~Chase~
Through the cab window, I watched Elise play fetch with Hunter in the garden. It was early Saturday morning. Leo, Julian, Miles, and Derek were supposed to come over later for our weekend backyard barbecue. I wonder if I’d get an invitation from Sofia to come over later.
My chest clenched, squeezing my insides. It was a struggle to breathe.
How did this become my life?
I look over my fiancee and daughter through the backseat window of the cab like I’m some fucking creep.
“Are they your family, son?” The elderly cabby asked.
His curious eyes met mine through the rearview mirror, a gentle smile etched on his lips.
“Yeah. My wife… we got into a fight.” My face scrunched, tasting lemon on my tongue.
‘Will I ever be able to call Sofia my wife?’
The cabby sighed. “Must have been a huge fight,” he said, gaze sliding towards the mansion.
“It was.”
Sofia stood in front of her garden, hands clad with gloves, holding a gardening fork. She laughed at something our neighbor said, her blue eyes narrowed to slits. The faint reverberation of her laughter drifted into the air. I closed my eyes, relishing the sound of her laughter.
God. I miss her laugh. I fucking miss her.
I opened my eyes, taking her make-up free face. Hair pulled in a messy bun, she’s wearing purple leggings and an oversized white tee. She looked better than I did.
Does she miss me too? My kisses and hugs at night? Because I do. I miss her so fucking much. It’s taking everything I have not to slide out of this cab, take her in my arms, and kiss her until she forgets to breathe.
A blur of dark brown and black fur passed by Sofia’s foot, followed by our daughter still wearing her SpongeBob onesie.
Sofia called Elise. “Be careful!”
My daughter didn’t even look back at her momma. “Yes, Mommy!” Her legs pumped fast, chasing Hunter across Mrs. Cornwell’s garden, giggling as Hunter ran back, evading her left to right, and sprinted back to our lawn.
My eyes fucking sting, and my throat grows tight the longer I stay there.
Sofia chose that moment to look in the direction of where we were parked. I got a good view of her face. Her eyes squinted, scrutinizing the cab. She couldn’t see me, but she knew it was me. Her full lips pulled into a wistful smile, lowering her gaze before she turned back to Mrs. Cornwell. Her blue eyes kept fleeting back to the cab, her lips quivering, and she kept swallowing hard, nodding at what Mrs. Cornwell was saying.
I clenched my fist. The answer to my question was a no-brainer. Sofia still loves me, and this was hurting her, too. The longing in her eyes was unmistakable.
I can’t fucking bear this anymore.
The sooner I fix this mess, the faster I could go back to her and Elise.
“Let’s go,” I instructed the driver.
His gaze was questioning, but he chose to keep his mouth shut.
Derek’s instruction was as vague as murky water. I don’t know what was waiting for me in the address he scribbled on that piece of paper. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free. The map said it was on Mt. Irid, up high on one of the mountain trails. The place was off the grid. No cellphone signal, no electricity, and apart from the hikers looking for peace and quiet, it’s as secluded as it could get, an ideal place to kill someone with a vast land to bury a dead body.
He also gave no instructions about Alice’s men, but I had already orchestrated a plan to lose them.
I packed a bag for the weekend and dressed in complete hiking gear. In my bag, I packed a cook set, mess kit, tent, food, and water to last me the weekend in the mountains. I borrowed Rafa’s gear since mine was in the mansion.
Jogging out to my car, I glanced at the car used by Alice’s men, my brows furrowing. They were out of the vehicle. One was on the phone, and the other was rolling a reserved wheel from the trunk. They had not one but four flat tires.
The guy on the phone met my gaze. He was the same one with Alice when she ambushed me about Carlota at home. His eyes narrowed to slits. I smirked at him.
He snarled on his phone, cursing whoever was on the line. I tossed my bag on the backseat and slid into the passenger side. Starting my car, I watched through the rearview mirror as he hailed a cab, ready to tail me, leaving his partner to fix their car.
My original plan was to stop in the city, board a train to the next town, then take a cab to Mt. Irid. I guess fate was on my side this time around. It was easier to lose a cab driver than those officers. They tailed me to the city proper, but I easily lost them on the highway.
If they bugged my car, they wouldn’t be able to track me once I was high enough on the mountain. Mt. Irid was practically a dead spot for technology. There were a lot of trails, and one who’s not familiar with its terrain could easily get lost.
Three hours into the drive, I rolled down the windows of my Renegade, welcoming the fresh air Mt. Irid offers. The road was rough and trees erect on each side: leaves, and branches thrusting out for the sky. I drove under the shaded forest canopy for another hour until I reached the end of the dirt path.
It was a clearing near a cliff with a view of the city, Massachusetts Bay, and the encompassing mountains.
I sat behind the wheel, watching the sunset, biding my time, soaking in the tranquility of not being followed by those annoying officers for once. The silence, the cool air, and the earnest vibrance of the setting sun made me reflect on the things that happened these last couple of days. I closed my eyes for a bit and rested my head on the steering wheel.
I still have time, I thought.
“Chase…” Sofia called my name. Her voice was a soothing balm on my tired and weary soul. Her hand on my shoulder was warm, the tension in my muscles loosening with her caress.
Dreaming about her was my favorite part of the night. At least here she doesn’t look at me with those sad eyes.
“Chase, baby… wake up.”
I groaned. Just another minute, please. I want to stay where you are, baby. Once I open my eyes, I know I’ll be alone again.
“Should I wake the fucker?” Derek groaned.
I jerked awake, my retina protesting against the blinding light pointed at my face. My heart pounded in my chest. I must’ve fallen asleep. It was already dark, and I instinctively reached into the glove compartment for my gun.
“Chase… it’s me.” I froze, head twisting to the window. I almost strained a cord in my neck.
“Sofia?” I couldn’t make out her face; the flashlight beam aimed at my face made it impossible to see who was outside my car and how outnumbered I was.
“Derek, for fuck’s sake, lower that goddamn light,” she groaned. I didn’t need more convincing than that. Sofia’s here. I scrambled out of the car, and we nearly stumbled on the ground when I drew her into my arms.
“You’re here,” I breathed, filling my lungs with her familiar sweet feminine scent.
She sighed, embracing me in return. “I’m here, babe.”