WEST CROSS

Chapter eight

Carla was furious by the time they arrived at the mansion. She was fuming badly and it was all that bitch’s fault. Antonia. Carla’s blood sizzled as she remembered how Antonia had been bold enough to offer to buy West. As if her money meant shit.

“Stay away from that woman, West," Carla said without looking at him. “She's bad news."

“Ok, Miss Carla." He responded just as she wanted.

West wondered what was happening. He wondered if both women had an ongoing beef with each other. It was the only explanation he could think of given Carla's reaction to seeing him talk to her. She had introduced herself as Antonia. I'll have to be extra careful from now on, he thought to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was get on Miss Carla’s bad side.

Carla decided she had to channel her rage into something creative. She climbed the stairs straight to her room, slipped out from her gown, and walked into the soothing comfort of the running shower. The warm water did wonders for her body and her mind. She felt most of her rage wash away. As she came out to dry herself up she decided what she had to do to expel the rest residue of rage. It was late but it didn't matter to her.

Carla wore a silk dress and moved to the other side of the estate. She entered the building she used as a gun range and selected a big rifle. She pushed the button for the cutout figures to begin moving. Carla aimed and fired. Slowly she felt her anger subside as she knocked over the figurines until there was nothing left but rubbles.

The next day, Carla made preparations to go on a business trip. The island was known to be dangerous as rebels and bandits caused trouble from time to time. Carla wasn't afraid of the risk involved. She knew how to take care of herself and she would take her guards as well as hire private contractors to accompany them on the trying journey. The success of the business she had to close was crucial to her company.

As a last-minute idea, she took West along. It would do him some good to be out in the open and the island provided luxury like nothing he'd ever seen. Carla believed he deserved the treat.

West was aware of the heavy security accompanying them. Miss Carla had told him it was just a business trip to an island yet somehow they were armed enough to successfully attack the White House. As much as he tried to relax, West couldn't help feeling conscious of his environment.

They were driving through a hill room after landing on the island’s runway. Two armored trucks with heavily armed men moved in front of them and a single truck moved in their rear boxing them in a protective shield yet West felt impending danger.

A deafening sound rang out and the front vehicle flipped off the road in a flash of explosion. West watched in horror as the truck tumbled over the cliff in a ball of flames to the dark abyss below. This was followed by the sound of heavy gunfire. West could see it but he could hear the sound of bullets tearing into flesh. West dropped down curling into a fetal position. His instincts to survive overrode everything else.

“West!" Miss Carla screamed through the noise.

He looked out the open door to see Miss Carla with a big gun gesturing for him to come out of the car.

“Come on. We have to go." She urged, her eyes wild with terror. “It's not safe here."

West knew she was right. There is only so much damage the vehicle he was in could take from a live fire squad before it blows up into smithereens and he wasn't prepared to let that happen while he was still inside.

West tried to move but he was too scared for his body to respond to him. His joints felt stiff and his legs wobbled when he tried to get out of the car. West managed to jump out and Carla kept him low, fired towards their attackers, and pulled West into the jungle.

“Do you know where we're going?" West asked, his heart banged in the back of his throat and he felt like his chest was going to explode just like the truck on the hill road.

Carla kept her pace as she said, “Where do you think? As far away from the shooting as possible."

West nodded seeing the logic in putting some distance between themselves and the people that were trying to murder them in broad daylight. But what if they were moving into danger’s jaws instead?

They kept going deeper as they put some distance between themselves and the sound of the gunfire. Carla kept looking over her shoulder as they moved making sure they weren't followed.

When they were a safe distance away from the gun battle happening on the hill, Carla fell to the ground, her face twisted in pain.

West stared at her in confusion. He wasn't sure what was happening until he saw she was clutching her side. He pulled her hand away and saw she was bleeding.