Trapped in the Crime Lord's Obsession

a's

s a heavy downpour of rain, it mean

the night, followed by a rumble of t

thunderstorms-the noise, the darkness, the

"Can you go any faster?" I asked the d

ully. The roads are slick with rain," he

ng was clawing inside me. I tried blaming the weather or the pace of the driv

bag, searching for my phone. Maybe scrolling thr

screen, my heart dropped

s soon as you see t

against the cold glass of the window, and I closed my eyes briefly, fighting the he

ore dialing her number. My fingers hovered over the call button, as if pressin

to the rings echo in my ear, each one buil

ice came through,

" My voice wavered, a chill creeping over me

one brittle, like she was on the verge o

at my eyes, but I forced myself to stay stea

ds immediate surgery. Her intestines are perforated fro

that kind of money?" I whispered, feel

d, her voice trembling. "Maybe..

onflicting thoughts. "You know what, Kate? I'll c

t... don't ta

, fighting to keep it together. "Oh no, no, no... this can't be happening," I whispered, a sob escapin

ked gently, glancing at me through the re

shing away the tears as I tried to steady m

uck a nerve, tugging at something buried, so

ate had suggested we ask for his help, mad

kind of man abandons his wife and children without a second thought?

him of cheating. And she'd been right. He didn't care about the wounds he left behind, about the nights we stayed up

t just grieving for my mother's pain-I was grieving fo

ice pulled me b

ma'am," he

aint nod, barely meeting his eyes. The cold air hit me as I pushed the door open and s

off, leaving me standing alone in the dark, un

and chilling me to the bone. I wrapped my arms tightly around myself as I w

mally, our dog, Chelie would be barking by now, announcing my ar

ng around before pu

softly, "Chelie?" But there was no respons

turned back toward the house, eager for warmth-o

e hospital, and no one else was supposed to be here. Fear tigh

I reached out, pushing it open just enough to slip inside,

th caught in my throat at th

l of his own blood, and hovering over him were two hug

vered my mouth to stifle a scream

y grip, hitting the f

elt a sudden prick in my neck-a sharp pain that

und, desperate to escape the nigh

around me. I struggled to keep my balance, but my legs buckl