Chapter 6: Diego's POVChapter 6: Diego's POV

Chapter 6: Diego's POV

The adrenaline coursed through my veins as we disappeared into the night, leaving the small town behind. Isabel was by my side, her breaths coming fast and shallow as we made our escape.

We had planned for this, rehearsed our every move, but still, my heart pounded in my chest as we fled.

“We can’t stay in one place for long,” I whispered to Isabel, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of our pursuer. “We need to move quickly, and stay one step ahead.”

The road stretched out before us, the headlights of our stolen car piercing the darkness. I could see Isabel’s knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear.

“South,” I replied, keeping my own voice steady and calm. “We’ll lose ourselves in the cities, blend in with the crowds.”

Isabel nodded, her focus fixed on the road ahead.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being hunted.

As we drove deeper into the night, I couldn’t help but think of my past, the decisions that had led us here.

I’d been so sure that I could outrun my sins, that I could protect Isabel and start a new life. But now, as the headlights danced across the road, I felt the weight of my mistakes bearing down on me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely audible above the roar of the engine.

Isabel glanced at me, a flicker of concern in her eyes.

“What for?” she asked, her voice betraying her own uncertainty.

“For all of this,” I replied, gesturing to the road ahead. “For bringing you into this mess.”

Isabel was silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the road.

“You didn’t bring me into this,” she said, her voice resolute. “I followed you willingly. And I’ll keep following you, as long as you keep fighting.”

Her words were like a salve to my wounded soul, easing the guilt that had been gnawing at me for months.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.

Isabel reached out and took my hand, her fingers intertwined with mine.

We drove on, the night growing colder as the miles passed beneath us. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching, waiting.

But for now, we were together, and we were free.

As the hours passed and the sun began to rise, we finally reached the city. Isabel pulled the car into a crowded parking garage, the noise and bustle of the city overwhelming after the silence of the road.

We grabbed our bags and stepped out into the morning light, the skyscrapers and throngs of people a stark contrast to the sleepy village we had left behind.

“We’ll need new identities,” I said, scanning the crowds for any sign of our pursuer. “And a place to stay.”

Isabel nodded, her eyes alert as we navigated the maze of streets, lost in the anonymity of the city.

“Do you have contacts here?” she asked, her voice low and cautious.

I nodded. “A few. We’ll need to be careful, though. Anyone who knows me could be a risk.”

As we made our way through the city, I felt a surge of nostalgia for my old life, the thrill of the chase, the rush of adrenaline as I outsmarted my enemies.

But I knew that those days were over.

As the day wore on, I led Isabel deeper into the city, away from the crowded downtown to a quieter neighbourhood on the outskirts. We found a small, secluded apartment, a few blocks from the river.

“This is it,” I said, gesturing to the front door. “We should be safe here.”

Isabel nodded, a hint of relief in her eyes. “For now,” she said, her voice soft.

As we settled into the apartment, I couldn’t help but wonder how long we would stay this time.

That night, as Isabel slept, I paced the floor of the apartment, my mind racing with possibilities. I knew we couldn’t stay in one place for long, not with our pursuer closing in.

I thought of the man from the village, the one with the piercing eyes. Who was he? And how had he found us?

I knew that the only way to protect Isabel was to uncover the truth.

In the early hours of the morning, I slipped out of the apartment and into the city, the streets still quiet and deserted.

As the sun rose over the river, I found myself in the seedier part of town, the streets lined with pawn shops, dive bars, and abandoned buildings. This was the kind of place where secrets were traded like currency, and where information could be bought with a few discreet whispers.

I made my way to a rundown bar, its neon sign flickering in the early morning light.

Inside, the air was thick with cigarette smoke and stale beer. A few patrons sat at the bar, their heads bent over their drinks.

I made my way to the bar, my eyes scanning the room for any familiar faces. As I approached, the bartender, a thin, wiry man with a scraggly beard, looked up at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Are you looking for something?” he asked, his voice gruff.

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “Just a drink,” I replied, taking a seat at the bar.

The bartender chuckled, sliding a shot glass and a bottle of whiskey across the counter.

As I poured myself a shot, I waited for the right moment to broach the topic I had come for. Finally, when the bartender was busy with another customer, I leaned forward and whispered, “I’m looking for information.”

