Chapter 50

The sky was already getting dark when the masked kidnappers showed up in Tiara’s room and commanded her to follow them. From experience, she knew not to ask questions, so she got up and followed them downstairs. She experienced a mixture of hope and dread as they led her out of the building and into the now-familiar black van. All the while, she kept looking around to see if she would catch a glimpse of Ramone, but he was nowhere in sight.

When the thick black bag dropped over her head, Tiara became apprehensive. Were they really going to set her free this time around, or was she being transported again to another cell somewhere? Could she trust Ramone to keep his word about letting her go, or would he show his criminal side and renege on his promises? These disturbing thoughts swam around her head over and over again for the entire duration of their trip to God-knows-where. When the van finally ground to a halt, Tiara could hear the sound of moving traffic, which meant they were close to an expressway. Hope leapt once again in her heart, but still, she was afraid. She would not believe her freedom was secured until she was finally reunited with Dare and her family.

One of the kidnappers dragged her by the arm and led her out of the van before taking off the bag from her head. True to her observation, they had stopped somewhere along the not-so-busy road of the Lekki-Epe Expressway. It was completely dark now and she could barely make out the shape of the kidnappers standing beside her.

“Wait here,” one of them said, then they jumped into the van, slammed the door shut, and zoomed away.

What the hell, Tiara thought, terrified. Those idiots left me here to die? What’s the meaning of this?

She didn’t know whether to start running or to remain there till the kidnappers came back for her. What was she supposed to do now? Hitchhike to Dare’s house or wait for another gang of kidnappers to whisk her away to another hideout?

“Shit!” she cussed. “What do I do now?”

A pair of bright headlights shone on her as a big vehicle headed in her direction. Tiara’s first instinct was to run because she thought the kidnappers had come back for her. She was barefoot and dressed only in Ramone’s flimsy shirt, but that did not deter her from running for her life. She ran along the road, facing oncoming traffic and waving her hands frantically in the hopes that one good samaritan might stop their car and rescue her. When she looked back, she saw that the vehicle was still coming after her at full speed.

Oh God, please don’t let them catch me again, she prayed silently as she ran. Please, don’t let them get me.

She could feel her legs getting weak, but Tiara refused to stop running. She would rather die than go back into captivity.

“Tiara!” someone shouted from behind her. “Tiara, please stop!”

The voice sounded like Dare’s, but she wasn’t sure, so she kept running. Maybe it’s all in my head, she thought. Maybe I’m imagining his voice. Maybe it’s one of the kidnappers pretending to be someone I know.

Strong hands grabbed her arms from behind just as she began to stumble and fall. “Let me go!” she screamed as the person pulled her up against their body.

“Shh, my love. It’s me,” Dare spoke to her softly. He could tell that she was traumatized, and probably not in her right mind at the moment.

Tiara stopped struggling and turned around to face him. A car drove past, shining its headlights on them briefly, so she saw his face and recognized him immediately.

“Dare,” she whispered.

“Yes, Tiara. It’s me. I’ve come to take you home,” he said.

Her body sagged with relief, and tears stung her eyes. “Oh, Dare,” she cried. “Thank you. Thank you for coming for me.”

“No, my love. Thank you for staying alive. If you had not come back to me, I would have died. My life would have been over if you didn’t come back.”

Tiara wept as Dare made these emotional declarations to her. He wasn’t even concerned about how much money it had cost him to secure her release. Instead, he was simply grateful to have her back alive.

“I love you, Tiara,” Dare declared passionately. “I’m sorry it took me this long to tell you so. I want you to know right now that I love you. I love you so, so much and I want you to be in my life forever.”

“I love you too,” Tiara said in between sobs with her heart full of gratitude and joy. “I love you with all of my heart even though I never realized it until now. I love you, Dare.”

Dare embraced her tightly, resting his head on her shoulder. “I don’t ever want to lose you again. Once we leave here, I am going to hire a bodyguard to protect you 24/7. I don’t want either of us to ever have to go through this kind of nightmare again. My heart can’t take it a second time.”

Tiara drew back from him to look into his eyes. “You would do that for me?” she asked with a happy smile.

“Yes. I could even hire a complete surveillance team to keep an eye on you wherever you go just in case the bodyguard isn’t enough.”

She laughed and tapped him on the cheek playfully. “That won’t be necessary. One bodyguard is enough.”

“If you say so,” he said with a happy grin. “Do you have any plans for next month?”

The randomness of his question took her by surprise. “Uh, I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I was wondering if you would like to get married. To me, that is.”

Tiara gasped. “What?”

Dare adjusted himself until he was standing on one bended knee in front of her. “Tiara Egbuson,” he began. “Will you marry me? Will you be my wife and share the rest of your life with me?”

“Oh my gosh,” she whispered in surprise. “Yes, yes, yes!”

“Awesome!” he exclaimed and embraced her again. “I know I didn’t propose to you with a ring, but I promise to get you one tomorrow. It’s going to be the most beautiful ring with the biggest diamond you’ve ever seen.”

Tiara giggled. “I don’t care about the size of the diamond. All I want is you.”

“That’s what I love to hear,” he said and kissed her deeply. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I can’t wait for you to share the good news with your parents. They’re at my place. And Chichi too.”

“Wow, it’s a full house already. I can’t wait to see them.”

“Come on then, let’s go home.”

He helped her to her feet, and they both walked hand-in-hand towards the waiting vehicle. And that moment marked the beginning of their happily ever after.