The Chase by Amber Riel (books to read for self improvement TXT) 📖

is a lot easier than letting my guard down.

          Riiing…. Riiing…. Riiing…. I picked up the phone next to my bed and placed it to my ear without checking the caller id.  “Hello?”

          “Hey, Lou,” Carmen’s voice said; I had a good feeling that she was smiling.

          I rolled my eyes.  “Don’t call me that…. You know I hate that.”

          “I know,” Carmen replied as she laughed.  “I have some exciting news to tell you.”

          I sighed.  “Really?  What?”

          “I’m pregnant.”

          “Wow…. Congratulations, Carmen…. And tell Eric that I told him congratulations as well.”  I couldn’t help but smile at my sister’s news.

          “I will…. But don’t tell anyone yet…. We’re not exactly trying to tell a lot of people because of the two miscarriages before….”

          “I understand, and Carmen…. I’m sure this one will be a good one…. Third times the charm.”  I laughed.

          “Shut up.”

          “No seriously…. I’m happy for you two…. How far along are you?”

          “Not that far along yet…. Oh and I said don’t tell anyone…. I mostly meant mom and dad…. I don’t want them to get too excited like the last couple of times…. I felt so horrible….”

          “Carmen, they know you didn’t mean to do that…. It wasn’t your fault things like that happen.”

          “Yea I know but still.”

          “Don’t think negatively…. It’s not going to be like the last two times so don’t worry…. Nine or ten months from now you’ll have your little bundle of joy and God will keep the child safe from harm…. Got it?”

          “Okay…. Thanks for cheering me up, Louis…. I kind of needed that.”

          “That’s what I’m here for.”

          Beep.

          “Hey, Carmen, can you hold on for a minute?  I’m getting another call.”

          “Okay…. Sure.”

          I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at the caller id.  Ron?  No wait it’s probably Annie trying to plan a double date.  I shook my head as I pressed a button which had brought me to the other line.  “Look, Annie---”

          “Louis,” Ron’s voice sounded out of breath and frightened.

          I felt myself jump into alert mode.  “What’s going?”

          “I don’t know…. Three people just broke into the house…. I don’t know if they know that Annie and I are here or not but they’re going through our things and destroying the house…. What do we do?”

          “Get out of there as soon as possible…. Wait…. Is Samantha and Lainie there as well?”

          “No they went out to the park for the day…. I actually don’t know if they have returned or not….”

          I took a deep breath and sighed.  “Okay…. You and Annie need to leave as soon as possible…. And don’t worry about Lainie and Samantha…. I’ll pick them up myself…. You two need to leave…. Call me as soon as you’re both out of the house and let me know where to find you two…. But make sure you go to the police station and report this…. Got it?”

          “Of course…. Please….”

          “Not right now…. You and your wife can’t stay on the phone too long just in case they catch you two…. Everything will be fine.”

          “Thanks, man.”

          I listened as the phone call ended and I could hear Carmen on the other end breathing.  “Carmen….”

          “What’s wrong?”

          “Look I have to go…. I’ll talk to you later….”

          “Okay…. Bye.”

          “Bye.”  I didn’t want to hang up on my sister in such a hurry but knowing that my friends were in trouble I couldn’t take my time.

 

          I began to stuff a black suitcase with clothes raging from shirts and pants…. Boxers and socks…. I didn’t know where I was heading until Ron called or for how long I was going to be gone but it was my job and I’ve done it too many times before with strangers who needed protection.  I knew if I could do it for the clients so to speak then I needed to do it for Ron and his family as well.  Riiing…. Riiing…. Riiing…. I picked up the phone without hesitation.  “Ron?”

          “I did what you told me to do…. The police know and now Annie and I are on the road to our safe house in police vans…. I’m going to tell Sam that we were in witness protection…. Louis, before you hang up…. Please keep in mind that Elaina will be with both you and Sam so please don’t cause any trouble in front of her…. No arguing or rude remarks…. Got it?”

          “Yea…. I’ll keep my thoughts to myself and I’ll keep the girls safe.”

          “Good.  I’m going to tell Sam the same because…. I know that you two have been butting heads but Elaina’s there and I don’t want to find out that the two of you have done nothing but argue….”

          “I understand…. I’m going to go pick up the girls now.”

          “Alright…. And, Louis…. Be careful, man.”

          I kind of laughed.  “I will.”

