Chapter 68 The private road
Cars lined up at the entrance to Damian’s house, engines idling softly as they waited to transport them to the airport.
“Do you have everything you need?” Damian asked Serena as she stepped into the car through the door he held open for her.
Serena smoothed an invisible crease on her coat before settling into the leather seat, the familiar scent of his cologne already wrapping around her nerves.
“I do,” she said, glancing up at him. “I didn’t pack a lot though. I’m not sure what the fashion vibes are in Marrakesh, so I’ll buy what I need after observing what’s acceptable there.”
“Alright then,” he replied, tapping the driver’s seat. “Let’s go, Lazarus.”
The cars eased out of the driveway in a single, smooth line and onto the street, Damian’s car positioned squarely between two guarded vehicles, while the car with Oscar and Trisha followed behind, with an armed guard.
The convoy slipped seamlessly into the empty road, dark windows reflecting the pale wash of dawn creeping over Monterra’s skyline.
Damian adjusted the cuff of his watch. His posture was relaxed but alert, the way Serena was quickly learning was simply… him.
“I feel guilty leaving when I should be showing up at the company. Letting the investors see I’m the right choice for CEO,” Serena mumbled.
“It’s just for a few days. I’m sure they won’t use it against you,” Damian said reassuringly. “Moreover, you should still be on your honeymoon break right now.”
“Hmm.” She replied, her eyes drifting outside the window.
“Wait,” Serena gasped after a short while. “This is a different road,” she said, noticing that for the past ten minutes only their cars had been on the road and this wasn’t the route she normally passed.
Damian followed her gaze. “Oh yeah, this is the private road.”
“The private road?” Serena said in bewilderment.
“It leads straight to the airport,” he said. “It only serves five estates, five families.”
“Which?”
“Our estate, three of my cousins’ estates further down, and the president has a getaway cottage in the mountains. That’s quite a distance away. So whenever he comes to Monterra, they drive him from the airport straight up the mountains without anybody noticing.”
Serena’s jaw dropped. “Wait, you mean, firstly, you had your own road built all the way to the airport? And we are practically neighbors with the president?” she almost screamed.
“Yes,” Damian replied, not sure why she found that so odd. Did she really not understand how wealthy he was?
“That’s insane.”
“Is it really?” he chuckled.
“Wait,” she asked again, “how come I’ve never used this road?”
“Because it’s only used on special occasions.” He shifted in his seat, his ankles now mere inches from hers. “I’m traveling with the most precious jewel. I have to take all the precautions necessary,” he said softly, his eyes plastered on hers.
The car went silent. Only the low roar of the engine filled the space. When a minute passed and she didn’t reply.
Damian inhaled, “Everything will be fine,” he finally said, referring back to their initial conversation. “I promise.”
“You can’t promise that,” Serena replied.
“Yes, I can.”
She held her hand up to his mouth. “No, don’t promise me that,” she said. “So that if you are unable to fulfill the promise, I won’t end up hating you.”
“Oh ye of little faith,” Damian replied coolly.
“I’m just a realist.”
That was the last thing she said before the car suddenly swerved, tires screeching before snapping to a sharp stop, the movement throwing them forward violently.
“What the hell,” Serena gasped from the force.
Damian held her steady before her head could make contact with the back of the driver’s seat.
“Lazarus, what’s happening?” Damian asked through gritted teeth.
“Sir, we have a hostile vehicle approaching.”
“A hostile vehicle?” Serena screamed. “What do you mean?”
“We have intel on a car headed this way, possible sniper and explosives inside.”
Serena’s eyes widened. “A bomb?” she screamed.
“How did it get through the gates?” Damian questioned, his voice tightening slightly at the end.
“He pretended to be with the construction crew, fixing those potholes from the last earthquake.”
“If there’s a shooter on the road,” Serena muttered in a shaking voice, “then why are we parked in the middle of it instead of taking cover?”
“We are waiting for instructions from the CSO, ma’am. He’s coordinating the response, ma’am. Perimeter units are moving into position.”
“Let me talk to him. Hand me your walkie.”
The driver lifted the radio.
“Base, this is Unit Three. Over.”
Static crackled through the car.
“Unit Three, we copy. Over.”
“The Eagle would like to speak with Command. Over.”
He passed the walkie-talkie back.
Damian took it, his expression already hardened.
“Jake,” he said, voice low and controlled, “I don’t like what I’m hearing.”
“Mr. Damian, I promise you we are doing everything to curtail this threat.”
“I told you I needed this movement to be seamless, Jake .” Damian held the phone tighter. “My wife is in this vehicle, the last thing I want to do is endanger her.”
“Sir, I assure you that both you and Mrs. Crowne will make it in time for your flight. As a matter of fact, call your hotel and tell them to start preparing your lunch.”
Damian rolled his eyes. Jake was a cocky asshole, but not for nothing. He was the best field officer in Monterra. He had retired from the army due to a slight mental illness, and when he came out, the Crowne family had been more than happy to employ him on their security team. Ever since, he had been everywhere, always knowing exactly what to do before anyone else even realized there was a problem.
“Fix it, Jake,” Damian said lastly before handing the walkie-talkie back to Lazarus.
“The bomber is approaching at moderate speed. Stand by for clearance.”
“Copy that. Over.” Lazarus replied, his voice sharp but filled with tension.
In the back seat, Damian’s jaw tightened, he hated being cornered. Serena’s shaking fingers wrapped around his arm.
She was scared, and the thought of putting her in harm’s way made his stomach twist. He almost banged his own head against the wall just thinking about it.
The car jolted slightly, and his hand instinctively gripped the edge of the seat. A crackle over the radio, Jake’s voice firm but measured: “Sir… the bomber is boxed in. No movement forward or backward. Stand by.”
Damian exhaled slowly, feeling a little less tense at least they had located him, now all they had to do was disarm him and get him off the road.
Serena leaned closer, pressing against him without a word. Her wide eyes followed the road, she wasn’t sure which direction they were coming from but she watched the road carefully tracing every shadow, every slight tree movement. He could feel her heartbeat through her fingers.
“I wonder how Trisha is feeling, can I calm her?”
“We can’t use phones, it will interfer with their radio signal,” Damian explained.
Her breath hitched even higher. “Relax,” Damian stroked the back of her palm. “All our vehicles are secured. Jake and his team are the best, they will fix this in no time.”
She nodded, her shoulders loosening just a fraction.
The sound of a gunshot cracked through the air.
Serena squealed, the sound torn straight from her throat as instinct took over. She launched forward, colliding hard with Damian’s chest, fingers clutching at him as if he were the only solid thing left in the world.
For a split second, everything froze. And then… another shot rang out.