18 THE GIFT

Arianna stood in the balcony as she watch Yago's car leave the garage. It's already dark but he was still driving his car out. She bet he's heading to the hospital again to see his brother.

Thinking about that, Arianna felt bitterness in her heart. That brother was the reason Yago was exiled! She hasn't seen him yet but she hated him already. Was she being unreasonable? So what! She didn't care about that miss nice girl image! She'll hate Vier as much as she wants because she only stands on Yago's side!

However, losing sight of Yago's car as it drove away, something in her heart doesn't feel right. She suddenly felt nervous as if seeing the preview of the day Yago has to leave.

As Arianna was contemplating about something, her phone suddenly rang. When she answered it, her sister's voice was heard from the other end of the line.

"You seem carefree." she heard her say. "You think you already won?"

Following that, a car drove out from the garage and stopped in front of the house while the engine was still running. A window on the back of the car rolled down and Belle's smiling face was revealed. Her right hand was holding a phone next to her ear and the left one was waving at her.

"What do you want?" Arianna asked coldly.

"Nothing! I just want to say goodbye to my dear sister! Please don't miss me much!" she said laughing. Arianna didn't know what it was but something felt creepy about that laugh. It even sent chills down her spine!

"Sister, please take care of yourself for me. Stay alive until I come back." Belle paused for a while as if thinking about something, she then heard her threatening voice next. "And don't sleep early! I prepared a gift for you and it'll be delivered to you tonight! That's all, goodbye sis!"

Belle hurriedly finished the call and signaled the chauffeur to start driving. She needs to reach the airport immediately as she didn't want to miss her flight. When her gift to Arianna comes, she wants to be out of the country already, far away from any suspicions.

Arianna sighed. She wondered what her sister was up to this time. Didn't she refuse ro leave before? Why was she suddenly in a hurry to leave? Something doesn't feel right. And what's with the gift she was talking about?

Arianna shook her head in resignation. Belle was a psycho. There's no denying it. She'll just watch out for anything that might crop up tonight.

***

Yago sighed after glancing at the rear view mirror. It was already 10 o'clock in the late evening but nothing exciting was happening yet!

A black car has been tailing him since he left home earlier. He originally planned to visit his brother but upon spotting that car, he changed his mind and decided to deal with small matters related to business. He's already been to four business meetings but the car just continued on tailing him like a convoy! Ah, really, it's getting boring.

Suddenly, Yago thought of something. He took his phone from near the dashboard and called someone. He then put a bluetooth earphone on his left ear.

"Hello, Yago!" the pleasant voice of a lady resounded from the earbud.

"Did I disturb you? Were you already sleeping?" he asked as he drive away from the highway. He was thinking of confronting those people following behind in.... somewhere remote.

"No. I was waiting for something." she answered.

"Are you waiting for me?"

Arianna got up from the bed. How would she answer to that? It's true that she's waiting for him but... he doesn't need to know that, does he? And she's waiting for Belle's "gift" too.

"You know what, you're getting more and more shameless." she said laughing.

" If I don't become shameless, then how are you going to notice me?" Yago's voice was calm but Arianna can hear cars speeding in the background. She suddenly felt nervous.

"Are you driving? Why are you calling me while you're driving? Why don't yoy just focus on the road and we'll just continue to chat later at home."

While she was saying that, she suddenly heard a loud crashing sound in the background, followed by Yago's complete silence. Arianna's heart trembled as worry overcame her.

"Yago? What happened?"

She was still hearing the sound of his car's engine but Yago wasn't responding. She didn't know that Yago dropped the bluetooth earbud as the black car crashed Yago's car from behind.

A few seconds past, a minute. Yago didn't respond but Arianna didn't dare put down the phone. She was extremely worried. She was about to grab her car keys when she suddenly heard Yago's voice again. "I think I have to say good bye to you right here, right now." she heard him whisper. "I won't be going back tonight. Take care of yourself. I'll come back for you someday! I promise."

As Yago's voice faded, she heard screeching sounds from the background. Gunshots resounded and a lot of unpleasant noise can be heard. "Yago, what's going on? Are you alright?" Arianna's voice was shaking. "Where are you now? I'm going to call the police!" She was really terrified. The sound of gunshots echoed like it was a battle field!

" Rian..." Yago's voice sounds hurt. Was he injured?

" Rian... I love you."

Arianna's voice skipped a beat. That confession was followed by complete silence. She then heard small sounds, like something dropped. There were also footsteps, and what horrified her more, the sound of an explosion.

"Yago? Yago, please answer me!"

Arianna was now crying. She put her mobile phone down as she grabbed the landline phone and dialled Tiger's number.

"Where are you now! Yago's in danger. Aren't you supposed to protect him!" Arianna was shouting, but there was only silence on the other end of the line. After a while, he heard Tiger took a deep breath. "Miss, we also just received the SOS call. We already tracked Sir's location. We are on our way. Rest assured we'll be doing our best to save him."

On the shotgun seat, Tiger's face was pale as he looked at Viper on the driver's seat.

"I feel bad, too." Tiger said while shaking his head. "We weren't there to protect Sir, but what can we do? We were tasked to protect Miss Arianna."

Inside Arianna's room, the girl was shaking. It was like the terror she went through more than thirteen years ago was being repeated.

"Stupid Yago! If you were in danger, you should have called for help! Why did you have to call me instead!"

"Rian... I love you... "

Yago's last words echoed in her mind as she cried helplessly in a corner.