Page 52 of Captured Innocence
But I did see a dark red vehicle remaining three car lengths behind. I had to know if the driver was following me. I knew the streets like the back of my hand, concentrating on how to try to get away from whoever was following me. I waited until the last minute to make a sharp right turn, speeding down the road then making another turn quickly. There was more traffic, forcing me to slow down.
I kept looking in the rearview mirror. After two minutes had passed, I couldn’t see the car any longer and breathed a sigh of relief.
Until I went through the next intersection, noticing the same vehicle waiting to make a turn to be able to follow me. Now I knew the only hope I had was getting to my apartment, an address only the most trusted people in my world knew. I had a roommate, but she’d been checked and rechecked over the years, becoming a good friend, helping keep the loneliness away. I knew I could trust her. I also needed to try to get her to safety.
Maneuvering my car at a high rate of speed, I managed to place a call to her cell phone. “Fuck. Fuck.” It went to voicemail as well. As soon as I heard the beep, I started rattling off.
“Margot. It’s Sophia. Get out of the apartment. Now. Just do it and I’ll call you later. Please listen to me.” I lived in a gorgeous apartment in the heart of the city, enjoying the company having a roommate provided. Now my attempt at being normal had likely placed her life in danger.
Issuing a warning was all I could do. I tossed my phone and became a crazy driver, barely missing two cars in my attempt to get away. Every few seconds I glanced into the mirror. At least given the traffic and my insane but trained driving, I was making headway. When I pulled onto my street, I wasted no time, thanking God I found a close parking space.
I was out of the car and running down the sidewalk in seconds, bolting up the two flights of stairs, my hands shaking but managing to drive the key into the lock. Then I flew in, slamming the door and locking it, breathless with terror.
When I turned around, my entire world fell apart.
I’d been tracked down, a monster sitting in a chair waiting for my arrival.
“Hello, Sophia. I’m glad you could make the party.” The dark voice held an unrecognizable accent, but the intent was clear. “Or should I call you the Spider? You and I have a lot to talk about. Don’t we?”
I’d been right. Danger had found me.
The masked man held Margot at gunpoint, her tiny whimpers muffled by the gag shoved into her mouth.
“Who the fuck are you and what do you want with me?” I snarled, trying to pretend I had no clue what the assailant was talking about.
“My, such a nasty mouth for a beautiful princess.”
I couldn’t place his accent, nor could I make out his features, but even though I’d been trained in self-defense, I was no match for the huge man and I sensed he’d kill my roommate without hesitation. He waved his gun at my friend, acting as if he was going to shoot her.
“Leave her alone. She has nothing to do with this.” While my skin crawled, I refused to allow anything to happen to her. She didn’t sign up for my world.
“Only if you agree to come with me.”
The man was nuts, but I had to do something. I shifted closer, able to head toward the kitchen given the layout of the small apartment. “Fine. Let her go and I will.”
Either the assailant was a fool or an arrogant asshole, but I used it to my advantage. When he shoved her away, coming for me, I reacted without hesitation. We both raced into the bedroom and I slammed and locked the door, grabbing my phone immediately.
“What’s happening?” Margot asked.
“Leave by the balcony. Do it!” I flew toward the closet, struggling to find my weapon as I dialed D’Artagnan’s number. I had to let someone know what happening.
The door seemed to explode, kicked in with explosive force.
The rush of adrenaline was rushing through my system was immediate, and I wrapped my hand around the weapon. I kept it loaded but I struggled to remove the safety as he advanced, Margot screaming.
“You bitch,” he snarled.
“D’Artagnan. I can’t get in touch with either one of my soldiers. Something is wrong. Oh, my God, I—”
I didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence. He raised his arm, the glint of the weapon in his hand shimmering from the bright sun and I saw a tattoo: a cross with an upside-down skull dripping with blood.
Then he smashed the weapon against my…
CHAPTER 16
Sophia
“Je dis qu’on baise la chatte.”