“My last one true love. You have Jake. But I’ve lost him as well. He and Ashley will get together once we start the completion and the fall happens. I know that.”
“Then you know more than me. He hasn’t said anything like that. I know he cares for her. But that’s it.” She paused for a minute. “Gloria, I don’t know what is going on with you. But I am going to ask you something very serious. Do you think if we would have done what you told us, he would be alive?”
Gloria moved her legs down and shook her head. “No, Britney, the predicament between you and Ivan, Bobby and Nicole wouldn’t be the way it is. We would have come and gotten the two of you. The reason Stanley was shot had nothing to do with the two of you. That was all me. I humiliated him beyond measure. Gloated every time we beat them in a contest. In hindsight, all I did was cause the death of three people, probably more. Stanley saving me. Remington for attacking us. Isabella for wanting revenge. All on account of my arrogance.” Britney laid her head on Gloria’s shoulder and they sat in silence. Britney could feel Gloria trembling and remembered the night Stanley held her and understood the pain Gloria was feeling.
The next morning after eating breakfast, the light lit up, and they walked through the door to go to the larger room where they would dance. Bobby gave Gloria a surprised look as she walked towards him. She stood with her arms around him, resting on his butt. “Whatever happens from now on, I don’t want you to do anything at all. I want to tell you that I love you, Bobby. It’s been a crazy relationship with me and I know it. I also want to say something that I should’ve said a long time ago. You deserve better than me, Bobby. I am the way I am and I don’t believe anything will ever change me.”
“That is not your dance partner,” a voice said.
“Nor is he my dance mate. But he is for the moment my husband.”
“Should we make another example?”
Gloria looked at her. “All I want is a few moments. All I am going to get is a few moments. Those moments can be granted or they can be taken. At this point, I don’t give a shit which one it is.”
Cody grabbed Gloria by the arm. “Not now, Aunt Gloria,” he said as he pulled her towards Clarence. “What the hell are you trying to do? Get killed?” he said softly. When she didn’t say anything, he said, “Stop making a scene or you will likely get someone killed, starting with yourself. What is wrong with you?”
Gloria pulled her jumpsuit off and started dancing. A few minutes later, a man walked in from another room. He walked over to Gloria. “Mrs. Thomas.” Gloria stopped and looked at the man, who was wearing a black uniform and mask. “It is apparent that you have been under a lot of stress. I have consulted with a licensed physician to help you with this situation. I am explaining this to you in this way not because I am remotely interested in your wellbeing. I do feel that I have two choices is this matter: kill you or give you something to calm you down. Because you are under the delusion that you have say and some control over what happens here, I don’t mind killing. But I prefer to kill for a reason other than setting an example. One more incident from you and that is exactly what I am going to do. I hope you come to the understanding that this is your absolute last chance.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of pills and held them out. Gloria took the pills and he turned. He proceeded towards the door he came from. “One more incident from her, kill her,” he called out as he walked out the door.
The instructor smiled. “My pleasure,” she said as she glanced towards Gloria. Gloria opened the bottle and took a pill and started dancing. She moved closer to Cody. “I am surprised that he didn’t kill you,” Cody said.
Gloria nodded. “Cody.” He shifted his eyes to look at her. “I know who is behind this now.”
Cody turned his head. “Who?” he said with anxious curiosity.
“I can’t say for sure which one it is. But I know where to look to find them. Only they would go through the extremes to keep us alive.”
“Are you going to tell us or not?” Catrina asked.
Gloria shook her head. “No.”
That evening, Cody, Ivan, Bobby, and Clarence huddled together “Aunt Gloria is going to get herself killed,” Cody said. “Clarence, tomorrow, every chance you get, kiss her.” Bobby started to say something, but Cody held up his hand. “The pills they gave her are going to calm her, I hope. That man was being dead serious; the two of you have caused the most trouble of anyone else in here from the first day. Aunt Gloria has been a ticking time bomb for a long time now. If something isn’t done, she is going to do something even more stupid. I saw it in her eyes today and heard it in her voice. Bobby, I’m sorry, but unless you have a better idea of how to save her or get us out of here, then that is the only option.”
“I think that is something we all should consider,” Ivan said.
