Chapter 20

Matteo turned to look at her outfit. He almost gagged. 'What are you wearing?' he shrieked.

Laurel smirked. 'I thought you'd never ask. I got it from my abductor. He was planning to keep me in his house for a very long time. I couldn't allow that to happen."

Matteo's phone started ringing. He took one look at it and ignored it.

'Why aren't you picking?" she sounded suspicious. 'Is it that strange number?"

He nodded. 'It is. We have to get out of here or else they'd get us before we say Jack."

Laurel's blood turned cold as she tried to figure out a quick plan. 'Throw the phone away." she suddenly suggested and when Matteo gave her a disapproving look, she tried again. 'I know they are tracking you. You must not allow them to find me or they'd kill me."

'They look harmless to me." Matteo shrugged. He couldn't understand her restlessness. It was getting to him and he has to calm her down. 'I need you to tell me the whole story."

Laurel pulled at her hair in frustration. It seems her friend doesn't understand the situation she's in. 'You need to get me out of here first. How can we have a conversation when I know some men are using your phone to track me down?"

'It is called a relaxation method Laurel. You need to talk to me in other to be calm. You are scared and anxious and it is getting to me. I don't want to crash into a vehicle. My hands are shaking!" Matteo yelled in irritation.

Laurel placed her head into her open palms. 'I am sorry, I am just so afraid. I feel caged and you of all people are supposed to understand."

Matteo swerved to the right. They both needed to calm down. Laurel shot her head up. 'Why, why are you stopping?"

'They can't find us here. Look-" he showed her his phone. '-It's switched off. Now I need you to talk to me. What happened? Is there a boyfriend I don't know about? Is he abusing you? What the hell is going on Laurel?"

Laurel opened the car door. She thought she had gone away from the suffocating air but in here was just no good. Matteo wasted no time in following her out. She mustn't be out of his sight. Laurel was like a wild card.

She was unpredictable and could suspect anything.

'I told you I was abducted. There is no secret boy friend and no one is abusing me. I just want you to take me away from here. Is that too much to ask from a friend? You placed me in this predicament and here you are asking me for the details like it's some funny story. Take me away from here Matteo or you can take me back to them. It's your choice to make." Laurel breathed in and it came out in a rush. Her friend was acting suspicious and she didn't like it.

Matteo closed his eyes to think. One mistake and his cover will be blown. 'I care about you Laurel and for you to think that of me after many years of friendship is disheartening. I am sorry if I acted suspicious and I know you are also dying to know what I and your abductor discussed earlier but I can assure you one thing. I was scared. He told me to walk away, never to look for you but I waited. I waited for you Laurel. What more do you want from me? You know I can never take you back to them so why are you suggesting I do so?"

Laurel sucked in air and exhaled. 'I don't know…you had a pretty long conversation with him and I wondered what he'd have told you to make you look your unusual self. Even right now, you've changed. I don't know what to believe any more Matteo. I am sorry if I've suddenly become suspicious. But we have to trust each other. Can I trust you Matteo to take me out of here?"

'Yes, you can. Can I trust that you are really okay, Laurel?" Matteo asked in worry.

'Yes, you can. Now let's get out here." Laurel whispered audibly. She nervously rubbed her shoulders as the evening air was freezing. She opened the car door and was grateful for the heater. Matteo joined her seconds later.

….

Luis turned to the side to find his best friend sleeping. He sighed in relief, immediately making a U-turn. Play time was over. It was time for him to return her back to the boss.

He switched the phone back on and Cecil's call came right in. he plugged in the air pods, to make sure his friend wouldn't hear anything even if she was pretending to sleep.

'Is she still with you?" Cecil breathed into the phone.

'Yes. Is the boss there?" Luis asked.

'I don't think you should talk to the boss. You wasted 2 hours Luis!"

Luis grimaced. Cecil rarely cursed and if he did, it means the boss was furious. Whenever Boss Lucas got angry, he took it out on the person closest to him and Cecil happened to be the one closest to him. Cecil is probably passing through a mid life crises.

'Tell him I am on my way. It took me this long to convince Laurel." Luis defended. It was getting dark already and he didn't want her to wake up. Even if she did, he would take care of her. It was clear that his Boss is getting attached to his friend.

Luis wasn't sure if he was pleased or offended. Laurel looked traumatized and who goes out wearing a pajamas? Luis has been to Boss Lucas' house once and he himself couldn't stand the colors. It was terrible and spoke a great deal of his boss' personality.

He could almost imagine what his friend went through. It was breaking.