Red

CHAPTER 42.

Have you forgotten about our meet up? don't tell me that you're slacking Red. For motivation, please be reminded that you're doing this for River. I'll be waiting for the rest of information to build the case. - Chief.

I sighed at the text that came in from Nava a few minutes ago. Over the past few days, I have been so caught up in apologizing to Lorenzo, trying to get his attention but he has done nothing except brushed me off.

Never missing a chance to remind me that he was busy, and that he didn't have time for "the woman who keeps fucking with his feelings."

And honestly? I was starting to regret the whole damn thing.

Why was I throwing away my revenge for this man? I tried to be mature, tried to own the fact that I shouldn't have said what I said. I tried to fix it.

But today? Today I'm flipping the switch. Him. The Don. All of it.

If he can't give me one damn minute to explain myself, then fuck him.

I shouldn't have put aside my mission for his childish backside in the first place. River needs justice. And my weakness? It ends now.

Feelings or not, I won't let Lorenzo get in the way of that ever again. And therapy can kiss my ass too.

Rolling my eyes, I twirled the car keys around my fingers and glanced over my shoulder. "Sveva, can you watch Xamuela for, like, an hour? I need to step out for a few minutes."

She frowned, then nodded slowly. "No problema, Aur. Just... be careful, yeah? You going to check out that therapist you mentioned?"

I scoffed inwardly and let a small lie slip. "Yeah, sure."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

I shook my head. "No, it's cool. I'll manage."

She nodded and with that I slipped out , heading towards the vehicle Lorenzo had given us for outings usually for taking the kids to the city's park.

Strapped in, I keyed the ignition, my gaze found my handbag on the seat beside me. Inside was everything River's truth, my purpose, the reason I couldn't let Lorenzo disturb me again.

And with determination grinding me, I sink on the gas pedal and head out of the drive way.

_____

Pulling up to Papi Zest parking lot, I hailed the guard who toss me a bright smile. "Long time don't see cop."

"I'll blame my absence on work." I laughed.

"Well, we have upgraded our menu a month ago and I think this one will have you coming back for more, work or not." He grinned.

"I'll definitely keep that in mind." I smiled and then followed his direction when he told me Nava came in fifteen minutes ago.

Papi Zest was our hang out spot and I rolled my eyes at the last girl's night out I had with Rosa and Nava almost two months ago.

"You're late, as always." Nava grunted out as he sipped soup from his spoon and I scoffed, settling down before him into a seat.

"Fuck off and choke on it because it is something that will never change."

He spat out his soup and I glared when some of it made contact with the side of my face. "Seems as if this investigation changed you for the worst."

I gaged and used a paper towel to wipe his spit off.

"Get off my ass. As a matter of fact where is Rosa?"

He sighed and pushed away the dish. "She wanted to come but she's had a bad morning sickness and I didn't want to push it."

I nodded in understanding and made it my mission to ring her later.

He asked to see what I gathered so far and I unzip my bag and pulled out the thumb drive. It had a small video footage on Lorenzo along with some critical documents that I snoop around and found in his home office back in Italy when he was at work.

I needed more evidence but since he wanted to see what I gathered, I complied, summing it up that his intentions were good.

As the thumb drive skidded across the table towards Nava, time reduced in that very moment as gun shots pierced through the windows.

I looked towards the glass beside me to see a group of men from an unfamiliar car, blaring out bullets, the glass exploded inwards, patrons screamed and scattered as the bullets tore through the cafe.

I dove across the seat, rolling onto the floor on my side and pressed my body underneath the counter, the closet cover I could fine. Adrenaline surged through me, my pulse spiking as I caught sight of Nava running towards the entrance of the cafe's kitchen, thumb drive in hand. My blood boiled at his reckless selfishness.

Survival instinct kicked in. I drew my gun from the holster on my thigh, aiming at the men now storming the café. The tables flipped. Screams filled the air. One of them shoved his gun into the guard's temple. My teeth clenched, I was about to fire when a hand gripped my hoodie from behind, a job Nava couldn't do.

"Come with me Red."

Rafael grunted out quietly, confusion gripped me then and with questions taking a front seat into my mind, I shuffled backwards on my ass and stand as we both exited out of the cafe.

Before we reached safety, a scream ripped from my throat as my body lifted violently into the air. Cold wind lashed my ears as I spun uncontrollably. Heat scorched across my skin, my lungs burning with every inhalation.

I hit the ground hard, snapping onto my side. A thick mist clouded my vision. My body refused to respond as shock and pain claimed me.

A burning slid into my nostrils and ripped into my lungs which had me struggling to clenched my chest area.

An instant mist formed over my eyes which caused everything to blurred before me.

Through the haze, Rafael's voice anchored me, guiding me through the chaos as the café behind us erupted in flames, debris soaring into the sky.

And then... silence.

I surrendered to the quiet.

My mind.