Chapter Thirty
"Laurence's mom's calling me downstairs? Why?" Asked Arianna her face pale with fright.
"Maybe to ask about what the doctor said. Just answer her truthfully and come up as soon as you're done. Okay?" Sandra said worriedly.
Arianna nodded and went down the elevator to see Laurence's mom. The elevator opened onto the second floor and she walked out towards an agitated Penny Lennard pacing the floor.
"You filthy bitch! How dare you steal from your own husband's family?" She yelled. Arianna's jaws dropped with shock. She froze unable to speak. Penny Lennard came forward and shook her vigorously.
"Tell me where you have hidden the money? I'm calling the cops," she said, vigorously flailing her arms in the air.
"What happened dear?" Asked Harry Lennard, coming out of the washroom.
"Harry the money that I had kept for buying that Solitaire diamond platinum set is missing. I'm sure this bitch has laid her filthy hands on the money. There never has been a theft at our home before," screamed Penny Lennard.
"How much money is missing?" Asked Harry Lennard patiently.
"Around $50k, Harry," said
Penny Lennard.
"I swear to God Mrs Lennard, I haven't come downstairs at all after that first day. I don't know anything about all this. I don't even know where your rooms are," said Arianna with a frightened expression.
"I'm calling the police. You can explain it to them," said Harry Lennard picking up his mobile phone.
"Wait Harry. Look bitch, if you tell us where you've hidden it, we'll let you go easily," said Penny Lennard.
Arianna felt tears prick her eyes. "I haven't taken anything. I don't know what you're talking about," she sobbed.
"Harry call the police, " said Penny Lennard.
"No, please don't call the police. I haven't taken your money. I'll call Laurence," said Arianna.
"Don't you dare bother him with this. You tell us where you've kept the money or leave this house. Or else face the police, you have three options," said Mrs Lennard.
Arianna thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll leave," she said, her shoulders slumped. Penny Lennard triumphantly looked at her husband. Arianna decided to go to Isabella's house and then update Laurence. They could live there till their house was ready.
"Your wish. Go and pack your stuff and leave. You have fifteen minutes," said Penny Lennard.
Arianna rushed upstairs and started packing her stuff. There wasn't much anyway since she had hardly unpacked her suitcase which she had taken with her to Italy. Sandra came up to enquire and she told her everything. She picked up her mobile and handbag and her suitcase and went down the elevator. However on the ground floor, she heard Harry Lennard talking to a stranger. She hid behind a pillar to hear what they were talking.
"Jake just finish the girl off. She shouldn't live. Kill her," said Harry Lennard. "She's about to leave. Trail her and then do your job. I want her out of our lives forever."
"I need a photograph of her Harry, " said the man named Jake.
"I don't have one. But I can describe her looks," said Mr Lennard. The description he gave matched with her looks.
Arianna was shocked. They were planning to kill her? Why? What had she done?
"Why do you want her dead Harry?" Asked Jake. He was an old accomplice of his and they knew each other's criminal records well.
"She's Brad Willis's daughter, Jake. I confiscated his company and you finished him off last month. She's here to take revenge," said Harry Lennard.
Arianna clamped her mouth shut to stop the gasp from escaping out. So that was where she'd seen him. She had seen him accompany her her dad everywhere before he confiscated their company. So he was responsible for their downfall and this man Jake killed her dad? She had to get away before they could murder her too. She had Laurence's baby to think of. But how would she get out of here with these two at the entrance of the building? She had to think of another way.
She went down to the underground parking and walked out of it just like the cars did. She quietly slipped out and walked towards the main gate. She quickly slipped out of the gate. Thankfully there was a cab just pulling away. She waved frantically and caught the driver's attention.
However, as luck would have it, Harry Lennard and the man saw her. "There, she's escaping Jake, " yelled Harry Lennard.
Arianna quickly climbed into the cab and gave him Laurence's office address. "Drive faster please. I'm being chased," she pleaded, looking back as Jake started his car. There was another car with two of his goons. Both cars were gearing up to trail her.
The cab driver looked through his rear view mirror. "Why is Jake Langley following you miss?" He asked curiously.
"You know him?" Asked Arianna surprised. She saw the burly, muscular tattooed cab driver with shock. Was he associated with Jake too? He looked like a criminal too.
"Who doesn't miss? He's a dangerous hitman in and around Vegas as well as Nevada. He never misses his target," said the cab driver as he sped down to Laurence's office with the two cars hot on their heels. Arianna gulped with fright.
"I don't want to die. I have a baby growing inside me. Please save me. My in-laws want to kill me. We married against their wishes," she said as a sob escaped her. She could see that they had nearly reached Laurence's office.
"Miss, one of the cars has gained a deadly speed. It's gonna hit us. I can't drive straight. I have to take a detour," said the cab driver as he suddenly turned into a lane just before Laurence's office to avoid a crash. The car trailing them couldn't figure out at the last minute and skidded and crashed somewhere. They could hear the sound of the crash.
"Hope no one's injured," said the cab driver. Arianna looked back scared of what might have happened right in front of Laurence's office. She just mentally prayed that Laurence wasn't affected by it.
"Please God. Let him be safe," prayed Arianna.
"Jake's still chasing us miss. We have to abandon this car else we'd be dead," said the cab driver. He called a friend of his and asked him to wait at a connecting road for them. He steered their car onto a narrow lane and parked it. They both quickly got out. The cab driver took her suitcase and caught her hand and they rushed down another narrow lane towards a main road off it. There was a cab waiting for them and they climbed onto it.
"Thanks Ben. Now where to?" Asked the burly cab driver. Arianna gave them Isabella's address.
"I'm Jamie Grant. What's your name miss?" Asked the burly cab driver.
"I'm Arianna Willis. Thanks for saving me and my baby," she said.
"Are you related to Brad Willis?" He asked her.
"Yes, he was my dad. Do you know him?" Asked Arianna.
"Not so well, we met sometime back at a pub," said the Jamie. "Here we've reached the house. Jake won't leave you. I would advise you to stay hidden for a few months," advised Jamie.
"Miss, there's a lock on the front door. I don't think anyone's here. Do I stop? There's a car tailing us," said the cab driver named Ben. Arianna remembered that uncle Gray had mentioned about their New York trip. Arianna panicked to see that Jake's car behind them was quickly gaining speed.
"Don't stop. I have nowhere to go to," she said searching for her mobile to call Laurence or Isabella. But to her dismay she couldn't find her mobile anywhere. "I think I've dropped my mobile phone somewhere," she said in a panic.
"Here take mine. You can make a call to your husband, " said Jamie, handing her his mobile phone.
She took his and thanked him. She punched in Laurence's number but strangely the call didn't go through. She tried ten times but the same response. What was wrong with his mobile? She tried calling Isabella but her phone was switched off. Arianna felt helpless tears prick her eyes.
"Don't cry, miss. I can shelter you at my home now. Me and and my wife are travelling to my parents' house in Russellville, Arkansas tonight. You can accompany us there. You'll be safe. You can call your husband and ask him to come over and get you," suggested Ben.
"Okay," said Arianna. She didn't have any other choice. Ben drove at a breakneck speed and dropped them off suddenly after a series of confusing twists and turns. Arianna had no idea where in Las Vegas she was. She was indebted to these two strangers who had saved her from the jaws of death.
"Take her to my house, Jamie. I'll join you guys after losing Jake and his car," said Ben, driving off. Jamie carried her suitcase and led her to an old building. Ben's small one-roomed apartment was on the ground floor. He knocked onto an old door who's paint was peeling off.
