Chapter Eight

“Alina Etienne… the runaway bride…”

The words of those rich assholes clung to me the whole ride home. I embarrassed myself… I embarrassed my family. What was I thinking? That a girl like me can escape that kind of life?

I turned to Mikhail, driving quietly beside me. He hasn’t said a word since we left, what can he say? I have no idea what is going on in his head, I must be a huge burden to him. If my dad finds out where I am, finds out about him… he is going to have a hard time.

When we got back to his place in Ashridge hills, I muttered a “thank you” and carried the bags into the house.

Leo greeted me cheerfully but whined when I didn’t even acknowledge him.

The bags dropped to the floor with a thump sound. I closed the door behind me.

With my mind spiraling, I grabbed the phone that I left on the table and turned it on.

No sim… just Wi-Fi. It will have to do.

I created a new X profile with a fake name and no photo. I tapped the search bar and as soon as I wrote my first name, search options displayed.

Alina Etienne.

Alina wedding photos.

Alina wedding disaster.

I tapped on the second option and it was all there, pictures and videos. Me at the altar, then me running out of the hall. My parents faces…

My mother was too stunned to even run after me.

My father, he was livid. His lips thinned as he shook his head in disappointment.

And Harris? He stood motionless, watching my retreating form with shock before replacing it with a fake smile and telling everyone it’s wedding nerves.

Security footage leaked- was the caption of a particular video. It showed me racing down the hotel halls. It cut to another angle, showing my moment when I was about to jump out the window, and when I entered Mikhail’s hotel room.

I felt a sense of dread. The video fast forwarded to him taking the cart out of the room and out of the building premises. His face wasn’t visible but I know dad can find him if they get the hotel’s records.

It’s like my blood ran cold.

They would know. They would come for him. For me.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. Mikhail has been nothing but good to me. He helped me, and I dragged him into this.

The door to my room suddenly opened. Mikhail looked at me with confusion when he saw my distressed state.

My hands flew to my face, to wipe the tears that were almost falling. He entered the room and picked my phone off from the bed, scrunching his face in disgust as he swiped through the posts.

“You’re really sitting here torturing yourself with this?” he sounded frustrated.

“Alina-”

“I need to go back,” I burst out.

He stilled with shock.

“If I go back, only I will suffer… but if I stay here, and my father finds you… you’ll suffer too.”

He stared at me like I had grown another head. “You think if you apologize and agree to marry that prick, life will be better for you? He will make your life a living hell, that’s what men like him do.”

“You talk like you know him?”

His jaw tightened, but before he could answer, his phone buzzed violently in his pocket. He cussed under his breath and rejected it as soon as he glanced on the screen.

He shoved the phone back in his pocket and focused on me.

“Look, don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself-”

His phone rang again.

He rolled his eyes and almost screamed into his phone. “What?”

A breathless voice came through, “Bro, they’re calling you out.’’

Mikhail’s brows furrowed. “What?”

He took the phone off speaker and walked to the side of the room. I couldn’t hear the other voice but he sounded mad. “Really? Right now?” he murmured.

“Alright. I’ll be there in twenty.”

He hung up and looked at me.

“Is something wrong?” I asked nervously.

He thought for a moment before deciding.

“Get ready. We are going out for a bit.”

I shook my head. “Mikhail no. You saw what happened at the mall, what if someone recognizes me?”

He rummaged through the bags and grabbed his hoodie, tossing it my way.

“Not where we’re going.”

***

Once again there was silence in the car. I glanced over at Mikhail, he gripped the wheel tightly and was focused on the road as if it had insulted him.

He did not care to enlighten me on our destination, so I’ll ask myself.

“Are you going to tell me where we are going?”

“You’ll see.” he said that without sparing me a single glance. That was all I got.

The buildings began to nothing but open road for miles. It was quiet except for the humming of the engine and the occasional bumps on the rough road.

I looked out the window frowning.

“There is nothing here.”

He didn’t respond. Eventually he turned down a left path and his car started rumbling over the dry sandy terrain, kicking up dust behind us.

“Are you kidnapping me now?”

That made him smirk. “If I wanted to kidnap you, you wouldn’t be awake.”

“Not comforting,” I whispered.

Suddenly, I heard music, and hums of engines. In the distance was a group of people and few cars parked in a clearing. It was like stumbling into a whole new world.

Mikhail parked beside a line of flashy vehicles that resembled his own in sleekness. I followed him out and gazed all around me. Spectators, mechanics, drivers, some people lounging, some betting money.

“What is this?” I asked Mikhail would stood beside me now.

He grinned as he pulled down his hoodie. “Street racing. Although we don’t normally do it in the middle of nowhere,”

“That’s a thing?” I asked surprised. I’d only see stuff like that in movies.

“Yup, and someone called me out. I’m just here to remind them why that’s always a bad idea.” he started walking towards the crowd while I stood frozen beside his car.

They all hollered at his presence, he dapped up a few guys who clearly knew him well, all laughing and full of confidence. A man especially seemed different, he even embraced him of which he gratefully accepted.

The man had tattoo creeping up his neck and a wide grin that made me nervous.

“Yo, look what the cat dragged in.” they clasped shoulders together. “Where you’ve been man.”

“Been busy.” he shrugged and the tattooed man looked behind Mikhail and locked eyes with me.

“Who she?” he said without taking his eyes off, which made me uncomfortable.

A shoulder bumped against mine and a girl leaned on the car.

“You new?” she asked bluntly.

She had curls falling down her neck, dyed in red. Three nose piercing and an eyebrow piercing.

“Uh…” I stared at her. Didn’t really know if I should talk to her. You know... stranger, danger.

“You with Mikhail?” she rephrased.

I just shrugged a bit. “I guess you could say that.”

Before she could pry any further, the sound of an engine seemed to drown the others. A sleek red car pulled onto the lot, flanked by two others like bodyguards.

The lively chatter died down as a bald headed man with a beard stepped out.

He straighten his leather jacket and tipped his chin at the crowd. “I’m looking for Mikhail Antonov,”

My eyes went to him instantly. He didn’t move, the crowd parted like the red sea and revealed him.

“You found him,” he said.

The man looked him up and down and smirked confidently.

“Good. Let’s see if the legend still lives up to the name.”