Desolation (New Rochelle Mafia #1)

14. CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14

ELODIE

I t’s been two days. They still haven’t found Reba and I’m getting really antsy. I told them if she wasn’t found in two days I was turning myself in to Dominic somehow. The question is, how am I getting out of here without Drake seeing me? I’m going to have to get really creative.

My injuries are healing slowly. I’ve mostly been sleeping while Drake has been meeting with Gio and Anthony trying to figure out where Reba is. I’m getting restless and find myself needing to move around some.

I decide to head down to the kitchen to grab a snack and scope things out. I haven’t seen Drake for a few hours so I am hoping he might be with Evan or something. When I pass one of the guards in the living room I ask where he is. They confirm that he’s at the office with Evan.

While I’m eating, I look up book stores nearby that have a back entrance for deliveries. The only way I am going to be able to get away is by giving one of the guards the slip. Finishing up my snack, I look around for the guard I need. Walking over to him I ask, “Can you take me to the bookstore please? It’s just a few blocks away and I’d like to walk to it. I need a break from here for a little bit.”

He looks nervous, like he’s about to refuse, but Gio walks in.

“It’s okay, Leon. You can take her, but stay close and don’t be gone longer than an hour or I’m coming to find you,” he says, looking pointedly at me. Pretty sure he thinks he knows what I’m about to do, but he can’t deny me because he told me I’m free to come and go.

Nodding my head, I walk to my room to get ready.

Sliding on a pair of leggings and a light sweater, I grab my phone and my wallet. I only have about $20 but it’s not like I’m actually going to buy anything anyway. But I need to make it look good. Slipping on my shoes I look around and decide I’m ready. When I was in the kitchen, I took a knife from the drawer. It isn’t a great weapon, but it’s better than nothing.

I’m terrified. Hands shaking, and stomach queasy, I meet Leon by the elevator and down we go. It’s a long drive to New Rochelle from here and I have no idea how I’m going to get there. Should I try Reba’s phone? Gio said it was going straight to voicemail but I’ll have to give it a try. Otherwise, it’s like a seven hour walk. Which is insane, but I’ll do it if it means getting Reba back.

When we get to the front door of the building I can see it’s bustling with people outside. Good, that will make it easier to get lost in the crowds when I do go out the back. I feel bad for Leon, because he will likely get in trouble for this, but I’m fairly certain they won’t kill him.

Or at least I hope they won’t.

Drake is going to be furious though. I know that. Wincing, I sigh. He’s just going to have to deal with it and figure out a way to get me out of there. That’s all there is to it. I haven’t made any promises to Drake. I’m still trying to reconcile the fact that he stalked me for eight years with him saying he loves me.

How is this even my life?

We make it the three blocks to the bookstore. Walking in the door I see that it’s going to be perfect for what I want to do. Tall rows of bookshelves line the walls. There are also three tall rows of shelves with books on both sides in the middle. Looking through the middle row I see the edge of the back door. Now I just have to get to it.

Deciding that I need to at least look around for a minute I walk along the rows farthest away from the view of the back door. I see several books I’ve been wanting to read and I pull them off the shelves and carry them, trying to make it look as if I’m actually going to buy them.

Leon looks embarrassed at some of the titles I have picked out. I can’t blame him. They are pretty dark and smutty. Turning to him, I ask, “Can you hold these for a sec? I need to use the restroom. ”

“Uh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea, ma’am. I’m supposed to stay with you,” Leon says.

“I’m sorry but I really have to go and you are not coming to the bathroom with me. I’m sure that Gio would say the same,” I say looking at him like he’s a creep.

Groaning, he sighs, “Okay, I’m not a weirdo geez. Just hurry please.”

Smiling, I head toward the back. Looking behind me. I see him looking around nervously as if to make sure no one is following me. This is my chance, he isn’t really paying attention to back here so I slip out the back door, shutting it quietly behind me. I’m glad I got out of there, but now the nervousness is setting in a little bit.

I’m in an alley that runs behind all the buildings on this block. I don’t want to go in the direction of Gio’s building so that I don’t run into any of his people. Going the opposite way I walk down two blocks and make a left. This puts me going in the opposite direction again.

Pulling out my phone, I try Reba’s number. It goes to voicemail but I decide to leave a message. “Reba, please call me back. I don’t know where you are or what you’re doing but call me back. I’m really worried about you.” Hanging up, I think to myself that if they are monitoring her phone they will see the voicemail.

I’ve never been on my own in the city. On field trips the teachers or parents were always with us and we were in groups. Muggings and kidnappings happen frequently here. I realize that before I’m able to find Dominic's people or get to them, someone else may snatch me up. Shit. What am I doing?

Turning, I notice a black van coming in my direction and before I can even make a move to run, the door slides open and someone grabs me, pulling me into the van. There are two guys, in all black with masks on their faces. Fuck. This is not good.

“Dominic has been looking for you, little girl,” one of them says. “He’s gonna be really happy that we got to you before someone else did.”

The next thing I know, something hits the back of my head and I fall into darkness.