Chapter 89
Luca sat in the dimly lit corner of his office, his fingers drumming lightly on the edge of his desk.
His mind was racing, eyes fixed on his phone. As he remembered how he tracked down Mrs Jessica.
Every lead so far had led to dead ends. Mrs. Rose had covered her tracks well, but Luca wasn’t about to give up. He knew Jessica held the key to unraveling everything.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Luca glanced down, surprised to see an unknown number. Hesitantly, he answered.”Hello?”
“Luca?” came a low voice from the other end. It was raspy, like the person speaking was constantly looking over their shoulder.
“I don’t have much time. I’m one of the guards assigned to watch Mrs. Jessica.”Luca’s heart skipped a beat. “Go on.”
“She’s being moved to a hospital tomorrow morning.
They’re trying to keep it quiet, but I thought you should know. She’s in bad shape, and if they take her where Mrs. Rose wants, I don’t think she’ll survive.
“Luca’s jaw clenched. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I’m not on board with killing an innocent woman,” the guard replied, his voice tense.
“Look, I can help you, but we have to move fast. If you want to get her out, you need to act now.
“Luca didn’t hesitate. “Tell me everything.”It didn’t take long for Luca to form a plan. The guard’s intel had been detailed enough for him to map out the hospital’s layout, the routes the transport vehicle would take, and the security measures in place.
Time was running out, and Jessica’s life was hanging in the balance. Luca couldn’t afford a single misstep. The next morning, Luca sat inside a sleek black SUV, parked a few blocks away from the hospital.
He was flanked by two of his most trusted men, both armed and ready. The guard had provided them with the transport schedule Jessica was set to be moved at 10 a. m., just as the hospital’s shift change occurred.
It was the perfect time to strike.”We don’t have much time,” Luca said, glancing at the clock on the dashboard.
“As soon as they move her out of the hospital, we’ll intercept the vehicle. No one can know this is happening, understood?”
The men nodded in agreement, their faces grim and focused.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
At exactly 9:55 a. m., Luca’s phone buzzed again. It was the guard.
“They’re getting her ready now,” he said quickly. “I’m in position. You’ll have a 10-minute window to make your move once they load her into the ambulance. Don’t screw this up.”
“We won’t,” Luca promised. “Be ready on your end.”The phone clicked off, and Luca took a deep breath. This was it.
Inside the hospital, Jessica was barely conscious. Her body was weak, and her mind foggy from the medication they’d been giving her. She knew something was wrong, Mrs. Rose wouldn’t keep her alive unless she had some twisted purpose.
Jessica’s thoughts raced, her pulse quickening as the nurses began to wheel her bed toward the exit.”Stay calm,” one of the nurses murmured, but Jessica barely heard her.
She could sense that time was running out. As they wheeled her through the halls, Jessica’s eyes darted around.
The guard who had contacted Luca was nearby, giving her a subtle nod.
Jessica’s heart leapt. She wasn’t alone in this. The hospital exit loomed ahead, and Jessica felt a wave of panic.
Outside, Luca watched through the binoculars as the hospital doors opened.
The ambulance was parked and ready, the back doors swung wide as the hospital staff rolled Jessica’s stretcher out. His grip tightened on the steering wheel. It was now or never.”They’re moving,” Luca said into the radio. “Get ready.”
The men in the back of the SUV nodded. Luca pulled out onto the street, staying a few car lengths behind the ambulance as it slowly pulled away from the hospital.
He stayed back, blending in with the flow of traffic as they drove toward the outskirts of the city.”Now!” Luca barked into the radio. The black SUV sped up, closing the gap between the vehicles.
In one swift motion, they overtook the ambulance, cutting it off in the middle of a quiet side street. Luca and his men sprang into action, guns drawn as they surrounded the vehicle.”Out of the ambulance!” one of Luca’s men shouted, pointing his gun at the driver. The driver, confused and panicked, complied immediately.
The nurse inside the ambulance screamed, but Luca was already at the back doors, pulling them open. Jessica lay on the stretcher, “Jessica,” Luca said softly, holstering his gun and leaning in close. “It’s me. I’m getting you out of here.”She blinked at him,”Luca?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, motioning to his men. “Let’s move. We don’t have much time.”With practiced efficiency, they lifted Jessica from the stretcher and transferred her into the back of the SUV.
The SUV peeled away from the scene, leaving the abandoned ambulance and its shaken staff in the dust.
Hours later, they arrived at a safe house far from the city. The secluded property was hidden deep in the woods, the perfect place to lay low until they could figure out their next move.
Luca carried Jessica inside, his arms strong but gentle as he placed her on a bed in one of the upstairs rooms. Jessica’s eyes fluttered open as she took in her new surroundings. “Where are we?”
“Somewhere safe,” Luca replied, sitting on the edge of the bed. “You’re going to be okay now.”Jessica’s voice was weak, but her eyes were full of determination. “She won’t stop, Luca. Mrs. Rose… she’ll come for me.”Luca nodded, his jaw clenched. “I know. But we’ll be ready.”
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Jessica allowed herself to relax, her body sinking into the soft mattress beneath her. She was free, at least for now.
But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning of the fight. As Luca stood and turned to leave the room, Jessica’s voice stopped him.
“Luca,” she called, her voice trembling. “Why did you come for me? Why did you risk everything?”Luca turned back to face her, his eyes full of a raw emotion he hadn’t shown before.
“Because you’re important, Jessica. And because I won’t let her win.”
With that, he left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Outside, Luca leaned against the wall of the house, taking a deep breath.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, glancing at the message on the screen. It was from one of his contacts.
“Mrs. Rose knows. She’s already looking for her.”Luca’s heart sank, but he quickly composed himself. He had anticipated this. They would have to stay one step ahead, always moving, always prepared.
The war with Mrs. Rose was far from over. But for now, at least, Jessica was safe.
Luca slipped his phone back into his pocket, his mind racing with plans. He wouldn’t let Mrs. Rose destroy everything. Not this time.
And as the sun set behind the trees, casting long shadows over the house, Luca knew one thing for sure: he would protect Jessica, no matter the cost.