55. Zola

Chapter 55

Zola

W e were leaving the city of New York and heading toward the outskirts and slowly I was becoming even less familiar with my surroundings. We were going toward Westchester County, but that was all I could tell. Something bothered me. What had me alarmed was the fact more security wasn’t present. It was only the two guys in front and Detective Mellor seated by my side and none of them were speaking to each other. Detective Mellor had been courteous with Matthew and Sarah, but now she didn’t seem very familiar or friendly to the men in front. Were they just being somber and vigilant because of Matthew and Sarah’s passing?

Regardless, I felt uncomfortable, and I didn’t know what to attribute it to. Something was wrong. I felt it in my bones.

“Where are we going?” I asked Detective Mellor.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be there soon,” she said with a smile, but I’d never seen her smile like that before, and it made my skin tingle. Something was definitely wrong.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

I managed a tight smile and nodded.

She turned to stare outside the window and I did the same. I recalled I still had my phone on me. I was tempted to call Dante and tell him where we were, but something about Detective Mellor made me think I shouldn’t do it in front of her.

We pulled into a gas station. The driver got out and began filling the gas tank while the man in the passenger seat stayed in the SUV.

“I’m going to get something to drink. Want to come with me?” Detective Mellor asked.

“No,” I said instinctively.

“Suit yourself,” she said and got out.

I watched as she walked towards the store. I knew I had to call Dante in private. Before I could talk myself out of it, I pushed the door open and went after her.

She looked behind her, saw me and gave me a peculiar look.

“I’m a bit hungry,” I said.

She forced a smile, but it wasn’t as friendly as it once was. My skin began to tingle as I headed over to the fridge to get a bottle of water.

As I pretended to stare through the glass at the multiple choices, I surreptitiously pulled out my phone and started to dial his number. It began to ring and I put the phone to my ear, but a disapproving voice behind me made me nearly jump out of my skin.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I spun around and stared at Detective Mellor. She looked very displeased.

“Um … I wanted to make a quick call.”

“You can’t do that,” she snapped.

“I can’t? Why not? We’re not at the safe house yet.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “From the moment we left your apartment you're not allowed to be in contact with anyone, especially Moretti.”

She came forward and snatched the phone from me. For a couple of seconds, I was so shocked I just stood there like a statue.

“Hey!” I called out, but she didn't respond.

She just kept going and I had no choice but to run after her. She disappeared into a hallway, and I immediately assumed she was going to destroy my phone in the toilet, so I ran after her.

“Detective Mellor!” I called out desperately, but there was no one in the hallway. It was dim, illuminated only by the light from the store.

“Detective Mellor!” I called again, but there was no response. Sudden and paralyzing fear filled my chest and I immediately began to back away. I turned around to run and slammed straight into what could have been a huge boulder. But it was no boulder. It was a hulking man. The impact jarred up my spine and sent me flying to the floor. I hit my head and literally saw stars. For a few seconds, amidst the blinding pain, I had no idea where I was or what was happening. I raised my head and felt something wet trickling down my neck.

Blood. My blood.

The details didn’t matter, but I knew for sure. I had made a terrible mistake. I had trusted the wrong person. Dante was right. Without him, I was dead meat.

I tried to get up.

I tried to fight the pain and the blackness, but it was impossible. After I tried to pull my body up and stand, I realized I couldn’t. My legs felt like jelly. All I could do was cower in a fetal position.

“Dante,” my heart breathed as I squeezed my eyes shut. In my head came images of him washing and drying my hair in London in the warm yellow light of the bedside lamps. How beautiful it had been. Oh, if only I could go back. I love you, Dante. I really, really love you.

Then everything went dark.