Damned: Chapter 26) Sundown

After bidding farewell to Martha, I left with James.

“So these people,” I began as I looked out at the night sky on our way back to the house, “Are you sure they’d help me?”

“I’m one hundred percent sure, Katherine.”

“Okay good, I trust you, James. Even though I only met you recently. I’ll kick myself if this turns out to be a lie.”

“You’ll what?” he almost laughed.

“For trusting people I have no reason to trust.”

“It seems like a valid point.”

“James,” I took a deep breath, “This man, Gianmarco Vincelli, I’ve heard the name before.”

“I assumed you may have heard it. Not knowing it however would always be wiser.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing good ever comes out from knowing that name, Katherine.”

“I’ve only heard about him James, from what I know is he’s not on good terms with the Rostov’s.”

“They’re rivals. Their families are against each other.”

“But why?”

“Are you really questioning me about mafia business, Katherine?” he laughed. Finally.

“Have you ever met them?” I asked curiously.

“Who?”

“Vitaly’s family.”

He hesitated for a second and answered, “I actually have.”

Honestly, I was surprised at that.

“We met at this function, when I first came here, I was searching for Vincelli. My best source was the Rostov’s.”

“And how did that turn out?”

“Surprisingly not bad,” he responded and observed my taken-back expression, “You know the saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Yet, I wouldn’t even call us friends, I don’t associate myself with such people. Acquaintances seem much preferred in such a case. A good source of information I needed.”

“Surely they wouldn’t just throw out such information to a stranger.” I opposed.

“It’s funny how these things work, Hades was no stranger to them, I simply sent my regards.”

“How cute.” I faked a smile, “Natty probably loved that.”

When I said that, there was a wash of worry across his face, “Strange girl.”

“Huh?”

“She seems very sad.”

“I assure you she isn’t.” I scoffed, remembering the way she treated me.

“There’s a lot about her you’d find quite surprising, Katherine.”

Before he could have explained further, his phone rang.

Marc.

James nodded to me to answer it as he was driving, so I placed the call on speaker.

“James, we got a problem.”

“What problem?” he replied as I listened.

“Rostov sent me on another errand and sent other men to look for Katherine. It isn’t safe for her here.”

“Well, that’s just lovely.” I inputted.

“We have a change of plans then,” James stated and stopped the car to reverse to the other way, “I know where she should go now. It’ll be safer with them.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Explain to me later.” Marc replied and ended the call.

“Where are we going, James?”

“You’ll see, we’ll get there in about ten to twelve hours. It isn’t safe to go back to the house, Rostov’s men are already looking for you and they won’t stop until they find you.”

I closed my eyes for a second and accepted my reality, “I’m sorry, James.”

He seemed confused for a second, “Sorry?”

“I never intended to get you or Marc involved in this. You have a problem of your own and I’m just a burden to you.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is.”

“Katherine, I’m helping you because I want to.”

“Why?”

“Because I for one know that you don’t want to be in this situation. At least not by yourself.”

It almost hurt how accurate he was at that. I slouched a bit on the car seat turned to look out the window where I gazed at how many stars shone above. Looking at the brightest one, I smiled a bit because it reminded me of a story she told me when I was little.

“Have you ever wished upon a star?” I began softly.

“When I was younger, yes.”

“My mom used to tell me wishing upon them was useless. She used to believe in hard work and dedication.”

“Used to?”

“Yes, she’s dead.” I sighed and turned back to him while he drove, “I can’t help but wishing she’s up there just looking over me. Laughing at my stupidity or the way I try so hard to be a proper lady. Then again, I look up and wish upon the star to bring her back to me.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Katherine.”

“It was a long time ago but it feels like just yesterday. Tell me, James, how do you use your hard work and dedication to fix the impossible?”

“Some things can’t be fixed, Katherine. And that’s the hardest part of life. We have to learn to move on whether we like it or not. Else we’ll just be stuck in the past being suffocated in our own sorrow.”

