CHAPTER 100

CAILY GALILEO

Trisha wasn't comfortable. Something about her demeanour gave it out that she was not very comfortable, even though she had a smile on her face and seemed a little bit excited.

There was just something about the way her brows would crease for a few seconds before easing back with a smile.

"Are you fine?" I asked, putting a hand across the table.

"I am fine" She masked up with a smile yet again.

"You already made my day. Thank you so much for showing up, Caily. I... I almost can't believe that you would actually remain this nice to me even after what I did back then."

"It's fine..." I brushed it off with a hand wave.

"And today is your birthday so let's not talk about things like that. Let's just finish up with our milkshakes and get out there. Let's dance and have fun." I beamed at her.

"Right but why did you insist on milkshakes instead?" She asked, lifting her own glass of wine off the table for a second before dropping it.

I leaned back a little into my seat, not wanting to tell her that I could not take alcoholic wines right now. That would be over sharing.

Trisha and I could be friends right now but I wasn't going to stop being cautious around her for now. She had done something to warrant that in the past after all.

"No reason, really. I just thought it would be better if we weren't intoxicated and I have a very low alcohol tolerance, anyways." I replied.

"Oh, that's alright, then" She flashed me a small smile and then grabbed her purse on the table.

"I am going to take a picture of the meal now" She whispered and pulled her phone out of her purse, the smile on her face flashing between comfort and awkwardness.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable because of the guys standing over there?" I asked, leaning across the table a bit.

"Well, I didn't know you were going to come over with guards" she chuckled a little.

"Right but Pietro insisted on having them follow me. No, not because of what you might think. You might think he doesn't trust you and that's why they are here but that is not the case. He just always wants me to have them around." I replied, rushing my words in an attempt to not make her feel more awkward but I wasn't sure if that attempt was successful.

"It's alright. I understand a little on how he can be too."

"I am glad you do." I whispered and took the small bag that I had had the jewellery set packaged into.

"Here, your birthday gift." I handed it over to her and her eyes lit up.

She took it from me with a gleeful look on her face and hurriedly opened the bag.

She brought out the package and her hands hurriedly opened the box of the jewellery set.

"Oh my! This is beautiful!" She gasped as she set her eyes on the set.

"This is breathtaking, Caily! I have never had a jewellery set this beautiful! Never ever! Oh my! Is this..." She reached her hands to the necklace.

"Is it real?" She asked, touching it lightly with her finger tip.

"It is" I nodded with a huge beam on my face.

"Oh my! Thank you so much!" She got up on her feet hurriedly and rushed towards me.

I pulled my chair back and got up on my feet. She hugged me tightly and I hugged her back, the beam on my face, still.

"Thank you so much, Caily."

"It's nothing" I smiled as she pulled back from the hug, her eyes illuminated with happiness.

Her hands moved down to mine and she held mine.

"Caily" she called my name soulfully.

"Yes?"

"Caily, I..." She seemed to want to say something but she held herself back.

"Is anything wrong? Is there anything you want?" I asked and she suddenly shook her head.

"No, nothing. Everything is perfectly fine" she smiled back at me and then hugged me again.

We were still holding onto each other and were just about to disengage from the hug when a gunshot rang in my ear.

My eyes widened as panic struck my heart. The disengaging was swift and before we could understand what was happening, about four men had broken in.

A cry left my lips, my body went into a panic state and I felt my body freeze for a few seconds as more gunshots rang through the room before I recovered and quickly grabbed my purse.

"This way! There's an exit that way!" Trisha yelled as I tried to reach for my phone in my bag.

I managed to pull my phone out as I heard another thud. Another person down.

'My emergency contact. My emergency contact. My emergency contact' My brain repeated over and over again.

But before my finger could push the button, Trisha had grabbed my wrist and the sudden movement made the phone fall out of my shaky hands.

"You both would love to stop there if you don't want your heads blown off this instant" A threatening voice stated grimly and I bit down on my lower lip in regret.

Pietro had told me. He had told me to remain at home. He had told me not to step out. I should have remained at the safety of home.

I took a shaky breath and Trisha took the same, her hand still holding my wrist. If she hadn't grabbed me, I would have managed to dial Pietro's contact at least.

Footsteps approached us as I tried to calm myself down but I could hardly maintain any level of calmness. These men were holding guns and as they stepped in front of me, I realised there were actually five of them.

Five, armed men. Of course, I was scared.

Oh heavens! How in the world does anyone maintain calmness in such situation?

"We didn't ruin your little birthday party too much, right? Well, we just need your presence real quick and as long as you both cooperate..." He waved the gun in front of us and my breath hitched.

"No one's going to get hurt." He completed his words.

"Don't wave a gun in my face" My voice came out, shaky and filled with fear but it came out clear, still.

The man who had spoken stared at me for a little while, his eyes angry before he looked away.

"We don't have time to waste. Get them into the car!" He ordered and the four others hurried to us to drag us to the car.

"Not a finger on us. We... We'll walk to the car" I let out again, surprised by the words that left me. Those words could kill me. I could infuriate these people and get killed but here I was, saying those words.

"You run your mouth a lot, don't you?" The guy who seemed in charge groaned and pointed the gun at me.

"Let them walk to the fucking car!" He groaned loudly.

"Move!" One of the other four said roughly and I took a step forward.

My leg shook, a testament of the fear that was seated deep inside of me. As my eyes caught sight of the three bodies on the floor, I drew in another shaky, scared breath.

Whatever this was, I had no idea. However I was going to get out of it, I had even lesser clues but somehow I knew... Somehow, I still knew that Pietro would come for me.

I just had to be strong until he finds me. Until he finds us.

Trisha and I walked through the back exit and there was a van ready there with a driver.

The door was pulled open by one of the men and Trisha got in first and before I could get in myself, I was shoved in. I stumbled into the back of the van and the doors were shut instantly.

I shut my eyes with regret, my teeth biting my lower lip with regret.

Was this... Was this a ploy with Trisha involved?

But she was kidnapped too, right?

I heard a soft whimper and my eyes opened. Trisha was crying already.

"I... I'm scared." she whimpered and I immediately took her hand as the car zoomed off.

"We... We are going to be fine." I whispered.

TBC

Good day, everyone. I am really, really sorry for the long silence. I suddenly had an exam that I could only take once a year and immediately had to go off the internet to prepare for it. I finished the exam yesterday and Mine, Peaches is fully back. I apologise deeply.