Page 103 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

Maybe things will be better this time for my career and heart.

Chapter 27

It’s late afternoon bythe time our car drives us up to the gates. We’re all a little knackered between the flights and the excitement of meeting with the executives at the record label. Eden’s slumped over a passed-out Haze. Asher’s completely zonked out, and only me and Callum are wide awake. Although I can see the latter is twirling his fag between his fingers, eager to get out and light it.

“I thought those things have no nicotine in them,” I say, my eyes darting to his fag.

He looks at me and grins but doesn’t comment. The car suddenly stops at the gate, and just as I’m about to say something, Rick lowers the glass.

“Something’s going on. You all need to remain here. I’ve instructed the driver to keep driving until the cops arrive.” Seconds later, he gets out of the car, and I watch him draw his gun.

As the car pulls away, my gaze shifts to the wide-open front door, and Catalina stands beneath the light sensor. Her face is marked with bruises, tears cascade down like a waterfall, and an expression of bewilderment paints her features.

“Is that Catalina?” Callum's surprised voice pierces through the tension.

As if stirred by the mere mention of her name, Eden and the others snap awake.

“What’s….” Her voice trails off as she takes in the unfolding scene ahead, impulsively swinging open the door to the moving vehicle, ready to jump out.

Haze acts swiftly, reaching out to yank her back.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

“That’s Catalina!” Eden exclaims in a panic. “What’s going on? Stop the car!” she demands, her urgency turning into a yell.

Haze, closest to her, locks his arms around Eden, grounding her, and I reach out to shut the door.

“Calm down, Eden,” I assert. “Rick instructed the driver to keep going around the neighborhood until the police arrives.”

“No!” she screams, her eyes wide with fear. “Goddammit! Stop the car and let me out!”

She squirms in Haze's tight grip. "Let go of me!"

"Not until you calm down, Eden," Haze insists. "Opening doors in moving cars is not smart."

“Catalina is hurt, for Christ’s sake!”

“We know that, darling,” I reassure, “that’s why Rick has gone to her. But he needs to make sure the threat is no longer there.”

Her face is a storm of emotions—anger, fear, and concern. Her struggle gradually subsides as the gravity of the situation sinks in.

We continue to drive around in silence, and after twenty minutes, it feels like an hour has passed. We all worry in anticipation of finding out what happened.

Finally, my phone buzzes, and it’s Rick. He tells me to instruct the driver to bring us back but refrains from going into many details. The police have arrived and are currently taking a statement from Catalina.

As we drive through the property gates, the area is lit with lights from the two police cars and the ambulance. A medic is treating Catalina’s injuries, and Rick is talking with two police officers.

As soon as the car comes to a stop, Eden rushes out towards Catalina. I join her while Haze goes to Rick and the officers to get more information.

“My god, Catalina, what happened? Are you okay?”

Suddenly, she looks up at Eden and bursts out crying.

“I’m sorry, Eden. I tried to fight them, but they were bigger and stronger. I couldn’t stop them.”

“I don’t understand.” Eden looks at her, perplexed.

But I look around and then at Haze, who gives me a shake of his head, and it suddenly dawns on me.

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