Red

CHAPTER 43.

A sharp mechanical jerk ripped my eyes open
as panic tore through me.

My back hits the bedhead as I glanced around the room, my pulse surging at the fact that I was at an unknown location. And when I realize that I was in my room, I breathed out a sigh.

I clasped my chest, thundering vibration echoed against my palm and I swallowed thickly to eased my racing heart

I frowned as every memory from before resurfaces. Papi Zest, Nava, fire, gun shots...oh God, I gasp as a pulse hummed on my forehead from everything that had happened to me.

"Red, please calm down...here take this." I lift my head at the voice and stared over at Rafael who stood before my bed with a glass of water.

I grabbed it and took huge gulp to eased the dryness that I felt at the back of my throat.

"What..."

I cleared my throat as roughness settled there, stalling my words. My eyebrows connected together as I ripped the sheets, an unnecessary heat clamping over my body.

"What the hell happened?" I rasped.
Rafael sat on the edge of the bed and with his curly hair pulled back into a low bun, he turn towards me and asked. "Why did you went to see Nava?"

"I went there because he said he wanted to see what I gathered from my investigation."

I frowned as Rafael rub both of his hands down his faced and breathe a long sigh. "I should have warn you before this investigation and now things are fucked up. You could have died in that fire and God if you had..."

He shook his head. "I'd be the one to take full responsibility for it."

"Rafael... what the hell did you keep from me?"

He opened his mouth to explain to me what the hell was going on when we heard rounds of gunshots echoing in the house, bouncing off the walls.

For heaven sakes let me rest for one God-damn minute.

We both flew off the bed and I grabbed my gun from my handbag. It was laid out beside me and I checked the magazine to make sure that I had enough bullets.

"I'll go down to check. Make sure that the others are safe." He whispered and I nodded.

I was dressed in black leather leggings and black turtle neck crop top from earlier. With the rush of pain still humming through my body, barefooted, I bit my lip as I closed the door softly behind me, thanking God that it was night and as such the mansion lacked its light.

I melted into the corridor's darkness, careful not to cast even an extra shadow. One wrong silhouette, one flicker of movement, and I'd alert the intruders.

I didn't know what the fuck was happening, and with my headache attacking full-force, my blood boiled. Annoyance burned through my veins as I flattened my back against the hallway wall.

I brought both hands up, pressing the gun to my cheek, ready for whatever waited in that darkness.

It was too quiet, so quiet it tightened the air with tension. I bend my head to watch around the corner, narrowing my eyes through the darkness for any movement.

And when I saw that no one was there, I stand on the tip of my toes and walked over to the other side of the hall where Xam's room was at.

I entered through the door and notice that the room was completely empty. Thinking the worst, I searched the remaining rooms and I noticed that everyone was gone.

"Fuck." I muttered.

I walked back the way I was coming from and began to descended the steps.

I was on high alert, and as I took the last step, my breath stopped. Warm air hit the back of my neck, followed by the cold press of a gun muzzle to my spine.