Chapter 13

LORENZO POV.

I have been searching for her for the past seven hours. Still I couldn't find her. The Mansion was surrounded by forest so there was a high chance she might have gotten deeper inside the forest.

I had told Marco my third in command to start the drone search. My trust in Karlo was already down. He has to put in a lot of effort to gain my trust again.

Leaving my car behind I was taking a path which will take me inside the forest. For some reason I was angry at her for taking rackless decision. Didn't she know how dangerous a forest can be. It was getting dark so I needed to hurry.

I started shouting her name. Every time I was expecting her to call me back. Just that time my phone vibrated in my pocket. I removed the cell and Stepheno caller ID was flashed. I picked up and put the phone near my ear.

"She is not found taking any transport," Stepheno said.

"Where are you?" He asked me. I collected the information. So there was a high possibility she was in the forest.

"In the middle of trees" I replied thinking. He chuckled at my response.

"It will soon get dark Loren. She is out alone" Stepheno said he was trying to sound okay but I could sense concerns in his voice.

"I know," I said to myself and ended the call and put the phone inside. I was so deep inside the forest. I just hope she is safe.

"Lyra'' I shouted. My voice echoing in between the woods. I didn't stop there. My conscious mind was telling me to walk deeper into the forest and I followed it.

As I was walking I reached a huge tree and from behind. I heard a rattling sound. I picked the nearby wood which was laying on the ground and slowly went behind in search of that sound.

My iris bulged wide. In the tree there was a little tunnel-like thing in the bark probably like a hole. The sound seemed to be coming from there. I put my stick inside and heard someone's painful moan.

I hurriedly went closer towards the hole. It was covered with huge leaves. I threw all the leaves away and I saw her. She was right there covered in huge leaves. Her clothes were torn. She didn't have her slippers on. She had a few bruises on her feet.

She was holding a sharp stick like I was holding one. She must have heard me because she hugged herself tighter. Her little doe eyes were moist. She was in complete shock.

I went closer to her.

"Lyra" I called her softly, I was worried for her. She didn't respond. I just hope she isn't harmed by any animals. I wanted to bring her out from there so I put my hands on her shoulder. I wanted to take her home.

But she was so afraid that when I touched her shoulder she flinched away and crunched closer towards the bark of the tree.

I clenched my fist seeing her in this state was somewhat painful for me.

"Lyra, let's take you home" I said to her calmly, trying to bring her out. I had to get her out soon. What if she had other injury? What if she was bitten by snakes or any other insects.

I bent down and pulled her out from inside. She was already lightweight so it was easy to bring her out.

"Please don't take me," She pleaded. Her eyes were red and a bit swollen from crying.

I pulled her closer. Her body was cold so I removed my jacket and covered her. She tried to push me away but I didn't let her. She was behaving recklessly and I knew it was because of the situation she was in. She started removing the jacket she had on.

She was about to throw the jacket on the ground when I caught the jacket and forcefully made her wear it. This time I made sure to pull up the chain.

"Ple….ase…please" She said wiping her tears.

"I'm taking you home, Lyra," I said to her a bit roughly. I knew I sounded rude but this is how I could shut her mouth. She was being stubborn in this situation.

"I don't want to stay with you, you" She said, her voice barely audible from crying.

"I wasn't asking you," I said with a smirk. I was going to take her anyway. How can she even think I would leave her alone here.

We were already very deep inside the forest so It was useless to waste time here, so I picked her up and started moving towards the road.

She didn't stop there. She wiggled around. Doing her best so I could put her down.

"I'm tired" She merely whispered. Her eyes were puffy like a red ball but still she didn't stop crying.

"Ahhhh'' I screamed in pain. She had managed to bite me on my left shoulder and I dropped her. She fell on the ground, luckily it was busy enough to protect her.

"Are you crazy!! I am trying to help you" I told her a little bit too loudly. Which scared her as her eyes started flooding again.

"I don't nee…d you..r HELP" she said between sobs. Her words were wobbly and for a reason I knew she was upset for something which she was not going to tell me.

"Lyra, I want to help you," I said to her, trying my best to be calm. I went closer to her and slowly patted her shoulder. She didn't notice because she was too busy crying. Suddenly the tiny droplets of rain started falling. I brought my hands together and sheltered her.

"Lyra…We need to"

"I know what you have planned for me," She said bitterly, smiling at me.

"Lyra, we can have this conversation later" I said, helping her get up from the ground. She looked at me and I looked at her back. She had a victorious smile on her face and determination in her eyes. I had never been this confused before.

"I will make it so easy for you" She said and slowly started getting up from the ground. I didn't try to help. She was already enough for herself.

Her sudden change in behaviour was a good sign because she was not crying anymore. She was walking slowly because of her heel injury. I didn't say anything to her, instead followed behind her.

We reached the road. I could see my car from the place we were standing but it still was a bit away from us. I directed her towards my car and she followed me limping. At this point she was taking deep breaths. She was tired of walking but still she didn't ask for help.

I brought my car and helped her get inside. Our whole journey was silent. Only our sound of breath could be heard.

My phone vibrated. Stepheno was on the call. I was a bit hesitant to pick his call. I haven't talked about Lyra to anyone. I thought it was better to keep this matter quiet.

I cut Stepheno's call. Anyways we were just a few minutes away from the mansion.

Lyra was silent the entire ride she was just looking outside the window. I heard the sound of a chopper above my car. I guessed Marco had tracked me.

With one hand I opened the screen and logged into my security panel to check whether the chopper flying above us was mine or not.

I knew identifying the number was not easy so I checked the location. It indeed was ours.

I pulled the window down and signalled him to go. Soon after that chopper passed above our car. Not after long we reached the mansion.

Mansion gates were closed. Through the sensors installed in our cars the gates opened, we entered inside. Stepheno has installed two gates at the entrance, one that is sensor activated while the inside one is face recognition.

After getting through the face recognition. We finally made our way inside the mansion. All my men were present, even Marco and Karlo.

I didn't want Stepheno to see Lyra now. So I took my car and drove towards the garage. I looked at her, she sat in her seat completely pale.

I got down from the car and walked up towards the other side of the door but before I could open the door Stepheno rushed to the garage.

"Where is she?" Stepheno questioned me in desperation. I pointed my fingers in her direction. Stepheno followed my direction and saw her. One could clearly see the happiness in his face. He opened the door for her and I knew it was my moment to leave.

Lyra looked at him in confusion and then at me. The look on her face was clear for anyone to say she was sacred of us. It has always been a history for men to never understand a woman and it was the same case here.

She was so confident to argue in the forest but now she was mute. She got down from the car on her own. Stepheno couldn't take his eyes off her. He cupped Lyra's face and examined her.

"Can you walk?" He asked. Lyra nodded her head in yes. A very stubborn person indeed. She had a fucking injury in her feets and volunteered herself to walk around the forest.

"I don't think you can," I said roughly. My words definitely were making an effect on her because her expression changed. She clearly didn't like me.

Stepheno snarled at me and then helped her get inside the mansion while I stayed back. The man whom we torched earlier his words echoed in my head.

After they left I called Marco.

"Keep an eye on Lyra. I want to know everything she does in a day"

"Yes Boss," He replied.

"She is none other than the long lost daughter of Walton's Family" My mind couldn't come to the conclusion. Even if she was the daughter, how is it not possible to recall her own family members.

There were just too many hidden truths and I was ready to find them.