Pregnant for the Mafia CEO

Claire. Adrenaline is pumping so frantically inside my bloodstream that my skin prickles. However, I keep tiptoeing, increasing my pace when I reach the parking lot. It's late at night, and the only sound in the distance is that of the crickets. I'm crouching, hiding in the shadows, so my figure isn't seen. This is an escape, after all. "Sorry, baby. We'll soon be out of here. Together." I say this to my dog, my only companion in this torture, who whines softly. At the end of the garage is a net gate, so I start to climb it, shutting my lips as the copper cuts my hands, but I've endured worse. Just as I'm about to cross over and jump down, an alarm blares, ringing with a shrill, and then I hear the sound of a door opening. "Oh, my...no, he's coming. Lola, quick." I clap and hurry with my dog in my hand, speeding into the woods, but before we could reach inside and disappear in the darkness of the forest, a gunshot blast destabilized my gait. Falling to the ground, I'm gasping, wandering my eyes around, and all my brain can tell me is to run. And that's what I did. I run, not looking behind me. I can't think of anything else, and neither did I think of Lola. As I get to the other side, I stop on the silent street, scanning for Ava's car. She told me she'd be here. "Oh, goodness." I'm starting to cry when I can't see her. Was it a trick? Was this Caleb's doing? Did he read my mind again and know that I would escape if I knew Ava was in town to save me? Oh, I'm f****d! Just then, a car honks, and my lungs freeze, losing my breath before I hear Ava's sound. "Here, Claire." Quickly, I speed-run to her car and try to open the car door, but it's locked. "f**k, open the door. Open the door now, Ava." She's shocked at the way I screamed. When the door is opened, I hurry inside, not having closed it before I shout again. "Drive, Ava. What're you waiting for? He's coming. Drive." But she's just frozen by my looks. I know I look bad, but most importantly, I look very different. My natural dark blonde hair has been dyed a light blonde. My warm beige skin is dry and pale, and my bright, dark green eyes like that of the forest is dull and lifeless. If she's shaken with what she's seen, then how about when she sees my back? The marks that have formed agonies of art there. Her eyes shift from me to the outside, and I follow the trail of her sight, seeing that monster run like a madman towards the car. I grab Ava by her sleeves, yelling to the top of my lungs. "Move now! Drive!" "Is that...is that Caleb? Why is he...?" She's unable to finish her sentence as Caleb turns his pistol to the back and uses it to smack my side of the window. The glass shatters into fragments, my hands shielding my face just in time while I scream, tears threatening to fall at the same time. "You can't leave me, Claire. I own you!" He screams as he grabs my nightgown, and then Ava turns on the engine and drives off. He runs along until he can't and rolls on the street. From the side mirror, I watch him. He's breathing hard with that usual death gaze in his eyes. Oh, my God. He's a monster, and he shows it yet again. I'm crying, allowing myself to taste the sweetness of freedom and, at the same time, the loss of Lola. I can't imagine where she is now, perhaps in Caleb's hands. My heart is still hampering against my chest, pumping more adrenaline, and my palms vibrate with fear. I feel like he's still here with me, and he's just waiting for me to come back so he can correct me, according to his words, when in reality, he's torturing me. "What was that?" Ava looks like she's just seen a ghost. Her grip on the wheel is tight. She's already sweating. I can't talk. All I just want to do for now is stare up at the moon and really look at it. I haven't seen the moon from outside in five years. That's how much I've been suffering. I haven't seen tall buildings or streetlights in those painful years spent in excruciating torment. Now, I'm free. I don't ever want to go back there. The car stops suddenly, and I gasp, quickly looking around before I turn to Ava. "What happened?" "I need an explanation." She says. Wait what? She needs to drive! "We need to be out of here. Not an explanation. He could be after us, for all I know. I'm so sure of that. He's a beast. He won't give up." I speak frantically; my eyes flared and my senses heightened. Ava grabs her head, breathing hard. "Why? Why did Caleb act like that? Like...like a..." I grab Ava and look into her eyes. "Yes, like the beast that he is. He's always been, and he will always be." She wanted to talk but couldn't find the words. Then she finally says: "But it was sweet. Your marriage. We were all there. We saw the looks on your faces. All this time, I thought you forgot about us. I mean rich and careless behaviour. Sort of. I didn't know. I'm sorry." I see tears brimming at the corners of her eyes, so I pull her into my arms. "It was never your fault. I had to pretend. It was an arranged marriage, after all. I thought that I was saving my family, but was rather placing myself in hell." I pause, swallowing the lump in my throat. As much as I don't want to remember everything, I can't help but give Ava a hint. "He did very horrible things to me. It was so much, Ava. I'm so glad that you came to find me. I don't...I don't even understand it. How did you get my contact? How?" She grabs my hand. "Don't worry, I'm always here for you, okay?" Then, as she starts the car engine again, she continues driving. "I was worried, and then I needed to come and check on you. All our other friends have left for different countries. I mean, that was the plan when we graduated college. To enjoy life and travel around. I thought maybe that's why you forgot us too, until I had to confirm for myself. Your mom told me things. She got your contact and that's how I was able to reach you. But I didn't know things were this bad. I don't think your mom knew either." "Maybe." I'm staring outside the window, feeling my stomach turn. "Do you want to talk about it?" I take a minute, momentarily not knowing what to answer with, until I eventually do. "No, I don't. Not yet. Where are we going, though?" "To your mom." The drive continues for another few minutes, then she parks at a side street. It's silent, and I feel scared. I've always been scared of silence. I've lived in it for five years, and it wasn't friendly. "My sweet dear." I hear my mom's voice at the broken window, her hands entering so she can cup my face. "Mom." My voice is a whisper. I can't believe I'm actually seeing her. "What happened to your face? Did that man do this? I want to know so much, and I want to tell you so much, but I'm so sorry. I've always been weak, but you're not." We are both crying, whimpering as she sniffs. "You've always been strong and resilient, never allowing your will to be broken. Now, I need you to be stronger, my love. I'm sorry, but I have to leave. Your father will soon be back, and he can't know you've left that evil man or he'll take you back. He's...please, don't see him as a monster either. We both love you." She finishes, then adds. "Take care for yourself. Ava, please take care of her." I'm staring down at the money she gave me before she kisses me on the cheek and then runs away. I can't help but sob. My eyes are so tired that I want to sleep, but my mind is broken into pieces, and it hurts so much. My life is a ruin, and I don't think I'll ever heal. The car is back in motion, making me question Ava. "What do I do now?" "You start again, Claire. I can't promise to be there all the time, but maybe I can help you heal." I nod my head at her words. "Where are we going?" "Somewhere far away from this place. We are going to Los Angeles."