Page 25 of Off-Limits Bad Boy Protector

I got the keys from one of my several chauffeurs, Michael. He handed me the keys to the car I had earlier chosen for the date, a midnight blue Rolls-Royce Phantom. I hated to admit it. I needed that ego boost. Something about Cassandra seemed to make my walls crumble.

“Good evening Mr. Woodrow,” He bowed, handing out the key. “I’ve prepared the phantom for you Sir.”I nodded curtly and grabbed it from his hands, heading towards the vehicle. “Great. You can head home for the night.”

Without turning, he heard the surprise in Michael’s voice. “Sir, there’s no other chauffeur around. I can wait for you.”I rolled my eyes. Sucking my teeth, I turned to stare at Michael, slight anger in my blue eyes. “I know what Isaid Michael. Go home and enjoy your evening.

The chauffeur rose, my eyes slightly furrowed but had a hint of a smile on my lips. “Alright Sir, thank you very much” He muttered and turned to walk away.I offered a sigh of relief before getting into the car. I flicked my wrist to stare at the time.

5:35 pm

I knew that she would be probably late. She was late almost every day at the office. It was a given. However, I would rather wait rather than her. Mostly because I could get mad and leave. Starting the engine and driving towards La Trattoria. I was humming the tune beneath my lips, when I heard my phone ringing.

I jumped in surprise and furrowed my brows. I wondered, who could be interrupting me now? An annoyed hiss escaped his lips, but then he considered that it might be Cassie calling to confirm our plans. Despite the momentary hesitation, I decided to answer the call.

The Caller ID showed an unknown number.

I let out a sigh. It was the person who had been calling and texting with weird threats. The soul I had decided to be reported to the police. Picking the call and placing it on my ear, I heard a strange voice. If you want to know your past's evils before they get to the press, then you must meet me today. Do so within the next 15 minutes at 789, H Lane.

"H Lane?" I let out a strained breath. Now it made sense! That neighborhood was known for nothing but evil and crime. My brows furrowed, my heart rate quickening. Perhaps this was just some random person who wanted to make money off me? However, the sinister calls and texts over the past few weeks had left me completely puzzled and on the edge. If the person wanted to meet, then I would be glad to!

"Who is this?" I asked, annoyance evident in my voice. The caller chuckled, and when he spoke, there was a hint of amusement that infuriated Me. "All your questions will be answered when you come, Mr. Woodrow. But don’t be too curious, or you might end up like the car." The caller laughed.

“You disgusting…”

I heard the two-toned beep indicating the call had ended from the other side. I angrily tapped my phone with my thumb and tried to call back. But, my service provider said the number was unavailable. I let out a sigh, chills running down my spine. This had to be some kind of sick joke, but I was equally sick. Sick of being the butt of these jokes. I was determined to find out who was behind it and put an end to it once and for all.

I glanced at my watch - 6pm already. I hoped I wouldn't be late and make my date wait. As I pulled out of my lane, my mind started racing. I felt annoyed and a bit uneasy, like someone was pulling the strings. But I gripped the wheel tight and hit the gas, determined to wrap this up and still make it on time.

As I approached H Lane, a shiver ran down my spine. The street was once familiar. Now it seemed ominous. Its dilapidated houses and broken streetlights cast eerie shadows. The air was thick with a foul stench, and an unsettling atmosphere hung heavy around me. I quickly wound up my windows, my heart pounding in my chest as I braced myself for what awaited me.

"I'm here anyways," he muttered. "Might as well get it over with."

I narrowed my eyes, scanning the faded numbers pinned to the walls of the buildings as I drove past. They were barely visible, some almost completely worn off due to age. Slowing down my speed, I strained my eyes as much as I could in the fading light of the day. It felt as though a train slammed into his chest when I saw the small plate with the number on it.

I drove down the dimly lit street, '789' on the old buildings. The numbers seemed almost cryptic in the fading light. Some were barely visible, covered in grime or obscured by shadows. The atmosphere felt eerie, as if the street itself held secrets that it refused to reveal. I slowed down. I strained my eyes to read the numbers. I felt a creeping unease.

I ignored the slight pounding of my heart and paused to stare at the building. It resembled a house, or at least that's what I assumed. The structure was massive, with fading blue paint and chips peeling off the walls. Only two windows were visible from the front, which struck me as odd. Overgrown vines snaked their way up the walls, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Despite the growing sense of unease gnawing at me, I pushed forward with resolve. It was a matter of pride now. I couldn't let someone play games with me and get away with it. As I approached the scary building, I felt that something was very wrong. Yet, I steeled myself and pressed on. This was about asserting my authority. It showed I wouldn't be intimidated or manipulated. So, with a clenched jaw and determined stride, I marched to the front door. I was ready to confront whatever awaited me inside.

Standing before the door, I paused, unsure of what to expect on the other side. After a moment of hesitation, I took a deep breath and raised my hand to knock. The sound echoed through the eerie silence. Each knock had a sense of finality. Yet, there was no immediate response. I waited. The tension grew with each passing second. Finally, I found the courage to knock once more. I was determined to get some answers.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. I stepped backwards, both in shock and also from the loud creaking sound. The room was dark inside. A thick shroud of darkness made it almost impossible to see any details. In the shadows, a lone bulb flickered weakly. It struggled to cast its dim light across the space. Its dim glow gave little relief. It created eerie, unsettling shadows that danced across the walls. The shadows added to the heavy sense of foreboding in the air.

I leaned forward, straining my eyes but I could only make out the far end wall where the flickering bulb was hung. I let out a sigh and was about to step forward when I noticed a hooded face standing in the way.

I could barely make out other person’s face through the shadows. This was way too much drama than I could have deal with. Rolling my eyes, I snapped."Who are you, and what's with the sick jokes?" Leo demanded, his voice tense with irritation and suspicion.

"You're looking for answers, aren't you? Then come inside. Hurry!" the person urged, their voice filled with desperate urgency. I frowned. Now that the sound wasn't muffled, I could tell it was a woman's voice. It felt strange. Even though I felt uneasy, I walked into the dark room without thinking much.

Chapter 17

Iblinked and struggled to adjust my eyes to the darkness. I turned my gaze to the flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling. The bulb did almost nothing to light the room. The room was shrouded in darkness, including the strange shadows on the walls.

My heart was beating fast, and I gritted my teeth. Coming here alone was a bad idea, but I had to see it through now. Blinking a few times, I felt better as my eyes got adjusted to the dim light, and I could see the room a bit more clearly.

I turned around, my movement a bit more jerky than usual. The room was a living room. A smaller one. The wallpaper on the wall was peeling, like the paint outside. There were dusty old couches leaning against the walls. The curtains were torn and ugly, and I could have sworn, I could smell the legions of mites in the room.

My eyes adjusted to the darkness. I finally noticed the two chairs. They were placed facing each other in the center of the room, divided by a small table. A hand wrapped around his arm, and he jumped.

---