•c h a p t e r 07•

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"You could speak English this whole time!" I repeat to him just to make sure I said it out loud

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"You could speak English this whole time!" I repeat to him just to make sure I said it out loud.

He only nods as he speeds around the back roads, confirming that I've been making a fool of myself this whole time. Of course he speaks English. He had me use my very rusty Spanish on him and he could understand everything I had said including that Michael heard me...

I shiver just thinking about Michael.

I left him. That's what kind of friend I've become- the kind that leaves someone behind while they're bleeding to death. Have the police found him? Is he in route to the hospital yet? Is he still alive?

A big part of me wants to blame the cops for running my name through the system, to blame Eli for searching for me or any of the above but the truth is, it's my fault. I never should have run from him. Now my only real friend is alone and possibly dead while I'm letting a confirmed killer drive me around like Miss Daisy.

Luca, if that's even his real name, was playing me the whole time pretending not to be able to speak. I would have been kind to him regardless of who he was but I have a weak spot for those who need help; like a hungry hobo. Just like Michael did for me.

He will survive. He has to...

My shaking hand wipes away tears before they have a chance to fall. I have to push Michael to the back of my mind and concentrate on the situation at hand.

Luca just drives us silently into the night like it would cause him physical pain to talk to me. So I spend the down time thinking about my situation. My nerves are getting to me and I need to collect my thoughts before opening my mouth again.

If Eli was after me, he would most likely never hurt me so why would he send those guys to destroy my home and shoot Michael? How would I keep up with his condition since I left my money, wallet and phone at home? As far as that goes, I'm at the mercy of the hobo. Speaking of, how could Luca have known those men were coming unless he works for Eli, or worse, against him? If he was with him, I'd be dragged back there and if he were against him, I could be used as bait. Until I find out how he's involved, I can't trust Luca.

"I have a few questions. I'd appreciate an answer, even if its vague." I say somehow with more confidence than I feel.

He stays impassive.

"Okay," My eyes roll instinctively at him. "First, are you actually living on the streets?"

He nods.

"The car is stolen I guess," I mumble to myself. "Do you work for a man named Eli?"

Slowly, he shakes his head 'no'.

"Did you take me for ransom?"

He pumps the breaks and looks me over in confusion. Obviously he didn't know I could be ransomed until I opened my trap. Way to go, Constance.

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"Guess not." I sigh under my breath, "Is the safe place we're supposedly going to out of town?"

He nods.

"Okay, then can I turn on the radio?" Instead of answering, he gestures towards the console.

Without missing a beat I turn on the radio and search for a decent station. He doesn't seem to care what I put on which I would be grateful for if only he seemed to ever care about anything at all.

"Last question. Did you happen to steal any food when you pinched the car? Stress makes me hungry and leaving a dying friend behind is very stressful."

***

We drove for what felt like an eternity but in reality it was only like six hours. Luca didn't say one word to me the entire drive. If he hadn't yelled at me when I was behind the bushes and argue with me over Micha- well, the point is I wouldn't have known he could speak more than one word at a time.

We only stopped once for gas but I wasn't allowed to get out. When I said I had to pee, he handed me an old coffee container that came out of nowhere. I told him I'd rather pee in the car and he just shrugged.

Not like he cares. It's not his car and not his bladder.

Eventually we stop outside of a very dilapidated house. The grass is taller than the porch and multiple windows are busted out from plants growing on the inside. There's a fence around it but it's hardly noticeable. Over all, the house looks like it's either haunted or recently exorcised and I'm not really sure which is worse.

"Great place to hide a body," I say out loud.

Surprisingly, Luca says nothing.

He grabs my pink polka dotted duffel bag that I didn't see him pack before and jumps out of the car. When I don't follow behind him, my door swings open and he offers me his hand.

"I'm not getting out here." I cross my arms.

Not taking 'no' for an answer, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me out despite my kicking and hitting. The car beeps, signaling it's locked and he lets me down- more like drops me like a sack of potatoes.

"What was that for?" I groan as I rub my butt where I landed.

Instead of answering, he turns and walks to the back yard which is equally abandoned and creepy, leaving me alone in a strange place at night. My situation is not looking great.

I start to think about my options. The car is a no go. I could walk but to where? I don't even know what city this is. The house is at the very back of a dead end road but I can't remember anything about getting here. I really should have paid attention so I'd know which direction to start walking in. Or I can go in the back yard with the homeless killer and hope I don't find a stack of bodies or a freshly dug but empty grave with my name on it.

Giving in, I decide to see what he's doing before bolting. I dust myself off and do my best 007 impersonation as I scoot across the lawn. I peek around the corner of the house and see him using his foot to find something and when he find is, he bends over to get it.

I'm not going to lie, I was checking out his butt. I shouldn't have been but I know it would make Michael proud. In fact if he were here he probably would willingly follow Luca anywhere. I was looking at him for so long thinking about 'what if's that I don't notice he stood back up and opened a secret door until he spoke to me.

"Down."

My eyes snap to his. He caught me looking at his rear end but doesn't seem to care one bit.

"You want me to go down in some random deep, dark hole behind a scary house in the middle of nowhere? Do you think I'm stupid?" I scoff. "No way am I going to be locked away again."

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