The bartender glanced at me, a hint of interest in his eyes. “What kind of information?” he asked, his voice low and guarded.

I slid a few bills across the counter, letting him know that I was serious. “There was a man in the village I was in,” I said. “Dark hair, piercing eyes. I think he was following me. I need to know who he is, and how he found me.”

The bartender regarded me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded slowly. “I might know a thing or two about that,” he said. “But it’ll cost you.”

I slid another bill across the bar, my eyes fixed on the bartender.

He hesitated for a moment, then leaned in close, his voice barely audible. “Your man’s name is Luca,” he whispered. “He’s a private investigator, hired by the people you pissed off. He’s been tracking you for months.”

I felt a cold chill run through me. “How did he find us?” I asked, my voice strained.

The bartender shrugged. “He’s good at his job.”

My mind raced as I processed the information. Luca. Private investigator. Hired by my enemies. I knew that I couldn’t let him find us again.

“What else can you tell me?” I asked, my voice urgent.

The bartender drummed his fingers on the bar, considering my question. “I’ve heard he’s got connections in the police force,” he said. “He’s got his ear to the ground, always listening.”

I nodded, absorbing the information.

“Thank you,” I said, sliding one more bill across the counter.

“If you need more info, you know where to find me,” the bartender said, pocketing the money.

I nodded, then left the bar, my mind whirling with possibilities.

As I walked back to the apartment, I knew that we couldn’t stay in the city for long.

The sun was high in the sky when I returned to the apartment, my nerves frayed and my mind racing.

Isabel was still sleeping, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. I watched her for a moment, her peaceful expression a stark contrast to the danger we were in.

Finally, I woke her, my voice gentle.

“Isabel,” I whispered. “We have to leave.”

Isabel stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “What? Why?” she asked, her voice groggy with sleep.

I explained everything I had learned from the bartender, the danger we were in, and the need for us to disappear again.

Isabel sat up, the color draining from her face. “We can’t just keep running,” she said, her voice trembling. “We have to stop this.”

I knew she was right. We couldn’t keep running forever.

Chapter 6: Diego's POV

The adrenaline coursed through my veins as we disappeared into the night, leaving the small town behind. Isabel was by my side, her breaths coming fast and shallow as we made our escape.

We had planned for this, rehearsed our every move, but still, my heart pounded in my chest as we fled.

“We can’t stay in one place for long,” I whispered to Isabel, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of our pursuer. “We need to move quickly, and stay one step ahead.”

The road stretched out before us, the headlights of our stolen car piercing the darkness. I could see Isabel’s knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear.

“South,” I replied, keeping my own voice steady and calm. “We’ll lose ourselves in the cities, blend in with the crowds.”

Isabel nodded, her focus fixed on the road ahead.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being hunted.

As we drove deeper into the night, I couldn’t help but think of my past, the decisions that had led us here.

I’d been so sure that I could outrun my sins, that I could protect Isabel and start a new life. But now, as the headlights danced across the road, I felt the weight of my mistakes bearing down on me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely audible above the roar of the engine.

Isabel glanced at me, a flicker of concern in her eyes.

“What for?” she asked, her voice betraying her own uncertainty.

“For all of this,” I replied, gesturing to the road ahead. “For bringing you into this mess.”

Isabel was silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the road.

“You didn’t bring me into this,” she said, her voice resolute. “I followed you willingly. And I’ll keep following you, as long as you keep fighting.”

Her words were like a salve to my wounded soul, easing the guilt that had been gnawing at me for months.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.

Isabel reached out and took my hand, her fingers intertwined with mine.

We drove on, the night growing colder as the miles passed beneath us. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching, waiting.

But for now, we were together, and we were free.

As the hours passed and the sun began to rise, we finally reached the city. Isabel pulled the car into a crowded parking garage, the noise and bustle of the city overwhelming after the silence of the road.

We grabbed our bags and stepped out into the morning light, the skyscrapers and throngs of people a stark contrast to the sleepy village we had left behind.

“We’ll need new identities,” I said, scanning the crowds for any sign of our pursuer. “And a place to stay.”

