Chapter 3

Elara's POV

The voice sounds again from the entrance to the alley, sharp and furious. "What the hell is going on here?"

My heart rate quickens. I sink further into the wall, feeling the roughness pressing into my back. Whoever this guy is, he sounds furious. I would never want to be on his bad side. I sneak a peek over the edge of the chair shielding me and see the man from earlier—Lorenzo’s guard—staring at the stranger.

"Answer me, damnit!" the stranger bellows, causing me to jump.

The guard stumbles over his words, unsure. "I—I was just looking for a—"

"Get out of my house," the stranger snaps. His tone causes me to shudder. How scary is this man?

The guard mutters something and hurries away, leaving just me, the stranger, and the silence. My palms grow sweaty, my mind reeling with all the things that could happen to me. He must be the owner of this place. Of course, I should have known.

"Are you planning on staying there forever? Or are you waiting for an invitation?" His cold voice echoes, and my eyes widen. How on earth did he see me? Oh goodness, what do I do? My heart thuds in my chest.

But even with my fear, I have to get away before Lorenzo's guards return. I stand up slowly from behind the couch. A tall, lanky man in old, worn-out clothes stares at me, his arms crossed against his chest. My savior.

"Thank you. You’re a nice guy," I blurt out with a bright smile on my face. "Thank you for letting me stay. I know I shouldn’t be here. I was just—"

"You think I helped you?" His voice cuts me off. "I didn’t help you. Get the hell out of my territory."

Okay, I take that back. He’s the complete opposite of anything nice. He looks at me like I’m a piece of trash.

"Yes, yes," I stammer. "I’ll go. But, here..." I look around the table and pick up the money I kept there. "I have something small for you."

His eyes narrow as I hold out the cash—three hundred dollars. My fingers shake as I offer it to him.

He takes it, his face holding a surprised look. "Hmm, not counterfeit, eh? Well, thanks," he says, a small smile forming on his face.

"You can get yourself something nice. Bye!" I say hurriedly, scurrying out of there as fast as my short legs can take me. The cool night air hits my face as I step into the street. I look sideways, and, seeing a clear coast, bolt off towards my home.

By the time I get home, my legs are aching, and my heart beats like it’ll fail in no time. I stop under the bridge and lean against the big rock, letting out a relieved sigh.

It’s not raining, thank God. If it was, all my stuff would be soaked again.

I crouch down and gather my things—an old bag with a few clothes, some worn-out shoes, and a folder with all my documents I don’t even care to look at anymore. This is my life. It’s not much, but it’s what I’ve had for the past few months.

I zip up the bag and sit on my bed—a small mat I picked from an abandoned alley. I reach for my bra and take out Lorenzo’s wallet. My hands are still trembling, but I manage to open it. I count the money inside. One, two, three...

My heart skips a beat. Almost five grand! What the actual shit! My mouth goes dry. How is that even possible? Who walks around with that much cash?

Lorenzo Russo, that’s who. Stupid billionaires. Guess his stupidity actually helped me today.

I don’t waste any more time. I know what I need to do. I grab my bag, shove everything useful inside, and make my way to the hospital.

The hospital smells like antiseptic and medicine. I hate hospitals, but I can’t avoid coming here now. The bright lights hit my eyes, and I squint to protect them. The receptionist glances up as I enter but quickly turns back to her computer when she sees me. I know where to go.

Mrs. Raya is sitting outside his room, her eyes puffy and red. She’s been crying again, even after I told her I’m going to look for a solution.

I sit next to her. "Mrs. Raya," I say quietly.

She looks up, startled, but her face softens when she sees me.

"Oh, Elara. What are you doing here?" Her voice cracks a little.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the stack of money, handing it to her. "For Jaden’s treatment."

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. "I can’t—"

"You can, and you will. Take it. Please."

She hesitates, her hands trembling as she takes the money. "Elara, this is too much—"

"Take care of Jaden," I insist. "You both need this."

She looks at me, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don’t know how to thank you."

"You don’t need to. Just make sure he gets better."

As I stand to leave, I hear a sudden commotion near the nurses' station. There are bodyguards, tall and imposing, guarding a door. I stop, glancing over at the crowd. Mrs. Raya looks too.

"What’s going on?" I ask.

Mrs. Raya shrugs. "Some big shot, I guess. Hospitals like these always get them."

"Can you believe someone drugged Mr. Russo?" one of the nurses passing by says in a hushed voice.

I freeze, my eyes widening. What the hell are they talking about? I strain my ears, struggling to catch more of the conversation.

"Yeah," the other one whispers. "He’s lucky he’s alive. Who would even do that to him? They almost killed him."

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. I need to get out of here. I quickly bid goodbye to Mrs. Raya and make my way out of the hospital, my head spinning. Lorenzo could have died. That wasn’t my plan. I didn’t want to harm him. Oh God, what have I done?

As soon as I’m out of the hospital, I rush to the bus station. I need to leave this city. I need to disappear.

It takes hours, but I finally find myself in a new place. Somewhere far from the life I left behind. I think my revenge on Lorenzo is enough now, even though what he did was too painful to let go. The bus ride is long, and by the time I arrive, my body feels really weak. But at least here, no one knows me.

I manage to get a small job and rent an even smaller apartment. It’s not much, but it’s mine.

Days pass, and I start to feel... normal again. I go to work, I come home, and I enjoy myself. No one bothers me, and I don’t bother anyone.

One night, barely three days later, I walk up to my apartment and notice something strange. My door is slightly ajar. What the hell? Did I forget to lock up? Or did someone break in?

I freeze, heart hammering in my chest. I take a deep breath and push the door open all the way.

Inside, sitting calmly in my favorite chair, is Lorenzo Russo. His eyes meet mine, and a wide smile spreads across his face. The air in the room grows thick with tension, and I feel sa shiver run down my spine. How the hell did this guy find me in such a remote place?

"Such a nice place you’ve got here, Miss Walker. It's nice to see you again," he says, his voice low and calculating.

Oh shit!