AllFreeNovel
Share Us
On the screens, I notice the police are going crazy, lighting up London with their blues and reds, the sirens howling through the streets. I shut them off by the Museum of London Docklands, ensuring the traffic is so wild that they cannot get through. I then focus back on the truck, on getting it to point B with no hiccups.
The job is done within ten minutes. I delete my codes to hand back control of London's Closed Circuit System and sit back, clasping my hands together in my lap.
I listen to a commotion in the background on the phone, an array of voices saying, “We need to go. You get the money. I'll burn the truck. Tell Charlie I'll drop the money off to Andres.”
Charlie...
“You did well, my little pet,” Maksim says, pulling me from my crushing thoughts, “but I never for a second doubted you.” He goes quiet for a moment, and I suspect he's covering the phone speaker because I cannot hear a thing. Then, his voice fills my ears, “I want you at my house in an hour. I'll be here waiting for you.”
“Of course,c?pMaksim,” I whisper. “See you soon.”
We bid each other goodbye and I hang up the phone, wondering what he has in store for me. I've done everything he's asked of me, so he has to be happy with me. He has to be. If he isn't, I'm not sure I can handle his wrath right now. I'm not in the right frame of mind.
“Don't think of that, Blaire,” I beg myself.
———
Pushing to my feet, I make my way out of my apartment, grabbing my keys and my gun off the kitchen countertop on my way out. I shove my gun in my inside jacket pocket, just as my mobile pings with a text message.
Checking the screen, I see it's from Decena.
My heart drops through me like a boulder. Why's he texting?
Eyes glued to my phone, I subconsciously press for the elevator and step inside, torn for whether I should read the message—itching to read it.
I shouldn't. I need to let go of Charlie. I need to let go of the past two months if I'm to get back to normal. Maksim will appreciate me getting back to normal, and even more so if I suffer no problems. He won't hurt me if I behave.
My heart splitting in two, I delete the message without reading it and exit the elevator when the steel brushed doors slide open.
The lobby is dead quiet, like my apartment.
I carry on through the building, pushing open the underground car park doors with effort because they're so heavy.
In the car park, it's cold and dark, the ceiling lights flickering on and off; buzzing with electricity.
I reach my car and click the keys to unlock it, making it beep and flash. I remember Charlie asking me stupid questions about this car. Why does my chest ache when I think about him?
Sinking into the driver's seat, I press the button to beckon the purring engine, and while my car warms up, I scroll through my other unread messages on my mobile.
James has been going nuts. I've got over thirty messages from him, asking if I'm okay; where am I.
- Blaire where are you? I'm in Maksim's house looking for you. People are saying that Charlie Decena just shouted at everyone to leave the kitchen, though not you. Are you okay? I need a favor. Text me back ASAP. -
- Is it true that you had a fight with Charlie yesterday because he tried to kiss you? I've just overheard Maksim telling Rumo. -
- Blaire I'm worried. It's been over a week since anyone has seen or heard from you. Text me back to let me know you're still alive. -
- I've been to your apartment and taken some of your money. I'm hiring someone to find you. I have to know you're okay. You've been missing for three weeks now. -
- Blaire things are getting strange. MI5 have been to see Maksim. Your image and your fingerprint have been processed through the British system without Maksim's knowledge. What the fuck is going on? -
- Maksim has tried to pay off MI5 so they stop your search but they won't. They say the order has come from above. Where the fuck are you? -
- Some Latin American guy called Nicolas is in Maksim's office with him. He's trying to find out where you come from, asking questions about your parents. Please, I'm begging you Blaire if you can, message me back. -
- Blaire I'm fucking nervous. Charlie is at one of Maksim's parties and he's making a show of his feelings for you, saying how lovely you are; that he'd like to have you for himself. What's going on? I'm losing the plot here! -
- If you're getting my messages, here's an update. Tatiana has just flown in. She's going crazy at Maksim for supposedly bartering you. Why haven't you texted me back to tell me what's going on? Are you staying with Charlie? -
