Chapter 43
MONALISA P. O. V
He gently guided me into his car as the rain continued to pour down heavily with no intention of stopping anytime soon. I let out a sigh of relief, at least being saved from the cruelty of the rain. I was shivering like a leaf, but I quickly crossed my arms around myself and began to rub them to create warmth.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Peter, quickly joined me in his car and was stunned to see how I was shivering, including my lips. He stretched out his hand and placed it on my forehead, feeling my temperature. “Damn it! You are running a fever,” he exclaimed, his eyes widening. “Wait a minute.” He turned around and retrieved a big black coat, throwing it over my body to cover me properly. “This should keep you warm, at least until you get to your destination.” He started his car and began driving away, not forgetting to turn on the car’s heater to help warm me up.
After we had covered a long distance, neither of us attempted to bring up a conversation. Of course, he shouldn’t expect me to talk first because silence was what I needed the most right now. But I guess the talking spirit in him was sparked up, and he sighed before he began.
“You know, you shouldn’t be seen out here at this time. It’s dangerous for a young lady like you,” he tried to start a conversation, but I preferred to remain silent, not really in the mood to talk.
I lowered my head, wondering how long I would continue to hide my face from him. Come to think of it, he is Peter, not just anybody else. My long-time crush, who always sneaked into my room to keep me company whenever Dominic locked me up.
He wasted no time in compelling me to trash whatever feelings I was developing for him back then. Because he sure knew what Dominic was capable of doing to him, and secondly, he didn’t want Dominic to involve his sick mother in his messed-up life.
Of course, that’s what Dominic was good at, always using your weakness against you. I wasted no time in understanding where he was driving at, and I began to conceal whatever feelings I had for him because right from the onset, I didn’t like people suffering for my sake.
I listened to him while he talked non-stop. At some point, he began scolding me for staying out late, saying, “What if I wasn’t driving home at this time? You could have fallen into the wrong hands.” He began advising me again.
At this point, I was convinced that people never change their nature or habits.
Like, why the heck was he still talking even when I wasn’t replying to any of his questions?
He finally sighed, just when I thought it was all over. “What is your name? And don’t you dare ignore me,” he boomed with a question.
I made up my mind to show him my face. I knew he would be shocked to the bone, but I knew that was the only option I had. Who knows, I might try and convince him to take me to Gardy.
I slowly took off the black coat covering my head and took off my scarf too, finally revealing my face.
He turned just in time to see my gaze staring at him so intensively. “Holy fuck!” He screamed like he had seen a ghost and hastily stepped on the car brake. His breath quickened as he tried to catch his breath. “Ghost! Ghost!” He kept screaming in fear. I really wondered what was stopping him from jumping through the window and running for his dear life.
“Just look in the mirror and see what you look like,” I burst into laughter, throwing my head back as I laughed even harder. His face looked so funny, and it was so hard to resist the laughter cracking my ribs.
He breathed out in relief and lightly hit my arms. “You really got me on the edge, Monalisa,” he childishly pouted his lips.
“Of course, I knew I did. Just curious why you refrained yourself from jumping out of the window,” I burst into another round of laughter.
“Yeah, whatever,” he rolled his eyes and finally rested his back on the car seat after catching his breath.
I assumed this was the right moment to talk to him. I was so sure that he wouldn’t reject helping me, at least not now that I needed him the most. “I need your help. Please don’t say no,” I sat up straight and held his hand.
He turned around and stared at me for a while, still looking fresh and handsome just like the last time I saw him, but not more than my Derek.
He sighed, “You know I would always help if it’s in my power to. So tell me,” he replied calmly, not shifting his gaze from me.
I sigh in relief at his response. “Do you know if Dominic brought any lady to Mexico?”
“Why do you ask?” He furrowed his eyebrows.
“Just answer me!” I plainly snapped, rolling my eyes.
He stared at me for a while and nodded in response, “Do you know that lady?” he asked. “That lady has gone through so much torture from him. I wonder what crime she might have committed to warrant such cruelty.” He revealed and chuckled softly, “I hope she sees the light of today because the last time I saw her, she looked better dead than alive.”
I suddenly developed cold feet as I felt my blood drain from my veins. I was speechless because I was choked with tears, trying to digest what I just heard. It was too much, so fucking too much to take at the same time. “Urgh!!!” I let out an ear-deafening scream, ripping my hair so hard. “It was my fault! All my fault.” I yelled, still ripping my hair. My skull was on fire, but I ignored all the pain I was feeling.
Peter gripped my arms and shook me. “What is wrong with you!” He screamed at my face, bringing me back to my senses.
I pushed his arms away and grabbed him instead. “You have to sneak me into his basement. Please, you have to help me,” I shrieked, hitting his arms repeatedly. Tears streamed down my eyes uncontrollably.
“It’s dangerous! Dominic never leaves her side, not even for a minute,” he yelled back, trying to make me see the reasons why the act I was about to indulge in was risky. But I didn’t care at the moment. All I just wanted was to go in there and rescue her. “Sorry, I can’t help you,” he stated with a note of finality in his voice.
“Please, Peter, please!” I cried even harder, clingying onto his shirt. He had to help me. Idris needs her. I need her.
“I can’t watch you risk your life, Monalisa. Not again, Please!”
“That woman is the mother of a four-year-old child. How would you feel if your mother was in her position? Peter, you are just heartless. You are no different from Dominic!” I yelled angrily at his face.
“I am not like Dominic,” he defended.
“Then help me!” I challenged, pushing him one last time.
He sighed, “Fine! I will help you,” he accepted.
*****
DEREK P. O. V
I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering why he was staring at me in such a manner. Even after the call had long ended, he was still holding his phone, and fear was visible in his eyes. Honestly, I hadn’t gotten over the scene he just displayed right in front of me.
Why was he crying when I mentioned Dominic’s name? And who was he referring to for letting go all by herself? And lastly, who was calling him?
These three questions had been springing up my curiosity, but I decided to let it slide for now until we got home. This case was left between me and him, and he wouldn’t dare lie to me.
“I have a lot of questions to ask you, Doven. But let’s wait until we get home,” I softly tapped his shoulder and began walking toward my car, while he entered his and drove behind me.
After driving for one hour and thirty minutes, we arrived at my mansion and parked our cars in the garage. Immediately, Diane stepped out to welcome us.
“Welcome, boss,” she greeted, flashing me a smile.
I nodded. “Where is Idris?” I asked instead, glancing around to see if he would run out and welcome me too.
She chuckled softly. “About him? He cried so hard, saying he wanted his Momma. I had to carry him on my back. Luckily for me, he fell asleep,” she explained.
I nodded, intending to have a word with him in the morning. I entered my mansion and ran up the stairs, bumping into Idris on my way.
“Where is my Momma?” That was the first question he asked me.
I stood still, wondering how I would break the news to him. But no, I won’t tell him because it will break him down if he finds out his Momma was kidnapped. I will have to place a call across Jaxon to find her, first thing in the morning.
“You didn’t find her?” he asked again, his eyes widening.
“Can we talk tomorrow, boy?” I suggested, and without waiting for his reply, I walked past him. He emotionally ran and hugged Diane, sobbing so hard but I ignored him and stepped into my room, shutting the door. After a while, Doven entered and acted like nothing was wrong.
“I have three questions to ask you. I want nothing but an honest reply from you,” I wasted no time in speaking my mind. I want to clear my curiosity.
He flashed me his usual calm smile. “What is bothering you, Mob?”