Chapter 5 Trapped

Chapter 5: Trapped

Elara's Point of View

My heart pounded like a hammer in my chest. I stared at the laptop screen, my hands shaking. Celeste was in the hallway, her blonde hair glowing under the lights. Next to her was the man from the park, the one with the sunglasses and the gun. He held a small black box, his fingers moving fast over buttons. It looked bad, like something that could hurt us. My breath caught, and I pressed my hand to my belly, feeling the baby kick. "Stay calm, little one," I whispered, but my voice shook.

I backed away from the laptop, my eyes darting around Dante's fancy apartment. The glass walls and shiny floors felt like a cage. He'd told me to lock the door, but I didn't feel safe. Not with Celeste and that man out there. I grabbed my phone from my pocket, my fingers clumsy. I wanted to call Dante, tell him to come back, but my screen was blank. No signal. My stomach twisted. Was something blocking it?

The apartment was quiet, too quiet. Every sound-a hum from the fridge, a creak in the walls made me jump. I moved to the door, checking the lock again. It was tight, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking. I don't know what to do. Run? Hide? Where could I go? I was five months pregnant, and my legs felt like jelly.

I went back to the laptop, my heart racing. The camera feed was still on. Celeste and the man were gone now, the hallway was empty. Where were they? My chest tightened. Were they coming here? I looked around, spotting a heavy lamp on a table. I grabbed it, holding it like a weapon, and stood by the door. If they came in, I'd fight. For my baby.

A loud buzz made me jump. The intercom by the door lit up. I crept over, my hands sweaty on the lamp. I pressed the button, my voice shaky. "Who's there?"

"Elara, it's me," Dante's voice crackled through. "Open the door."

I dropped the lamp and hit the unlock button, my hands trembling. The door slid open, and Dante rushed in, his face tight. He locked the door behind him, his eyes scanning me. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"No!" I snapped, my voice breaking. "Celeste is out there with that guy from the park! He had a box, Dante. Like a bomb or something!"

His eyes widened, but he stayed calm. "A bomb? Are you sure?"

"I don't know!" I yelled, my hands shaking. "It was small, black, with buttons. What else could it be?"

He grabbed his phone, typing fast. "I'm checking the cameras. Stay here." He moved to the laptop, his fingers flying over the keys. I stood behind him, my heart pounding. The screen showed different hallways now, all empty. "They're not there," he said, his voice low. "They must've left."

"Left?" I said, my voice high. "They were here! They know where you live!"

He turned to me, his eyes serious. "I know. I'm going to figure this out. But you're safe here. This place is like a fortress."

I laughed, but it sounded like a sob. "Safe? Someone shot at us! Celeste knows my name, your name, everything! And now they're here!"

He stepped closer, his hands out like he wanted to calm me. "Elara, I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

"Stop promising!" I yelled, stepping back. "You keep saying that, but you don't tell me anything! Who's Celeste? Why's she doing this? And who was my father?"

He froze, his jaw tight. "I told you. Your father was my friend. He had enemies. Celeste... she's someone from my past. She's angry, jealous. I didn't think she'd go this far."

"That's not enough!" I said, my voice shaking. "You said you'd protect me, but I'm in more danger than ever! Tell me the truth, Dante!"

He opened his mouth, but his phone rang again. He glanced at it, his face going pale. "I need to make a call," he said, stepping toward the window. "Stay here."

I wanted to scream, but I just stood there, my hands on my belly. He spoke low into the phone, his back to me. I caught words like "security" and "track them." My head spun. This wasn't just about Celeste. There was something bigger going on, something he wasn't telling me.

I grabbed the contract from the table, my hands shaking. I hadn't signed it yet, but it was starting to feel like a chain. Marry him? Live here? Trust him? After all this? I crumpled the paper in my fist, my heart racing.

Dante hung up and turned back to me. "My team's on it. They're checking every camera in the city. We'll find them."

"Them?" I asked. "You think that man's working with Celeste?"

He nodded. "Maybe. I don't know him, but Celeste... she's smart. She could've hired someone."

I sank onto the couch, my legs weak. "Why me? I'm nobody. Just a waitress."

He knelt in front of me, his eyes soft. "You're not nobody. Your father knew that. That's why he asked me to find you."

I looked away, my throat tight. "You keep saying that, but I don't even know his name."

Dante hesitated, then spoke. "His name was James Hayes."

The name hit me like a punch. James Hayes. My father. I'd never heard it before, but it felt like a piece of me I didn't know was missing. "Why didn't he want me?" I whispered, my eyes burning.

"He did," Dante said, his voice gentle. "He gave you up to protect you. His enemies were dangerous. He thought you'd be safer without him."

I shook my head, tears spilling. "Then why are they after me now?"

Dante's face darkened. "I don't know. But I'll find out."

I wiped my eyes, trying to breathe. "What about Celeste? She said you've done this before. Hurt girls like me."

His hands clenched. "She's lying. I've never done this. She's... she's obsessed. Always has been. I didn't realize she'd go this far."

I stared at him, trying to see if he was lying. His eyes were steady, but I didn't know what to believe. My phone was still dead, no signal. I felt trapped, like a mouse in a maze.

Dante stood, pulling out his phone again. "I'm getting you out of here. Somewhere safer."

"Where?" I asked, standing too. My belly ached, and I felt a sharp twinge. I winced, my hand on my stomach.

"You okay?" he asked, stepping closer.

"Just a cramp," I said, breathing slow. "I'm fine."

He didn't look convinced. "You need rest. I'm taking you to a safe house. No one will find us there."

I nodded, too tired to argue. He grabbed a bag, stuffing it with clothes and a laptop. I watched, my heart heavy. I didn't want to go, but I didn't want to stay either. Not with Celeste and that man out there.

We took the elevator down to the garage, and Dante helped me into his car. The city lights blurred past as he drove, his hands tight on the wheel. I stared out the window, my mind racing. James Hayes. Enemies. Celeste. A man with a gun. It was too much.

We pulled up to a small house on a quiet street, hidden by trees. Dante unlocked the door, and I followed him inside. It was cozy, with soft couches and warm lights, not like his cold penthouse. "This is yours?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said, setting the bag down. "No one knows about it. You'll be safe here."

I sat on the couch, my hands on my belly. The twinge came again, sharper this time. I bit my lip, trying not to show it. Dante noticed anyway. "You sure you're okay?" he asked, kneeling beside me.

"I'm fine," I said, but my voice was weak. "Just... stressed."

He nodded, his face worried. "Rest. I'll make some calls."

He stepped outside, phone in hand. I leaned back, closing my eyes. My head was full of questions. Why was Celeste doing this? Who was that man? And why did my father's enemies care about me now?

My phone rang, startling me. It had a signal again. A new text glowed on the screen, from an unknown number. My hands shook as I opened it.

"You're not safe with him. Your father's enemies are closer than you think."

My breath stopped. I looked out the window, where Dante stood, talking on his phone. His face was serious, his voice low. I glanced at the text again, my heart racing. Closer than I thought? What did that mean? Was Dante one of them?

The door opened, and Dante walked in, his eyes on me. "Everything okay?" he asked.

I hid the phone behind my back, my heart pounding. "Yeah," I lied, my voice shaking. "Everything's fine."

But it wasn't. The text burned in my mind. I stared at Dante, his dark eyes watching me. Was he really protecting me? Or was he the enemy I'd been warned about?