La Rosa Del Sur (The Rose of the south)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4
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"Are you out of your fucking mind!" Rafael half yelled at me. He pinched the bridge of his nose and squinched his eyes in frustration. "Come on, you don't even know him! There is absolutely no way I am letting you go off with a complete stranger." I had found him, Diego, and Zoella on the outskirts of the dance floor, back at our original booth.

"Rafael's right," Zoe tried. "This guy could be a criminal. He could try and abduct you or rape you. Doesn't his offer raise any red flags to you?" Her eyes were pleading.

They were right of course. This Luca Marino could be lying about everything. It could be a complete coincidence that his last name just happened to be the same as the one my grandfather had written to me in his last letter. Or maybe it wasn't.

"I'm sorry, but none of you are going to change my mind." Zoella and Rafael shook their heads. "You could be right about this, but, I'm sorry, coincidences like this don't happen. I have to seize the chance when it jumps at me."

Diego looked at me for a moment before asking "Princesa, why are you so determined?" I cast my eyes up to meet his gaze.

"Because I really think his uncle might have answers for me," I looked down at my hands. "I really need to know why Abuelo y Tia was killed! What if this has to do with me? What if I was the reason they were killed? I need to find out, please. I promise I'll be careful. I know how to defend myself and I can contact any of you in a pinch" My eyes roved over all of them, beseeching them to understand.

Zoe looked at Rafael. A silent conversation passed between the two as they stared at each other intensely. The two broke their scrutiny of each other to stare at Diego. Then, they all nodded at each other. Zoella then stood up and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Be safe," she whispered into my ear. "You know what to do if he tries anything." She pulled away, worry still sparkling in her eyes.

Diego stood up too, grasping my hand in both of his. "Be safe, Princesa."

He released my hand. I looked at a still seething Rafael. He made no move towards me. I said my final goodbye and made my way back over to Luca.

"Are you ready to go?" Luca asked when I reached him again.

"Yes, I am," I stated quietly.

We walked out of Vita Santa. It was a lot quieter and cooler. Luca led me to his. A black SUV. It was very odd, but I didn't say anything. Just as Luca opened the passenger door I heard a yell.

"ROSEINA!" I turned my head to see Rafael jogging towards us.

"Yes Rafael?" I said, when he was close enough.

He stood to catch his breath for a moment. Then he pulled me into a bear hug. He whispered, "I love you, always remember that ok?" His voice dropped to an even softer whisper. "You have a weapon right?" I patted my purse that was squashed between us.

Reassured, he pulled away. Then he said, a little too loudly, "You better be back at the hotel no later than one." And then he walked away. I watched him go, a feeling of unease growing steadily in my belly. Had I made the right choice?

I closed the door and watched as Luca turned on the car. The engine rumbled and off we went into the night.

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The ride was silent. I was staring straight ahead for most of it, but occasionally I would sneak a glance at Luca in the driver's seat. My mind started to race. Oh god, what was I doing? I was in a car with a complete stranger, who, while potentially helpful, could be leading me into some sort of trap. Also, why did he have a black SUV? Only a certain few people drove those types of cars, and I happen to be the daughter of some of those certain few people. Who was this man? The silence was getting to me so I tried to strike up a conversation.