Page 115 of The Devil's Deal

“Why not text her and say it’s you? Worth a try.”

“You’re right.”

I do as she suggested and wait a minute before calling back, and this time, I hear my aunt’s voice.

“Chiara? Oh my God! I’ve been worried sick after I couldn’t reach you at work!”

“I’m okay. Kind of. Can I come to you? I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’ll explain everything when I get there.”

“I’m home, waiting. You don’t know how scared I’ve been. I thought your father hurt you. I was ready to call the police.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. He’d definitely come after you.” I release a burdened sigh.

“Let that bastard come.” Her tone is as rough as sandpaper.

“I’m about an hour or so away,” I explain. “If you need to reach me, call this phone.”

“I love you, sweetheart. We’ll run together if we have to.” Her voice breaks. “I won’t lose you too.”

“You won’t. I love you. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay.” She sounds more composed now.

I hang up, placing the phone back where I took it from.

“You two sound close,” Laura remarks.

“We are. We only have each other.” There’s pain riddled in my words.

She nods in understanding. “It’s good to have that one person you can count on. Sounds like she’s that for you.”

“She’s the best.”

I love my aunt, but I’d do anything to have my mother back. To feel her arms around me. To hear her voice. Without her, there’ll always be a piece of me missing.

We continue on the road at a comfortable speed when suddenly headlights jump behind us, a car speeding its way closer. Laura looks in her review mirror while I turn my head, wondering where the hell this car came from.

“That person sure is in a hurry, ain’t he?”

“Yeah,” I laugh nervously, my pulse back to a frantic pace.

The tires of the car screech as it makes its way closer until maybe a car’s length separates us. I find it hard to breathe, my chest tingling, stomach rolling inward.

“I’m going to move out of the way so this idiot can go past us.”

“Okay,” I mumble, my throat going dry. My wild heartbeats thrash in my ears, my fingers trembling.

Could it be Dominic? My dad? Maybe it’s a crazy driver? Let’s hope that’s it.

But my gut’s screaming that we’re in danger.

They’re here for you. To kill you. You’re dead already. You were dead from the moment you were born.

Laura signals and moves to the right, and the car follows.

Fuck!

“Let me out,” I quickly tell her, my voice a shrill. “You don’t need to be in the middle of this.”

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