Share

Chapter 5

Author: Lily Rose
last update Last Updated: 2024-03-14 14:27:49

NIKOLAI

I got an anonymous job to bring Leo Rodriquez's daughter home safely shortly after the news of his accident exploded across the internet. The Rodriquez family is one of the wealthiest conglomerates, so it is a given that Leo Rodriquez has dominated the headlines after the news of his accident.

Everything reeks of foul play from the news I have gathered, but I wasn't paid to play detective. My job is to bring Lia Rodriquez safely to New York.

I don't usually deal with humans–just transporting contrabands–but the money offered to bring Lia Rodriquez safely to New York was too much to ignore. Not to mention, I am far behind my sister's hospital bill, and they threatened to cease her treatment. So yeah, I don't have much of a choice.

Lia has bombarded me with tons of questions right from the time I told her about her father's condition up to this moment, but I have not given her an answer. I couldn't tell her about her father's critical state with her anxiety teetering over the edge. Revealing the worst won't help, it will only jeopardize the mission. I can't have her mind spiraling while I need her focused on her safety.

So far everything has been going smoothly–too smoothly, it feels unsettling until a deafening screech of tires rips through the air with a jolt that sends the car lurching forward.

I slam against the seat belt, the impact, stealing the air from my lungs. My eyes dart to Lia. She is slumped forward, her head at an unnatural angle. The seat belt cut across her chest is the only thing holding her in place as the car spins around.

A strangled curse escapes my mouth. Damnit. They should have at least waited until we left this shit-hole town.

My hand shoots out, reaching for Lia's head to steady her. My other hand finds the wheel and I fight to regain control.

Finally, I steady the car.

My head bumps the inside of the roof as I force it into a dusty side road that catches my eyes.

The car screams in protest as I tear down the sandy road, a swirling cloud of dust blocking my vision.

I push the car to its limits, weaving through several frantic turns until the last glimpse of the car hot on my tail finally vanishes in the dust

The dust settles slowly as I ease off the gas and turn to an unconscious Lia slumped beside me. My fingers brush beneath her nose, searching for the faintest sign of life. When a whiff of breath ghosts against my skin, I sigh in relief.

I use my free hand to gently shake Lia's shoulder as I call her name. "Lia." repeatedly but the loud engine of the car drowns my voice.

Her being unconscious is a terrifying liability. Not that I can't protect her, but it will be ten times harder.

The call of her name goes unanswered for a few times before she jerks awake with a gasp. Her eyes widen with terror as she takes in the environment. They dart around wildly until they land on me, filled with raw panic and confusion.

"What... what happened?" she stammers with a weak voice.

I tilt her body gently, scanning for injuries. "Are you hurt?" My voice is rough with concern. I need to make sure she is safe to get the remaining payment. Damn it.

"My neck hurts a bit..." There is a strain in her voice.

Dark bruises mar her pale skin, but thankfully, nothing seems broken. Relief washes over me. Thank fuck. It's just bruises, that won't hinder me from getting the rest of the payment.

"What's happening?" she asks, her gaze flicking back. Surprise and panic laces her voice.

"They're after you," I say as my eyes scan the environment for any sign of danger. Empty fields stretch as far as the eyes can see, with silhouettes of windmills and abandoned farmhouses. The faded banner proclaiming 'Redevelopment' that hangs limply across the road explains why this is a ghost town.

"Why?" She asks, confused.

It's simple. Leo Rodriquez is in a critical condition, and the next person in line to him is his daughter, Lia Rodriquez, so the person after her father's life is after hers too. But I don't tell her that. I don't tell her anything.

The brake screams, throwing Lia and me forward as I slam the car to a halt in front of an old two-story building.

Adrenaline surges through me as I fling the car door open and step out. Lia didn't need prompting because she was already out too.

I wait for her to join me, my hand hovering over the gun sitting in my pocket as I scan the environment for any potential danger.

When she reaches my side, I fall behind her and lead her towards the entrance of the building while my hand stills on the gun in my pocket.

"What is going on?" She asks fearfully.

Reaching the building's entrance, I pause and make a final sweep of the street. Then I push Lia into the building and jam the wooden door behind me.

"Can you at least tell me anything?" Her eyes are wide with fear.

"Listen," I finally say, my voice tight. "This is important. You need to stay here. Do not, under any circumstances, step outside unless you hear my voice and see my face clearly. Understand?"

"Why? Why are the men after us? I'm losing my mind here, please tell me something." She says.

I lower my gaze, catching her fidgeting fingers

Instead of giving her a reply, I reach into my pocket and pull out two guns before pressing one into her trembling hands. "Can you use a gun?"

She flinches. "No."

I sigh. Of course, why would she be able to use a gun?

"You don't have to know how to use it. If anyone comes in, point it at them and yell. Make them think you'll shoot." I won't let it get to that point but I tell her just for damage control.

As I turn around and start to make my way towards the entrance, I feel something light touch my arm.

My eyes move to the hands grasping the hem of my shirt and to Lia's face. I know she is so scared but there is nothing I can do about it. I'm not here to calm her nerves. I'm only here to protect her.

"Why are the men after us?"

Before I can answer, I hear a rustle behind me, and my neck tilts to the entrance. Hushes of manly voices slice through the thick air of the night.

I made sure to lose them, so how did they find us?

I don't have the time to think anything through as I lead Lia across the rusty living room of the house and between two worn-out couches. Lia's tremble vibrates through me as I lead her up the stairs and into one of the rooms.

"Change of plan," I mutter as I scan the bedroom for a hiding spot. "They found us first." The plan was to lead them away and come back for Lia but that can't be possible anymore. They somehow manage to find us.

Lia has the look of a deer caught in a headlight. She doesn't reply and I don't bother with one.

