Page 62 of Caught in the Middle

Chapter Twenty

Lucy slid into the back seat of a matte black Range Rover as Elijah started the engine in silence. She stared awkwardly out of the window, up at the towering house, and realised the glass in the Range Rover was abnormally thick. She reached up to touch it, and tapped it gently. And then again a little harder.

'Bulletproof.' Elijah muttered, as he pulled out of the sprawling drive and down the windy drive.

Lucy didn't quite know what to say to him. Although she was pretty certain she had got the right man, she somehow didn't think it would be appropriate to ask him.

Hey, are you the Elijah who's mentioned on the piece of paper your rival’s gang’s boss has sewn into my top?

Yeah, it somehow didn't feel appropriate.

She was grateful that Elijah didn't try to make any type of small talk with her as he drove through North London. Despite the butterflies of unknowing fluttering in her stomach, she couldn't help but feel like royalty, being chauffeured around London in a huge car by her bodyguard.

If she was back in Swansea right now, she'd be scraping through her handbag to find coins for a bus ticket.

As the journey through London went on, she relaxed a little, watching the business men pass by on their lunch break, and the gaggles of tourists clutching their cameras. She had been to London a few times, but it still felt glamorous to her.

Lucy almost forgot why she was going to Hyde Park when she arrived.

Elijah turned off the engine and opened the door for her.

'Thanks...' she said, hopping out into car park.

Well now what?

She tried to search Elijah's eyes for a clue, she watched his body movements... but he was giving nothing away.

'I'll jog five feet behind you at all times.'

Eurgh. She guessed there was nothing else to it, she was going to have to run, goddammit.

With a heavy heart, Lucy started slowly jogging towards the entrance of the park, her brain racing with thoughts. What the fuck was she meant to do now? She could run for about thirty seconds - probably, she'd never actually tested this theory - and then what? She'd probably collapse in a heap and ask to be driven back to the mansion.

Or the hospital.

She could hear the rhythmic footsteps from Elijah behind her, as she clumsily jogged down the path, wondering what the fuck to do next.

After a few seconds, she could feel her chest start to tighten, her throat burning.

Jesus, just make it to the next tree, she told herself, staring at an old Oak tree a few meters in front of her. When she reached that, she set her sights on the next tree along. Just got to get to that one now.

And she did. Although her legs were shaking and she was getting a serious stitch, her pride weighed heavier than her tiny lung capacity.

So she carried on, to the next tree, when she felt a strong grip on her upper arm dragging her off the path.

She stumbled blindly as a figure pulled her behind the tree.

'What the-'

When she looked up to see who had grabbed her, her chest tightened even more.

She knew those shocking blue eyes.

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