Chapter 3 The Savior

Hazel managed to escape from the grip of the tall, hefty men and immediately saved herself. She ran along the streets, trying to evade the pursuit of the loan sharks.

"Oh, God!" Hazel shed tears of fear, but she had to keep moving. The streets were still empty, Hazel needed help, but there was nothing she could do. No drivers or pedestrians passed by.

"Ah, Harrison Street," Hazel remembered a street not far from there, with some food stalls and a small plaza that would surely be crowded. "Hopefully, the police is there." She kept hoping as she hurried her steps.

Hazel run like a racehorse.

"Hey! Stop!" The Mexican men were still chasing her. Hazel did not look back. She just commanded her legs to keep running. Those wolves must not catch Hazel!

"Come on, Hazel! Faster!" The girl encouraged herself and continued along the road at the speed of a wild horse. However, to reach Harrison Street, she had to pass through narrow alleys if she wanted to get there quickly.

"Ah, over there!" Hazel found the alley she meant and immediately darted into the escape route. The men continued to follow behind, Hazel could hear shouts in Spanish that she didn't understand. She didn't care.

Hazel only knew to save herself!

"Hah... hah...." Now, Hazel was almost out of breath and still hadn't reached her destination. She self-suggested and thought of positive things. "I can't give up now." Her legs kept moving as desired, and Hazel had to navigate herself to avoid stumbling or slipping.

"Ti... red...." She was truly out of breath. Hazel stopped for a moment. The men weren't visible yet. The winding streets gave her an advantage. Now, Hazel might be able to find a hiding place, but... where?

"Huhu... Hiks...."

Faintly, Hazel heard the sound of a little girl crying not far from where she stood. "Who is that?" Hazel tried to find out. However, it is not like she wanted to help the girl. Hazel herself was already in trouble.

"Waaa!"

The voice grew louder. Hazel had to find her. Who knows, there might be a little girl who fell into a drainage ditch or something. "That voice... in the car?" Hazel saw a luxury SUV parked on the side of the road.

She approached to investigate and could see a little girl crying inside.

"Hello, Dear. Do you need any help?" Hazel asked with a worry looks. She definitely worried for her safety so as that little girl. Hazel’s face lit up with a smile. Her eyes radiated warmth that stopped the little girl's crying.

"Mama!" she exclaimed.

"Mama?" Hazel was confused. Was the little girl looking for her mother? "May I come in?" Hazel asked. For a moment, the idea of hiding briefly in this car crossed her mind. At least, she could do two things at once: help and be helped.

"Yes, please," the little girl replied. "My Papa has left me here because he refused to find Mama! Waaaa!!!"

Hazel opened the door slowly and entered the car. She peeked from behind the back window, and the Mexican men had just arrived from the alley. "Hhh... Thank goodness," she breathed a sigh of relief. But there was one thing she had to deal with immediately.

"Where is your Mama?" Hazel whispered. She huddled on the car floor like a puppy. The girl was interested in chatting.

"My Mama passed away."

"Wha—?" Hazel exclaimed softly, but the men in Hawaiian shirts had arrived on both sides of her. Hazel locked the door from inside, trying not to make a sound. The men were so determined to find her. However, a baritone voice managed to drive them away.

"What are you doing near my car?" the man in a suit asked with a sour expression standing beside the SUV.

"Señor Bezos," the stout man bowed. "What are you doing here?" he asked casually, but he was still looking for Hazel.

"I have business around here, and what about you? Wasn't my warning clear enough? Or... do you want me to lock you up again?" His voice sounded intimidating. The stout man flinched.

"Perdón! We were just looking for a lost kitten. Let’s go, Chico! The kitten isn't here."

The thugs left just like that, and Hazel could breathe a sigh of relief. Since earlier, she had been eavesdropping from inside the car, hiding, of course.

"Phew," Hazel sighed. The little girl widened her eyes. "You're safe now," she whispered cheerfully, Hazel just grinned.

"So, Lucy, have you calmed down?" The man actually got into the car. Hazel just realized it. The man must be the little girl's father.

"Papa!" Lucy exclaimed. "I found a replacement for Mama," she continued.

"What—" Before the big man could ask further, he peeked from the front to the back seat. A blonde-haired girl curled up on the cabin floor. "You—"

"Hello, Sir," Hazel tried to crawl towards the seat and began to reveal herself. Nevertheless, when they locked eyes, a sudden electric shock struck. "Y-you."

'He's the guy from last night. The man in the bed!' Hazel's mind roiled. Her face turned beet red. She did not know how to act with the brown-eyed man.

"Apparently, the cat those thugs were looking for is you?" His tone turned cold, but his lips then curved upward. He remembered Hazel. The woman who was in bed with him, last night.

"Y-you," Hazel stammered. 'How did this happen? Why did I come out of the crocodile's mouth and into the lion's den?'

"Papa! Take her home! She is in danger," Little Lucy insisted. She saw Hazel's confusion like a lost puppy. Perhaps, she felt sorry for her.

"Well... what should I do? Should I be kind to the girl who left me?" His voice sounded teasing but sarcastic at the same time.

Hazel remembered that she had indeed panicked and left the brown-eyed man earlier that morning.

"Forgive me, it ... was unintentional," She squeaked while squeezing her hands. Hazel needed help. She did not have a destination. Hazel needed 'this man'.

"Papa! What are you saying? Do you know this Señorita?" Lucy's eyes sparkled. Her father's lips pursed. He misspoke. "No, Honey."

"Liar!"

"Ask her what her name is."

"What's your name, Miss?" Lucy asked, and Hazel reluctantly flashed her awkward smile.

"Hazel Stevenson and you?"

"Lucy. That's my Papa, his name is Flynn Bezos." Lucy introduced her family. Now, only one remained. Her deceased mother and the crazy idea about someone being a replacement for mom.

"Would you like to replace my Mama's position?"