reaching to roll down the window.

“I’m not sure, but I think we are being followed.” She stated, and I clenched my jaw.

“Being followed? What the fuck?” Carla gasped in shock. “It’s alright. We are fine.” I assured her by reaching for my phone.

I called Luca and he picked up immediately. “Viola thinks we are being followed,” I said.

“So do I. Let’s wait and see. We’ll get to an intersection – ”

The rest of Luca’s words are cut off as the car right in front of us explodes, and gunshots rain down. Carla screamed as I pulled her down, covering her body with mine. Viola and Chad were yelling something, but I didn’t care. Carla was my main focus. I had to keep her safe. I needed to.

“The car is bulletproof, Carla,” I whispered, cradling her head softly, shielding her with my body.

My phone was somewhere in the car, and Luca was speaking. It was out of my reach, so Carla reached for it with trembling hands.

“What the fuck is going on, Luca?” I spat, reaching for the pistol strapped to my leg.

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out. Once the gunshots stop. I want you and Carla to drive off. Viola and Chad will get out of the car and cover you. They are obviously here for you and her. We can’t let that happen. Drive off. Go somewhere no one knows. Do you fucking understand?” He demanded, and I nodded slowly, my heart racing.

There wasn’t time to argue because the shooting stopped abruptly.

Viola turned to me and handed me her gun.

Carla was losing her mind. She was trembling with fear.

“I need you to stay down, Carla. Hold this gun. Don’t shoot, just hold it. Don’t come up. Just stay down.” I pleaded, handing her the gun.

“My – my babies. My babies, Alec.” She cried softly, terrified.

“Your babies will be fine. I promise you. We need to keep you safe first.” I explained, clenching my jaw hard. I was failing at keeping her safe.

“Ten seconds, Boss,” Chad stated, wearing the bulletproof vest. Viola had the helmet on already. They were ready.

“Five seconds.”

Carefully, I maneuvered my body so I was in the front seat.

The gunshots picked up again, providing the cover Viola and Chad needed. I wanted to be out there, side by side with Luca, fighting, but I had a job that was much more important.

“Stay down.” I reminded Carla.

“Now.”

They got out of the car, and I drove off immediately. I didn’t stop driving. I flooded it till the mechanical sound of gunshots faded in the distance. Carla stood low like I asked her, holding on to the gun with gusto. My heart was racing. My grip on the steering wheel was hard as I drove us off the highway.

It wasn’t a coincidence that we were attacked a few minutes after leaving the Gala. Elizabeth was a vindictive bitch, but this wasn’t her. This was Carla’s Uncle. He saw that she wanted her father’s throne and thought to take her out. This couldn’t go unpunished. He was going to pay for this, in blood, in flesh, in every fucking way.

We had been driving for an hour when Carla finally spoke.

“Where are we going?” She asked, sounding bruised.

“I have a place in Islas del Rosario.” I glanced at her, then said, “Come sit beside me.”

She frowned, but did as I said. Her eyes were swollen with tears. Her cheeks were raw. Her nose was scrunched. My heartstrings tugged. I felt like shit.

“I’m so sorry, Carla. I’m so fucking sorry. This wasn’t meant to happen.” I whispered, guilt choking me up, but it changed nothing because my guilt would not purify me. I’d promised to take care of her, to keep her safe, and I’d failed.

“This isn’t your fault. Is there a way I can reach Bertram? I really need to talk to him.” She sniffed, running her hands through her hair.

It wasn’t safe for her to try to talk to anyone, but I couldn’t refuse her.