CHAPTER 53: BACK TO THE SAFE HOUSE

Chapter 53: Back To The Safe House

Danielle barely had time to breathe before Theo grabbed her.

"Theo, what are you doing?" she shouted, struggling against his grip.

He did not answer her yelling.

His expression was set, cold and focused. There was no softness in his eyes now, only the soldier she had once feared meeting.

"Theo! Let me go!"

He lifted her effortlessly, ignoring her fists hitting his shoulder. "We do not have time."

"I said let me go!" she screamed, kicking against him.

He opened the door and basically kidnapped her to the lift, ground floor and then toward the motorcycle waiting outside.

He reached the bike, pulled a pair of cuffs from his jacket, and caught her wrists before she could react.

"Theo! What the hell are you doing?"

"I am keeping you alive."

She stared at him in disbelief. "By handcuffing me? You have completely lost your mind!"

He turned her around, guiding her onto the seat in front of him. "You will thank me later."

"Theo, I swear, if you do this..."

He started the engine. The roar of it swallowed her words. The wind tore at her hair as they sped through the streets.

Danielle was shouting at him again, but it was no use. The sound of the motorcycle and his silence drowned everything else.

Her heart pounded. She tried to twist free, but his arm was strong around her waist, holding her. The ride was fast, almost violent, but somehow it felt like he was protecting her even as she wanted to hit him.

They stopped outside their safe house, and then Theo turned off the engine.

He got off first, then helped her down, though she yanked her arm away the moment her feet hit the ground.

"You are insane," she spat. "Do you even hear yourself?"

Theo unlocked the cuffs, but his eyes never softened. "Go inside."

"No," she said firmly. "Not until you tell me what is going on."

He stepped closer, towering over her. "Inside, Danielle."

She stood her ground. "You are not my enemy, right? Then stop treating me like one."

Theo looked at her for a moment, then let out a long breath. "I do not have time to argue. You are safer here."

"Safer from what?" she asked. "From you?"

Before he could reply, the door opened, and Felix appeared, his face pale and full of surprise. "Theo?"

Theo pushed Danielle gently toward him. "Watch her."

Felix’s eyes widened when he saw the handcuffs. "What the hell is this? Are you serious?"

"She was not coming willingly," Theo said.

Felix looked at Danielle, who was shaking with anger. "No kidding. She looks ready to kill you."

"Good! That means she will stay put."

Felix stepped forward, blocking Theo’s path. "You cannot just bring her here like this and leave. What are you thinking?"

"I am thinking that something is not finished...And if it finds me, it can find her."

Felix frowned. "What?"

Theo glanced at him but didn’t bother answering.

"Keep her here. Do not let her out of your sight."

Felix grabbed his arm. "You are not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on."

Theo looked down at Felix’s hand. "Let go."

Felix did not. "No, not this time. You do this often, Theo. You vanish and people get hurt."

"Who gets hurt?"

How did Felix know this?

"If I stay, more people will get hurt."

"Then let me come with you..."

"No."

"You cannot go alone, Theo!" Danielle raised her voice.

Theo’s tone hardened. "This is not a discussion."

Felix crossed his arms. "You think I am just going to sit here and babysit her while you walk into whatever trap is waiting for you?"

Theo gave him a cold look. "Yes. That is exactly what you are going to do."

Once again, how did Felix even know this?

Felix’s temper snapped. "You arrogant bastard. You think you are the only one who can handle this? You think the rest of us are useless?"

"No, Felix. I think the rest of you still have something to lose."

The words hit hard and Felix went quiet, his anger fades into fear.

Theo looked back at Danielle. "Stay here. Do not follow me."

Danielle shook her head and Theo noticed how tears threatened to fall. "You do not even know if you are walking into a trap."

"I know...That is why I have to go."

To Theo, this situation was turning into a soap opera he didn’t like.

"You will not come back...I can feel it."

"If I do not, then you will be safe. That is enough."

"No, it is not!" she shouted. "I do not want safety if it means losing you."

Theo’s facial muscles weakened for a second. Then he reached out, cupped her face with one hand, and brushed his thumb against her cheek. "You should have never trusted me, Bunny."

"Do not call me that."

"You used to like it."

"I used to like you," Danielle replied bitterly.

Theo softened his eyes, but he did not respond. He turned to Felix instead. "If she tries to leave, stop her."

Felix glared at him. "You really want me to fight her?"

"If you have to," Theo said.

"Theo," Danielle whispered. "Please. Do not go."

Just an hour ago, Danielle was yelling and shouting at Theo, calling him a liar...

But knowing that he could be put in danger and especially to face that maniac, Danielle couldn’t think of anything else but death.

She didn’t want Theo to die...but, she also didn’t want her father to be murdered even if he wasn’t a good person.

"Theo...promise me, you’ll come back and we will finish our conversation..."

Felix was watching them both, "what conversation?"

Theo looked at her one last time..."I will finish this. Then we will talk."

Danielle couldn’t stop shaking, but before she could say another word, he climbed onto the bike.

"Stay alive for me, Bunny."