CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169 CONTINUE TO FALL

*LORENZO*

I turned the car left and sped along the three-lane highway.

Danica was hunched down in the passenger seat with her arms wrapped around herself, but at least she had remembered to put on her seat belt. She was staring out at the passing industrial buildings and car showrooms, but occasionally she wiped a sleeve across her face, and I knew she was still crying.

“Do you want me to stop for tissues?” I asked. “I’m sorry I don’t have any.”

She shook her head but didn’t look at me.

I understood why she was emotional. What a day. If I was astounded by today’s events, she must be overwhelmed.

Completely overwhelmed. I thought it was best if I left her alone to gather her thoughts. Besides, it was late, and I had to make some calls.

I pressed the phone icon on the touch screen and found Dante’s number. The sound of its ringtone echoes through the car via the hands-free system. Within two rings, he answered.

He was the new assistant my parents assigned to me.

“Good evening, sir.”

“Good evening.” I replied, with a quick glance at Danica, who was now looking at me. “Is the Hideout or the Lookout available this weekend?”

“I think they’re both available, my...”

“And next week?”

“The Lookout is booked for a weekend clay shoot.”

“I’ll take the Hideout, then.”

Appropriate.

“I need...” I glanced at Danica’s pale face. “I need two of the rooms made up and some of my clothes and toiletries brought over from my apartment.”

“You’ll not be staying at the apartment?”

0Not at the moment, no.”

“Two rooms, you say?”

I had hoped for one.

“Yes, please. And could you ask Jessie to stock the fridge for breakfast and maybe a snack tonight. And some wine and some beer. Tell her to improvise.”

“Of course, sir. When will you be arriving?”

“Late tonight.”

“Of course. Is everything all right, sir?”

“Everything’s fine. Oh, and, Dante, can we get the piano tuned?”

“I had all of them tuned yesterday. You mentioned you wanted them all done when you were here.”

“That’s great. Thanks, Dante.”

“You’re welcome, my...” I pressed the OFF button before he finished.

“Would you like to listen to some music?” I asked Danica.

She turned red-rimmed eyes to me, and my chest tightened. “Okay,” I said, not waiting for her answer. On the media screen, I found what I hoped will be a soothing album and pressed PLAY. The sound of acoustic guitars filled the car, and I relaxed a little.

We had a long drive ahead.

“Who is this?” Danica asked.

“A singer-songwriter called Ben Howard.”

She stared at the screen for a moment, then went back to gazing out the window.

I reflected on all my past interactions with Danica in light of what she had told me today.

Now I understood why she had been so reticent around me, and my heart was leaden.

In my fantasies I’d imagined that when I was finally alone with her, she would be laughing and carefree, gazing at me with adoring doe eyes. The reality was very different.

Very. Different.

And yet...I didn’t mind. I wanted to be with her.

I wanted her safe.

I wanted her....

That was the truth.

I had never felt like this before.

Everything had happened so fast. And I still didn’t know if I was doing the right thing. But I knew I couldn’t abandon her to those lowlifes. I wanted to protect her.

How chivalrous.

My thoughts took a darker turn as I dwelled on morbid fantasies of what she might have had to endure and of what she might have seen.

This young woman was very strong.

Fuck. I gripped the steering wheel tighter as anger surges like sulfuric acid in my gut.

If I ever get hold of those men...

My rage is murderous.

I glanced at the dashboard.

Shit. I was speeding.

Slow the fuck down, mate.

I eased my foot off the accelerator.

Steady.

I took a deep, cleansing breath.

Calm down.

I wanted to ask her if her experience with that man had scarred her thoughts about men for life. But I couldn’t ask right now.

It wasn’t the right moment to. All my plans, all my fantasies will be for nothing if she couldn’t bear to be with a man...any man.

And I realized that I couldn’t touch her.

Fuck.

*********

Danica tried but failed to stem her tears. She was dazed, drowning in her emotions.

Her fear. Her hope. Her despair.

Could she trust the man sitting beside her? She has placed herself in his hands. Willingly.

She didn’t know him. Not really. He had shown her nothing but kindness since she met him, and what he had done for Magda was beyond what any reasonable man could be expected to do. Until she met him, Magda had been the only person whom she trusted.

She had saved her life, found her on the street when she had no where else to go. She had taken her in, fed and clothed her, and found her work all for the little pay that Danica gave in return. She knew Magda only accepted money from her so Danica wouldn’t feel like a burden.

And now she was traveling miles and miles from that place of refuge.

How long would she be gone?

And where was her boss taking her?

She tensed. Perhaps Julio was following them?

She tightened her arms around her body. Thinking of Julio reminded her of her nightmare as she fought with him that night. She doesn’t want to think about that. She never wanted to think about it again. But it haunted her in moments of quiet and in her nightmares.

Danica shuddered. The song on the car stereo was about living in the confines of fear.

Danica squeezed her eyes shut. Her stomach constricts with fear, the fear she had been living with for so long, and her tears continue to fall.