Dilara

Chapter 20:

'Where are you going?' Alora asks, as I walk into the kitchen.

'On a run.' I reply. Mimi and Zoya are playing cards by the table and Adriano is cleaning one of his guns.

He looks up at me and his eyes examine my body with no shame. I quickly divert my attention to Alora who's helping herself to a pack of strawberries that were in my fridge.

I put my hair into a ponytail and walk around the island in the kitchen. I grab an apple and wash it. I take a bite into it.

Adriano walks towards me handing me his gun.

'I'm not taking it with me.' I say glaring at him.

'Just incase,' Adriano sighs. He pulls up the back of my shirt and places the gun in the waistband of my leggings. His hand accidentally strokes my lower spine, giving me goosebumps.

He keeps his hand there, and I look up at him. His eyes scan my face, making me wish I could see what's happening in his mind.

I take a deep breath and step back, making him move his hand. Mimi and Zoya have stopped there game and are staring at us. Alora is halfway through the box of strawberries but stopped to look at us.

The silence is so loud. I clear my throat.

'I'll get going now.' I say. Mimi shoots Zoya a look which she returns.

'Bye,' Alora says, getting back to eating her strawberries.

I grab my phone and put in my earphones, turning the music up. I open the door and leave my house.

***********
I'm running down the street near my school, when I see someone familiar walking my way. I take out my earphones.

'Raphael!' I exclaim, waving at him. He looks up from his phone and makes eye contact with me.

He instantly turns around and starts walking away.

That's weird. He's been avoiding me ever since our date.

I run up to him and go in front of him.

'You haven't reached out to me ever since the night we went out.' I say.

'Dilara I have to go,' he says not looking me in the eyes. He tries to move around me but I stop him.

'Ignore me if you want but at least tell me the reason.' I snap. He sighs and pockets his phone.

'The same night we went out, I got a text from an unknown number.' He explains.

What does that have to do with anything?

'What did it say?' I ask.

'Stay away from Dilara, or else your hand's will be delivered to her in a box.' Raphael sighs, rubbing his forehead.

What. The. Fuck.

Who's sick enough to say that to a person?

'Maybe they're bluffing,' I say.

'When I walked past my window there was a black BMW parked right outside my house.' Raphael continues. 'All the windows were blacked out except the driver's one.'