Chapter 52
Contingency Plan
Elena
The drive home was silent as I sat in the back seat, my nerves taut from the tension that filled my frame. I occasionally sneaked glances at the cold expression of the man at the steering wheel, he'd been silent ever since we got into the car.
I'd just glanced at him when he met my gaze in the rearview mirror, his gaze was sharp and cold.
"Mummy," Lily's voice snapped me out of my daze and she tugged my sleeves lightly.
"What's wrong?" I tried to look calm and I leaned in closer to her. Lily had been quiet ever since we got into the car, I'd almost forgotten she was there.
"He's scary," she whispered, her bright eyes fixed on the man in the driver's seat. Damien had called him Priest I recalled, such a strange name.
"Oh my baby," I chuckled after stealing a glance and making sure Priest didn't have any reaction. He didn't. "He's just taking us home," I whispered while stroking her hair.
Lily pouted but she didn't do anything else except snuggling into my arms.
I felt Lily's breaths even out as she laid in my arms and within moments, she was fast asleep. I envied her carefreeness, even as I sat there I couldn't take my mind off the shocking revelation of Damien.
Someone was targeting me. Why? Did the person want me dead or worse? I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought of how close I could've been to harm.
I wanted to ask Damien a ton of questions but I couldn't, fright had clouded my mind earlier. I could only swallow my concerns, I'd speak to Damien soon. I didn't want to scare Jenna and Lily, I'd done enough as it was.
The drive was completely silent, I was startled when Priest's words snapped me out of my thoughts.
"We've arrived," his voice was gruff and thick.
"Yes, yes," I nodded quickly, stepping out of the car with Lily nestled in my arms. I was already trying to think of how I'd get back Jenna's car when I laid my eyes on the car parked at the curb.
'How?' I opened my mouth in surprise and I froze in my tracks.
"I had someone drive it back here," Priest spoke from behind me, and his voice made me startle a little.
'Someone?... Drive it back?' I stared at the car key that was still in my hand speechlessly. "Tha—thank you," I finally managed to speak.
I was walking up the stairs but I was stunned to see Priest walking behind me. What was going on?
"Mr. Damien has asked that I keep you safe," Priest explained, not waiting for my questions. "I'm coming in to do a sweep of the room, just in case."
"What?" My eyes widened and I froze, Damien hadn't told me this. I wanted to ask more but the door opened at that moment and Jenna walked out.
"What are yo—" Jenna was already speaking when she caught sight of Priest and her eyes widened with shock.
"He's with me, Jenna," I hurried to speak, already seeing her reaching behind the door for a pepper spray. "I'll explain everything," I didn't give Jenna a chance to speak before I headed in.
I headed straight upstairs with Jenna hot on my heels. "What's going on Elena? Who's that huge man?... Is this about Damien?" Jenna fired me with questions and she looked worried.
"It's complicated Jenna," I sighed, carefully tucking Lily into bed. "He's just here to check a few things and then he'll be gone. There's nothing to worry about," I tried to assure Jenna.
"He looks strange," Jenna looked worried and she glanced over her shoulder. "Are you sure everything's okay Elena?" Her eyes searched mine.
"Well—" I hesitated, meeting her gaze, I couldn't lie to her. "There's a problem," I began, carefully picking my words. "But Damien's handling it, so it's alright. I trust him," I nodded my head, my voice more reassuring than I actually felt.
Trust? Damien? I couldn't believe a few months down the line I'd ever utter such words again, and about Damien. But here I was.
I couldn't deny it if I wanted to, as at present he was the only person who gave me that feeling of safety, I didn't have anyone else.
Albert? My eyes lost their warmth and I snorted. I didn't want to think about him.
"It'll be alright," I whispered, squeezing Jenna's hand. "I promise."
"Okay," Jenna nodded slowly, "I know there's something else you're not telling me. But whenever you feel like talking,—"
"You'd be the first I'd tell,"I interrupted, smiling. Jenna nodded.
I got up and left the room, heading downstairs to see what Priest was doing. My eyes nearly popped out when I spotted him in front of the house.
Was that Jenna's car? I blinked in disbelief, my eyes fixed on Priest. I was right to react like that, Jenna's car seemed to have been reduced to a pile of unrecognizable parts.
"What are you doing? Are you nuts?" I yelled in a hushed voice, glancing behind to make sure Jenna didn't hear. If she saw this, all hell would break loose.
"Sweeping," Priest's expression didn't change one bit, he held a tiny device in one hand and he was scanning across the engine parts.
"Look," I pushed my hair behind my ears. "You need to fix all of this," I gestured to the car parts lying around. "She can't—" a high pitched beeping sound cut me off.
What was happening? I was stunned but Priest reacted immediately. He searched carefully, his hands sticking into the engine parts, he soon found a tiny black box that was stained with engine oil.
"What's that?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat. I had a vague feeling that it didn't belong there.
Priest hesitated for a moment before he finally spoke. "A tracker, it tracks your location and sends it to the person who planted it."
"What!" I froze and I could feel goosebumps breaking out all over my body. I didn't react when Priest dropped the tracker on the floor before stepping on it
"Whoever did this…"
"Knows where I am," I completed his words, the words feeling alien to me.
This was bad.