The second we’re outside, I realize my mistake. I hear her inhale harshly and I know what’s coming.
The little minx is going to scream.
I do the only thing I can think of. Pushing her against the concrete wall with a harsh thud, I grip her throat hard. Gritting my teeth, I hiss, “Don’t you fucking do it, bitch. I will off you right here if I have to.”
Alejandra reaches up and scratches at my hand with one of her own while balling her other hand into a fist and hitting my arm. Her eyes wide, her mouth opens and closes, a gurgling noise escaping her.
I should let her go. I should apologize. But I don’t. She has to understand that for as long as she’s with me, I own her.
Ling moves past us sounding a little more than put out. “Jesus, c’mon! You’re making a scene.”
I allow the struggle a little longer and do it without flinching. The harsh reality of this situation is sinking in. If I need to, I will kill Alejandra myself.
I won’t like it, but I’ll do it.
The fear in Alejandra’s eyes is very real, and as they bore into mine, it radiates off her and into me.
My eyes narrow at her as I try to figure her out.
What the hell is her deal?
She has money from her own family. She didn’t need the dough. The short time I saw her with Dino, she looked happy. Tired, but still happy. Every person we’d spoken to told us that Dino and Alejandra were loyal to each other and happy in their marriage. Why would this little slip of a woman have her husband killed? I just can’t make sense of it.
A sudden thought crosses my mind.
Was Dino Gambino cheating on his wife?
Another thought.
What if Alejandra was cheating on Dino and the baby isn’t his?
The latter makes more sense to me.
My voice low, I lean in close. “I’m gonna let you go now. And you’re not gonna scream, are you?”
Desperately gasping for breath, face purple, she gurgles some more, shaking her head vigorously.
The second my hand eases on her throat, her shaking hands hold onto mine at her collarbone. I hold her up, supporting her, as she coughs and wheezes, taking in much-needed oxygen. Her forehead beaded with sweat, she closes her eyes in relief and the small action turns me vicious. Gripping her collarbone, I growl, “Do not make me do that again.” Her eyes open and blink weakly, her bottom lip trembling. My eyes focused on her lips, I grind out, “I did not enjoy that.”
“Fuck, Julius. Move your ass. We need to get out of here,” calls Ling, the clicking of her heels echoing throughout the parking lot.
Absently rubbing my thumb against her collarbone, I look down at this frightened and hurt woman, and in one night, I’ve become everything I hate in a person. I soften my features. “Don’t run from me.” An order.
Rather than responding, Alejandra closes her eyes and leans her head back on the brick wall, panting. As her shoulders slump, some of her fire fades. I’ll take that as an okay.
I grip her upper arm and walk her to the car. Ling opens the door for me, but before I put her inside, I reach into my pocket, turning her to face me. I lift her hands, place them together and pull the black cable tie around her wrists as tight as it can go without cutting off her circulation. Ling steps forward and duct tapes her hands together. As I walk back to the driver side, I hear Ling close the back passenger door and join me in the front.
“What if the car rolls?”
My brow furrows. I start the car and look at my guest in the rearview mirror with an assessing gaze. She lifts her taped and bound hands. “What if the car rolls?”
Her big doe eyes don’t leave mine. After a short while, I deepen my look of boredom and respond a cool, “Then you’re well and truly fucked.”
She blinks back at me, showing no emotion. Then she shocks me.
Alejandra Gambino smiles. A soft smile. A secret smile. And it hits me right in the cock.
Fuck her for being so beautiful.
Leaning back in the passenger seat, she closes her eyes, and within half an hour of driving, her breathing steadies as she falls asleep. I feel Ling’s eyes on me. I turn to look at her before narrowing my eyes. “What?”
Her small, manicured hand reaches out to squeeze my thigh. “Told you it’d be okay.”
I remember doing this alone. I remember never needing someone. My partner in crime was Twitch, and after he died, I didn’t want anyone else. Losing people hurts, in body or spirit. But I am grateful for Ling. It’s nice to share the load.
I spare her a quick smile. “You called it, Ling Ling.”
She returns the smile, and we drive on in companionable silence, her hand resting on my thigh.
When my eyes start to droop, I decide on a change of plans. “I’m in bad shape over here. I don’t think we’re that far from the loft.”
Blinking sleepily, Ling checks the GPS. “Around fifty-five minutes.” She turns in her seat, looking back at a sleeping Alejandra, before asking, “You sure you want her in your space?”
My space is very important to me. It’s my safe place, away from all the headfucks of the world. It’s my refuge.
But right now, I don’t have a choice. I can’t drive on for much longer. If I were a car, I’d be running on fumes.
“It’s one night.” I shrug lightly. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Feigning sleep for so long is harder than it looks. Because you have little else to do, you find yourself submerged in what the people around you are saying.
When Julius asked Ling how far it was to the loft, I stopped breathing.
Sleeping people do not stop breathing.
I righted myself the moment I realized. I was lucky no one had noticed.
Knowing it won’t be long till I make my escape, I fight my racing heart and continue to breathe steadily. And I will continue to do so until the car comes to a stop.
The car finally begins to slow, the breaks quietly squeaking. Ling opens the passenger door and exits. After a short moment, the car moves on, slows once more and finally, the engine cuts out.
It’s almost time.
My heart drums up a beat likely to cause a heart attack. I’m petrified.
The cold sting of bitter tears prickles the
inside of my eyes.
This is my only hope.
The door beside me opens, and without a single thought, I sit upright and slam my head forward into… Shit. Into Ling’s.
She stumbles then falls back, holding her now bleeding nose, and that’s all I need. Stepping outside, my bare feet hit the icy cold ground, and without even knowing where I’m going, I run.
I hear him. “Fuck!”
The anger in his voice fuels me. I run harder, around the side of the building, tears rushing down my face. I didn’t even know I was crying until my vision blurs. Huffing and puffing, pain radiates through my heel as I step on something sharp. I cry out as it pierces the skin. I know I’m bleeding, but I can’t do anything about it. My hands are tied.
I stand and stumble.
Shit, that hurts.
I try once more, but my body crumbles underneath me.
Goddamn it. Shit! No.
I’m not going anywhere.
I’m done.
And, God, that really sucks. I had a plan.
You’re weak. You’re pathetic. Embrace death, you asshole. It’s the best you’re gonna get.
Those bitter tears fall freely, and I welcome the release. Sitting on my bottom, I wait. Footsteps sound behind me, and in a rare case of modesty, I lower my face to my knees to hide my tearstained cheeks and red eyes.
Without a word, his arms come around me, under my knees and behind my back, and he carries me back to the car.
“You broke my nose, bitch,” Ling utters. She sounds more annoyed than angry when she mumbles, “Do you know how long that’ll take to heal? I’m going to be purple for two fucking weeks. Thanks, by the way.”
Julius sits me down in the open car door and lifts my foot. I risk a peek to find him glaring up at me. “You stepped on a nail.” Shaking his head at me, he reaches down, grips the butt of the nail with his fingers and pulls. I yelp and pull back. Pain radiates through my foot, calf and shaking knee. He examines the nail. “It’s rusty. You ever had a tetanus booster?”
Ling stands behind Julius, licking blood off her upper lip, smirking. “Hurts like a bitch, don’t it?”