🦚 Chapter Twenty Eight 🦚

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LULU'S POV

As nice as it was getting back to work I missed James. I found myself thinking about him every minute of the day. It was not necessarily a bad thing, it was just very distracting. It was reflecting on my work seeing as I should have been giving instructions on what pesticide to use on the tomatoes in the greenhouse but I was busy grinning at my screen saver which was a picture of James. I'd taken it the morning we'd spent together and he looked really handsome. I'd asked him to lie back on my bed, his dreads spread out behind him like a halo. I'd taken it while straddling his lap and when he'd had enough he had turned us over and tickled me till I'd begged him to stop and promised him no more photos.

Someone patted my shoulder startling me, making me drop my phone.

"So sorry miss."The timid young man apologized bending over to grab my phone for me.

"It's okay, it's my fault for being distracted."I brushed him off as I took my phone from his outstretched hand, dusted it off before pocketing it.

"Do you need anything?"I asked him.

I really wanted to remember his name but I had so many people working for me it was hard to remember all their names.

He was dressed in protective gear meaning he was either getting ready to spray the crop with pesticide or he had already done it. He was tall like all Samburu men were, his face covered in tribal tattoos, his teeth were a brown colour corroded by the water they consumed with but with a kind smile on his face.

"The measurements miss."He requested in his broken English handing me the bottle of pesticide.

"Oh yeah sorry."I apologized remembering my responsibility.

I took the bottle from him and proceeded to show him how much to use. After he left I decided to get back to work and push all thought of James at the back of my head. I'd see him the next day anyway considering we had our date then. I had no idea where he was taking me but he had specifically asked me to dress up. I was looking forward to the date because it's where I planned to tell James that my feelings for him had grown exponentially. I would confess to James that I had fallen in love with him. I knew he felt the same way, I'd seen it in his eyes the night we'd spent together and the morning after, I just hoped he had the courage to say it back. I had no issue being the first one to say it, he'd already made such headway in building our relationship, I wanted to help him out.

I continued doing my rounds at the green houses and when I was done I stood next to my truck overlooking it all. I was so happy at how much I had accomplished the past few months. We had three mega greenhouses they had been planted different things. We had spinach, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, peas, cabbage onions and kales. A lot would be ready for harvest in a few weeks and I was planning on hosting a party in celebration for the first harvest. Everyone would be invited and there would be enough food for everyone. I hadn't really thought it through but I was sure if I gave Korir the idea, he would be more than happy to help me out. James mom, Naeku had also taken a liking to me and was always offering to help, I would soon when we started harvesting.

Feeling content that everything was running smoothly I got into my truck and moved on to my next stop for inspections. If everything went according to plan, all my work in Ndoto would be complete within the next two months. A part of me was excited about the whole thing but I was also sad considering I had no idea what to do with myself after Ndoto. James and I were dating yes but was that enough for me to stick around. Would our relationship have progressed forward by then or would I have to set down roots in Ndoto without knowing how long I'd have to wait till James was ready to take the next step? I shook off those negative thoughts and focused on the road.

I pulled up at the hospital and alighted the car, my lips pulling into a smile when I saw how far we had come. Rashid had outdone himself as always seeing as in place of the old small building was a much bigger and better building that would be the new hospital. The temporary tents were even bigger than the original dispensary and I could see the doctors and nurses busy catering to the patients. I couldn't stop smiling when I looked around and saw hopeful faces all around.

"I'm still mad at you."Rashid grumbled next to me under the shade of a tree.

I'd not noticed him sneaking up on me.

"For what?"I asked adjusting the sun glasses on my face.

"The fact that you didn't bring me any wedding cake."He grumbled and I chuckled at his childish self.

"I'm sorry you big baby. You can have an extra slice at my wedding."I teased and his eyes widened.

"Is that a hint?"

"No it was a joke."I countered realizing my mistake.

Rashid was definitely not going to let it go and would keep teasing me.

"You're lying. Did James already pop the question?"He exclaimed lifting my left hand for inspection.

When he saw that he was empty he dropped my hand and huffed in frustration.

"Focus on your own wedding and leave my love life alone."I scolded walking away from him.

I hoped he'd drop the topic but that would have been like praying for the oceans to run dry overnight.

"You guys are official now, maybe he'll pop the question soon."Rashid whisper shouted in my ear when he caught up to me.

His statement had hope blooming in my chest quenching my earlier doubts. I had never thought about James actually proposing. My thoughts were always about us already being engaged. How would he do it though? Publicly or privately? Would I be okay with either? Honestly I wouldn't care as long as I got engaged. I was getting ahead of myself so I kicked those thoughts out of my head.

"Stop filling my head with ideas."I scolded Rashid and went ahead to change the topic to what brought me to the site in the first place.

"I heard you were having issues with the plumbing?"I asked.

"You're no fun."Rashid huffed and I smirked at him.

He shook off the disappointment and proceeded to explain to me the issues he was facing. We spent the next one hour going through every problem he needed solving. I was on demand so after the hospital I passed by the solar panel field which was quite distance away but for good reason.

By four in the afternoon I was done with all my work and was headed to the resort. I was still half an hour away when I got a feeling that something was wrong. I was not a superstitious person but when my gut told me that something bad was about to happen then I definitely listened. I checked the car and everything seemed to be in place. I tried shaking off the feeling but it just worsened. I decided to call James, just to hear a familiar voice and get rid of the demons in my head.

