Chapter 48 We got back to the house just as the sun began to set behind the hills . The golden light spilled through the windows , casting warm hues across te marble floors . Lena rushed in first , kicking off her shoes and calling out , " Mommy , look at how fast I am ! " I smiled , dropping my long by the entrance as I followed her in . " You are super fast but now come here , we have a whole afternoon to ourselv should we do ? " She clapped her hands . " Can we paint ? Please ? " I pulled her into the living room , " paint it is " We spread out a big sheet across the floor and brought out her art box . The next hour was nothing but messy colors , wild brush strokes , and Lena's unstoppable laughter . She painted a purple cat with green ears and told me it was our new family pet . I painted her holding a bouquet of sunflowers , and she said I gave her fairy wi y wings by accident . " I love this ," she said , squeezing paint between her fingers . " Just you and me " Ma too , baby . " I whispered , brushing some paint off her cheek . Aher a warm bath and two bedtime stories , Lena finally drifted off in her room , hugging Mr. Bubbles tightly to her chest . I stood there for a minute , watching her chest rise and fall I needed this . Just this peace , this simplicity . But when I stepped out of her room , the silence in the house felt too thick . I walked through the hall , into the kitchen , then the study , nothing and no sign of Rick One of the staff passed by with a tray . " Excuse me ," I said , " have you seen Rick ? " She paused , " he left a little while ago , for work , I believe . " Work . At this hour . Inodded slowly and turned toward the stairs , my hand already fishing my phone out of my pocket . I sat on the edge of my bed and opened the image . The address was still there .. I didn't know what I expected to find but my curiosity was a scream now , not a whisper . I slipped into jeans , threw on a hoodie , tied my hair up , and booked a cab . I didn't tell anyone where I was going . I didn't even know why I was going but I needed to know what he was hiding I stepped out of the cab and looked around . The place was almost hidden behind overgrown hedges and a bent metal sign that barely clung to the fence The building looked like it had once been something ashy , maybe a club or some kind of hangout now it looked forgotten I moved slowly , eyes darting . The front dones were unlocked I pushed them open and stepped inside . Dust floated in the ai 1/2 70-14 Wed , 27 Aug 6 Chapter 48 The place smelled like mildew and wood rot . Tables stood in disarray , some overturned , others stacked in comers like they hadn't be Tran my hand along the edge of one counter . There was a glass still sitting there , crusted with dried liquid , I stepped around broken " crunching faintly against the dirt - covered floor . There was a staircase to the left . I walked toward it , testing the first step . It creaked but held . I made my way up slowly , peering into the upstairs rom Each one was empty , Abandoned couches , broken lamps , nothing else . " What the hell is this place ," I muttered to myself I went back downstairs . The place was still silent . The only sound was my own breathing and the faint groan of the old building settling I stepped outside again , the sun had dipped lower . Shadows were stretching , and the air felt colder . I turned to leave knowing I walked toward the gate , I froze . I heard footsteps , I glanced back but saw nothing . I quickened my pace . The footsteps grew louder . My heart pounded , I clutched my phone tighter and started walking faster , almost breaking into a run . Then it happened . A strong hand wrapped around my throat from behind and shoved me back hard . I hit something solid . A chast . The grip around my neck didn't loosen I tried to scream , but the hand pressed harder . My eyes widened when I felt the cold , unmistakable shape of a gun barrel press against the side of my heard , then I heard it . The click of the safety . They just cocked the motherfucking gun . " Where do you think you're going ? " The voice sent a chill down my spine . Rick . 曲 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!