Hard of Desire

Chapter 13

When I woke up the next morning, I realized that I was in my bed. I meant the bed that Declan provided me with. The last thing I remember before falling asleep was, I was in the living room on a sofa.

Did Declan carry me here?

A faint blush crept up to my cheeks as I imagined the scenario in my head. I shook my head trying not to dwell too much on it as I felt somewhat energetic to tackle the day. I jumped off from the bed and pull the door open to take a peek.

Declan was nowhere to be found. I was really glad that I almost did a happy dance. I didn't want to face him and ruin my mood for the entire day. I quickly rushed to the walk-in closeth and grabbed an all-black outfit before making my way to the bathroom.

After getting a quick shower and getting dressed, I texted Aishah that I am ready. To my pleasant surprise, she replied that she was already on her way. Happy to be away from Declan's house for a few hours, I exited the main door of the house just as Aishah came to stop in front of the porch.

"Thanks for coming on time for once" I grinned at her when I got in her car. She smiled and we started to speed away from Declan's property.

Just as we crossed another street, I saw Declan in his wife-beater and tracksuit, jogging, minding his own business. Of course, he had to make healthy decisions and make me feel guilty about the heavy breakfast that I am about to have with Aishah later.

I bit my lip and debated internally if I should text him and inform him that I am going out with Aishah or not. I realized that I didn't have his number so I let it slide for this one time. He disappeared as we sped away and I released a sigh.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened or are you going to keep staring at the spot your loverboy who just vanished?" I heard Aishah ask quietly as if testing the waters. By waters, I meant my mood.

"How you always know that something is wrong?" I frowned unhappily at her.

A giggle escaped from Aishah lips, "I guess it's a talent born with me" She said, batting her eyes dramatically, "Also, I have been with since we were in diapers, I tend to notice your slip-ups easily" She added, and I had to agree with that one. She has been with me for a very long time.

My stomach grumbled and I groaned, "Let's have breakfast first," I said changing the subject.

Aishah drove us two towns away to a small restaurant that's operated by an old couple. I told her everything that happened without missing any details while we waited for our food to arrive.

Aishah slurped her smoothie, "You know, it's kind of hot" She said after swallowing her drink, "He is a handsome hunk" She gushed dreamily, winking at me.

I scoffed at her in disbelief, "Handsome but rude" I hissed in disapproval, "If someone's personality is ugly then they are ugly no matter what" I stabbed my fork into the pancake with so much of force that the ceramic plate that it let out a creak in protest.

"I have to agree on that one" She grinned, nodding her head as she took another bite of her food.

I took another bite of the food and suddenly thought about our other friend, "Have you heard anything from Eric lately?" I asked her changing the subject again, "Nope, he is busy with his tournament" She shook her head and dig into her food, "Maybe he found hot chicks there and forgot about us" She said, still munching her food.

"How many times did I tell to not speak with your mouth full of food?" I made a face. Aishah just rolled her eyes at me.

Eric is our other best friend. He has been around since I can remember. It's always the three of us. We're blessed because not only we went to the same elementary and high school together, but somehow we managed to bag a seat into the same college too.

We took different courses but at least we are together on the same campus. Something is better than nothing.

"I wonder what he will say if he gets to know that I am married" My forehead creased in worry.

"He will lose his s**t," Aishah said coolly, "But you know what? I wonder how Jeremy would react when he gets to know that you're married" She started grinning like Cheshire cat. Her eyes held a faraway look, so I assumed that she is imagining a scenario.

"I do not want to imagine it or be there when finds out" I out my right hand on my head and pretended to have a headache, "He is a desperate boy" I grunted in annoyance to which Aishah cackled like a hyena.

We finished our food and left the restaurant after paying. After getting in the car, Aishah stared at me in expectation, "I hope you don't mind driving me to my place" I said while adjusting the radio channel, "I left my laptop there" I added.

"Your place as in your parents' home or Declan's?" Aishah asked and my fingers froze in front of the stereo.

"My parents' place, I forgot that I do not belong under their roof anymore," I said with a sad sigh, pulling my hand away and placing it on my lap.

"Even I cannot believe that you're not a Lowrance anymore," Aishah said while I was staring at my hands sadly. I cringed, I am Hanna Wilson now.

The rest of the ride was mostly filled with comfortable silence. When my house came into the view, it almost brought me some warmth to my heart. Keyword, almost.

It's not my house anymore.

The house looked a little eerie for some reason. Something doesn't feel right. Something is nagging in the back of mind.

"Do you have your key with you?" Aishah asked and I nodded my head, digging my back pocket for the key, "Yeah, all the maids on their off days" I said pulling out the key, "So I do not plan to hang around here for a long time" I added as we got out from the car.

"Good, I do not like an empty house," Aishah said, her eyes scanning my house with caution in them.

"Scaredy cat" I grinned, earning a glare from her. But secretly, even I hate empty houses.

We stepped into the house with a big frown etched on my face. Something felt off but I brushed it off thinking it was probably because there literally no one in the house. Usually one of the maids will greet me when I come home from anywhere but today the house was totally empty. And it was awfully silent.

I quickly made my way towards my room when I hear someone shutting the door from a room that was far opposite from my room. I paused where I was and whipped my head to look at the closed door.

