Chapter 1 A Fateful Night

Tom's POV.

My hands were sweaty and I struggled to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. I glance at my boss through the rearview mirror. He looked very stressed and was a little bit drunk. After picking him up from the airport, he'd asked me to drive him to a hotel and he went in the do God knows what, while I sat in the lounge downstairs, waiting. We've been there for hours.

My phone beeped and I gave a glance at the screen. It was a text message.

Slight change in plan, where are you right now?.

My heart began racing as I picked up my phone and replied to the text hastily, trying to focus on the road and my phone simultaneously.

"West end bridge."

Perfect, take a turn at the intersection and follow that route.

"Okay."

I turned my phone off and continued driving. I arrived at the intersection and swung the car around to face the road leading to Harlow. I saw the confused look on my boss's face as he noticed I had deviated from our original route.

"There's an obstruction ahead, going through here would help us avoid it" He nodded drunkenly as I explained to him. This should be very easy, I thought, considering his current state. Most of the cars around were going in the opposite direction and after a little while, I noticed we were the only ones going forward. I started getting anxious and my heart pounded in my chest. What was going on? Why was I asked to change routes? I wiped my sweaty palms on the side of my pants. A cat suddenly darted across the road, just a few meters ahead of me, further increasing my heart rate.

I cursed silently and continued down the road. The sun had set completely and the moon was nowhere in sight yet. I made a right turn and a few minutes later, made a left one. Up ahead, there were cars parked haphazardly. Two gunshots popped off close by and my heart skipped a beat. What the hell was going on? I started to consider turning back. My phone beeped again.

Just keep driving, no worries.

I obeyed and continued down the street. Had the person known I was thinking of turning back? Was I being watched? Thoughts continued to rival themselves in my mind. I soon found out what was happening as I made the next turn.

Two different groups of people were shooting at each other down the street. People were running helter-skelter, taking cover wherever they could. Cars were parked across the road, some with their doors wide open and others fully closed. It was a mafia war. There had been a lot of disturbances in the city recently and it seemed things had finally escalated. I took my foot off the gas a little, causing the car to slow down. No way was I driving through this chaos. Another text popped into my phone.

Keep driving! Don't stop!

No way, there is a mafia war going on, it's not safe.

Ignore that, keep moving.

Was this guy nuts? How the hell did he expect me to drive past the ruckus? I was forced out of my thoughts as a bullet knocked the side of the car. Fuck! Instinctively, I stamped down on the gas pedal and the car responded swiftly.

Another bullet hit us and a third seconds later. My boss was deep asleep and unaware of what was going on. I had nearly made it past the warring men when a bullet shattered the window by my side and I ducked immediately.

I lost control of the steering wheel and the car wobbled across the road. Two more bullets hit us before I was finally able to balance the car.

My heart was racing and I tried to steady my breathing. Realizing that my boss has been silent the whole time, I assume he is asleep and turn around to confirm it.

His body was slack on the seat and three bullet wounds were in his chest, blood oozing from two of them. My boss was dead.

I froze for a moment, unsure of what I should do next. The wail of a siren could be heard and I knew it was only a matter of time before the cops showed up.

I found my way out of the car and ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

Elena's POV.

I woke up with a start and it took me a few moments to remember where I was. I turned to stare at the clock on my bedside table. 8:45 a.m. I yawned and stretched lazily. I didn't want to rise yet as I had nothing to do. After a while, I forced myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I paused to catch a glimpse of my face in the mirror on the wall. My eyes were baggy and my hair crumpled. No one would see me in this state and recognize me.

My phone rang and I stared at it for a while before answering the call, wondering who could be calling this early in the morning.

"Hello," I said into the phone.

"Elena, it's me, Tom." Was the reply I got. "I'm calling about your father ------"

"What about him?"

There was a pause. I lost my patience and snapped at him.

"What about my father, Tom? Tom!"

"He's dead. He got shot while I was driving him back into town last night. I'm very sorry."

The phone slipped out of my hand and dropped to the floor. My chest tightened and my heart fell. Tears flowed freely as I struggled to understand what I just heard. I couldn't believe it. Standing there, staring straight ahead but seeing nothing, my whole world came crashing down around me.

I am never going to see my father again. My phone was ringing again and I picked it up and put it to my ear, my hands shaking.

"Are you okay, Elena?" It was still Tom.

Is he crazy? Who would be okay after hearing such news?

"What happened? Where's he right now?" I ignored his question, trying to gather my thoughts.

"We got caught in the crossfire of two fighting groups. Your father got hit by stray bullets and it was too late by the time I got him to the hospital. His body is at Lockwood General."

"Why didn't you call immediately?" I lashed at him.

He didn't give a reply. Something wasn't making sense.

"Where are you, Tom?"

"At the hospital."

I hang up and dash into the bedroom to get dressed immediately.