The wonder.
The worry.
The pain.
The heartbreak.
I couldn’t take it anymore. So, one night when the old woman was sleeping, I snuck into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. I knew what I was doing was wrong. That I would be sent to hell for eternal domination. That taking the life of anyone was a mortal sin, but I refuse to let another child suffer. I refuse to bring another child into the world and suffer the heartbreak of just losing them. I couldn’t do it. So, I did the unthinkable.
I stabbed myself in the stomach.
The funny thing about stabbing yourself is that if you don’t hit any major organs, all you are left with is a scar.
Apparently, I couldn’t even stab myself correctly.
Bianchi found out by nightfall, and I was taken to some building near the coast where I saw several women in different stages of pregnancy. It was there I gave birth to my second child, and when I heard it cry, I wept too, for there was nothing I could do when Bianchi took it away.
I had lost another child.
After I gave birth, Bianchi told me he had sold me. That I was too much of a detriment to his business and that I was going back to America. I didn’t care. I wanted to die. I wanted to disappear into the darkness and never return. And I did for a while. Until I met Samuel. It was then that I made myself a promise. No matter the child, I would love them as if they were my own. I may not have my own children in my arms, but there were many children out in the world to fill them.
Reggie hugged me, saying nothing as I told my story. He cried when I cried, hugged me when I needed his strength, and was patient when I needed time. Through it all, he never said anything as he listened.
“The four men,” Reaper said, gaining my attention. “Do you know who they were?”
“No. Bianchi said they were his friends. He told me to show them a good time.”
“The one with the Skull tattoo on his arm. What can you tell me about him?”
“He was vicious. He liked certain things. He had a scar on his face.”
“A scar,” Reaper said, sitting up.
“Yes, it went down from his eye to his jawline.”
“Toxic,” Ghost whispered.
Reaper nodded.
“What the hell was he doing in Italy nine months ago?” Vicious asked. “When I showed up in Miami, he said nothing about a trip. In fact, nobody said anything about him being gone.”
“I don’t know,” Reaper said, then asked. “Catarina, is there anything you can tell me about the other three men?”
“Only that they were well manicured. Clean-shaven and one of them had a gold watch on. It had diamonds on it.”
“What else? Any identifying marks, tattoos?”
Shaking my head, I replied, “No. They talked a lot. I didn’t understand most of it. I was in and out of consciousness.”
“Any little bit will help.”
“I heard them mention something about a Lilly or Layette. I don’t know.” Shaking my head, I added. “It was all very confusing. I heard them mention something about a collection and birds. They talked a lot about birds.”
Reaper nodded as he got to his feet. Walking over to me, he kissed my forehead and whispered, “You did great, sweetheart. Player, stay with her.”
“Yes, boss.”
With that, Reaper, Ghost, and Viper left.