The Masked Hero

Chapter 5

Valentina's POV

More time passed and yet, nothing had changed. I stared at the man next to me, as his eyes remained on the military men just up ahead. He seemed to be enthralled with them, and I found it weird, because the military men weren't exactly doing anything special.

There were about six in number, if I had counted correctly. Each of the six men were built heavily, and you could easily tell that they were light on their feet. They hung out at the back of an open truck, chatting away animatedly and laughing too. They looked to be having fun, but the last thing anyone would do would be to underestimate them.

Just three weeks ago, news had spread of their conquest against one of our neighboring villains. They had been reigning terror for what seemed like forever until the Area A military men swung into action. All they had to do was ambush the enemies at the spot where they least expected it, and that was it. Even right now,I could swear they had their weapons nearby.

The thought had barely settled in my mind, before something caught my eye. I couldn't see it properly at first, until I stared harder and realized it was a weapon, but not just anyone; a gun.

I didn't know a lot about weapons, but I didn't need a high IQ to tell that guns were super dangerous, and even more so in the hands of men like these. All they needed was just one bullet and I would be done for.

I shook my head slowly, willing the thoughts to go away. The military men weren't harmful, so long as we weren't criminals and I was sure they would let us pass if we asked nicely.

I parted my lips to speak, but when my gaze landed on my savior, I pressed them shut again.

He was still staring, but this time, I could make out a couple of emotions running around in his eyes. Call me crazy, but I could swear I saw hurt, recognition and a little bit of admiration shining in his blue orbs, and it made me wonder ; did it have anything to do with his memories? Was he slowly recovering them and did the presence of this military men strike something in him?

They were all valid questions, but the more I tried to answer myself, I got all the more frustrated.

At one point, I even caught him wearing a sly smirk that lifted up to the side of his cheek.

“Hey.” I tapped his arm gently, my fingers coming close to his biceps. I knew he was muscular, but it was a different feeling when I touched him. At the sound of my voice, I watched him jerk back to the present. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” He seemed startled but he was quick to shake it off. “Yes, I'm fine. I just got carried away for a second.”

“I figured.” I smiled in his direction, and it widened when he mirrored it back. I allowed a couple of seconds to pass before I asked my next question. “I saw you staring at them, intensely too. Mind if I ask you why?’

He snuck a glance at them one more time before turning to me again.

“I don't know.” He shrugged. “Maybe it's just the familiarity lurking around. I feel like I'm familiar with them in a way, and if that's not fascinating, then I have no idea what is.”

“I think I know why you're so drawn to them.” I raised my shoulders haughtily. I watched him stare at me from the corner of my eyes and I grinned. “Perhaps you used to be a military mechanic. You know, you probably helped fix all of their vehicles, trucks and who knows, weapons too.”

His expression turned stoic immediately and I felt my heart drop to my feet. I was only trying to make a joke, but right now it looked like I had offended him.

“I didn't mean to offend …”

“Ha!” He burst out laughing, the loud sound piercing through my thoughts. Confusion settled on my face as I stared at the guffawing man, trying desperately to figure out the source of his laughter.

Was he really laughing at my dry joke? And this much too?

“Nobody knows.” His laughter slowly died down. When he was done, he added. “But if I'm honest, I wouldn't mind be a military mechanic.”

“You see, and that's good.” I nodded, super grateful to God that the tension had eased almost immediately it came. “I even have an idea, once I've helped you get your memory back you can repay me by fixing and servicing my car. You could even give it a test run if you like.”

“That's not…..” the rest of his words were drowned out by the sound of my phone ringing.

As quickly as I could, I fished out the gadget from my purse. With a quick glance at the caller ID, I picked up the call, before pressing the phone to my ear.

“Valentina?” Camilla's voice reached my ears immediately. There was an edge to how she spoke, but I didn't focus on it. “Are you okay?”

“Camilla.” I let out in one breath. For some strange reason, I couldn't help but feel weird seeing her call. I allowed a couple of seconds to pass before continuing. “Yes, I'm fine. What's up?”

“Nothing much.” Camilla quipped. “I was just checking up on you.”

“Hmmm.” I hummed. My eyes darted from the man next to me, before resting on the phone. Something swirled in the pit of my belly, and I bit back k on my lower lip.

I wanted to say something. Ask her what had been bothering me since the night father and uncle barged into my room, but I couldn't bring myself to ask Camilla what I wanted to. Why? It was easy. I was scared of her answer.

Camilla was the only one I had told my location that night and she was the last person I had spoken to before tragedy hit me square in the jaw, and it made me wonder if she actually had a hand in it.

It didn't make sense. Why would Camilla, my best friend rat me out to my uncle and father, when she very well knew I would rather die than get married to Felix.

What if she didn't? What if they had tracked my phone just so they could find me? Honestly, I wouldn't put it past uncle to do something as extreme as that, but at the same time, the villa was located on the outskirts of town, which meant that there was little to no service around here.

My location had also been switched off too, so how the hell were they able to find me?

“Valentina?” The sound of my name had me jerking back to the present in no time. I blinked back a couple of times, and that was when I realized the call was still on. “Are you there? I stopped hearing you and…”

“Did you tell dad and my uncle where to find me?” I cut her off before I dove straight into the question. A couple of seconds passed between us and I swear I heard her let out a small gasp. “Camilla?”

“Um, actually..” Camilla stuttered from the other side of the phone. “Valentina, you see…”

“Don't you lie to me, Camilla.” I let out slowly. I wasn't mad and I tried my level best to show that in my tone. Camilla was my best friend, and no matter what she had done, I liked to listen to her side of the story first. “Did you tell them?”

“Yes.” Camilla responded after what seemed like forever. “But you have to believe me when I say I didn't do it intentionally.”

“Your father had called me, saying that he hadn't heard from you in a while and he was worried about you.” Camilla continued. “He asked if I had heard from you and I called to know where you were. If I had known he was going to come and cause a scene, then I would never have told him.”

I didn't doubt her. I knew how father's mind worked, so it was pretty easy to believe what Camilla had just said.

“Valentina?” Camilla called out to me again. “Are you still there? I'm sorry, please forgive me.”

“It's alright.” I let out a small sigh. “You were only trying to make sure I was safe.”

“Thank you.” Camilla let out a shaky breath. An awkward silence settled over the phone and I just knew she had something else to say. “um, can I ask, are you truly with another man?”

My eyes darted to the man in question again. His gaze had returned to the military men, and truthfully, he didn't look to be bothered by my conversation with Camilla.

“Yes.” I nodded slowly. “It's a long story.”

“You have to tell me.” The excitement in Camilla's voice was evident. “You have to tell me everything. Is he hot? You have to take a picture and….”

“Not now, Camilla.” I bit back a smile.

“But I want to see him.” Camilla was whining now. “I want to meet him. Your best friend has to meet him right?”

“You will, but not now.” I shook my head.

“Why don't we set up a meeting?” Camilla suggested. “You know, like a date. A friendship date.”

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes with a small smile. “But only when I'm back home.”

Luckily for me, Camilla loved the idea, and after a couple more dialogues, I disconnected the call, before driving back to the ancestral Villa.