 

          I drove for what felt like ever as I made my way to Ron’s house.  Thoughts flying through my mind as I worried about what could have happened.  Lord, who would want to do that to Ron and Annie?  Why would they want to do that?  Lord, please let Samantha and Lainie be safe.  I shook my head as I stopped and waited for the light to change.  I picked up my mobile phone called George.

          “Hello,” the man said as his voice popped onto the phone.

          “Look, George, Ron and Annie’s house was broken into today…. I’m on my way to pick up Ron’s sister-in-law and Lainie…. I figured that this would be a job for us and I don’t think I’ll be coming in next week….”

          “You’re going to do this job?”

          “Yea…. I know I’m on vacation but Ron and Annie are friends and Ron called for my help…. I have to help them somehow…. And I don’t want anyone else to do this job because they’re my friends and practically family….”

          “Alright…. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, you know that right?”

          I kind of smiled at the thought.  “I’ve heard that before…. Look, I’ve got to go.”

          “Alright…. Be careful.”

          “Don’t worry.”  I hung and placed the phone in my pocket as I looked up and watched the red light change to green.  Good.  I stepped on the gas puddle and sped through the street.

 

          I stopped at the gate and placed my car in park, shutting the engine off and removed my keys.  I climbed out of the car and the bad feeling from the day before had returned.  I really hope that Lainie and Sam are okay.  I quickly moved over to the gate and noticed that it had been pushed open so I just slipped in and hurried toward the mansion.

 

          Once I was inside, I could see the obvious damage the men had done as I looked around.  I hoped that Sam and Lainie hadn’t been around at all while the men were there.  “SAMANTHA!  LAINIE!” I shouted as I worked my way inside and over toward the stairs.  I waited a few moments then walked back over toward the entrance and stood facing the inside of the house as I waited for them to answer or to make an appearance.

          It wasn’t long later when Samantha and Lainie had walked into the room.  I crossed my arms and watched them.  “Lainie, go and get your things we have to hurry…. Okay?”

          “Okay.”  Lainie darted in the direction of her room.

          Sam worked her way down stairs and walked over to me.  Our eyes didn’t leave each other’s as she grew closer toward me.  “Look, I told Ron that I was going to be nice to you around Lainie so you better be nice too.”  She sounded like some lame cartoon character from one of those stupid kid shows.

          “Around Lainie…. It’s different now that we’re alone…. Now go and get your damn stuff…. We don’t have all day.”

          I watched as steam filled her beautiful face.  “I was just---”

          “Go…. You’re in danger, got it?  I don’t have time to play the knight in shining armor…. Believe me I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t promised my best friend that I’d come to get you…. They only reason I even agreed to come is for Lainie…. Now hurry up we don’t have much time.”

          “You’re a jerk.”  She began walking up the stairs and toward her room.

          “By the way, don’t grab everything you have…. You only need a few things…. You can always get new clothes and stuff later.”

          I watched as she balled her fist up as anger began to brew inside of her.  “Fine,” she spoke with frustration.

 

          Lainie was finished and I had her wait in the car as I had to go get Sam.  The woman had taken forever and it was starting to bug me.  I didn’t have time to wait.  I hurried up to Sam’s room and right as she was about to zip up the black duffle bag I grabbed her hand and watched as she began to open her mouth to let out what I would assume as a death defying scream.

          “It’s just me,” I spoke with reassurance in my tone so I wouldn’t make things worse for her, “Lainie’s already in the car.  We’ve been here long enough now hurry.”

          “Let me zip up my bag first.”

          I grabbed the bag and quickly zipped it.  “There it’s zipped.  Now come on,” I said as I grabbed her left hand which felt gentle with a little bit of warmth and dragged her out of the room as soon as possible.

Flirtation & Jealousy

          I knew the drive was going to take quite a few days but it wasn’t going to be horrible…. Of course I had hoped that Sam wouldn’t try talking to break the silence.  If either of the two girls were going to have my attention, it was going to be Lainie.  The child might have been inquisitive but she was adorable and deserved the attention.

          Sam, on the other hand, was about my age and was like every other annoying woman.  Although I’ll have to admit that I kind of enjoyed ticking her off.  It was childish but fun.  I felt like a little boy then I realized that I wasn’t just torching her.  Crap, I thought.

          I found it to be kind of ironic because I had told Ron that I had to work that day but only so I didn’t have to worry about Annie trying to work out a date with me and Sam.  It had been a few days earlier because I knew Annie was going to want to see Sam the first day she arrived after that was her sister but the day after I had a feeling she was going to try to set a date so I told Ron that I didn’t have to work the day she was arriving but I had to work the following day.  I knew it wasn’t right to lie to