THE DEVIL'S MISTRESS

Chapter Three - Pancakes?

ROXANNE POV

I leaped out of the car and rushed to his side. My hands trembled as I crouched beside him, cradling his face.

"Shit...shit...please, look at me!" I pleaded, scanning his features.

His chestnut eyes fluttered open, dazed but alive. He looked to be in his twenties and a strange sense of familiarity washed over me, but I couldn’t place him.

His name, his face...all of it just out of reach in my mind. Then, suddenly, his eyes closed and he lost consciousness.

I snapped back to reality when a small, sweet voice called out, "Daddy!"

I turned to see a little girl rushing toward us, her light brown eyes wide with fear, shimmering with unshed tears.

Her curly black hair bounced just below her shoulders as she hurried to kneel beside me, her hands reaching out to gently prod the unconscious man’s chest. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed.

"Hey, look at me." I softened my tone, hoping to ease her panic.

"What’s your name?" I asked, reaching out with all the gentleness I could muster.

"Angelina." She murmured through trembling lips, her gaze filled with confusion.

"Okay, Angelina, we’re going to get your dad somewhere safe." My voice wavered slightly as I tried to lift the guy off the ground.

He was heavy, but I had to keep moving. Just as I managed to pull him up, I thought I heard something drop from his pocket, but Angelina’s response pulled my focus back to her.

"Daddy’s car blew up." She explained, pointing with a shaky finger toward the street around the corner, "and some men started shooting."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Whoever these men were, it was too dangerous to linger any longer.

With Kendrick and his goons so determined to track me down, I knew staying in the city was no longer an option.

"We need to leave. Now." My voice came out more forceful than I intended, but there was no time for hesitation.

With renewed urgency, I managed to drag the man into the back seat of my car, his body slumping awkwardly onto the seat. I hurriedly slammed the door and circled back to Angelina.

"Get in, sweetheart." I guided her to the passenger seat, trying to keep my voice calm.

"I’ll take you both someplace safe, okay? My name’s Roxanne." I introduced myself with a quick, reassuring nod, hoping she’d trust me.

She hesitated for just a moment before climbing into the seat, her eyes still wide with worry.

I quickly secured her seatbelt, then rushed to the driver’s side. My heart pounded in my chest as I fumbled with my own seatbelt.

I glanced over at Angelina, her eyes never leaving her father in the back seat. She was scared and I couldn’t blame her.

And somehow, in the midst of all this chaos, I felt responsible for them both.

I took a deep breath, my mind racing. I had accidentally hit her father with my car and under normal circumstances, I would’ve called for help. But nothing about this situation was normal.

After what just happened at the clinic and the terrifying truth about the cop, I couldn’t risk calling the police. And taking them to a hospital was just as dangerous.

I sighed, my thoughts whirling as I gripped the steering wheel and drove away from the scene.

I glanced back at the man lying unconscious in the back seat. Strangers or not, I couldn’t abandon them now.