Chapter 51 Ambushed
THIRD PERSON’S POV
Damian drove for a long time, stopping only once to pee. His phone had vibrated several times, but he had ignored it.
He didn't want anyone to know that heartbreak had made him do something as erratic as going on a drive without his guards, especially right now when all eyes were watching them.
After a couple of hours, Damian observed that he was running low on gas, so he made a turn at the nearest checkpoint and started driving back home.
Fifteen minutes, that was how long it had taken Damian to notice the black sedan following closely behind him.
He had observed it earlier and didn't think much of it but after three turns, the car was still on his trail. It was suspicious.
Taking control of the steering with one hand, he fumbled under the glove compartment with his other hand.
His guards always strapped a spare gun in all of his cars.
He felt the cold barrel of the gun and smiled. He pulled it out and looked up at the rear-view mirror.
The sedan still followed behind.
He examined the gun, after confirming how many bullets were in it, he cocked it and balanced his finger around the trigger, waiting.
The car behind him drew closer just as he steadied his gun, grateful that fate had sent him a scapegoat to unleash his anger on.
The black sedan drove side by side with Damian but to his surprise, its tinted windows remained rolled up.
The car sped past him.
Damian breathed in, wondering why the car owner didn't make a move because he had been quite convinced the car was following him.
He shook his head and lowered his eyes to the glove box to place the gun back where he had carried it.
A big mistake.
Before he could lift his eyes back to the road, his car was crashing into a gigantic log of wood that had been carefully placed on the road.
He tried to dodge it, but not quickly enough.
The car swerved as Damian stirred violently, trying to keep it on the road.
After his expert performance, the car finally came to a halt, and the smell of burnt tyres filled the air.
Damian got out of the car to observe the damage, but not before securing his gun in his pants.
The car didn’t take a bad hit, just the bonnet had come into contact with the tree. The tyres looked worn but they could still take him home. Good thing he was already close.
Damian looked around, hoping to see the person who planned this but he was the only one on the lonely road.
As he made to get back to his car, his eyes caught a white piece of paper tucked in between two tree branches.
He walked to it slowly, hand firmly around the gun in his back. He picked up the paper, examining it.
He finally flipped the note open and read the words scribbled in;
USE THE OTHER ROUTE, THEY ARE WAITING TO AMBUSH YOU DOWN THE ROAD.
“They?” Damian repeated out loud.
The note was not sent, meaning whoever left it behind was not playing around.
Damian pondered for a minute, he had taken this drive hoping to relieve his chest of some weight but he still carried the weight with him even as he headed back home, maybe he should ignore the warning and keep driving. Beating a few assassins would sure lighten his mood.
But then he remembered he had to make an appearance at the gala tomorrow with Serena and he couldn't show up with unexplained bruises.
So he cussed under his breath, entered the car, and turned round, choosing to follow the safer route.
As he drove off, he wondered about the black sedan. Did the sedan save him or was it the sedan that carried the assassins sent to kill him that evening?
“Damian, I’ve been trying to reach you since the afternoon,” Serena spoke into the phone.
She did a sign of the cross in relief.
“What?” She shouted.
The table quieted down, everyone pausing their meal to look up at her.
“Are you okay?” Her voice softened. “You should have left the house without at least one security detail.”
“Sure, I’ll see you tomorrow. Take care.”
Serena threw her phone across the table at Horace immediately after the call ended.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Clara shrieked.
The phone had not gotten to Horace, instead, it had sent Clara’s plate of salad crashing to the floor.
“Serena, what happened?” Trisha ran to her side.
“You” Serena pointed a manicured finger at Horace. “I warned you not to mess with my people again.”
“What are you talking about, child?” Horace asked, biting into a potato.
“Damian was almost gunned down on the road by assassins today.” She answered.
“What?” Trisha and Clara echoed in unison.
“And I know you do it.”
Horace laughed, a deep rumbling laughter.
“I didn’t attack your husband.”’He wiped his mouth with a napkin before continuing. “But if someone did, I hope they manage to finish him off.”
“You are lying.”
“You think I’ll waste my time lying to you? Oh please Serena, do not insult me.” Horace hissed, scrapping his chair backward he stood and walked out of the dining room.
Serena turned to Jonathan, “I swear to God, if this were you.” She pointed a finger at him. “I will make you regret it every day of your life.."
“Take your finger away from my face Serena,” Jonathan warned.
Clara shoved her plate to the side. “Look Serena,” she started in a high-pitched voice. “I’m sorry Damian was attacked and all but that does not give you the right to go around accusing my husband.”
Trisha scoffed, “Look at you jumping to protect your husband, like you don't know he's a hired assassin,”
Her words cut when she had to duck her head at the fork that came flying across the table. Trisha's eyes grew wild, “How dare you,” she charged.
Serena rushed to her side, holding her back.
Clara stood up, “Remember your position Trisha. You are merely a guest in this house. Don't get involved in family matters.”
“I’m forced to be a guest in this house because your beloved husband pushed my car off a cliff,” Trisha screamed over Serena’s shoulders.
Clara’s body settled.
Trisha laughed bitterly, “Or did you forget?”
Clara shook her head, raising her shoulders. “That was one time and that's why we allowed you to stay in the house.”
Serena turned to her. “You allowed her?”
She scoffed. “Bold of you to think you had a choice in that case.”
“Nobody in this house attacked your husband. Okay?” Jonathan stood, helping Clara up from the chair. “Maybe it was someone from his shady past.”
They stopped at the door and turned.
“You do know about his shady past, right Serena?”
Jonathan and Clara walked out of the room hand in hand, leaving a silence behind them, one that Serena and Trisha could not break because they, in fact, did not know about Damian's shady past.
Somewhere in the far unseen corner of the house, someone spoke into the phone. “Did you do this?”
The reply seeped through the phone speaker, “What do you think?”
“I think you are acting erratically.”
I made a call,” the distorted voice murmured through the line. “Damian’s death won’t just be unfortunate… it will disqualify Serena from the inheritance entirely.”
“That's assuming you can kill Damian Crowne.” the caller whispered.”You were lucky to get close today.”
A cold sinister laughter thundered from the phone.
“Anybody can be killed, Horace. You just need to know when to strike.”