"Stay here," I say, with urgency in my voice. "Don't come out until I find you. If anyone else appears..." My throat tightens. "Shoot them."

This time, I fumble through the process of how to use a gun with impatience and hope to god that she grasps the concept of it before I make my way downstairs.

Fuck, this is going to be a long night.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • Protecting The Heiress    Chapter 65

    NIKOLAI The phone trembles in my hand, and I clench it so hard my knuckles ache as I fight the urge to hurl it across the room. My pulse drums loud and fast in my ears, each beat stoking the frustration, the doubt, and the guilt. Yes, I’m going to tell Lia I’m quitting. But not tonight. Not after everything that has happened. And not because I care about her more than Hannah. Screw Xander for even saying that. Screw him for daring to throw that accusation in my face. As if everything I’ve done, and every decision I’ve made haven’t been for my sister. Every damn sacrifice, how I live my life has been for my sister’s sake. Every time I think of doing something, the first thing that crosses my mind is how it’ll impact her. Everything has been heavily influenced by my sister—. Right. That isn’t entirely true. I have made a decision solely for me before. Just once I made a decision, and I didn’t think about my sister, but my selfish self. Accepting the job from Lia was the only time I

  • Protecting The Heiress    Chapter 64

    NIKOLAISigning the contract with Lia was a selfish decision. I knew from the start that the pay wouldn’t cover my sister’s hospital bills, but I still went for the job. Now I’m paying the price for that decision.For the past one week, I’ve taken on some of the most dangerous jobs I’ve ever accepted. The kind of jobs that put me inches away from death. Jobs that used to give me a thrill and make me feel alive in some twisted way. But now, I can’t say the same anymore. Because the thrill no longer fuels me, rather it unsettles me. Every time I’m on the edge of life and death, I find myself hesitating. The adrenaline I used to love now feels more like a sick twist in my gut and it makes me want to turn and run, to protect myself.My sister makes me feel fearless. For her I’m ready to face anything, come hell, or high water. But it’s different when it comes to Lia. She makes me want to back down and avoid risks. Because every time I think about facing something that could end me, there’s

  • Protecting The Heiress    Chapter 63

    LIAPanic kicks in, pressing me forward until I burst into the kitchen. Relief washes over me as I see him, right there.Nikolai’s changed out of his soaked clothes, though his hair still glistens with drops of water, the dark strands occasionally sending a bead sliding down his neck. He's wearing those low-rise pants that hug his hips, and a fitted tee stretched over his frame, showing just enough… no. I shake my head and dart my eyes away. This isn’t the time to be ogling him; I’m here to confront him.When I shift my gaze back towards him, he’s looking at me over his shoulder, and the tiniest smile pulls at his lips before he looks away, or not… I’m just imagining things. Nikolai isn’t smiling at me.“Feel better?” His voice pulls me back to the moment as he turns fully, his eyes skimming over me with that subtle, unreadable appraisal.“Yes,” I answer and sneezes immediately, disproving my answer.“Clearly not.” He stops right in front of me, holding out a steaming cup. The space

  • Protecting The Heiress    Chapter 62

    LIAThe words I’ve kept buried seem to boil up inside of me. Words of hurt, longing, heartache that has twisted itself deep, when even I can barely reach it. I want to scream at him. I want to demand answers, force him to tell me why he disappeared, why he left me here to be mad with worry, clawing through days that stretched endlessly without him.But as he stands there, with softened face and eyes weighed with something unsaid, looking at me like he hasn’t shattered my world, like he hasn’t been gone for a week without a trace, like I wasn’t shell of myself because of his absence, like I haven’t been teetering on the edge, the words slip away. Every line I rehearsed in the mirror all vanish. My voice fades under the weight of his gaze and his silence.Tears spill over before I can stop them, mingling with the rain that lashes down, soaking me to the bone. The chill seeps into my skin, but the burn of his stare holds me still, locked in place.The world feels muffled, just the sound

  • Protecting The Heiress    Chapter 61

    LIAGetting ready for work doesn’t take long, and in no time, I’m pulling into the parking lot of ROQ.Kate is already at the entrance with her attention laser-focused on the tablet in her hand until she spots me. She and I have met in the middle ground and have agreed that she won’t jump in step beside and scare the living daylights out of me, she stays in my line of sight.As I approach, her eyes shift past me, darting through the lot. She doesn’t have to tell me who she’s looking for. I feel the same, though I doubt it runs deep for herFinally, her gaze snaps back to me, and with a quiet nod, she says, “Good morning, ma’am.”I nod in acknowledgment, too weighed down to respond.“Have you been able to reach him?” she asks. I shake my head, trying to hide how much I’m affected by Nikolai’s absence. But Kate’s eyes narrow, noticing more than I wish she would.“I wonder where Grumpy is.”I halt abruptly in my steps, making Kate tilt her head slightly toward me. “Is something wrong?”

  • Protecting The Heiress    Chapter 60

    LIAI haven’t heard from Nikolai in a week, and it feels like my world’s been stuck on pause. Scratch that—life hasn’t just paused. It’s slowed to a dull, gray crawl.The day he disappeared, I sensed something was wrong. I tried to get through to him every way I knew how. I called him more times than I can count, sent message after message. Eventually, his line stopped going through, so I left voicemails, each one more desperate than the last. But I got nothing. Not a single reply.Even though my project has been moving faster, and my week has been busier than ever, Nikolai is still there, at the back of my mind. He’s everywhere I look, his presence in every corner of my apartment.I water his flowers religiously, telling myself he’ll be back. After all, our contract still has four months left. Nikolai is responsible—he’d never just leave without finishing what he started. Yet, with each day that passes, I’ve been forced to make up new excuses for why he hasn’t called, why he hasn’t c

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status