Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 99

Chase

I woke up with a pounding head. Though yesterday had been tiring, I laid awake, holding Sofia's satiated body. My life has been peaceful for a long time. My mind and body struggle to cope with this unwelcome, critical distraction.

I tried to start my day like I normally would. Woke up kissing Sofia good morning. We usually have breakfast together, but given that I wore her out, I skipped breakfast for a cup of coffee. I haven't even set foot outside the house and understood my day won't be better than yesterday.

Jose, Sofia and Elise's driver and bodyguard, entered the foyer as I was heading out, a frown wrinkling his forehead.

The man was in his early fifties, keeping his morning run and as healthy as a horse. He keeps to himself most of the time, but is very enthusiastic around Elise. Dad insisted I bring Jose with us when we took permanent residence in the US. I know little about his past, but Dad vaguely informed me that Jose had once worked for the military. What branch of service? I had no idea.

I knew something wasn't right when he entered the foyer. He wanted to reside in the pool house to avoid disturbing us when he left for his daily run, training, and personal errands. He rarely goes inside the house. "Bom dia senior Chase," he greeted. [good morning] "Bom dia José. Just got back from your run?" I commented. His white shirt had a drenched map in the chest, dots of sweat glistened from the tips of his short brown hair.

"Sim," he nodded. "There's something you need to see."

I frowned, following Jose out the wooden double doors. My steps halted when I saw what he needed me to see.

My Jeep, which I parked in front of the house where I usually do, was coated in red liquid.

"It's not blood," Jose said as I dragged my feet toward my car. "Not human blood."

The closer we got, the more pungent the scent of the red liquid got. My molars ground, getting a closer look. at my Jeep. The White Renegade could pass for a changed color to bloody red. Drops of blood created a pool of red on the concrete under my car. This was fresh.

I glanced around. Whoever did this wanted to piss me off and it's f*****g working.

"It wasn't here when I went out," Jose added.

It was just after dawn. The sky was still covered in gray; the sun had yet to rise, and my day had already taken a complete 360.

"It's not human blood?" I fasten an iron chain around my anger. Giving in on the berserk going inside me right now will get me nowhere.

"It's pig's blood," he confirmed. The oddity that Jose could distinguish human blood from pigs' blood left me baffled. He sounded so sure.

I pulled a huge breath, loosening the contraction in my belly. Yesterday's fear had become my reality. The danger just knocked on my doorstep. F**k!

Taking my phone out, I took pictures of the bloody mess. "Let's clean this up."

Jose didn't need further explanation. He got to work without questions, took the watering hose, and sprayed water on the car.

I removed my suit jacket, rolled the sleeves of my dress shirt, and took the pail, soap, and sponge from the garage. Sofia will be up soon. She didn't have to see this horror.

By the time we finished, my dress shirt was drenched with drizzles of water and sweat.

"Check the CCTV recordings and get back to me," I instructed Jose before leaving the mansion.

I didn't head to the office. Instead, I sped to the docks, informing Rafa of my whereabouts.

Morning in the docks was busy as usual. There was light incoming and outgoing traffic on the boulevard. Pedestrians enjoying the morning walk and run bespeckle the side of the streets. I kept my eyes and senses on alert as I drove to the warehouse. I should avoid busy places considering yesterday's and this morning's events. Someone could be watching me right now, waiting to take a hit.

Fuck my life.

Reaching the parking lot with no hitch, I scanned my surroundings like a f*****g creep before sliding out of my car. Walking towards Eros' container vans, I was startled when Carlota spoke behind me.

"I thought you won't be dropping by?" I waited for her to reach me, holding a brown bag in one hand and a disposable cup of coffee in the other. "I only got one. Didn't know you'd be coming."

"I already had coffee," I said. We walked side by side towards the safe house. "How is our guest?"

"Stable." She sipped her coffee, shoving the brown bag in my chest unceremoniously.

Gripping the paper bag, I glared at her. She gave me a toothy grin. She cast the leather outfit from yesterday to a vintage shirt, tiny denim shorts, and sneakers. Dark circles encompassed her green eyes. At least I wasn't the only one who couldn't rest after yesterday. We entered the meeting room. Eros was not here yet, but Santino was.

He rose from the chair as soon as he saw me, clasped my knuckles with his own, and drew me for a brotherly hug. "Good to see you, Chase," he murmured, patting my back.

Pulling away, I forced a tight smile. "I can't say the same.""

Carlota snatched the paper bag, plonked on one chair, pulled out a cinnamon roll, and started munching on it without a care in the world.

Santino chuckled, brushing off my cynical greeting. The last time I saw him was when we dealt with Loco. The years had been kind to him. There were additions to his ink collections, his hair in micro braids, and the prominent deepening of his laugh lines could fool anyone. He's the guy Eros sent to do his sullied bidding; he sends him to the darkest and most unknown parts of the world to hunt down anyone who'd done him wrong. Santino showing up in Pinehills brought back memories I tried to shove away from my head for a long time.

"Got yourself in trouble again?" he said, snatching the paper bag from Carlota. The latter scowled.

"I don't even know how I got myself in this mess," I grumbled, sinking down on a chair, shaking my head when Santino offered me a cinnamon roll. The scent of the pig's blood had upset my stomach.

"That's why we're here," Santino said, a sterling concern in his tone.

"You done reckoning Pinehills?" I inquired.

He shrugged. "Not much surveillance was needed. We've planted people in this town. All I did was call each one of them."

"And?" I probed.

"Boss is on his way."

Loud voices from the infirmary put a stop to our conversation. The three of us exchanged glances. One moment I was looking at Santino and the next thing I knew, he already held a gun, heading into the infirmary. Carlota and I followed suit.

The bed was empty. The IV drips straight to the floor, droplets of blood lined a path towards the exit. Stanly, dressed in a gown, eyes wide with fear, was pressing a scalpel against a bald guy's neck. No hint of fear on the latter's face. In fact, he looked bored. Eros was standing on the exit, lights from the outside spilling through the open door. "You sure you wanna do that?" Eros asked condescendingly, nodding at Stanly.

Santino tucked his gun back in his waistband, covering it with his shirt.

"I'll kill him," Stanly murmured. The kid was clearly terrified. His skin was paper white and her hands were shaking uncontrollably.

Eros sighed, eyes sliding at the bald guy, nodding. Five seconds and the situation had been switched. Stanly's scalpel bumped at the tip of Santino's boots; Baldy had him pinned down on the floor, a knee pressing on the kid's back. Stanly howled in pain. Eros closed the door to contain the sound.

"You two," Eros' moss green eyes swung towards Carlota and I, shooting us with a sharp stare. "Care to explain what the fuck I'm doing here?"