Danger

“Are you okay?” Dante asked, wrapping his arms around Mireille’s waist.

Mireille was standing by the window of their room, staring out at the night sky.

“I am fine.” Mireille mumbled but her tone didn’t say the same.

“You are not. What’s wrong?” Dante pulled away and turned her to face him.

“Belinda. I feel like there’s something up with her. She sounded off when I talked to her earlier and when I asked her if anything was wrong, she said everything was fine but I doubt that is true.” Mireille replied.

“Do you want to go and check up on her?” Dante asked.

“She said she is not home. She will be home tomorrow but I can’t stop worrying about it. Belinda is usually happy and cheerful. It was so weird to hear her sound so sullen.”

“I am sure it’s nothing much. She might just have a little issue. The both of you will talk about it tomorrow.” Dante brushed her hair off her face, tucking it behind her ears.

“I know, right?” Mireille sighed softly.

“Yeah, I found the perfect land for the shopping mall. Let’s go there together tomorrow so you can see it yourself. If you are pleased with it, the building construction will begin immediately.” he informed her and Mireille hugged him.

“Thank you, Dante.”

“Stop thanking me, Princess.” Dante patted her back gently.

He soon pulled away and cupped her face in his hands.

“Want to watch a movie together?” He asked.

“Uhmm….” Mireille thought about it.

“No.” she shook her head.

“Let’s go out on a night ride. I just want to feel the fresh air on my face tonight.”

Dante squinted his eyes.

“C’mon, let’s go and we are going alone without your guards tagging along. Let’s go on the ride alone.” she grabbed his arm.

Dante refused to budge. He had a bad feeling about going out this night but the sad face Mireille gave him at his refusal made him give in.

“Anything for my princess.”

Mireille smiled widely.

“I will change into something else.” She beamed.

*

“Oooooooooh!” Mireille screamed excitedly as the cool breeze caressed her face and lifted her hair into the air.

Dante chuckled softly at her happiness. Perhaps he had just been troubled over nothing. The night was peaceful and the ride had been peaceful so far.

They were in a convertible, giving them the chance to enjoy the ride even more.

Mireille raised her hands up and shut her eyes.

“I feel so much better.”

“Should I play some music?” Dante asked.

“Absolutely!”

Dante played a song and Mireille instantly began humming to the song.

Dante dropped his right hand to Mireille’s thigh as he drove, enjoying the feel of her warmth against his hand. He squeezed lightly at her thigh every now and then.

“While you were off at work today, I began drafting an official business proposal. You should check it out when you are free and let me know if I am on the right path.”

“You are so excited about the shopping mall.”

“Of course, I am. Once I make profits from it, I am going to buy you loads of gifts and then I am going to buy a lot of things for the kids at the orphanage too.” Mireille said dreamily.

“What are you going to name your shopping mall?” Dante asked.

“Don’t laugh at me, alright?” Mireille said and Dante glanced at her.

“It’s a funny name?” He asked.

“Not funny.” Mireille frowned.

“But… I was thinking maybe Principessa would work.” she mumbled and Dante chuckled.

“You are not supposed to laugh.”

“I didn’t promise you not to laugh” Dante laughed.

“I don’t know if it makes any sense for me to use that… In fact, I am not using that anymore. I will use something else.”

“No, it’s beautiful. I love it. It’s just funny that you were against me calling you a princess all these years and now you are going to name your business after it.”

“I won’t use it anymore.” Mireille pouted.

“I know you will use it. C’mon.” Dante squeezed lightly at her thigh and a small smile appeared on Mireille’s lips.

“Do you know you look really really hot when driving?” Mireille asked and Dante turned his gaze to her.

“Really?”

Mireille nodded in affirmation.

“You do, especially when you drive with one hand just like you are doing right now.” she replied.

“I should sack all my drivers and start driving myself from now on.” Dante said and Mireille laughed.

“Don’t drive with other women in the car though.”

“You have something on your face.” Dante slowed down the speed of the car and paid attention to Mireille’s face.

“What’s that?”

“Jealousy.” he joked and Mireille laughed, turning away from him.

“I won’t drive with other women. You will be the only one who will find this hot side of me just like I will be the only one who will ever find your hot, nasty side.”

Mireille giggled softly and looked out at the night sky.