Just as I was about to hit the dial button a loud explosion rang through the air and I dropped my phone to the floor of the car. I was so startled I swerved the car and landed in a ditch by the side of the road hitting my head on the steering wheel. I was just glad the air bag didn't deploy or I'd have gotten a broken neck. The ditch wasn't deep but when I tried to open my door it was stuck. I undid my seat belt and was about to move to the passengers side when another loud noise rang in the air. I had ignored the first thinking it was one of my tires that had burst but that wasn't the case anymore. Someone was shooting at my car. I quickly locked the doors and dropped to the floor of the car.

My car was bulletproof as per Marini's orders but I'd never been in a shooting before, I'd never even been mugged. My heart was beating fast and my hands were shaking but I knew I needed to get my act together.

Three more bullets hit my car and I realized I had to do something or I'd not live to tell the tale of how I survived a shooting. With my shaking hands I reached for my phone that had been lying next to my head. I unlocked it and completed the call to James. I could barely hold up the phone so I quickly shared my location with James, put it on speaker and dropped it back next to my ear.

"Hi baby."James greeted cheerfully immediately he received my call.

I felt my racing heart calm just a tiny bit.

"James."I whispered my voice all choked up.

"What's wrong?"James questioned when he heard the state of my voice.

I was about to reply when the person shooting at me decided to open fire on my car. I started screaming more afraid for my life than I had ever been as I crouched making myself as small as I could manage. People said that your life flashed before your eyes before you died but all I could think in that moment was how I was going to die without telling James that I loved him. I also saw my sisters faces and how I'd never get to see them again.

I had no idea when the shooting stopped but I could clearly hear James yelling my name from the other end of the call.

"Lulu baby talk to me, where are you?"He demanded and I could hear the fear in his voice.

"I love you."I whispered out before another bout of rounds was fired at my car.

I covered my ears with my hands to try and muffle the loud sound of the bullets hitting against the side of my car. They were destroying my car, I really loved my car. The shooting stopped suddenly and I turned my head to see that my call with James has been disconnected. I looked up and saw that the passengers side window was completely shattered but the glass was still intact.

Why would anyone want to hurt me? I hadn't wronged anyone. I was only there to help. If all they had wanted was to steal from me why wreck my car in the first place. I didn't mean anyone any harm so why had someone plotted so harshly to have me killed.

I stayed at the floor of the car and didn't dare move a muscle. I had no idea what amount of time had passed when I heard rapping on my window. My breath hitched when I thought the shooter had gotten closer to finish the job. There voices were muffled and I realized there was more than one person. My phone started ringing next to me but I didn't have the strength or courage to pick it up. The knocking continued and when whoever was on the other side realized I had no intention of opening the door they started smashing on the window. Afraid for my life I started screaming again and the smashing suddenly stopped.

They tried the lock but I had locked the door so they and no way of getting to me. My heart rate was still sky rocketing and I realized that it was the only thing I could hear. It had gone dead silent outside the car. I slowly removed my palms that were covering my ears and I was able to hear more clearly.

"Baby, Lulu. It's me, James. Unlock the car."My boyfriend's scared voice requested from the other side of the door.

I had no idea why but instead of jumping to unlock the car I just broke down into more tears when I realized that I was finally safe. I was not going to die because James had arrived to save me.

"Jamie."I choked out.

"Yes baby it's me. I know you're scared but I really need you to unlock the car. Any door."He pleaded and I recognized the fear in his voice.

I'd heard James sacred before, when we first met but this was another level of fear. He was scared for me. Hearing him sound so vulnerable gave the strength I needed I lift my hand and unlock the passenger side door where my head lay. James who must have been standing next to it wasted no time pulling the door open.

The tears wouldn't stop falling from my eyes but they were now out of relief that I was saved. James bent over so I was looking at him upside down.

"Are you hurt?"He asked and I shook my head unable to talk.

"Okay good, I'm going to get you out."He whispered softly and I nodded.

James looped his hands under my shoulders before pulling me slowly and carefully out of the car. I couldn't feel my legs, they had been paralyzed with fear. When half my body was out the door, James adjusted himself and pulled me out bridal style. I looped my hands around his neck and broke down again on his shoulder.

I could hear other voices around us and I recognized Mark and Korir but all the rest were new to me. James held me tight against him, careful not to hurt me but firm enough as if to assure himself that I was alive and unharmed. I felt him start walking and I lifted my head and looked over his shoulder to look at the wreck left behind that had once been my car. The front bumper was smashed against the ditch and the rest of the body was riddled with bullet holes. There were so many which meant there had been more than one shooter and they had emptied more than two magazines on my car. Whoever they were, they must have really hated me to go through to that extent to kill me.

My heart broke when I realized that someone out there hated me enough to kill me.

"It's okay, I got you."James said sweetly into my ear and I buried my face back into his neck taking a whiff of his scent.

I let his smell wash over me and calm me down. I felt my hands loose their hold on his neck and my eyes rolled to the back of my head. Last I heard was James yelling my name before I fell into a dark abyss of nothingness.

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So I'm obviously not the best at writing action scenes but I think I did okay.

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