Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Where the hell did she go?

The bus stopped at the next stop. Daisy jumped off, her sandals hitting the pavement with a slap. She looked around frantically. The dark car was still there, pulling up to the curb.

She ran.

She ducked into a narrow alley, her yellow sundress flapping behind her. She weaved through backstreets and side roads, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Her heart was pounding so loud she could barely hear anything else. She turned left, then right, then left again. She could hear the car’s engine in the distance, but she did not stop.

Finally, she emerged onto a small, winding road that was too narrow for the car to follow. She pressed herself against a wall and peered around the corner.

The dark car was gone.

She let out a long, shuddering breath. Her heart was still racing, but the alarm bells in her head had finally stopped ringing. She had lost them. They were gone.

She walked the rest of the way to the beach, her steps cautious, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of the dark car. She did not see it again.

When she reached the rental shop, she was still shaking slightly. The old man who ran the shop looked at her with concern.

"Are you okay, dear? You look pale. Like you’ve seen a ghost."

Daisy nodded quickly, forcing a smile. She pulled out her phone and typed.

I am fine. Just a little out of breath. I walked fast.

The old man studied her face for a moment. His eyes were kind, but there was a hint of worry in them. "You sure, dear? You look like you’ve been running from something."

Daisy shook her head and typed again.

I am fine. Really. Just excited to get to the beach.

The old man smiled, but his eyes were still searching. "Alright, dear. If you say so. The costume is ready for you."

Daisy nodded gratefully and walked to the back of the shop. She put on the teddy bear costume, the familiar weight settling over her like a protective shell. The heavy fabric and fluffy fur made her feel safe, hidden.

She picked up her donation bowl and walked out onto the beach.

The children ran toward her, their laughter bright and joyful. A little girl hugged her leg. A little boy tugged at her paw.

Daisy pushed the dark car out of her mind.

❀┈┈┈┈❀

Rafael was shocked.

His mouth hung open. His eyes were wide. He stared at the empty space where Daisy had been walking just moments ago.

His hand was still raised in the air, frozen mid-wave. He had been about to call out to her, to approach her, to finally have a proper conversation but she was gone.

"Oh my god, that girl... where did she go? I need to talk to her," he muttered to himself, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief.

He turned left. Nothing.

He turned right. Nothing.

He spun around in a full circle, scanning the street, the alleyways, the corners. She was nowhere.

His shoulders dropped. His jaw tightened. He ran a hand through his dark hair, messing it up even more.

"Where the hell did she go?" he said again, louder this time.

The driver, one of his most trusted men, sat in the front seat of the dark car. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar above his eyebrow and a permanent frown etched onto his face. His name was Marco, and he had been with the Ricci family for years.

Marco sighed.

He understood now why Boss Alessio never sent Rafael for secret missions. Rafael was only given rough, straightforward, and violence-based missions. Anything that required stealth, patience, subtlety or careful observation was handed to someone else. This man was a bulldozer, not a scalpel.

Marco leaned forward, his voice low and respectful. "Sir, we’ve lost her. She’s gone."

Rafael spun around, his green eyes flashing. "I know she’s gone! I can see that she’s gone! But how did she just disappear like that? She was right there!"

Marco shrugged, a small, helpless gesture. "She moved quickly, sir. She’s faster than she looks."

Rafael stared at him. "Faster than she looks? She’s wearing a yellow sundress and sandals! How fast can she be?"

"Apparently, fast enough."

Rafael groaned. He pressed his palms against his eyes and took a deep breath. His mind was racing, going over every possible scenario. Where could she have gone? Why did she run? Did she see him? Did she know he was following her? Did she think he was a threat?

"Maybe she has some place to be," Marco offered. "A job or an appointment with someone."

Rafael dropped his hands. "A meeting? With who? She’s a mute girl living in a mansion full of people who hate her. Who would she be meeting?"

Marco was silent.

Rafael sighed again. He walked back to the car and leaned against the door, his arms crossed. His tattoos peeked out from under his sleeves, and his hair was even messier than before.

❀┈┈┈┈❀

At evening, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The beach was quiet now, the children gone, the families packing up their things and heading home. Daisy had returned the teddy bear costume and was walking toward the bus stop, her steps light and happy.

She had almost forgotten about the dark car.

She had been so focused on the children, so lost in the joy of playing and waving and making people smile, that she had pushed the fear to the back of her mind. But now, as she walked alone on the quiet streets, the memory came flooding back.

She turned a corner.

Her heart stopped.

The dark car was there. Parked at the end of the street. Its engine was running, its windows tinted, the same car that had been following her in the morning.

Daisy’s blood ran cold.

She turned and walked the other way, her pace quickening. She heard the car’s engine rev. She heard its tires on the pavement.