Damned: Chapter 23) Left Turn
I looked out the window towards the exit of the estate. If I were to leave now I would have to be extra cautious and not stupid like last time. Vitaly should not be able to find me yet. I grabbed the bike keys and stuffed it into my pocket. Looking around the room for the last time, I felt an ache in my chest. I didn’t want to do this but he left me no choice.
Taking a deep breath, I climbed carefully out the window. It was probably the most ridiculous thing I ever attempted but it was the only way. Getting out through the front door would have been an easy plan but it would have drawn too much attention to me. As I slowly eased myself to the nearby window, I peeked through to take note of an empty room. I wasn’t going to kill myself today by falling off a building so I cautiously entered the room. It looked like a guest room.
God Kat, think.
The only other way in which I could get out of this place was through the back exit but I had never exactly ventured around the house to say I completely knew it. I guess it was a chance I had to take. I frowned at the idea. What if I opened a door and Vitaly was right there? Taking a deep breath, I took the chance. The hall was clear. Swiftly, yet silently as I could, I made my way towards a back door. I felt an icy chill run murderously down my spine as I made my way. It felt as if time was running out and my pace was slowing down. Gravity seemed to be pulling me back into the house and my body felt numb. This was the harsh reality of my situation now. As soon as I made a turn to enter the garage, I bumped into someone.
My heart dropped as I was unsure of what I should think and do right now.
“Katherine?”
“Marc.” My voice broke in fear.
“Marc,” Vitaly’s voice echoed as he approached the garage from outside.
Ohmygod.
I quickly dashed back to the hall where I came out from, away from Vitaly’s view.
“Did you finish what I assigned you with?” Vitaly continued speaking to Marc who brushed off the confused looked and casually replied to him,
“I did. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”
“No. That’s all for today.”
With that, Vitaly walked toward the hall where I was. Panic flared within me.
“Rostov!” Marc called abruptly gaining Vitaly’s attention again. Marc walked up to him and casually walked with him to the side, “There was this file in which Richards gave, but there wasn’t an address in it. I gave it to Mikhail to see to- just thought you should be aware of it.”
“Right,” Vitaly replied, “I’ll see to it. When the document is completed I’ll personally meet Richards. He started playing around again. We can’t afford to risk this deal because of an idiotic middleman.”
As Vitaly spoke, I noticed Marc placing his hand behind his back and signaling me to get behind the car. It was a good idea since Vitaly turned his back towards me. Honestly, I didn’t know if I could trust Marc entirely but I had no other choice. Time felt like it stood still as I quickly and cautiously hid behind the vehicle.
“I’ll deliver it to him tomorrow then.” Marc finished.
“Good, I’ll send you the address.” Vitaly stated, “If that’s all then. You can leave for the day.”
“Yes, that’s all.” Marc smiled and watched as Vitaly left.
In a swift second, Marc opened the back door for me, “Get in, and lay low kid.”
Doing as he said, he hopped into the driver’s seat and proceeded to exit Rostov’s Hell-House.
I waited a minute and tried to steady my breathing before I spoke, “Now is probably a bad time to question if I should trust you, isn’t it?”
Marc gave a soft tired laugh, “I’m glad you finally came to your senses to get away from them.”
“I’m a slow learner.”
“You can sit up now, we’re almost to the highway.”
“Good, I was getting pretty uncomfortable like that,” I stated shifting upwards.
“Now, tell me, Miss Katherine, what the hell are you doing?”
With a sigh, I looked out the window. Marc noted my hesitation, “If it makes you feel better kid, I’m not working for Rostov because I want to. I just have no choice.”
Stopping at the signal, he took out a photo from his pocket and gave it to me.
My eyes softened at the photograph of a woman and a child. They looked completely harmless. The woman looked around 27 and the child seemed to be a newborn.
“Who is this, Marc?”
“My family.” He stated in a soft painful voice, “Vladimir took her.”
“Vladimir?” I asked confused.
“Vitaly’s grandfather. He took my wife.”
My heart dropped after hearing that.
“She had stepped out one night to get some groceries when I wasn’t home. She never returned back.”
“Marc, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
“I looked everyone for her Katherine until one day I found out about Vladimir. Believe me, it wasn’t easy finding out about this. Until this day I do not know where she is exactly. The old man was fixed about killing me but Rostov made a deal with me. If I could pay for her, I could get her back. I’m helpless, Katherine, I’ll do anything to get her back. I have no choice.”
“And the child?” I asked.
“He’s fine. He stays with his aunt, I’m thankful for that. The business I do with Rostov is too dangerous to keep my son with me.”
“They all are.” I frowned.
“Now enough about me, what in God’s name are you doing?”
Taking the letter I took from Vitaly’s room out of my pocket, I showed it to Marc while pointing the address.
“What the- Are you’re insane?”
“I know what I’m doing, Marc. I just need a car.”
“If Rostov finds you missing now, he won’t rest until he gets you, you know that right?”
“I know,” I sighed, “I just need some time.”
Marc gave me a worried look, “And a safe place.”
Frowning, I looked out the window feeling a bit helpless.
Taking a deep sigh, Marc spoke, “I know a guy.”
The thought of Marc betraying me and taking me back to Vitaly did occur to me but I had no other option. My head ached a little and I tightened my eyes, trying to push the pain away.
“We’ll be there in a bit, you can get some rest.”
“No, it’s alright. I’m fine.” I politely smiled.
“Katherine,” he sighed, “I understand if you don’t want to trust me, I don’t blame you. Getting involved with people like Rostov really weakens your trust in others but I promise you this kiddo, I’ll help you. I don’t want you to have a faith like mine.”
