Chapter 8

[Back at Hart's hideout] 'Morning," Myra yawned, rubbing her face against what turned out to be Hart's chest. Daylight was streaming through the pale curtains. She was just where she wanted to be. If only she didn't have to wake up from the dream. Every moment with Hart had been so delightful and not hurtful. 'Slept well last night?" Hart ran his hair through her hair, which was now probably a mess from their adventure last night. Her forehead throbbed with pain, reminding her of how much she had drunk last night. They had both called each other's name last night. He had even taken her in so many different ways that she found embarrassing. This was considering how she had only imagined having intercourse in some of those ways in the past. She had been wild from all the alcohol. 'My head hurts." Hart reached into his bedside drawer and handed her an unopened bottle of mineral water and some fast-action paracetamol. 'It'll get better soon after this, I promise." She clung to him tightly after finishing the pills. 'Strangely enough, I can only remember bits and pieces of what happened last night." 'Don't worry about it," he hushed. 'Close your eyes and rest your mind." 'I'm hungry," she laughed mischievously. 'If you understand what I mean." 'You naughty girl." It wasn't a few moments before they were resuming their business from where they had stopped last night. She indulged in how arousing his fingers were to her. His fingers teased her and induced her to moan again and again for him. Such sinful desires, she thought happily. Yet, nobody would ever judge her for her actions. It was the second time she had ‘breakfast in bed', and both times, she had made the advancing. ………………………………………………………………….. 'Shalalala.." Myra was in a very festive mood. After some hours later, she was singing in the bathroom while washing up when she heard Hart's footsteps. Judging by how rapid and loud they were, Hart had to be very anxious, triggering her curiosity about the man. Was this man insatiable? Had heusually just ‘eaten' her up earlier to want more from her? She couldn't help but giggle at the man. As much as it made him sound such a beast, she had to admit she liked this part of him. Reaching downwards with the showerhead, she sprayed herself with water to clean the suds from her hickey-covered body. Then she heard Hart's voice. The voice from the man, who was normally warm and charismatic, the complete opposite of Jake, was now very frantic. 'Myra, I have bad news," Hart said. He tapped on the bathroom door impatiently. 'Hart, what's up?" The door creaked as it opened from the inside, revealing a dripping-wet Myra. She reached for a towel as Hart watched her, seemingly disturbed by something. On a closer look, she realised he was holding a small black round object. 'We're spied on," Hart said. 'If we leave now, we have a better chance of escaping before the men come again." 'Seriously?" His eyes moved in the direction of her assets before heading downwards, scrutinising every part of her naked body. No, not now, Hart, he told himself. This was not the time for such thoughts. Yet, the image of him pounding inside her while they were in the bathroom together bothered him. In his mind, Myra was moaning her name as water sprayed above their heads. He was taking her from behind, pushing her naked body against the glass of the bathroom. Stop! He commanded himself. Myra chuckled. Even if he had something urgent, he couldn't handle seeing her naked and dripping wet. She hastily dried herself with the towel and covered herself as much as she could, leaving only her cleavage and bare thighs clear to his view. 'Hart, who are the men you are referring to? The men that came three days ago?" 'For some reason, they planted a surveillance device in our bedroom. All our conversations have been heard, Myra. We need to leave." His announcement stunned her like a bullet. All of a sudden, she feared so much. She didn't want to lose Hart and be all alone. No, Hart had to be with her, as he promised! 'Let's not waste any more time," Hart said, shielding the bulging lump in his pants. 'Let's grab all your things and just go." 'Wait," Myra said. 'Perhaps you could come and stay with me at the hotel?" The hotel. Hart was shoving some of his possessions into a duffel bag as she spoke. She watched him pack his cellphone after tossing aside a sim card and replacing it with a different one from his wallet, then some of his tees and pants. As he closed his duffel bag, she was startled. There had to be at least one billion rupiahs in notes in that bag. Why did he possess so much money, and where did he get them? 'I'll explain to you later. All I can ask from you now is...please trust me." As much as she needed an explanation, Myra knew she had little choice before the suspicious men arrived again. In any case, they might have discovered that Hart had unplugged their surveillance device and may probably be on the way to the hideout. A closer look revealed that they had already punctured the tyres of Hart's Hyundai, probably when they were out at the bazaar and beach. Hart cursed under his breath and then handed her the safety helmet for his bike. 'We have to take the bike, Myra. Hold on to me tight." She nodded and picked up the haversack where he had placed her clothing in. In no time, Hart was pedalling speedily with his might, making a turn into a grassy spot which Myra presumed to be a secret way out. The loud engine of what seemed to be a modified sportscar blazed in the distance. 'It has to be Angelo's doing." She didn't ask who Angelo was, assuming him to be one of Hart's father's men. Hart cursed again in a foreign language before apologising for his crudeness. 'We can't get to the hotel from the bike. We'll have to make a diversion to the bazaar and, from there, distract them long enough for us to get to one of my friends." He began explaining his plan and how his friend, Teos, would assist them in escaping by lending him one of his cars. Myra felt herself losing Hart due to the perplexity of his proposal. It was too much for a 21-year-old, particularly one who had been living such a sheltered life. She barely knew the world, and the idea of dangerous men running after her was enough to put her in alarm. 'Myra, are you still listening?" Hart asked, making an abrupt turn that she almost toppled over in her distraction. She held to him even more tightly. 'Sorry, I lost you for a moment." 'Do you want to take a break?" he asked, stopping before a tree and handing her a water bottle from his front compartment. 'We can have five minutes to take a breather." 'Hart, what will happen?" she asked amidst gulps of water. 'Are we going to die?" 'Don't worry, Myra. It isn't as serious as you thought. I'll tell you more, but we can't afford to waste too much time," he explained, caressing her cheeks. 'No matter what, I'll not let any harm come to you. I'm sorry that I have dragged you into my family affairs, but I'll keep you safe." Upon hearing him say ‘family affairs', Myra fell silent, thinking hard. Hart had only told Myra that he owned several businesses and was an illegitimate son. She knew nought of Hart's father nor his father's wife. What if they were fearsome figures that could claim her life anytime? She was hesitant to let go of Hart or their relationship, regardless of who his father was. Whatever it was, it didn't concern him, did it? Every moment they spent together flashed in her memory. His words ‘trust me' reverberated in her mind, reminding him of the choice she had made. She had made up her mind to trust him, so until she heard the truth from him, she shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. 'Myra, we have to go! They've caught up!" The noises from the sportscar engines earlier were deafening. Hart's vehicle jolted back to life, and as rapidly as he had shouted, they immediately fled. Hart had purposely switched off his GPS to avoid being tracked, but the route he had taken would eventually lead to the same main road. Something about his persistence in going ahead informed Myra that he had pre-planned everything earlier. In front of them, the familiar canopy of the marketplace came to view. Hart skidded to a halt, making signals to a younger man who was standing by the roadside. The men conversed in a foreign language, which Myra, by now, had managed to pick up a few words. The men exchanged keys hurriedly. 'Myra, we have to start running." He immediately lifted Myra off the motorbike and threw off his helmet. Myra followed suit. No sooner had he said his words, two sports cars stopped by the road behind the younger man. 'Now!" Teos exclaimed as loudly as he could, jumping on Hart's bike. Before the drivers managed to descend from their cars, Myra and Hart ran as fast as they could without looking back.