Chapter three: Desperate escape

Betty’s fear grew stronger that fateful night, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being caught but she couldn’t stay there any longer, it was already two weeks of frustration in the mansion.

“My family and friends must be worried about me, I have to escape”.

Under the cover of darkness, Betty made a run for it. She snuck out of the house, her heart racing as she sprints the streets. She didn’t know where she was going, but she knew she had to get away. She turns a corner and hears footsteps behind her, her breath coming in gasps, she picks up speed. The alley was dark and lonely. Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind, a hand clamps over her mouth.

Betty stood on her ground trying to fight this time, but her captor’s grip was firm, after much struggles she loses her strength and her captor threw her into the truck of his car, she hears him speak on the phone to a caller “Boss I’ve got her, i’m bringing her to base” he laughs maniacally, “we can end it all now, her body is the key to open the door”. When she heard him say this her heart dropped, her eyes filled with tears of regret of her actions just when she felt hopeless Mateo appears out of nowhere, his eyes blazing with anger.

“Let her go”, she hears Mateo voice in a cold tune, he warned the would be captor but he ignores his warning bringing out a gun to threaten Mateo who was only few steps from him. He was surprised with his close appearance next to him.

“Oh fuck…how’d you…?.

“Stand back” knowing fully well that nothing can stop Mateo, he was well known in the streets “The fair demon” a blood sucking human, his brutality earned him the title. He knew he was in danger, in fear he closes the trunk running to take the wheel when Mateo shoots the back tyres and in a quick move grabs the man and slits his throat with a pocket knife. He opens the trunk and grabs Betty out of the trunk.

“What we’re you thinking?” He demanded.

Betty looks down In shame and fear, unable to move as she sees the blood flowing heavily from the dead body. Mateo fumes with rage and grabs her shoulders, shaking her violently, Betty’s eyes welled up in tears as she stares up at Mateo with a death stare in his eyes, for a moment, she saw the fear and concern beneath his anger.

“You’re hurting me” she whispers”

“Why didn’t you listen”.

“Don’t you know the danger you’re in?” He continues, “I’m not the enemy, Betty, I’m the one trying to protect you, why can’t you see that? If I was such a monster as you think, I wouldn’t give you freedom in my home, think Betty think”.

Betty’s tears spills over and she feels a pang of guilt. Maybe Mateo wasn’t the monster she thought he was else he would have ended her life there too but he saved her.

“I’m sorry” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Mateos expression softens and he pulls her into a tight hug seeing the fear grip over her body.

“Be calm, Just stay with me Betty, let me keep you safe”.

As they stood there wrapped in each other’s arms Mateo knew he had to give her a sense of security and comfort to make her trust him. Betty wondered if she misjudged Mateo all along, she holds him back in a tight embrace to relieve the fear and tension that congealed her blood making her feel cold and insecure like a lost child.

Betty lays on her bed feeling embarrassed, reminiscing on the event of the previous night, she realizes she had enemies outside these walls but why? “I’ve lived a good life, what’s going on”.

“I think I should stay put her for a while till I know what’s going on, besides, he promised to keep me safe”.

She stands up trying to make sense of her decision

“I don’t know what the outside world holds for me now and why there’s someone out there trying to hurt me”.

“Why does anyone want to kidnap me? What’s going on?” She searched her heart for answers but found none.

“I’ll stay here and get the truth, I need to know what’s going on? she felt safer in the mansion, a memory hit her, looking into Mateo’ s eyes last night, she sensed fear in his voice over her safety.

“God I can’t believe I’m putting my faith in this cold blooded killer but I have no choice, she rubs her forehead in frustration”.

There is a knock on the door bringing her back to reality.

“Oh no, this can’t be good”.

“Yeah you can come in” she seats hoping it is someone other than the boss.

Her room guard walks in “The boss wants to see you” a cold feeling makes her legs numb but she convinced herself that it may be good, seeing it as an opportunity to know what’s going on.

“I’ll ask him questions now, I hope he’s over last night” she breathes in trying to sum up courage and ask her questions, no more fear.

The dining room was dimly lit, Mateo sat across the table, he turns to Betty as she walks in, she stands looking at the long dining table and an empty seat, she walks to it and sits, his eyes locked onto hers and he begins to speak.

“You took a bold step last night” he digs into his dish, a well served Italian meal.

“Why did you run?”

“Why keep me a prisoner?” She retorts, surprised at her sudden boldness.

He pause for a moment, raises his head and points the fork at her.

“You’ve grown bold” he spoke astounded.

“The word….prisoner, do you know what it means?” He laughs gently when she couldn’t respond.

“Oh child, you have no idea what I do with prisoners, but I’m sure it doesn’t include the comfort and freedom you enjoy” he relaxes in his chair giving her a stare, she turns her eyes feeling compelled by his gaze.

“Touring my mansion, enjoying the services of my servants” he sighs knowing his word have gotten to her.

“I know you’re scared Betty, but you need to trust me when I say I mean you no harm else I would have dropped your body in the middle of the sea” he sips his wine, Betty gulps hard.

“I wont believe you till you let me go, I can protect myself” she speaks defensive. Mateo laughs mockingly at her words.

“You mean just like the previous time?”

“I don’t even understand why my safety concerns you, I just want to go home” she speaks almost in tears furious by his mockery. Mateo looks at her like he could feel her pain.

“Have you heard of the Daga’s family?” He looks at her to know if he had her attention “The Daga’s are a ruthless family, wherever they go, the leave ruins at their wake. I’ve seen them destroy lives, ruin families and leave a trail of blood at their wake. They’ll stop at nothing to get what the want even if it means to burn the whole city”.

Betty’s eyes widened, her face pale.

“The man from last night?”

He nods.

“But why me?” Her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re connected to them”.

“How?”

“It’s complicated, but believe me, I’ll keep you safe besides ……… you’re no good to me dead, so no more foul games from you”.

He drops his cutleries leaving Betty in a state of confusion with several question racing her mind, she looks at him as he walks out the room.

“Really seems like I have more enemies outside, I can’t risk going out now”. She plays with the fork in her hand unable to finish her meal.

“I’ll stay out here for while, study the situation more before I make a move, last time I made a mistake.

I wasn’t careful enough….or? She had a twist in thought. “What if he set me up? He knew my plans all along and set me up? The man I met outside maybe an ally …….she smiles feeling convinced.

“I know just what to do, I’ll try to fit in, play along like I believe him then when the time is right, I’ll make my escape”. She smiles feeling satisfied with the idea.