Hearing those words someone put a sense of ease in me.
“Thank you, Marc.”
After a while, I noticed that Marc had taken an odd route along a really rural area.
“Where are we?”
“Safe,” was all he stated and parked in front of a house. He nodded to me to get out of the car as he also did and walked to the side garage.
“James,” Marc called.
The garage seemed a mess with all the car tools scattered. Someone seemed to be working on repairing a car here apparently.
“Novak, where you at man?” Marc called again, “We have a little company.”
It wasn’t that long until a man around the same age as Vitaly walked out the door drinking a bottle of water. His chin-length hair framed his face perfectly well and tousled as the wind licked it. His face seemed youthful yet his facial hair gave him a grungy yet oddly attractive maturity. He frowned but his eyes read us for answers.
“What’s this about?” he knitted his eyebrows and turned his attention towards Marc.
“Kid needs a car.”
“We don’t do charity, Marc.”
“Just hear her out, James.”
He looked at me again, slightly softening his expression, “What’s your name?”
“Katherine,” I answered as I took my earrings off, “-Donovan. And I’m not asking for charity.”
Placing the earrings on the side of the table I took a casual step back, “This is all I have, I know it’s next to nothing but it means a lot to me. As soon as I reach where I need to go, I’ll return the vehicle to you- I’ll find a way.”
His harsh yet curious expression seemed glued to his face as he took the earrings in his hand and took a step closer to me. Taking my hand, he placed the earrings back into the palm of my hand and breathed, “If something means a lot to you, then there should be no excuse to trade it for anything.”
He was oddly close to me, but as soon as he noted my uneasiness, he took a step back.
“Now who exactly are you running from?” he continued.
“Our baes,” Marc interjected.
I noticed how the man’s face hardened by that and his frown deepened. At that moment, his phone rang and he excused himself.
“James’s a good guy. You can trust him.” Marc smiled at me.
“I’m just concerned with your safety now.” I frowned, “Helping me means putting your lives in danger.”
Marc gave a soft laugh, “Don’t worry so much, Kid. Rostov won’t suspect me. Honestly, I would take you to your destination myself but that’d be too risky.”
“I feel as if every decision I’ve made until this point was risky.”
“It’s all about timing now. We can’t afford to take any risks for a while.”
“So what are you two planning to do now then?” James asked from behind us with folded arms and a slightly arched eyebrow.
“She needs to keep on the down-low.” Marc replied, “And who better to approach than you.”
“Can she cook?”
“I’m trying to hide, not seek employment,” I stated.
James gave a soft chuckle and walked to continue working on the car, “Who said I was paying you?”
“My stepmother always thought me how to make different dishes, so I guess I know a few things.” I shrugged already feeling bad that they were helping me without a charge and willing to put their lives in danger because of me.
As he placed the tool to the side and looked at the car’s engine, he gave a soft smile and scoffed laugh, “I was kidding.”
The fact that these strangers were willing to help me gave me back that hope that there are still good people in the world today. Vitaly was such a disgusting man, I trusted him and he broke my trust. His grandfather is even more despicable to do such a horrid thing to Marc. I was done being their puppet. No more being used. I was done. My head ached and I felt as if the earth was slightly spinning. The sounds around me faded and I clutched onto Marc’s shirt.
“I don’t-” I mumbled and my senses cut.
The sound of a kettle going off caused me to tiredly peel my eyelids open.
“Mom?” I groaned shifting on a soft comfy sofa.
“You fainted there, kid.” Marc’s voice softened to my ears, “And you’re running a fever.”
Sitting upright on the sofa, I hugged the blanket around me. My illness really was making me feel rather chilly. The house around me was small yet cozy. I liked the ambiance of the place. Along the wall were pictures of rustic scenery of this one particular place and a few awards. A folder on the table was neatly placed and a name was printed boldly on it.
James Donatello Novak
“I’m not accustomed with having guests.” James sighed as he walked towards me and sat on the table opposite, placing a bowl of soup on the side while shifting the folder away.
“See,” I smiled weakly, “You don’t need a cook.”
“I know.” He sighed and looked at Marc who was sitting on the single sofa next to mine.
“She’s not the strongest.” He replied.
“Then we make her.”
At that moment, Marc’s phone rang and he frowned as he saw the caller.
Rostov.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, feat ate me a little on the inside.
Answering, Marc walked away to take the call.
“Relax. He isn’t going to squeal on you.” James assured me.
“It’s not that,” I whispered softly, “I’m just unsure of how Vitaly would react to my absence.”
“Well, I can name a few.”
“I’d rather not hear,” I replied burying my face in the blanket.
“So,” Marc began as he came back into the room, “He has a task for me.”
“What’s new?” James retorted.
“I somehow have a feeling it’s about searching for Katherine.”
“Well, then that’s excellent. It would buy us time.”
“Time?” I questioned.
“I need to get the car repaired.”
“He wants to meet now anyway, I’ll see how the situation is there.” Marc continued.
“Marc,” I sighed worriedly and got off the sofa, “Be careful.”
All he exchanged was an assuring smile in return and left, leaving me behind.
Looking at James cautiously, I walked around the sofa, “You’re not in the mafia right?”
“No.”
“Okay, I just wanted to be sure. Nowadays everyone is. Bad intentions are always hidden behind a smile.”
“Then I assure you, Katherine, I’m not smiling with you. Nor am I your friend.”
“Good, you can’t trust anyone.”
“Especially a man who made you soup.”
“Especially him,” I said with a soft smile.
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