Chapter 009- The Quinns safe house

"Is she still sleeping?"

A voice queried from outside, causing Ivanna to shrink her closed eyes. Her father assumed she was being kidnapped, he had no idea she wanted to escape.

"The doctor said she'd be waking up soon, probably in an hour." She heard her brother's voice.

The retreating footsteps of her father made her tense shoulder relax. Her eyes were still closed.

"You can wake up now, he is gone," Nicholas said.

Her eyes opened slowly, she blinked to adjust to the brightness of the room.

"It wasn't your fault, Ivanna, don't blame yourself."

"How did that happen?" She said and dropped her jaw on her folded knees. "The explosion." The thought of what had happened still frightened her. She almost lost her life.

"A competitor I think, nobody knew you were inside that ship. Thankfully, Rogue dived into the water to save your butt in time, that guy is godsent." Nicholas lauded.

Ivanna rolled her eyes. "What about the Quinns, Mrs. Quinn?"

"That's what I'm here to talk about." He waited for her to adjust to what he was about to say. "After the incident, someone broke into the Quinns Mansion and took Roman. Mrs. Quinn had begun worrying they might come after you."

"And?" She knew there was more to it.

"She wants you to come to stay with them in the safe house, and after Roman is found the wedding will commence." Nicholas sighed. "I'm sorry, Ivanna,"

Ivanna shook her head with a sad smile on her lips. "You've tried your best, Nick, I guess this is my fate."

Nicholas moved nearer to her and held her hands. "If anything ever happens that you aren't comfortable with, I'm a call away. Just don't harm yourself."

"I won't." She assured him. "When am I leaving?"

"Tonight. Your bags and necessary items have been packed. Father agreed to let you stay with them because he thinks he couldn't protect you. it's all my fault." The pain in Nicholas's eyes prickled her chest. It wasn't his fault, he was only trying to let her live with her choices.

"Don't worry, Nick, I want this marriage to happen. The Quinns love me, I don't think there'll be a reason for me to be unhappy."

___________

While the siblings communicated with sorrowful hearts, the Quinn's Mansion had a serious aura.

"Did you see the faces of those people?" Mr. Quinn asked as he paced around the living room. The cops still haven't discovered where Roman was.

"There's an intruder in this Mansion. I suggest you move to the safe house, the cops will find him." Rogue suggested.

"Ivanna would be at the safe house this evening, and so also you. Things have been happening these past few days and it is confusing. I need everyone besides me at the safe house."

This washed the calm expression off Rogue's face.

"You aren't used to such things, it must be traumatizing for you." Mr. Quinn continued. "The gun belonged to one of the dead guards, right?"

Rogue looked away before replying. "Yes."

"Pulling the trigger for the first time must've not been easy for you. I'll arrange a therapy session for you with the best in the country."

Rogue gazed into the distance. "It wasn't easy." He said, but his senses were reminiscing. "It was difficult to hold it with shaky fingers, the pull of the trigger brings nightmares, nightmares that never end."

Mr. Quinn had no idea what he was talking about, so he felt the sadness. "You'll be staying till Roman is found. I know staying at the family Mansion isn't something you fancy, but I want to keep everyone safe." He paused as he glanced at his chiming phone. "Be nice and don't bring your friends along. It is family only."

"I'm always nice, Father,"

"I know, and that's why I'm proud of you."

Rogue turned to look at him at what he said, and with an unreasonable expression, he tossed his face to the side.

_________

Inside a pink decorated room. A girl tossed on the bed with her eyes closed and sweat crawling down her neck. She was having a nightmare.

"No, please…" She mumbled as she struggled aimlessly on her bed. "I did what you told me to…"

"PLease…" She murmured again, gripping onto the bed. "Don't kill me…"

"... Don't…DON'T!"

She yanked on her bed as she woke up, but the force applied made her slide off the bed to the ground.

She realized she just had another nightmare.

It was common. Nobody knows this, not even her brother.

It was an event that happened in the past. A dark past.

Ivanna slid into the bathroom to wash her sweat-filled face. She glanced at the wall clock and realized it was already seven in the evening.

Nicholas would be home by eight to take her to Quinn safe house. She just hoped Rogue wasn't there. But she didn't need to worry about that, she knew Rogue had a penthouse.

Her clothes were indeed packed. It feels wrong but she was praying Roman wouldn't be found on time for the Quinns to give up on her. Although her mind was set on the marriage after she realized it was something she couldn't hide from, there was no harm in grabbing an opportunity to run from it.

She wanted to leave the country, but considering the dangers in the previous country, she couldn't.

She also didn't want to be close to a person who almost ended her life just because she witnessed a scene. Being near a psychopath would prompt a mental breakdown for her.

After minutes of bathing and getting dressed, she took her bags to the entrance door, waiting for Nicholas. Her father was still at the office.

A moment later a car drove into the Mansion. It belonged to Nicholas. He climbed into the car and placed her bags inside.

The ride to the Quinns Mansion was silent. Nicholas hasn't said anything since they left the Mansion. Was he angry?

As the car reached the safe house, she noticed guards everywhere. The car got scanned before it was allowed to enter through the gate. The safe house wasn't as big as the Quinns Mansion, but it was alright.

As the car halted, a few servants came forth to take the bags. The Quinns were certainly wealthy.

Nicholas didn't come out of his car, rather he nodded at her and drove off.

What was his attitude about?