"What was that?" I whispered c*****g my head to the side as I scanned the now closed door, "Did you hear that?" I asked Aishah who was standing right behind me.

"Hear what?" Aishah asked me, unconsciously moving closer to me. Fear evident in her voice and her face.

I went into my room and took the baseball bat that I kept under my bed in case if I ever face situations like this. I walked out, with a bat in my hands making Aishah eyes widen as big as saucers. I ignored her and made my way cautiously towards the room, trying not to make a sound.

"Stay here" I mouthed at her, "I think someone is in the house" I whispered to Aishah under my breath so lowly that I doubt if she heard me or not. But, that doesn't matter at the moment.

With my heart thumping against my chest in fear, I raised my shaking hand and pushed the door open. I took a step in, tightening my hand in my grasp around the baseball, ready to strike if anything comes in my way. I didn't even take another step when a person, dressed in all back, with a face mask and a beanie crashed onto me from my side and sent me flying across the room.

"Ugh!" I grunted as I crashed against the wall and landing on my side with a painful thud. The baseball bat landed a few feet away from me.

I whipped my head up just in time to watch this person hurtling out of the room. I tried to get up but froze in place when heard a blood-curdling scream and for a moment I was terrified of what this person might have done to Aishah.

I almost breathed in relief when I heard Aishah running into the room. Her eyes wide with panic, she found me hunched against the wall and gasped in horror.

"What the hell!" Aishah shrieked running to my side, "Hanna, are you okay?" She asked me worriedly and she crouched down to help me get up.

"Yeah" I nodded breathlessly, straightening up into a standing position.

"This guy ran out of the house to god knows where" Aishah said, shaking like a leaf.

"Who the hell was that?" Aishah asked as her eyes searched frantically around to spot an intruder, "I think a robber or something. s**t, we should report it to the police" I said rubbing my side too soothe away the pain.

"Yeah, I am calling the cops now," Aishah said, pulling out her phone and made a distress call.

The police came just a few minutes after we made the call with paramedics. The officers rushed into the house and ushered us out to go get checked with the paramedics. Aishah and I obeyed them silently and got into the ambulance as they instructed.

After making sure no one is in the house, the officers started questioning us after we got our first aids. Aishah was still a little shaken but thank god, she is fine. I couldn't live a day if something had happened to her today. I cannot let anyone get hurt because of me. I cannot let history repeat again.

"Whoever it was didn't steal anything," I told the officer when he asked me if I found anything missing.

"Maybe he didn't have the chance to," Aishah said her voice still sounded a little shaken, "He must have heard us and got scared that he took off" She concluded as she watched my house uncertainly.

I nodded my head and thought about what Aishah had said, "Really impressed that this person knew that the house is empty" I found myself saying, "My parents were away for just a day, for God's sake!" I said, stomping my leg on the ground in protest.

The officer looked at me and then at Aishah as we lost our minds. I gave him a sheepish smile to which he shook his head and looked down at the notes he made. Sure, who loves to communicate formally with teenagers these days?

Tires screeched and all of us whipped our heads to look at Declan's car coming into an ungraceful halt. I assumed that he slammed on brakes a little harder than he was supposed to

"HANNA!" Declan literally shrieked in relief as he jogged over to us, not even bothering to shut his car door. "Thank god, you're okay," He said, scanning my face and body for any injuries, his face marred in concern and worry.

The officer cleared his throat to get Declan's attention, "Mr. Wilson?" The officer asked as he held out his hand, "Yes, officer" Declan nodded and grabbed the officer's hand, giving it a firm shake.

"Mr. Lowrance left this house and properties on your custody until he gets back," The officer said in a more businesses-like tone, "Do you mind coming to the police station for the paperwork to be done so we can start the investigation?" He asked Declan, as he pulled his hand from Declan's grasp.

My parents left all the properties in his custody until they get back? This new information didn't sit well with me. I was here and they could have left me in charge, Or did they think that I am too young and couldn't handle everything by myself?

Well, that's why I am married in the first place. They thought I couldn't handle myself.

"Sure, I hope I can come in the evening at 5 pm?" Declan agreed without any hesitation.

"That will do" The officer nodded his head, "Take care, Miss Lowrance," He said, before turning around to walk away but he paused on his tracks and looked over the shoulder at Declan, "She hit her back pretty hard but the paramedics already checked her out. Fortunately, it was nothing serious. The man pushed her away with a great force" The officer informed Declan and walked away.

Declan turned his attention to me, scanning his eyes over my face and figure as if he was making sure I wasn't harmed, "Are you okay?" He asked me softly but his eyes were tight. I nodded at him, not trusting my voice to speak. Declan nodded and then his eyes strayed away from me, landing on Aishah.

"I think I probably should go" Aishah smiled nervously at me when Declan made his way towards us, "See you tomorrow, Hanna" She waved and literally broke into a sprint towards her car. I watched helplessly as she started her car and sped away from us.

Traitor.

Declan grabbed my hand roughly and dragged me to his car. He pulled the passenger door open and literally pushed me to get into the car. I got in and out on the seat belt. I watched him shaking his hand with another officer before getting into the car. Without a word, we started speeding towards his house.