Beneath The Surface

Chapter 41: Haunted Secret

--- Raven's POV ---

Shots keep ringing through the air, but the barrage is getting less intense. Glancing into the rearview mirror, I notice the cars behind us thinning out, just two remain. I press down harder on the gas pedal, a flicker of exhilaration breaking through the tension. Speeding in a fast car had always been a thrill.

Trying to lose the remaining cars, I take a sharp right turn, then an immediate left, zigzagging through the streets in an attempt to shake them. After nearly ten frantic turns, the rearview mirror finally shows nothing but empty road behind us. I quickly pull into a driveway of a local resident, cutting the engine. "Duck down," I tell Ace and Marco, and we all crouch low in our seats.

Minutes pass like hours, and then the two cars speed by without noticing us. I breathe a sigh of relief and look over at Marco, "Where to now?"

Before I can process what's happening, Marco grabs my face, pulling me close and kissing me with a possessive force. The intensity and longing in his kiss catch me off guard, but I kiss him back, realizing just how much I had missed them.

Marco pulls back, still holding my face, and tells me, "Home." His voice is firm, but there's a softness in his eyes that wasn't there before. He then says he'll drive, instructing me to climb back into the back seat. I do as he says, with Ace reaching out to help me.

As I settle into the back, Ace pulls me close, planting a soft kiss on my forehead. It’s a small gesture, but it makes me feel a little more secure. Marco starts the car and we begin to drive in silence.

After a while, Marco breaks the silence, his eyes meeting mine through the rearview mirror. "Raven, I'm sorry about everything," he says, his voice laden with regret.

I look down, not knowing how to respond. Part of me doesn't believe in his apology. For all I know, he could be playing some trick, only to lose his temper again.

Marco speaks again, calling my name, "Raven." He wants me to look at him. I look up, meeting his gaze in the mirror. He continues, "I see now that you are not your father. You don't have to pay or suffer for his crimes. I realized my mistake right after I kicked you out."

I remain silent, unsure of what to say. I simply nod my head, acknowledging his words. With everything that has happened these last few weeks, I just want to get home. I don't have the energy for much at the moment, and hopefully, they will understand. I just want to forget about what happened and move on. But I know Marco and Ace, they will want to know everything. There is one thing I won't know how to tell them, so for now, I just simply don't want to talk.

After almost an hour's drive, we finally reach a hidden place with a long runway. Looking out the window, I see an airplane that looks more like a private jet. It must be. I had found out about Marco and Ace, what and who they are. Marco being the Mafia don, Ace being his second in charge. My father had told me about them.

With that knowledge, this is most probably their private jet. And after what I had seen happen today, I realize just how dangerous they truly are.

Stepping out of the car, they lead me toward the jet's entrance, guiding me up the steps and inside. We all find our seats, and Marco instructs the pilot to take us home.

The interior of the jet is luxurious, but I barely register the details. My mind is still processing everything that has happened. Marco and Ace sit across from me, both watching me closely. The hum of the engines starting up fills the cabin, a steady noise that somehow adds to the surreal feeling of the whole situation.

I close my eyes, trying to let the hum of the jet lull me into a semblance of peace. But it’s impossible. My thoughts keep circling back to Ivan, to what he did. The memories are vivid, haunting, refusing to let me go. The way he looked at me, the way he hurt me, it’s all etched into my mind. I can still feel his touch, and it makes my skin crawl.

I open my eyes and glance at Ace and Marco. My heart aches as I wonder how I’ll ever tell them. How do you put into words the pain and humiliation Ivan inflicted on me? The thought of their reactions, Marco’s rage, Ace’s silent fury, terrifies me. But beyond that, I’m scared of the guilt they’ll feel for not being there to protect me. They already blame themselves for so much. This would only add to their burdens.

Part of me thinks it doesn’t matter. Ivan is dead. The nightmare is over. But I know they’ll want to know everything. They deserve to know everything. Keeping secrets is what got us into this mess, and I don’t want to hide anything from them anymore. I owe them the truth, no matter how painful it is.

Guilt churns in my stomach, making it hard to breathe. I should tell them right away, but the words are stuck. How can I bring myself to add to their burdens right now? They’ve done so much to save me. They deserve a moment of peace, however brief.

The weight of the secret is suffocating. I can feel the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back. I can’t break down now. Not yet. I let out a shaky sigh and try to push the thoughts away. Now isn’t the time. I need to focus on getting home, on finding some safety amidst this chaos. I close my eyes again, telling myself that I’ll wait until the moment is right.

But the guilt gnaws at me, relentless. It’s a constant reminder that I’m holding something back, something important. For now, I just want to feel safe, even if it’s just an illusion. I need to gather my strength before I can face this next challenge. So I push the thoughts aside, promising myself that I’ll tell them soon. They deserve to know, and I can’t keep this from them forever.

As the jet continues its journey, I try to focus on the present. On the fact that I’m with Marco and Ace, that they came for me. But no matter how hard I try, the memories of Ivan and the guilt of my secret linger in the back of my mind, refusing to let me go.