CHAPTER 131: NO TURNING BACK

I wasn’t sure if I was ready to walk away from him and from all that. My eyes focused on the small slip of paper that Rosabella had handed me earlier in the day. It was Rosabella’s number, and also my way out.

I knew that I had to do the right thing, and perhaps my mind already knew what the right way out was, but my heart was finding it extremely difficult to accept it.

...

I wasn’t exactly sure when I fell asleep the night before, but when I woke up my mind was made up. There was no more room for hesitation, and no more time to dwell in my feelings. The right solution was that I had to get my mother out of here as soon as possible. If we stayed, it would be like pretending that we could live in this world without bearing the consequences. Something terrible would eventually happen sooner or later, and I wasn’t sure that we were prepared to face it.

I had seen enough to know that there was no such thing as safety within the ring of the mafia. My chest ached so painfully when I thought of Raphael. I loved him, but I had no choice but to leave him behind. Although I didn’t want to admit it - not even to myself or to anyone - the truth was that he was the reason I had been hesitating all along. Raphael was the reason I had fought so hard to convince myself that I could find a way to stay and that I could keep my mother safe.

However, I had to admit that I was just fooling myself because he had become my weakness. As much as I hated to admit it, Rosabella was right. This wasn’t a world that my mother and I belonged in. I took a deep breath and grabbed my mobile phone before dialing Rosabella’s number.

"Abigail, I was expecting your call," Rosabella answered right on the first ring. Her voice sounded extremely sweet and enthusiastic at the very same time.

I was struck into silence as my heart and my mind began arguing with each other once again.

"Have you made up your mind?" Rosabella asked after a moment of silence.

"Yes, I’ve made my decision. My mother and I need to leave. Can you help us?" I replied.

"Of course, my dear. I am more than happy to help," Rosabella immediately replied with clear satisfaction in her tone.

I knew full well that my mother wouldn’t leave if I told her the truth. It felt like I had no other choice but to lie to her, even if I didn’t want to. There was no time for me to explain or to make her believe that Bennett was part of the mafia and that we needed to get out as soon as possible for our own safety. So I came up with a plan that hopefully my mother would fall for.

"Hey Mom. Pack your bag, we’re going on vacation!" I called out as I hurried into her room, trying my best to look and sound as excited as possible, as if I were really inviting her out for a surprise vacation.

My mother looked up from the magazine that she was reading with a surprised look on her face.

"Vacation? Where?" she asked.

"It’s a surprise, but I promise it’s somewhere peaceful and that you’ll love it," I replied quickly.

"What is this all of a sudden?" my mother asked in confusion.

"I just think that we could both use a break, you know? Get away for a little while to clear our heads. The guys are not here, so why don’t we go for an outing with just us?" I said invitingly.

My mother sat up as she began watching me with growing suspicion.

"Still, this is so sudden. Why didn’t you say anything before?" she asked.

"Why ask? I wanted it to be a surprise. Come on, let’s go. It’s just a few days of fresh air and no stress," I lied before forcing a bright smile and taking my mother’s hand, pulling her up from her seat.

"I’m not so sure about this. What should I do? What about Bennett? Should I give him a call and tell him first?" my mother said with clear hesitation.

A sense of panic surged in my chest when she mentioned calling Bennett. There was no way that I could risk Bennett or Raphael finding out about this because that would mean they’d know about our escape.

"No," I said a little too quickly. "Let’s just go. I’ll leave him a message on the way. If we tell him now, he might convince us to stay and wait for him to return so that he could come along with us. I really need this trip alone with you, just the two of us - mother and daughter."

My mother stared at me for a moment, and for a second I thought that perhaps she could see right through my lie. I held my breath, but finally, she nodded in agreement.

"All right. If you say this is important to you, that you need this, I’ll go. It’s actually going to be nice - just you and me, mother and daughter, as you said," my mother replied before winking at me.

She probably had no idea how much relief I felt flooding through me right at that moment. I quickly grabbed what we needed to help her pack so that we could leave the mansion as soon as possible.

...

Rosabella’s people were waiting for us just on the outskirts of the city. I had told my mother that we were meeting our private tour guide and that there was nothing for her to worry about.

A black van was parked discreetly on the side of the road. I quickly guided my mother toward them with my pulse racing wildly.

This is it, I told myself. Once we got in the van, there was no turning back.