Chapter 68
Why did she look so much like Nora?
Kenneth rolled down his window, slipped off his sunglasses, and rested his arm on the door. He leaned out a little, honking a few times, trying to catch her attention.
Charlotte turned her head at the noise. She pushed up her helmet’s visor, and for a second Kenneth just stared. Her face was small and delicate, her eyes impossibly clear, her nose perfect, lips pressed together in a line. Even the cool, slightly distant vibe she gave off reminded him so much of Nora.
It only took that one look for Kenneth to be sure. This girl had something to do with his aunt Nora. Maybe she was the sister they’d all been searching for.
“You look really familiar,” Kenneth called out, his eyes fixed on her. He was usually so quick with words, but now his throat felt dry. “You look like my sister.”
Charlotte glanced down at the man in the car. He had gray-blue hair, a ripped tee, and a weird silver chain hanging around his neck. Her indifference shifted to something closer to annoyance. Was this seriously how people were still trying to hit on strangers?
“Why don’t you look again? Maybe I look like your dad.”
The light turned green just then. Charlotte let out a silent sigh, turned away, and slid her legs onto the bike’s pegs. She leaned forward, twisted the throttle, and took off, her motorcycle disappearing into the night.
Kenneth was still chewing over what she said. Maybe I look like your dad… Nora and his dad were siblings, and they looked a lot alike. It actually wouldn’t be weird if his aunt’s daughter looked like his father. The more he thought about it, the more he realized she really did resemble his dad.
The roar of her engine snapped him out of it. He caught sight of her speeding away and hit the gas, determined not to lose her. But she must have noticed, because she started weaving through traffic, clearly trying to shake him.
Kenneth grinned to himself. Most people only knew him as a celebrity, but secretly he was an F1 driver. If she thought she could outrun him, she was in for a surprise.
He floored it, his black sports car cutting through the city like it owned the place. He was just about to catch up when she suddenly turned a corner and she was gone.
In less than five seconds, she’d vanished.
Kenneth drove a little farther, just in case, but it was useless. She was gone. He pulled over, grabbed his phone, and shot a message to his family group chat.
Just saw a girl who looks almost exactly like Nora.
Before anyone could reply, he sent another.
But I lost her.
***
Charlotte parked her bike in a nearby garage. She took off her helmet, shook out her hair, and found a bench to sit on. As she pulled out he phone, a message from Anthony popped up..net
Lottie, send me your number.
Charlotte stared at the screen for a few seconds, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. After a short… pause, she typed it in Then she opened a special app, decrypted Anthony’s number, and moved it past her firewall.
A few seconds later, her phone rang.
“Where are you? I’ll come find you.”
She glanced around, trying to decide what to say. Before she could answer,
Anthony’s voice came through the line again, low and steady.
Just send me your location. Find somewhere safe to wait. I’ll be right there.
“Alright.”
She shared her live location with him, closed the app, and went back to searching for nearby hotels.
About ten minutes later, she felt someone approaching from behind. A tall, dark shadow moved slowly toward her footsteps steady and sure.
SWE