Isabel nodded, her eyes alert as we navigated the maze of streets, lost in the anonymity of the city.

“Do you have contacts here?” she asked, her voice low and cautious.

I nodded. “A few. We’ll need to be careful, though. Anyone who knows me could be a risk.”

As we made our way through the city, I felt a surge of nostalgia for my old life, the thrill of the chase, the rush of adrenaline as I outsmarted my enemies.

But I knew that those days were over.

As the day wore on, I led Isabel deeper into the city, away from the crowded downtown to a quieter neighbourhood on the outskirts. We found a small, secluded apartment, a few blocks from the river.

“This is it,” I said, gesturing to the front door. “We should be safe here.”

Isabel nodded, a hint of relief in her eyes. “For now,” she said, her voice soft.

As we settled into the apartment, I couldn’t help but wonder how long we would stay this time.

That night, as Isabel slept, I paced the floor of the apartment, my mind racing with possibilities. I knew we couldn’t stay in one place for long, not with our pursuer closing in.

I thought of the man from the village, the one with the piercing eyes. Who was he? And how had he found us?

I knew that the only way to protect Isabel was to uncover the truth.

In the early hours of the morning, I slipped out of the apartment and into the city, the streets still quiet and deserted.

As the sun rose over the river, I found myself in the seedier part of town, the streets lined with pawn shops, dive bars, and abandoned buildings. This was the kind of place where secrets were traded like currency, and where information could be bought with a few discreet whispers.

I made my way to a rundown bar, its neon sign flickering in the early morning light.

Inside, the air was thick with cigarette smoke and stale beer. A few patrons sat at the bar, their heads bent over their drinks.

I made my way to the bar, my eyes scanning the room for any familiar faces. As I approached, the bartender, a thin, wiry man with a scraggly beard, looked up at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Are you looking for something?” he asked, his voice gruff.

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “Just a drink,” I replied, taking a seat at the bar.

The bartender chuckled, sliding a shot glass and a bottle of whiskey across the counter.

As I poured myself a shot, I waited for the right moment to broach the topic I had come for. Finally, when the bartender was busy with another customer, I leaned forward and whispered, “I’m looking for information.”

The bartender glanced at me, a hint of interest in his eyes. “What kind of information?” he asked, his voice low and guarded.

I slid a few bills across the counter, letting him know that I was serious. “There was a man in the village I was in,” I said. “Dark hair, piercing eyes. I think he was following me. I need to know who he is, and how he found me.”

The bartender regarded me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded slowly. “I might know a thing or two about that,” he said. “But it’ll cost you.”

I slid another bill across the bar, my eyes fixed on the bartender.

He hesitated for a moment, then leaned in close, his voice barely audible. “Your man’s name is Luca,” he whispered. “He’s a private investigator, hired by the people you pissed off. He’s been tracking you for months.”

I felt a cold chill run through me. “How did he find us?” I asked, my voice strained.

The bartender shrugged. “He’s good at his job.”

My mind raced as I processed the information. Luca. Private investigator. Hired by my enemies. I knew that I couldn’t let him find us again.

“What else can you tell me?” I asked, my voice urgent.

The bartender drummed his fingers on the bar, considering my question. “I’ve heard he’s got connections in the police force,” he said. “He’s got his ear to the ground, always listening.”

I nodded, absorbing the information.

“Thank you,” I said, sliding one more bill across the counter.

“If you need more info, you know where to find me,” the bartender said, pocketing the money.

I nodded, then left the bar, my mind whirling with possibilities.

As I walked back to the apartment, I knew that we couldn’t stay in the city for long.

The sun was high in the sky when I returned to the apartment, my nerves frayed and my mind racing.

Isabel was still sleeping, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. I watched her for a moment, her peaceful expression a stark contrast to the danger we were in.

Finally, I woke her, my voice gentle.

“Isabel,” I whispered. “We have to leave.”

Isabel stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “What? Why?” she asked, her voice groggy with sleep.

I explained everything I had learned from the bartender, the danger we were in, and the need for us to disappear again.

Isabel sat up, the color draining from her face. “We can’t just keep running,” she said, her voice trembling. “We have to stop this.”

I knew she was right. We couldn’t keep running forever.