Page 2 of Lani

His eyes widen in shock, and he lets me go so he can grab his nose. I push him away from me and run back inside of the warehouse just as Caesar is running out.

He pulls me into his body and tries to calm me. I know I’m shaking. I’m really freaked out. I never expected that it would get this bad.

I hear a loud thump as Freddy pounds his fists against the door. I stop breathing, and Caesar takes ahold of the handle, keeping him from getting inside.

“Go hide, girls, now!” Caesar demands in a voice I’ve never heard him use before. I grab Julie’s hand and we take off towards the back of the warehouse.

My knees feel weak and my heart is pounding so fast that I actually feel sick. I can’t breathe, terror is filling every part of my body and it gets worse when I hear Caesar yelling. Then a gunshot rings out.

Julie looks at me, her eyes wild. I don’t bother hiding because that shit will only get you caught and I’m not going to let that happen.

So I head straight for another exit. Julie tries to take her hand from mine. “We need to hide!” she whisper-yells.

“No, I’m not going to be a fucking sitting duck.” I stop for a second, putting my finger to my mouth as we listen for footsteps.

When I hear someone running, I spot a bunch of chests and I form an idea. I run across the room where the exit is, slamming the door shut, then running back and ducking behind the chests. I pull Julie with me, putting my hand over her mouth so she doesn’t make a sound.

I peek up just as Freddy runs past, then duck my head. The door opens and slams shut. I peer over just slightly and see him walking outside, so I grab Julie’s hand and drag her out. “Come on, we’ve got to help Caesar!”

A hand reaches out and grabs my arm, and I start to fight then see it’s Caesar. I hug him tightly and notice blood on his arm. “Oh my god, did he shoot you?” I whisper-yell, and he nods. “He just grazed me though.”

That’s when I form an idea. I call my brother. He can hack into the cameras and help us stay hidden.

“Hello sister,” he says cheerfully, and I almost fall to the floor at the sound of his voice, I’m so scared.

“Jordan, I need your help.” I can hear the desperation in my voice. Julie clutches me, and Caesar holds the both of us.

“What’s the matter?” he demands, the lightheartedness gone in an instant.

“Remember the stalker? Well, he has finally cracked. He’s currently trying to find us in the warehouse where I had a shoot earlier. He shot Caesar, who was trying to protect me,” I rush out as loudly as I dare. I can hear my brother’s fingers tapping on his keyboard.

“I just alerted the police. Freddy’s currently coming in the front door of the warehouse.” He taps more. His voice is void of emotion and I hold my breath, scared.

“Let’s go get in my car and drive off!” I throw out an idea. We’re already close to the back entrance where I parked.

“Run fucking now! He heard you, Lani!” Jordan roars, and I grab both Julie and Caesar and tear out of the door. I unlock my car and jump in the front seat, hitting the locks the second everyone is inside.

Freddy sprints out of the door, his eyes wide as he looks at me through the glass. I put the car in drive, and my tires squeal as I pull out into traffic and he tries to run to catch up to me.

“Lani, pull over at the gas station up the road. A police officer is waiting there for you, honey.” My brother’s voice is calm; that’s the only thing keeping me together right now.

I sniff, using one hand to dry my eyes, “Thank you, Jordan, stay on the phone with me.”

“I have some friends that live in LA. They’ll be out there ASAP to bring you home. The MC is going to send the jet.”

I sigh in relief. I just want to get so far away from here as fast as I can. “I’ll call you back, Jordan.” I hang up the phone and look in the mirror to Julie and Caesar, who are in the back seat.

“I am so sorry, you guys,” I sob, barely making it to the gas station as I let the fear take over, along with some major guilt because they had to suffer with me.

“It’s okay, don’t be sorry, and it’s not your fault,” Caesar reassures me, and I let out a deep breath, composing myself because the police officer is making his way over to me.

I pull open my door and step out. His eyes move from the top of my head to my feet, flaring as he recognizes me.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” He reaches for my arm to help me out of my car, and the others follow out behind me. Julie grabs my hand and stands next to me as we explain what happened.

A few officers load out towards the direction of the warehouse. It’s all a blur as everything happens around me and the police ask me a hundred and one questions.

Julie and Caesar leave soon after the police assure me that they are searching for Freddy. They barely say bye to me when they get into their taxi.

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