Chapter Twenty-Four
Olivia
T he asphalt in the alley I have been calling home is cold tonight.
The fall air has suddenly turned cooler, and I think I might be in for a long night if I do not find somewhere warm.
Since running out of Hayes’ house about a week ago, I have slept under bridges, behind bushes, and down alleys.
Eventually, I made it back to the neighborhood of my father’s mansion and have watched him and his men come and go the past few days, clocking their schedules, paying attention to the vehicles they take, and staying low and out of their sight.
I eat and drink when I can, mostly out of the trash cans in the alley and my bathroom is pretty much wherever I am at for the night.
It has not been pretty, but I’m not letting it stop me.
I think of Hayes often and how he must have reacted to the note I left him.
I’m sure he is angry, and I am positive he is trying to find me. Hopefully I can do what I need to do before he does.
I have cried so many tears for my mother. How scared she must have been under his control. Having a daughter who was going to be forced into the same lifestyle she was in.
Her strength to leave came because of me and I swear I will not let her death be in vain. I will have revenge on the man who took away the only parent who truly loved me; she loved me so much she was willing to risk her own life to escape, knowing the type of man he was.
Some moments I doubt why I am even here, and how I should have just stayed with Hayes and told him that next morning who I was.
I was a coward by leaving a note for him to find but I knew he would have not let me take care of this on my own; something that needed to be done by me and no one else.
The winds pick up and a smell invades my nose, making me gag; I realize it is me.
Unfortunately, I am still wearing the same clothes I had on the night I left. I have not been able to shower since I have been living in the alley.
A car gets my attention pulling up at the gate and I notice its Maxwell’s Escalade. He’s alone and looking around, seeming worried, before leaning out his window to type in the gate code. He looks concerned and I wonder what is on his mind.
I saw him leave the house earlier in a rush and it’s unlike him to go places alone without backup.
His SUV drives through the gate, and he jumps out, heading quickly into the house.
This is going to be another long night keeping watch.
––––––––
Hayes
“I NEED TO SPEAK TO Gloria!” I tell Ruth once Alan and I step inside the Hope House. She can sense the urgency in my tone and looks worried before calling out for her sister.
“Mr. Ricci, what a random surprise. Is everything okay?” Gloria says coming down the stairs once she sees us.
“No not really,” I start, “I need to know what you told Olivia the night we dropped you off here.”
Her eyes look worried, and she gestures for us to go to the front porch.
Once outside, I can’t be still, adrenaline pumps through my veins.
“Where is Olivia?” She asks me concerned.
“I was hoping you knew. She left during the night after we dropped you off.” I explain.
She grabs her chest and gasps, “Oh, I told her not to.”
I step toward her, grabbing her by the forearm and yell, “Gloria what the fuck did you say to her?”
Alan steps in, something he has never done before and says, “Sir, back away from the lady.”
I look at him and quickly back at her, my eyes roaming to where I have a hold on her arm, realizing what I’m doing.
I let go of her quickly. “Sorry, Gloria. I am desperate.” I plead, “Please tell me everything you said to her.”
She rubs her arm and takes a deep breath, “I told her the truth. I told her you needed to know who she really was and how I knew her. I told her about her mother. Poor girl has been kept in the darkness for all her life; she deserved to know.”
A tear comes up in her eye, “Natalie was a wonderful woman. A second mother to me. The same strength that stood in her is in Olivia, I’ve seen it. She has the opportunity to become something great.”
Her eyes stare into mine, “But Mr. Ricci, I told her not to go after him alone. I told her to stay with you and she would be safe.”
“Did she say she was going after him?” I ask.
She nods, “She said she would get the revenge her mother deserved.”
My knees wobble, I start to see stars.
He will kill her if he finds out what she is up to.
“Would she have anywhere to go?’ I ask.
She shakes her head no.
“Thank you, Gloria. Please don’t say a word to the women inside.” I order her.
“I haven’t told a soul, Mr. Ricci,” she whispers, and Alan helps her back inside the house.
I stand on the porch, contemplating my next move. If she wants to go after her father for revenge, she can’t be far away.
But she is not trained. She is not safe. She does not know anything about this world. My heart rate spikes: I bet she is somewhere close to Ashton.