41. Serafina
CHAPTER 41
Serafina
T he door creaks open, and I see Nora standing in the doorway. Her hair is messy, and her eyes are red from exhaustion. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of her.
"I kept my promise, ni?a," Do?a Paz stands behind Nora, her voice calm and reassuring. I give her a grateful nod before focusing on Nora once again.
I rush over to Nora, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "Nora, what are you doing here?" I am relieved to have her in my arms, surrounded by the familiar scent of leather and jasmine that always reminds me of her.
"Sera, thank God I found you!" Nora holds onto me tightly, a look of relief washing over her face.
My mind races with questions. How did she know where I was? What does she know? Why isn't Lucas here?
I release my grip and study Nora's expression. "Please, tell me what's going on. Non ho la minima idea - I'm completely in the dark here."
Nora's eyes dart away, hinting at a sudden feeling of guilt before meeting my gaze again. "It's a long story, and I'll tell you everything. But first, we have to get out of here. Now."
She tugs at my arm, urgency clear in her eyes, but I resist. "Aspetta!" I gesture for her to wait. "I can't just leave Do?a Paz here. She could be in danger."
Do?a Paz stands beside me now and firmly says, "No."
"But Do?a Paz -"
"I said no," she interrupts as she takes hold of my hands. "This is my home; no one will make me leave it."
I wrap my arms around her in a hug and thank her for all she's done for me. She reassures me by saying, "One of my sons has sent reinforcements, I'll be fine."
My heart aches at the thought of leaving her behind, but I find comfort in knowing she won't be alone. Before I can argue any further, Nora reminds me that we must leave.
I nod and give Paz one last hug before taking Nora's hand. Her black combat boots move silently on the concrete floor as we make our way out. My mind is spinning with questions - how did she find me? What connections or favors did she use to get here? Why is Lucas not here?
"Alex is waiting around the corner with the car," Nora whispers, glancing back at me. "We need to hurry."
As we turn the corner, the openness of the street engulfs me, making me feel dizzy and exhilarated all at once. In the shadows, a sleek black car idles, its engine emitting a low purr that adds to the tension in the air. The passenger window slowly rolls down, revealing Alex's chiseled face and piercing amber eyes that seem to glow in the dim light. My entire body thrums with excitement as I approach the car, ready to leave this place behind for good.
"Hurry in!" He frantically waves us forward, his eyes darting back to the house behind us. "Let's get the hell out of here before it’s too late."
Nora yanks open the rear door with a loud creak and practically shoves me inside, diving in after me. The instant she slams the door shut, Alex punches the gas pedal with a fierce determination. Tires screech as we peel out onto the dark road, leaving behind a cloud of dust and gravel. The engine roars in protest as we race away from danger.
I sink into the plush, cool leather of the seat, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my chest. Is this really happening? After the endless days of fear and chaos, could we truly be racing towards safety - perhaps even to Lucas? A wave of disbelief washes over me, making my stomach churn and my hands tremble.
Nora gently squeezes my hand, her chipped black nail polish catching the light from passing streetlights. Her touch is a steady comfort amidst the chaos and unknown ahead. "It's going to be okay, Sera," she whispers before letting go of my hand. You're safe now."
With each mile marker we pass, I can feel the tension in my body slowly dissipating. My muscles unclench, and my shoulders drop, finally able to relax after what feels like an eternity of stress. With my eyes closed, I take a deep breath, trying to push away the overwhelming emotions that threaten to consume me like a dark storm cloud.
As I open my eyes again, I break the silence between us. I can't hold back my desperation to know. "Nora … you have to tell me - dov'è Lucas? Is he...?" I can't bring myself to finish the question.
"He's alive, Sera. I promise I'll tell you everything. But right now, you have to trust me." Nora's tone brooks no argument.
Even though my heart is still filled with hatred toward him, I can't help feeling relieved to know he's okay.
"Sera," Nora's voice cuts through the silence, pulling me back to reality. "I know you have a million questions, but can we hold off on talking about it all for just a little while?"
I turn to face her, taking in the lines etched on her face from stress and fatigue. "Of course," I reply quietly, recognizing the exhaustion mirrored in her expression. "I'm sorry, it's just that-"
"I know," Nora cuts me off gently, a sympathetic understanding in her voice. "But trust me when I say all your questions will be answered soon enough." I reach out to hold my friend's hand, finding comfort in her presence. "But first, let's get you something to drink."
Nora leans over to grab a cooler from the front passenger seat that’s brimming with ice-cold bottled water. She hands one to me, and I eagerly twist off the cap, my parched throat anticipating the refreshing coolness of the water. As I take a long sip, I notice Alex's gaze meeting mine for a brief moment before he looks away.
As the cool liquid soothes my parched throat, my tired eyes finally give in to the weight of exhaustion and shut. The sound of the tires against the road fades into the background as I slip into a much-needed slumber.