“Have you moved on?”

“My mother had her time. As much as I didn’t like it, I had to understand that.” He managed to state yet I could hear the slight break in his tone.

“Mine didn’t. Her time was stolen from her. She was murdered, James. I feel as if my entire family fell apart after that yet held on to this façade of happiness for the sake of society.”

“Things will become better with time.” I heard him mutter under his breath while my eyes slowly and helplessly shut with fatigue.

The sudden sound of a truck’s engine woke me up with a sudden gasp.

“Katherine, relax. It’s just a vehicle.” James smiled calming me down, “You fell asleep.”

“Oh,” I stiffed myself back up, “I hadn’t realized. Aren’t you tired?”

“No. Don’t worry about me. I’m not stopping until we reach our destination.”

“Road trip with Novy,” I gave a soft short laugh and turned on the radio.

“That’s one way to put it.” He smiled.

The time slowly passed by as he drove through the empty streets.

“It’s like a ghost town here.” I amused myself as I noted my surrounding there were only two to three cars behind.

A few minutes later, I noted something strange and somehow I had a feeling James understood that as well.

“James, those cars have been behind us-”

“-for a while. I know. Don’t panic. It’s okay, you’re safe.”

“Comforting.” I teased cheekily trying to push away the unpleasant thought of that being Vitaly’s men following us.

“Hold on,” he instructed as he made a sharp turn to the right when suddenly the car also did.

 James stepped on the accelerator and did the car behind us.

“Okay,” I started in a panic, “We established that they got beef with us. What do they want?”

“Well Katherine, you want to come out and ask them that?”

“Rude.” I scoffed.

“Forgive me, I haven’t catered for this.” And with that, he tried going faster.

“James,” my anxiety rose.

“Relax, I’ll get rid of them.” He smiled assuredly.

Looking out the rearview mirror, I noticed about three cars after us.

“You know how to drive right?” he suddenly asked me waiting for an answer, but continued anyway, “Doesn’t matter. Take the wheel.”

“What?”

Before he even answered he scrolled down his window, grabbed a handgun from his kit, lunging himself halfway outside to aim at the chasers. Without another moment to spear, I unbuckled my seatbelt and scooted over to the driver’s seat taking full control over the vehicle.

“Keep driving!” I heard him shout to me as he hit his hand on the top of the car as a signal to me, “And don’t turn back for me.”

Gunshots aimed at us as I continued to drive faster and faster. James climbed out of the car completely and I could hear his footsteps on the roof of the car while the sound of gunshots obstructed my hearing. From the rearview mirror, I noted James, jump onto one of the cars and kick the driver out. I was honestly amused. He’s such a badass.

This random twat driver suddenly appeared in front of me, causing me to take a sharp turn while he aimed a gun at me but was shot by James before he could have pulled the trigger. In the back, I heard a loud crash and noticed that the car James was in slammed into another. Panicking, I stopped the car.

“Oh my god.” I breathed.

Before I could have panicked even further I heard my door unlock and felt a sudden tug on my arm, dragging me out of the car. One of the men pinned me against the car and gripped onto my hair, while I attempted to punch him but he just laughed at my futile attempt.

“Oh give me a break!” I hissed through gritted teeth and kick him in his valley.

Taking that as a time free, I tried to head back to the car where another one pulled me back out and threw me forcefully to the ground where he suddenly pulled out a gun and aimed it at me. Before I could have even reacted, he was punched from the back and kicked to the ground. James stood behind in a much calm manner and looked at me worriedly.

“Are you hurt?” he asked as he offered his hand towards me.

Gladly, taking it, he guided me up and steadied me.

“I’m fine.” I forced a smile.

Within a second, James suddenly shot a person behind me who was going to attack. It was the same man who had pulled me out of the car.

“Who are they?” I frowned.

James walked up to the man and knelt down beside him, looking intently at his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, noticing his confusion.

“These aren’t Vitaly’s men.”

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