“Mireille.” Dante suddenly called her by her name.

“Yes?” Mireille turned to face him, surprised that he suddenly called her by name in a tone that did not seem too pleasant.

“Your hands in.”

Mireille pulled her hands away from the window, still surprised at the sudden change in the atmosphere. Dante clicked on a button that had the top of the car closing.

“Dante? What’s going on?” Mireille asked as Dante shut the windows and sped up.

“Hold on tight, Mireille.”

Mireille was more than confused. She looked back and saw about four black cars behind them.

The car accelerated at a scary speed, making Mireille hold tightly onto her seatbelt.

“Dante, what is going on?” She asked.

“Don’t worry, Princess.” Was all Dante said before stretching his right hand out to Mireille.

“Tap thrice at it.” he said and utterly confused, Mireille did as he said.

Dante looked into the rearview mirror and groaned, speeding up even the more.

“We are going to get into an accident!”

“Trust me! You will be safe.” Dante assured her.

This was why he had had a bad feeling about stepping out tonight. He could not tell who was after him right now but he was sure those cars were after him.

It had to be another of his enemies. He wasn’t worried about himself but he was worried about Mireille. Even if he was killed and he went to hell, it would not be enough punishment if Mireille died.

“Are those guys after us?” Mireille asked.

“Yes but you don’t have to worry.” Dante assured her though he could not assure himself not to worry.

He had sent a signal to Ditto and his other men through the wristwatch but it would take time before Ditto and the others would get over here and there were four cars. There was no way he would be able to defeat the number of men in those four cars.

Suddenly, a gunshot pierced the tense silence, making Mireille gasp loudly.

“Get down, Mireille!” Dante’s voice raised as more gunshots filled the air. The shots were directed at the car and Dante regretted even more that he had not left home with a bullet proofed car.

Mireille bent over, doing as Dante said.

“What’s going on, Dante?!”

Dante gave no response as he began to driving in zigzag to avoid the rain of bullets but he could not avoid all the bullets.

A noise came from the tyres as bullets pierced through it.

“Fuck!” Dante cursed, beads of sweats forming on his forehead.

Dante continued driving the lonely express road, refusing to pull the car to a halt but the ride wasn’t as fast anymore with the burst tyre.

Dante knew it was a matter of time before he was cornered. He only had one option at the moment and that was to drive the car into the forest that lined up the road.

“Hold on tightly, Princess. Real tight.” he gritted his teeth and swerved the car into the forest.

Mireille screamed loudly as the car crashed against a tall tree. For the first few seconds, there were groans of pains in the car but Dante quickly ignored the pains and undid Mireille’s seatbelt.

“Get out of the car.” he said, undoing his own seatbelt too.

He opened the car safe and pulled out a gun, making Mireille’s eyes widen.

“Why do you have a gun in your car?”

“This is not the time to talk, Mireille!” Dante got out of the car, hurried over to the other side of the car and lifted Mireille out of the car.

He ran deeper into the forest, with Mireille in his arms. He could hear running steps after him and flashlights as the men searched for him in the forest.

Dante continued running until he tripped and fell, his head hitting a stone.

“Mireille, are you okay?” He asked, his hands grabbing her shoulders as he checked her out.

“I… Dante, you are bleeding.” Mireille gasped. Dante ignored the bleeding, grabbed the gun that had fallen off his hand when he fell.

He picked Mireille back up and continued running deeper into the forest.

Getting to a large hole that seemed like the perfect place for them to hide, Dante dropped Mireille there and removed the wristwatch on his wrist.

He put it on for Mireille who now had a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Listen to me.” he cupped her face, his voice holding urgency.

“No matter what you hear, do not step out. No matter what happens, I want you to stay here and hide as much as possible from everyone. Keep this wristwatch with you, Ditto would be able to find you with it. I love you.” he kissed her face.

“Dante.” Mireille grabbed his arm.

“Stay safe for me, Mireille. I will explain everything later. I have to go now.” he grabbed the gun and flashed her one small smile before jerking her hands off his arm and hurrying off.

These men were here for him and he could be lucky enough if he could hold them off in this forest until Ditto arrived but if he wasn’t that lucky, he prayed that these men would kill him and leave without searching for Mireille.

If he was going to die or live, it didn’t matter. What mattered was Mireille staying alive.