CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“I thought we were going to the cabin?” Cora asked softly when she realized Vlad had turned in the direction of her home.

“We are,” Vlad answered softly. “After we grab some things from your house.”

“What things?”

He glanced at her and then focused his attention back on the road without answering her. Vlad had decided long back that the less she knew about her father’s sudden disappearance, the better. She already had enough to worry about without him adding to that burden.

Vlad glanced up at the rear-view mirror to make sure that no one was following them, before turning into her street. He slowed the truck and glanced around. There were no cars parked along the street but that didn’t mean that some of Mike’s men weren’t watching and waiting. Vlad could be driving them right into a trap.

Sucking in a deep breath, he slowly blew it out and then turned the truck into the drive. He stopped in front of the garage door and then turned towards Cora. “I’m going to open the door. Think you can manage pulling the truck in?”

“I d-don’t know how to drive,” Cora admitted softly.

“Right. That’s why you always have someone driving you around.” Vlad ran a hand through his hair. “Fine. Stay in the truck. If they start shooting, you drop to the ground. That clear?”

Cora nodded. He gave her a wink before reaching for the door handle. With one last glance around, he slid from the truck and hurried towards the garage. After opening it, he hurried back to the truck and pulled into the garage. Once the door was closed firmly behind them, Vlad opened the passenger door for Cora and helped her out.

Slamming the door closed with one hand, he gripped her hip with the other. Cora gasped when he took a step forward and used his body to press hers against the side of the truck. Vlad slipped a hand into her hair and tilted her head back. He slowly lowered his lips to hers. He couldn’t resist. Only one more taste, but as soon as his lips pressed against hers, all thoughts flew from his mind.
Her small body shivered against his, and then her arms were around his neck and her body curved against his. Vlad ended the kiss before things could get even more out of hand. Anymore kisses and he might just take her right there against the side of the truck.

Vlad stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. “We need to get going. I want you to stay by my side. Can I trust you to do that for me Cora?”

She licked her lips. “I’ll listen to you,” she whispered.

“Good.” Vlad gave her one more kiss before stepping away from her.

He reached up and pulled a gun from the holster. He needed to be prepared encase they were waiting for them inside the house. Cora stayed right behind him as they slowly entered the house through the laundry room.

It wasn’t what Vlad was expecting. The house was completely empty but trashed. Furniture was slashed and broken. Paintings that used to hang on the wall were cut up and thrown to the floor. Even the simplest of things were broken. Vlad searched every room of the first floor and then headed for the stairs.

He tensed slightly when Cora grabbed hold of the back of his shirt. She was scared, he could feel it, but she stayed silent. Vlad knew that she probably wanted to be anywhere but here with him. He admired her courage.

A few minutes later they had finished the walk-through. Vlad slid the gun back into place and then retraced his steps towards Cora’s bedroom. He glanced back at her when she entered behind him. Cora gave him a questioning look.

“Grab a small bag and pack what you need. Nothing more than what’s necessary. Understand?” She nodded. “I’ll be right back. Yell if you need anything.”

He was halfway out the door when he paused and turned back to face her. “No make-up.”

“Why?”

He gave her a small smile. “I like you better without it.”



“Boss, we have movement at the house.”

Mike raised his head and glared at the man hovering in front of his desk. He was busy with an important call that could mean potential business. Mike wasn’t worried about the house at the moment—especially since the last movement they talked about was one of the maids. She had been taken care of the moment she stepped foot inside.

He held up a hand and turned around. “What time?”

The man on the phone continued to explain things to him but Mike was barely listening. Was it another false alarm or was it the real deal this time? Was he going to get what he wanted? Since Andrew had disappeared with half the shipment and his money, Mike had to make other arrangements. Andrew left his daughter unprotected, well not entirely. It would be easy to take out Vlad De Luca now that he knew more about the man.

“I’ll make arrangements,” Mike muttered before ending the call.

He turned and waited for the man to start talking. When he fell silent, Mike was already hurrying out of the office. Mike shouted orders at the men as he walked out of the house. Within five minutes the weapon were loaded in the two big SUV’s. Mike climbed into the car and slammed the door shut.

With a signal, they were off. He wasn’t going to allow that bastard to ruin his life.



Cora carefully placed the last folded shirt into the bag and then zipped it. She straightened and glanced around her destroyed room. Vlad had warned her not to clean anything, and only to take what she needed. Cora had only packed clothes and underwear for a few days and her toiletries bag. She hesitated and then and then hurried back into her closet.

In the cabinet underneath her underwear drawer, was a few boxes in different sizes. Some contained letters and old school projects that she had kept to show her father but never got around to. The purple box in the back contained a few things that made her face turn scarlet.
She placed the box down and removed the lid. Cora remembered the first time she had opened the box when she received it for her birthday. She felt like dying when her friends had joked around and made crude comments. The moment she had returned home from the party, Cora had pushed the box into the back of the closet and forgotten about it, until now.

Pushing the contents aside, she searched for the box of condoms. Cora hesitated and then grabbed the bottle of lube too. After placing the box back in place, she stood and hurried into her room to stuff the condoms and lube into her toiletries bag. Maybe they won’t use them, but Cora was hoping that they would.

“Are you done?”

She jumped in fright when Vlad suddenly spoke from behind her. Spinning around, Cora gave him a nod and tried to even her breathing. She knew she must’ve looked guilty. Vlad gave her a strange look as he made his way toward her. Without a word, he picked up her bag and held out his hand. A smile slide onto her face when she gripped his hand.

“Did you find what you were searching for?” Cora asked as they headed towards the laundry room.

“No.” He didn’t elaborate and Cora didn’t question him further.

They made it back to the truck without any trouble. After helping her into the truck and placing the bag with the others, he opened the garage door and reversed. She was a bit surprised when he didn’t stop to close the garage door again, but she soon realized why. Vlad quickly shifted gears and pressed his foot down on the pedal.

“Put on your seat-belt,” Vlad ordered harshly as he overtook the car in front of them.

Cora quickly reached out to grab the seat-belt and pull it across her chest. She clipped it in place and then glanced out the window. A big black SUV was trying to catch up with them. Panic hit, making it almost impossible for her to breath.

She jumped when Vlad suddenly touched her arm. Her eyes snapped over to his in question. His eyes were focused on the road ahead of them. Cora grabbed his hand and entwined her fingers with his. She clung to his hand for dear life as fear raced through her. What if this time they didn’t make it?

“Breathe Cora,” Vlad’s soft voice penetrated her panicked thoughts. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“I’m scared.” Tears filled her eyes when she admitted that.

He gave her hand a squeeze and with one last glance at her, he gave the road his full attention. Cora turned to glance over her shoulder through the back window. The SUV’s had slowed considerably. To her surprise they turned the corner and then disappeared from sight. Her shoulders sagged in relief.

“They’re gone,” Cora said softly.

But for how long?