to have a life.
Chapter Thirteen
Rafael
Life.
I felt as if I was running for my life for the first time.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her face pensive.
“Get your shoes. We’re leaving.”
“What do you mean we’re leaving?” Savannah inched closer, darting her eyes back and forth.
“Do not argue with me. Now!”
Within three minutes, we were in the car, the engine started. As I roared just underneath the slowly opening garage door, she gripped the dashboard with one hand as she snapped the seatbelt tightly with the other. I pressed my foot on the accelerator, darting a glance into the rearview mirror to make certain the door was in the process of closing.
I knew every back road leading away from my estate to almost any other location within the country. I’d charted the avenues used by the Civil Guard as well as well as the CNP, the entity who policed the more urban areas. There were five safe houses within our family’s establishments, some more substantial than others. I was taking a gamble by going to one close to A Coruna but given the recent information regarding knowledge about Peron’s death, I felt it was one worth taking.
Alviro was still a creature of habit and I should have read all the signs. His joy of playing games was legendary but tipping off the police was way beyond his usual scope. That meant he was running scared of losing everything.
I had my hands tightly wrapped around the steering wheel, maneuvering the Ferrari as if required to corner on rails. This was my favorite vehicle, one that had been with me since I’d learned to drive. It was also off the radar, no longer registered on any of the local information boards.
I floored the engine the second I sped out of the long driveway, shifting quickly until I was shooting down the curvy road in excess of eighty miles per hour. I could see the flashing lights of at least six fucking cop cars careening around the final curve leading toward my estate. We’d missed them by less than four minutes.
“Jesus Christ. Can you slow down?” she asked, her firm grip remaining.
“Stay buckled in, sweetheart. You’re in for more than just a bumpy ride.” I roared around another curve, passing two more Civil Guard vehicles coming from the opposite direction. “Fuck.”
“Is that the fucking cops?” she asked as she snapped her head over her shoulder.
“Yep. It would seem that I’ve been set up.” I watched in the rearview as both cars attempted to slow, both skidding given the dangerous road conditions. There were dozens of horrific wrecks a year, the majority with zero clue about the unforgiving sharp curves. They would also have a difficult time turning around easily, but by now, they’d already radioed the other cars.
“By who?”
I snickered and took a sharp turn then another, the Ferrari’s tires holding steady. “That’s what I’m going to find out.” As the car flew over a hill, going airborne for a few seconds, a slight moan escaped her lips.
She remained quiet for several minutes while I attempted to get us the hell away from yet another round of danger. I refused to be arrested.
“This is all about the men you killed, isn’t it? This enemy of yours is doing this.”
I laughed softly. “Very astute, Savannah. Since you’re such a smart girl, I’m certain you know what would happen if I were thrown in our prison system.”
She turned her head in my direction yet said nothing.
I was fortunate the guards weren’t trained in the manner of driving that I’d been. After thirty minutes, I was certain I’d managed to lose them.
For now.
The shit was getting messier.
I glanced at the clock over an hour later, surprised she’d remained quiet for such a long period of time.
The first light of morning wasn’t what I wanted to see, preferring the shroud of darkness to help in getting to safe ground.
“Where are we going?” Savannah finally asked.
“To a safe location.”
“Is there anywhere safe any longer, Rafael?”
I could feel the heat of her gaze, heard the raggedness of her tone. She had no comfort or trust, no ability to grasp onto anything that was happening.
“Yes, there is, Savannah. You just have to trust me.”
“Trust. I can’t even trust myself at this point. I obviously lost a portion of my mind.” She stared out the window, finally sinking further into the seat.
“You must try. There will be things you see and experience, even news that you might hear that will trouble you.”
She laughed softly.