The Hunter's Angel

Close Encounters

My heart pounded in my chest as I sat in the backseat of the taxi, my gaze trained on the Cadillac we had been following for the past twenty minutes. 

At first, my pulse hammered solely out of rage, an anger that consumed me as I realized that Hunter had lied to me. That he had looked me straight in the eye and fabricated some bullshit about hanging around all day. 

As the minutes passed and the predicament I had gotten myself into slowly dawned on me, my pounding pulse was amplified by the anxiety and fear trickling in.

It was rather easy to jump into the cab and decide to follow Hunter and his runner when I was fueled by rage, but I wasn't feeling so sure of myself anymore. Especially as I watched the Cadillac turn into a rather suspicious back alley, towards what seemed like a warehouse.  

I knew what I was getting myself into, but my awareness didn't do anything to dissuade the apprehension troubling me. 

I voiced for the taxi to stop right before the alley, knowing that it would be too obvious if we were seen following them in. 

Hastily shoving several bills into the hand of the driver, I muttered a quick thanks and slid out of the cab, slowly edging my way towards the alley where they disappeared into. 

The evening air seemed eerily silent as I made my way over, and I was almost certain that if anyone was near, they would be able to make me out just by the sound of my heartbeat as it thumped against my chest. 

Creepy alley, scared shitless? This situation seemed awfully familiar. 

As I quietly shuffled to the back end of the alley, glancing over my shoulder every second to make sure I wasn't being followed, I realized that I was right in my assumption. 

There was a rather large, industrial-looking warehouse just off to the side, and, sure enough, a giant Escalade parked right across. 

The sun had set and it was hard to see with just the glow of the moonlight, but I was able to make out what looked to be two figures exiting the vehicle and heading for the warehouse.

I noticed another figure approach them from the other end of the lot, and my heart slowed to a stop as I watched him move towards the other men. 

My fear was deterred when they seemed to welcome him, whispering quiet words as they moved ahead. He was probably another one of Hunter's men. 

Their hands were carefully placed on the sides of their waistbands, presumably where they were carrying their weapon of choice. 

I could tell which one was Hunter based on his tall, broad figure, and the bold swagger in his step as he sauntered ahead. As the door to the warehouse shut behind them, I fought the urge to follow him inside. 

Think, Layla. You can't just run in there unarmed without a plan. That wouldn't do anybody any good.

It was just so damn hard to watch Hunter walk inside, not knowing what kind of shit he was getting into. 

When the coast was clear, I raced over to the side of the warehouse, pressing my body against the wall as I peeked over and kept watch. 

Time seemed to move impossibly slow as I stood there, nervously waiting for Hunter and his men to emerge, hopefully intact. 

What were they doing in there? Had they found the man he had been searching for? Were they interrogating him, torturing him? 

Or did he have the upper hand? 

Concern flooded me as the minutes dragged on. Glancing at my phone, a nervous flutter passed through me. They were taking awfully long. 

Shit. I simply could not take standing by idly any longer. I had come here for a reason, hadn't I?