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Chapter one
Anthony
I leaned against the hood of my car, surveying the scene in front of me. It was a busy night on the streets of the city, and I had been driving for hours. I was tired, but I couldn't go home yet. I had one more pickup to make.
As I watched the people passing by, my eyes wandered to a woman walking down the street. She was beautiful, with long, dark hair and a confident stride. She caught my eye, and I couldn't look away.
I watched as she passed a group of men hanging out on the corner. They leered at her, making suggestive comments and gestures. She tried to ignore them and continue on her way, but I could see the anger and frustration in her eyes.
I felt a twinge of sympathy for her. I knew what it was like to be vulnerable and powerless in the face of danger. I had been there before and didn't want anyone else to experience that fear.
I got out of my car and approached the men. They looked at me suspiciously, but I held up my hands in a gesture of peace.
"Hey, guys," I said, trying to sound friendly. "I couldn't help but notice that you were harassing that woman. Why don't you leave her alone and find something else to do?"
The men looked at me like I was crazy, but I didn't back down. I stood my ground, determined to protect the woman from harm.
Finally, one of the men spoke up. "Who do you think you are?" he sneered. "Mind your own business."
I didn't flinch. "Iamminding my own business," I replied. "My business is making sure that innocent people don't get hurt. So why don't you back off before things get ugly?"
The men exchanged glances, and I could see the fear in their eyes. They knew I was ready to take action. They backed away, muttering curses and insults under their breath.
I turned to the woman, who was still standing nearby. She looked at me with a mix of gratitude and suspicion.
"Are you okay?" I asked her.
She nodded, still wary. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for your help."
I smiled at her. "No problem. I'm just doing my job."
I turned and walked back to my car, feeling satisfied. I had done something good tonight, something that mattered. I had protected a woman from harm, and in doing so, I had felt a sense of purpose.
But who was this woman? What was her story? I felt a strange pull towards her, a sense that I wanted to know more.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I didn't have time for distractions. I had a job to do and a daughter to take care of. I couldn't afford to get side-tracked.
As I returned to the driver's seat of my car, I stared out at the sea of vehicles that surrounded me. My heart was still pumping, and thoughts about what just had happened were replaying in my head. Over the years, I had learned to mind my own business, as getting involved with others only resulted in my downfall. People saw my vulnerability and used it to their advantage. But tonight had been different. I had felt the overwhelming need to step up… for her.
As I resumed my journey, the cacophony of car horns and revving engines seemed to grow louder with each passing moment. Cars, buses, and trucks occupied every inch of the road, their drivers impatiently inching forward in a chaotic dance of metal and rubber.
The sun had just set, casting an orange glow over the endless stream of vehicles. The headlights of oncoming cars beamed into my eyes, temporarily blinding me as I struggled to maintain my focus. My shoulders ached from the hours spent behind the wheel, and my mind was numb from the constant stress of navigating through the traffic.
As I thought of my daughter, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, making me feel like a prisoner in my vehicle. My arms felt heavy as I clutched the steering wheel, and my eyes drooped, tempting me to surrender to the desire to rest again for just a moment.
But I couldn't afford to lose my focus. I needed to deliver my boss's package by the end of the day, so I pushed myself to keep going. The radio blared in the background, providing a momentary distraction from the madness outside.
When James had called earlier, I was certain that it was bad news. He made it clear that the package I was delivering was very dear to the boss, and I couldn’t screw it up. I definitely did not want any altercations with my boss. All I wanted was to provide for myself and my daughter and maintain a roof over our heads. It could get scary around there.
I dialed my daughter's nanny.
"Hi, it's Anthony," I said when she answered. "I'm sorry, but I will be a bit late picking up Amanda."
Mrs. Tom was sympathetic. "No problem at all, Anthony," she said. "Is everything okay?"
I sighed. "Yeah, it's just been a long day at work. I had some unexpected things come up, and I'm still trying to finish them before I can leave. I hope to be there within the next hour or so."
"Don't worry about it, Anthony," Mrs. Tom reassured me, "We'll be here for as long as you need us to be. Your daughter is safe and sound, and we'll take good care of her until you arrive."
