Chapter two (Fleeing with the money)

Immediately I reached the service station, I lingered around until I was sure the bottle girls were not around then I instantly pulled out seven glass cups and a whiskey.

And placed them on a tray.

All throughout my heart was beating so fast but I knew I had to…. for Theo’s sake.

I was about to unscrew the cork when I heard that one voice that I hated most, Bianca. Chloe’s PA.

“Hey. Bitch!”

My body went stiff.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I could hear her footsteps from behind.

What’s she doing here?

“Shouldn’t you bitch be on the stage?” Her sharp sickening voice echoed and I exhaled, shutting my eyes before opening them without turning. “Madam Chloe requested I attend the VIP guests.” The words moved fastly from my lips before I could stop it.

No words.

The silence had my heart drumming faster. Fear is eating me deeply.

But she suddenly hissed. “Whatever, bitch!” and turned, striding off.

The moment I heard the door closed, a deep sigh of relief washed over me.

That was close.

So without wasting time. I quickly unscrewed the cork and pulled out a small bottle from my purse. My hands trembled as I brought it closer to the drink. I know I shouldn’t be doing this.

I have warned myself never to use this after that night with Venessa but I… I can’t stop now.

They have to make them sleep. This is my only opportunity to get Theo safe.

“I’m sorry…” I didn’t know who I was apologizing to but I just said it.

Then dropped a little into the drink

Then another…

And another

Before closing the bottle and hiding it back into the purse. Once I was done, I shook the drink and screwed the cork back.

And with a heavy heart, I turned and started heading outside. When praying so hard that I don't get caught.

Not long, I reached the VIP door. Looking at that door, I hesitated for a while before swallowing and knocking. At the second knock I heard that deep voice that had fear jammed my throat.

“Come in.”

“God, Mira… for Theo.” I kept murmuring in my head as I opened the door. Putting on my wide signature smile.

“Good evening sexy men, welcome to secret Eden.” I flashed them a flirty wink and matched toward them. Yet none of them budged. I could hear my heart drumming so loudly in my ears. “Your drinks.”

“Drop it and get the fuck out!” Another snarled. And I instantly dropped it on the table. My eyes flickered to that stack of cash but I quickly looked away and stepped out of the room.

But I didn’t leave.

Rather I lingered around. Clasping my fingers and counting as I paced around in a circle.. waiting for any signal.

One minutes

Two minutes

Oh my goodness!!

I’m starting to lose patience.

Three minutes and CLATTER!!!

“Ahh!” My heart nearly jumped off at the sound of something clattering heavily on the ground. I paused, nearing toward the door again.

My pulse raced wildly against my ribs as a nervous tremor ran through me.

Then BAM!!!

I freaked out at the second sound.

And that was enough hint. I quietly pushed the door open and there they were, sprawled over unconscious. With one still coughing. Without wasting time, I hurried inside and immediately pushed the hand of one out from the bag and grabbed it.

The heaviness almost knocked me down but I tightened my grip.

“So this is true,” I muttered, still not believing it.

“Who….you—“

That stammering voice snapped my senses back. I looked down to find the man that was coughing pointing at me as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I instantly hit him with the bottle and pulled off his jacket, wearing it on top of my cloth then hurried out of that room. I shut the door quietly and glanced around before running through the back door.

I could feel panic crawling down my spine.

But once I was outside, I crossed the road and instinctively fled down a taxi.

“To the Crestview General Hospital, now!!”

“Okay,” the driver replied, though he kept throwing skeptical glances at me as I hopped in the backseat, my chest tightened from nothing but fear.

I couldn’t believe I’m doing this. Like I initially drugged some men and eloped with their money???

As crazy as this seems but I know I had to. I had lost my grandmother twenty years ago and I can’t afford to go through that pain again.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, those memories I have been struggling to bury crept in again. Life has always been unfair to me. Lost my mother after she gave birth to me so I had to be raised by her mother and a father that doesn’t give a fuck about me. A gambler…. A drunkard. I recalled how he did come back every day he lost a game and poured out the frustration on me. How he did lock me in a room and beat me.. my grandmother could cry, knocking at the door and begging him.

She was my everything. My mother. The only woman that I knew had loved me genuinely. I had always wondered why she hadn't reported my daddy until the day my father came back and beat me unconscious. To save me, she had to call the cops but a few months after my father’s arrest.. I lost her in a terrible accident.

I shut my eyes, tears dropping as I recalled everything. How I had gone to a club that night to drink away my pain and unfortunately found myself in an empty hotel room the next morning with pain in between my legs. Then a few weeks…. I received the most shocking news that I was pregnant. So for my mental health, I had to move down to Sicily to start afresh and since then it’s just me and Theo.

I so much wanted to give him all that I was denied growing up even if it means doing the worst to give him that good life.

“Madam. We are here.” The driver’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I quickly paid him and hurried out, rushing straight to the reception.

I shoved the door open, startling everyone inside. They looked up in shock but I paid no attention to their weird glances and rushed toward the direction to the cashier’s office.

I ran down the hallway, my shoes squeaking against the polished white tiles. And by the time I reached the cashiers office, I was already breathless. Without bothering to knock, I pushed the door open.

“Mis—“

“I have the money.” The words rumbled out of my mouth before the woman could talk.

She carefully lowered her glasses and looked at me in confusion.

My throat bobbed as I gulped. And with a trembling hand dropped the bag on her desk. My hands were all sweaty and nervously I wiped them against my jacket.

“My son, Theo Parker….Room 224.” I sucked in a shaky breath and continued, not wanting to appear suspicious in front of them. “I don’t have all the money, but I have almost enough. There’s five hundred thousand dollars in there. Which I believe it’s enough to begin his treatment until I can get the rest.” I said all in one breath, my chest rising and falling rapidly like my lungs were on fire.

The woman said nothing. She just gave me a skeptical look before slowly pulling the bag toward herself. And unzipped it.

But the moment she saw the stack of cash, her eyes widened. They flicked to me, surprise briefly flashing across her face. But she quickly composed herself and nodded at the man sitting beside her.

Together, they began counting the money

One bundle

Two bundle

Three bundle

With each count, my heartbeat pounded harder against my ribs, turning my stomach.

Something felt wrong.

I couldn’t explain it. But every nerve on my body was on edge, as though something terrible was about to happen.