Page 52 of Scar

“Your security team has been compromised. You need to come with me,” he insists, although I sense no panic in his voice.

“Who are you?” I repeat, feeling uncertain about following a stranger into an unknown destination. Masked men only exist in movies and books; they're not a part of my reality. Can I truly trust this person? But then again, it does make sense that my security team was nowhere to be found when I was being dragged into this dangerous alley.

He sighs and answers, “A friend of a friend.”

Maybe it's naive of me, but that's enough assurance for me to turn and let him lead me through the maze of buildings towards a waiting car.

I am hesitant when he asks me to put on a blindfold and duck into the backseat of the car “for my own safety,” ashe claims. But I comply and lay down in the backseat with the blindfold over my eyes as he drives and drives and drives. I have no idea where we are going, and the man doesn't engage me in any conversation beyond a grunt here and there for one-word answers.

We continue driving for what feels like hours before coming to a stop. I can hear birds chirping outside and feel the heaviness of trees surrounding the car; we must be somewhere deep in the wilderness. My gut instinct is to run, but I am most likely in the middle of nowhere, at the mercy of this masked man who may finish what my attacker started in the alleyway.

This has Benita's fingerprints all over it. The thought that she may have outsmarted me stings.

The masked man seems to know what I am thinking because he repeats his earlier words: “Don’t be afraid. This will all be over in a few minutes.”

His phone rings, and I listen closely as he answers with another grunt. I catch every word, tone, and inflection as he speaks into the phone.

“She's here. She's safe.”

He falls silent, listening to the person on the other end before saying his final words and hanging up. I hear a door open, then feel a cool breeze as my door opens and the masked man asks me to sit up. He gently guides me out of the car by placing his hand under my arm before removing my blindfold. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright light filtering through the towering trees above us.

We are in the middle of nowhere. I look around; trees upon trees surround us on all sides. In between a few trees, I see an old rustic cabin with a wide porch made of aged wood and a rocking chair in one corner.

The masked man points towards the cabin with his finger.

“Go sit on that rocking chair and wait for your visitor. I won't leave until I know you're safe.”

His face is still hidden behind his mask, but his eyes exude warmth and protection. I can tell this man has no intention of harming me. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have done so already. Even with his face covered, I feel like I would recognize those eyes if I ever saw them again. He doesn't mean me any harm, but I don't know him or his intentions.

Instinctively, I place my hands over my stomach in a protective gesture. This has become second nature to me since discovering my pregnancy. I must learn not to do it in public, or someone might figure out my secret. I am determined to keep this baby safe.

The man's gaze follows my movement and lingers on my stomach for what feels like an eternity before returning to meet my eyes. There is a quiet anger in his expression as he looks at me before speaking once more.

“Donna Gatti, you’re safe here.”

CHAPTER 46 – ALLEGRA

I follow the masked man's instructions and take a seat on the creaky rocking chair, my heart pounding with tension. He watches me from his car as I sit in silence, the stillness of the woods suffocating. After what feels like hours, he raises his phone to his ear and says something before driving away without a word.

Minutes pass slowly, each one filled with excruciating anticipation. My nerves are frazzled, every sound amplified in the quiet surroundings. Suddenly, I hear it - the crunch of leaves under heavy footsteps. My pulse quickens as I strain to listen. The steps are approaching from behind the cabin, coming closer by the second.

My breath catches in my throat, and I stand up slowly from the rocking chair, my body tense with fear. But then something about the way this person walks, his movements, triggers a glimmer of recognition. Confusion washes over me as I try to make sense of it all.

As he comes into view, I see that he’s wearing overalls and a hoodie, but the bulk beneath suggests a male figure carrying a rifle on his shoulder. Fear grips me even tighter as he gets closer. But when he finally lowers his hood, I can't believe my eyes.

“Scar?” I whisper in disbelief, my voice trembling with a mix of emotions. He stops just a few paces away, and I think thatI must be dreaming, but when he reveals his face, shock nearly knocks me off my feet.

I want to think it's some sort of trick, but deep down I know it's really him. It's Scar. A flood of emotions overwhelms me - relief, joy, pain, disbelief. Tears blur my vision as I take a small step forward, my hand grasping for something stable as my heart plummets into a cold abyss of hurt.

“Allegra,” he murmurs roughly, and in that moment, it feels like we're the only two people in the world, standing in the quiet woods. The conflicting emotions of relief and betrayal war within me, leaving me breathless and unsure of what to do or say.

I manage to get out a choked “How?” The weight of my shattered heart is carried by that single word. His eyes mirror the same tumultuous emotions as mine, and they lock onto my face.

I can't look away from him, as a hundred different feelings surge within me. He says nothing as he gently takes my hand and leads me into the dense forest. His touch reassures me that this isn't just a dream; he's here, alive, and we're walking side by side through a forest. I have no idea where we are going or how we got here. My mind is in chaos, and I am completely lost, stunned into quiet submission.

I shake my head and pick up my pace, feeling the branches lash at our bodies as we push through the thick trees. Each step serves as a reminder of the surreal reality I am facing - Scar, alive and guiding me through the woods. My emotions are all jumbled up, but I force myself to focus on the present moment and follow him through the tangled forest.

Finally, the trees give way to a vast clearing that resembles a football field. The sudden expanse of space after being surrounded by dense trees feels like stepping into another world. The sun's rays pour down on us, momentarily blindingme with its contrast against the darkness of the forest. Scar tightens his grip on my hand and turns to silently communicate with me before leading me forward.

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