Chapter 2
1309 Words
Renee
"Your father, Mr. Johnson..."
The words echoed in my mind like a broken record. I stared at my dead phone, gripping it tighter as if that would force it to turn back on.
What about James, my mother's murderer? How could one have two fathers? No way, this had to be a mistake. Even though I hated James so much, he was the only father I had ever known.
The man lying dead in that room might have died knowing the answers I needed.
Forcing my feet to move, I hurried back to the front desk. The nurse from earlier was still there, flipping through a clipboard.
"Excuse me," I said, my voice unsteady. "I need to borrow a charger. My phone died during the middle of an important call."
She barely looked up. "We don't provide chargers, ma'am. You'll have to find one yourself."
I clenched my jaw. "Seriously?"
Spinning away, I spotted a man scrolling through his phone near a power outlet.
"Hey, sorry—do you have a charger I can borrow? Just for a minute?"
He barely spared me a glance. "Nah, sorry."
I exhaled sharply. This was useless. My mind was a storm of confusion. If I couldn't charge my phone, I needed another way.
I turned back toward the nurse's desk. "Can I use the hospital phone?"
She sighed but slid it toward me. I quickly dialed Ethan's number from memory, pacing as the line rang.
"Hello?" His voice was groggy, like I had woken him up.
"Ethan, listen to me." I swallowed hard. "I need you to check something. There's an attorney named Richard Collins—find out if he's real. Also, look up Silvercrest Enterprises."
There was a pause. Then, "Wait... what? The Silvercrest Enterprise I know…? And did you find out who this Johnson guy is?"
I rubbed my forehead, my pulse still racing. "Just do it, please. I'll explain later."
"Okay, okay. Give me ten minutes."
I exhaled. "Thanks."
I pushed the phone back to the nurse, my hands shaking slightly.
I needed air.
Stepping outside, the night breeze hit me, cool against my burning skin. The taxi I had arrived in was still waiting at the entrance. I moved toward it, my thoughts tangled in knots.
Then, just as I walked down the steps, trying to clear my head, a strong grip closed around my arm.
I gasped, yanking back. "What the...!"
A tall Hispanic man in dark clothing stood beside me, his grip firm but not painful. He had sharp features, a neatly trimmed beard, and an air of authority.
"Miss Renee," he said in a deep, urgent voice. "Come with me. You're being summoned back inside."
My heart pounded. "What? By whom?"
"There's no time to explain."
He pulled me forward, but instinct kicked in. I jerked back hard. "Let go of me!"
Before I could scream, a loud pop-pop-pop! shattered the night.
Gunfire.
A black SUV screeched around the corner, its tinted windows rolling down. Masked men leaned out, their guns pointed directly at us.
I barely had time to react before the man shoved me down, shielding me with his body. More shots rang out, hitting the hospital walls. People screamed.
I couldn't breathe. My mind screamed, Run, but my legs were frozen.
The man cursed under his breath. "Stay low!"
He yanked me up, half-dragging me as we bolted toward the parking lot. More gunfire erupted behind us.
Then, another SUV skidded to a stop in front of us. The passenger window rolled down, revealing a woman in the driver's seat. Her voice was sharp.
"Let's go, sir!"
The man didn't hesitate. He threw open the back door and shoved me inside before diving in after me. The moment the door slammed shut, the woman floored the gas.
I was shaking so hard I could barely think. My breaths came in panicked gasps. "W-who are you people? What do you want? I don't have any money, but you can take everything I have—"
The man beside me grabbed my shoulders. "Renee, listen to me."
I flinched. He knew my name.
"We just saved your life."
I shook my head, still panicking. "That was an attempted murder back there!"
"Exactly." He said grimly. "Those men weren't random hitmen. Someone sent them to kill you."
My throat went dry, shedding tears as my heart felt like it were to burst. "Who sent them?"
The man hesitated, his dark eyes flicking toward the driver. Then he exhaled sharply.
"All I can tell you is that I was sent to watch over you. For the past month."
I frowned. "Watch over me? By whom?"
His grip on his knee tightened. "James."
I sucked in a breath. My pulse pounded in my ears.
James? My mother's murderer?
"No," I whispered. "That's impossible. He's in prison."
He pulled a phone from his pocket and handed it to me. "Call your brother. Now."
My fingers trembled as I grabbed the phone. "Why?"
"The hitmen at the hospital were following you," he said. "If they were sent after you, they might go after Ethan too." A chill ran through me. I didn't waste another second.
The phone rang once. Twice.
Then, "Hello?"
"Ethan, listen to me," I said quickly. "You need to leave the house. Right now."
"What?" He yawned. "Sis, it's late..."
"Just do it!" I snapped. "Go to the gas station on Parker Avenue. I'll explain later."
Something in my tone must have scared him because he didn't argue. "Okay. I'm going."
The call ended, but my heartbeat didn't slow.
The woman driving finally spoke, her voice steady. "We'll get to him before they do."
I turned back to the man. "Who are you?"
He met my gaze. "Rafael. And this is Valeria."
I glanced at the woman. She gave a small nod but kept her eyes on the road.
"James once did me a favor," Rafael continued. "A big one. I owed him. When he asked me to watch over you, I couldn't refuse."
I swallowed. "But why now? And how? James is a murderer—why would he suddenly care about me?"
"That's what we need to figure out."
I wanted to press him for more, but before I could, Valeria slowed the car.
"We're here."
My eyes darted outside. Ethan stood near the entrance of a dimly lit gas station, shifting nervously from foot to foot.
I barely waited for the car to stop before throwing the door open. "Ethan!"
His head snapped up, relief flashing across his face. "Renee..."
"Get in," Rafael ordered.
"What's wrong, sis, and who are these people?" Ethan asked in a scared tone.
"Honestly, I can't explain, but just trust me for now," I tried convincing him even though I knew nothing much about them.
He hesitated before climbing into the car beside me. Valeria hit the gas, and we sped off.
Ethan's eyes darted between me and Rafael. "Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?"
"We're taking you somewhere safe," Rafael said.
Ethan let out a humorless laugh. "And we're supposed to just trust you?"
"Do you have a choice?" Rafael shot back.
Ethan scowled but didn't argue.
The drive stretched on in silence. After nearly an hour, Valeria turned onto a private road lined with trees. A massive wrought-iron gate loomed ahead.
As the car approached, the gates opened, revealing an estate so massive my breath caught.
Ethan let out a low whistle. "Damn."
But I barely heard him. My gaze locked onto the words displayed at the entrance:
'WELCOME TO SILVERCREST ENTERPRISE ESTATE, BROOKHAVEN, GA.'
"Wait, where have I heard that name before?" I whispered.
Then it hit me.
"You're now the sole heir of Silvercrest Enterprise."
My hands went numb. My breath caught in my throat.
"Oh my God!"
- Writer
