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CHAPTER 15
Scarlett was shocked on seeing their family butler. Mark was a man in his late fifties and he had a rather average height. He also had brown hair with a pair of brown eyes.
He had been the butler of the Davis family since Mr Davis, Scarlett's father was just in his prime. When Mr Davis got married to their mother and moved out of his family home, Butler Mark offered to serve him and followed.
He had been more of a family than a mere butler to them. So of course, Scarlett was able to recognise him.
But he should be dead.
Not that she wished for him or the other staff that were in the house when the fire happened. And he was in the mansion as well.
She was not expecting to see him as the firefighters then had declared that there were no survivors. So how come he is alive?
Scarlett then reacted as quickly as possible. She took several notes from her purse and placed them underneath her coffee cup before she hurried out of the store.
Luckily the butler, whom they fondly called uncle Mark, was still in sight. She ran across to the other streets, making sure not to get hit by any vehicle.
"Uncle Mark!" She called his name at the top of her voice, hoping he would hear her. "Uncle Mark! Hey, over here."
Her attempts to get the man's attention paid off as he indeed turned to the source of the voice calling him. However, the reaction he gave was not one Scarlett was expecting.
Mark looked shocked to see her or to have been spotted by her. And when he saw her approaching quickly, he took to his heels and ran in the opposite direction.
Scarlett was confused as to why he would run away from seeing her. Should he not be happy she is okay and want to ask about their well-being?
Not thinking too much about it, Scarlett increased her speed and ran after him, shouting for him to stop. Scarlett entered an alley she swore that Mark ran into.
But when she got to the alley, he was not there. However, the scene she walked into was one she didn't see coming.
A murder scene. A victim assaulted to death by some men. From her quick count, they were six men in total.
Scarlett gulped when they immediately noticed her presence.
"Shit! We were seen," one of the men cursed out loud.
"It doesn't matter. We can't let any witness live to report this case to the police," another spoke.
Scarlett did not need any more words to know she needed to leave that place. And fast. She can't afford to be the next one lying in a pool of her own blood.
Though it was an offence, only a fool that is tired of living would confront a group of dangerous men for murdering someone illegally.
"She's getting away."
"Get her and silence her," the man that seems to be the leader of the group ordered and they quickly followed after Scarlett.
Scarlett panicked as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. But she was getting tired from the previous chasing she did after butler Mark.
But she couldn't allow herself to get caught either. She won't live anymore and that was not her plan. Not when her mind was set on getting her revenge for her parents.
Tears filled Scarlett's eyes as she could feel the men closing in on her already. Her legs won't make it that far before she is caught.
Hiding would also be useless as they can easily find her. Plus, no one would jump in to save a person being chased by scary big men.
'Please. Anyone, please save me. I don't want to die. Not yet," Scarlett prayed in her heart.
Like her bad luck was not enough, she tripped over an uneven place on the floor and fell. She picked herself up again and attempted to continue running when she got caught by one of the men.
"Hahaha. You can't run forever," he laughed as his arm wrapped around her neck from behind.
Scarlett's survival instincts kicked in and she grabbed his hand and bit into it with all she got.
"Aaarrrggghhh!!!" The man screamed in pain and pushed her away, sending her back to the floor.
"You damn b*tch," he raised his hands to hit her.
Scarlett flinched and raised her hands to cover her face. A second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
There was no force of contact or pain. Scarlett peeked out of her hands to see her attacker's hand being held by another. Tracing the hand wrapped in the black sleeve, she saw it was him again.
Arsenio. Her saviour yet again.
"Let me help you up," she heard a voice closer to her. It was Ryker.
Scarlett was still in shock and fear so no words but heavy pants left her lips. She took Ryker's help and stood up.
"Don't meddle in matters that don't concern you, man. So let go of my hand," the man glared at Arsenio.
"She concerns me," Arsenio simply said while throwing the man's hand. "Now get lost."
"Who do you think you are to give me orders? You are not the boss of me," the man retorted. By now his partners had caught up with them.
"Perhaps the name Arsenio Stone can reboot your memory," Ryker voiced out from the sides.
And as his words landed on their ears, fear washed over them.
"And this lady is someone under his wings. So..." Ryker did not need to say anymore as the message was well understood by the men.
"Viper, let it go," one of the men whispered to him. "He is the man no one dares to mess with. Being stubborn will one bring trouble to the boss' doorstep and we would not want that."
The man pursed his lips and glared at Scarlett one last time. It was as if he was telling her that she got lucky.
As soon as they all left, Scarlett sighed in relief. Only to hear Arsenio's ridiculing her.
"You sure are a magnet for trouble."