Very carefully, I climbed out so as not to make too much noise. I quickly found the pipe and clung onto it for dear life. What didn’t help was the fact that I had high-heeled shoes on. Not the best shoes to be wearing. Then again, I didn’t know I was going to be put in a situation where I would need to be climbing out of my own castle!
With a deep breath, I managed to swing my legs around onto the pipe, and I slowly made my way down. It took longer than anticipated, but I’d take that over falling and breaking my neck any day. Once my feet touched the ground, I let out a deep breath.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Clara.”
I turned round so violently that Thomas had to step back a little. “Shit, Thomas. Don’t scare me like that again.”
“What’s going on? Who are all those men who went into the house?”
Hearing the sounds of a few voices in the distance, I grabbed Thomas’ hand and ran. “Come with me, and stay quiet.”
We ran around the back of the house and found the entry point I was looking for. I took off my high heels and turned to Thomas. “Can you do something for me?”
He nodded, but looked panicked. “Sure, anything.”
“If you go through this door there is a staircase to the left hand side. If you make your way up one floor it will take you to the majority of all the rooms. Please make sure that when you open the door you don’t see any of the men outside. I will create a distraction so that will buy you a couple of minutes. Once you have the girls, ask Belinda to grab the keys to the lodge. She will know where I mean. Please make sure you all go there and stay there until I know it’s safe.”
He looked concerned. “What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me; I’ll be fine. They’re not going to harm me. I promise.” I hated lying. How could I promise that? I didn’t know what the hell they were going to do to me.
“I’m not going to leave you.” His face was stern and determined.
“Thomas, please. There is a lot more than just me to worry about here. Please.” I was begging. I had to. I wanted all of them to be safe. I squeezed his hand and pleaded with my eyes for him to help me.
“Okay. I’ll do it. But I’m going to come back for you once I’m done.”
I shook my head. “No. That’s not going to happen, Thomas. If they find you, they will hurt you. Please, just do this one thing for me. I will be eternally in your debt.” I smiled as best I could under the circumstances.
He sighed, but didn’t look happy. “Sure. I’ll go.”
I kind of got the feeling he wasn’t listening to me, but at that moment, I just wanted everyone to be kept out of harm’s way.
Thomas soon disappeared behind the door, and I scurried towards our barn. Thankfully, there were some left over fireworks from the bonfire night we recently had.
I grabbed one and immediately began searching for some matchsticks. As quickly as I could gather everything in my arms I ran outside. I placed the firework upright in the ground and lit the thing as soon as I could. Once I knew it would ignite, I ran back for the cover of the barn.
I stood there for what seemed like an age, and I was almost about to turn and find out what was taking so long when I heard a massive bang. It was just how I had planned it.
Several men were outside soon enough looking everywhere for me. That was my cue then to run like the wind. They saw me of course, but that was my plan all along.
Taking charge, they ran towards me and I knew it wouldn’t take them long before they were onto me. I’m a fast runner, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to outrun a dozen men.
I tried to make it last as long as I possibly could to give Thomas and the girls the most time possible to get out.
Within about thirty seconds, I could hear their heavy breathing behind me, and I knew it was only a matter of time.
I was on the floor within a nanosecond before being hauled up to my feet. “Bastardi!” I shouted.
“She speaks Italian.” A man with huge muscles raised his eyebrow at me.
“Fuck you.”
“And, she’s angry. The boss doesn’t do angry.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck, arsehole.” Before I knew it, one of the men backhanded me so hard I was almost sick.
“Michel, you fucking piece of shit. What did you do that for?” Big Muscle Man glared at him.
“She was being rude to you.”
“I don’t give a damn what she did. Look at her. You’ve made her lip bleed.”
I could feel my lip swelling just as he said it. I could also taste the blood in my mouth.
“Let’s get her back in the house. She’ll freeze to death out here.”