Page 55 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

“Why? What the hell do you want with my phone?”

“Do you not understand what is going on here, East?”

I do, but I want him to tell me. I need to know what he’s planning.

“No, I just need to get my own cab.” I play dumb.

“East, beautiful East. Today is your last day on this planet. I have been planning your family’s demise for over a year ever since they stuck their noses where they weren’t wanted. Zed was going to be first, but I still can’t believe how lucky I’ve been. I thought you were still in the hospital.”

This guy is fucking crazy.

“How did you know I was in the hospital?”

“Ha ha, you have no fucking idea? This is priceless.” He laughs really loud, and I notice the cab driver look in his mirror. He looks concerned. Scared even. “I would have expected you of all people to know who I am. You’re not so clever after all.”

“Are you fucking crazy? I want to know who the fuck you are and what the hell you want!” I yell at him. I can feel my heart beating fast and hard.Keep calm and just focus.

“Really, you want me to tell you who I am? Okay. I am Matias, as I have said, and I have a cousin who, because of you and your family, is no longer with us. Your meddling has cost me hundreds of millions of dollars and put me in some very hot water with some extremely powerful people. You and your family are going to pay the price.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Okay, I’ll give you a little clue.” I wish he would stop with the weird fucking laugh. It’s like he’s playing a game.

“My cousin’s name was Raphael.” He closes his eyes as he says his name, and my stomach flips.

Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. Why didn’t I tell Zed where I was? My only hope is they have tracked my phone. But that’s right, East, you switched it off.

“Your face is a picture; you should have seen your eyes. They are going to look so pretty as you look up at me while you suck my cock. Then, when I have slit your come-filled throat, those pretty eyes will take pride of place in my trophy room.” He tries to stroke the side of my face. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, and my stomach twists.

The cab stops at a busy intersection, and I take the opportunity. I won’t have many, and I’m hoping the cab driver is not on his side.

“You sick fuck!” I swing my left arm at his head and as he catches it, I smash down hard on his dick with my casted arm.

Matias screams in pain as I grab the door handle. I hear a click and pull again. The door opens, and I roll out quickly onto the road. My arm is throbbing, and the pain is nearly unbearable, but I have to get up and run for my life.

I pull my bag around to my front, hold it down with my plastered arm, and take off.

“You fucking bitch! You get back here, now!” I can hear him behind me, but I don’t look around. I dodge through the people on the pavement. I can hear people shouting and him screaming at the top of his voice.

“Stop, thief! She’s stolen my phone!” he yells.

It doesn’t take long before one do-gooder tries to apprehend me. I break free, but it slowed me down. He shouts again.

“Stop, thief!” His voice is so close.

But this time, I’m tripped. My body slams down hard on the ground. My arm feels like it’s exploding inside the cast. All I can do is cry out in pain. My heart is racing, and I try to stand, but I can’t get up. Pressure on my back is stopping me.

“Let me go, you don’t understand,” I plead.

I turn my head to look up, and there, standing above me, is Matias, breathing out of his arse.Shit.

“I am taking you to the police station.” He puffs and reaches down to grab me.

“No, you’re not!” I try to wriggle to get free. The bystander takes his foot off my back and helps me up off the floor.

“I think we should call the police,” I say. “I think we should call them now. You see this broken arm?” I wave at the stranger. “He did this. He broke my arm, and if you make me go with him, he will kill me. Phone the police now.”

The guy looks between Matias and me. Matias is angry and out of breath from the punch in the dick and trying to catch me.

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