Chapter 9

Harvey's POV 

“Who's that?” My voice broke apart going over to answer the door. 

I grabbed the handle and for one brief moment stood to imagine who could be outside as there was no response. 

Could it be Alisa’s parents? Noticing how withdrawn and gloomy I have been these days? Each time I return from work, I would lock myself inside, refusing to talk to anyone until the next morning. 

Could it be she herself? She hasn't been home in days and I knew she was spending it with her real fiance, Matteo. 

Or–

The worst of all. Matteo and his men. With shaking hands and my strongest act of courage, I pressed the handle down, pulling the door open only for Alisa to bang in, hair messy and dress tattered. 

I slid before her, blocking her way. 

“Where have you been? Why are you looking so tattered?” 

“Will you get off my way or you want to bring the same controlling nature over Nada to me?” She replied harshly, rolling her eyes on me. 

“You still have the audacity to speak to me in such a manner after the mess you've put me in?” 

I saw in a flash as her hand rose, smacking my cheek. The hurt cascaded down me, she had just slapped me. I furrowed my eyes grabbing my cheek while looking at her. 

I have nothing good in my life, I'll deal with you and not care about anything. 

I lifted my hand about to slap her too but firm hands gripped me, masculine in strength but when I looked, it was her. The Alisa I knew. My lips spread wide and my eyeballs were nearly gorging out. 

I didn't want to believe this. 

Did she go out there and got some kind of defense training I knew nothing about?

Left in surprise, u relaxed and she released me, walking into the dressing room. I followed behind her, wondering what she was up to. Her body language screamed pressure, she was in a hurry to get out of here. 

“Is Matteo waiting for you, why rush?” My tone had drastically reduced. Fear had set in and I could only wonder what Matteo would do to me if he knew I'd touched his wife. 

She said nothing but went right in, and began to pack her clothes. Her luggage was rolled over and she began to put the clothes, shoes and other valuables. 

My hormones vibrated with great panic. “What's going on?” I asked again with a cracky voice. If I wasn't a man, I would have cried. My pulse went high and it seemed like the pressure of that moment was the highest. 

She waited until she finished before she looked up at me, a sneer, then the actual response. 

“The cops have got word about me, they wanna make a move to arrest me for being a spy in the police. Matteo asked me to come pack my things, we are leaving for Mexico right away.” 

I shrieked. “Mexico. Tonight?” She nodded. 

“He has a private jet, you know.” 

“What about–” My lips shut and the words buried deep in my throat but she gave me a mischievous glance. 

“You know you have only a few days? Are you coming with me now? It will be better.” 

I looked away, thinking about this. 

If I don't go with her, I still have the chance to escape Matteo but if I leave with her tonight, all freedom and opportunity to escape is buried, for the next eight years. 

Who knows if I'll even survive. 

That was left to fate. I turned back to her, shaking my head. 

“No, you can leave now. I'll come soon.” 

Sighing, she turned to leave but I followed out of curiosity but to a certain distance, I wanted to see how she would take the luggage out when cabs rarely allow such inside of their small car. 

“Are you done taking everything, ma'am?” I heard a gross, deep voice asking from the rear. There was a curve by the edge of the part of the building where she was taking. I had to hide and the moment she turned to look, I prayed to the heavens that they would not see me. 

Because I can't tell who that is. It wasn't Matteo but my mind was telling me there are men of his and they had come here to escort Alisa. 

Barely saying this, I heard the starting of bikes. My blood shuffled, my legs shivered, goosebumps came over my entire body. For the moment I'd forgotten I was a trained police officer but I'd done wrong, lest I won't be bothered by these people. 

They drove out of the compound and I began to wonder if they didn't know about me. 

When they had all driven out one by one with Alisa sitting on one, in the midst and her luggage in a separate bike, I squatted, breathing a sigh of relief. 

You think it's over? It's not over. 

My offensive mechanism reminded me, pulling me up in another fit of anxiety. I raced back to my apartment. I got in, locking the door. I won't be going to work tomorrow, I have to meet with Rhys. 

This was risky, as I laid here on the bed. I thought of meeting with Alisa’s parents if they could beg their daughter to intervene on my behalf but something responded at that very moment that they are part of the trade. 

They would only laugh at me. 

I lied on the bed, turning from one end to the other, asking for sleep but it refused to come.

“I'm going to meet Rhys.” I uttered within my heart rising up and grabbing a black shirt to wear over my gray T-shirt. 

Aside from him, there wasn't anyone who could listen to me and he wasn't living very far beyond, thirty minutes to arrive at his residence. 

Even to call, I couldn't. I was so hectic. I slid into my palms, grabbing my phone. Off I went. No one would know I'm not in the house and even if they did, who would care? 

No one!