“You just want to fuck Britney?” Bobby countered, letting his temper get the better of him.
“Don’t take your anger out on me,” Ivan said. “Besides, you want to fuck Nicole just as bad as we want to fuck our dance mates.”
Before Bobby could say anything, Cody said, “Yeah, we know, JD is going to find us. But unless he finds us tomorrow, Clarence is going to make her bond with him and hope he can keep from starting the completion. I am telling you, if something isn’t done, she is going to do something. I know her. I know her a lot better than any of you. You’re her husband. Which would you prefer? Her being with him or being in the ground next to Dad? The curse is temporary, death is permanent. And lay off Ivan; he only spoke the truth. The way it is looking, none of us is leaving here without being under the curse.”
Bobby looked away. “That don’t mean I have got to like it.”
Gloria lay sleeping, tossing and turning. “We made a good go of it,” Stanley said.
“Yes, we did,” Gloria said.
“They are better than I thought they ever would be,” he said with a smile.
“They will get better,” Gloria said with a sad voice. She turned her back to him. “Why did you do what you did? Stanley, it should’ve been me,” she said, trying to hide her pain.
She felt his arms go around her waist, his chest next to her back, and his breath on her head. “Because I love you, Glow. After all these years, all that we’ve been through, that should be obvious by now.”
“Stanley, there is absolutely nothing about me worth dying for. You should have grabbed the baby and leaped out of the way.”
His lips touched her head. “I wouldn’t do that, even if I had it all to do over again. There is only one thing left to say, Gloria, and that is goodbye.”
She swiftly turned, shaking her head frantically. “Never, Stanley! Never!”
His hands went to the sides of her face to stop her from shaking her head. “Gloria, you have held on for far too long, placing yourself and the others in danger. You are throwing away everything we wanted to hold on to. For what, Glow?”
“You, Stanley, you. I am nothing without you. Can’t you see that?”
His lips gently touched hers. “It is just the opposite, Gloria, and you know that. Look at them, look at you, and then look at me. I have never fit in with any of you anywhere but on the dance floor.”
Gloria took a step back and stomped her foot. “That is not true, Stanley! Who made us millionaires? Damn sure wasn’t me, fucking any and everyone. Who won us the championship? I followed your lead. Goddamn you and your stupid ideas.” She looked away as tears flowed from her eyes.
He took a step forward and wrapped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head. “I know you love me. I know you want me back. But, Gloria, it can never be unless you do something that is stupid. I know you’ve been thinking of the dances. I don’t know anyone who is good enough to pull them off. Clarence is nowhere near good enough to get past the point to accomplish anything you want. Gloria, stop fighting the bond. Complete the curse, hold
on to what you have before it is too late for you to keep anything. Once you start down that path, there is no turning back, and you know it.”
“Not you too.” She looked into his brown eyes. “Please stay with me,” she pleaded.
He shook his head. “I can’t even if I wanted to, Gloria. Nothing can prevent the bond from happening now, and you know it. You’re making yourself suffer needlessly and you want me to watch that. You are cheating on your husband and tearing your family apart because of something you can’t have. Come on, Gloria, I wouldn’t ask you to watch that for me.”
“Stanley, when I look at him, I see you. He talks like you, acts like you. You were so much of a role model for him. He imitates you in so many ways. It isn’t fair for me to lie in his arms. Hold him, make love to him, and me wish he was you.”
Stanley laughed slightly. “Now would you listen to yourself. You spend a lifetime wanting someone to hold to escape the side effects of the curse. Only to cling to them once the curse is broken. I think Clarence is right; you can’t live without being under the curse.”
She took his hands in hers. “I can’t live without you. Curse or no curse, it is you, Stanley.”
He kissed her. “In a few days, Gloria, you will change your mind. I hope that the thought of me being happy for you brings the greatest comfort to your heart. I stood by you for as long as I could, Glow. Someone else will take my place, and in time, you will have no regrets. I love you; always have, always will.” She reached to touch his face and he was gone.
Gloria sat up and screamed as loud as she could, “No, Stanley, no.” She stood. Everyone sat up, looking at her. Gloria looked all around, shifting her eyes, searching for him, and saying over and over, “No, Stanley, don’t go. Please don’t go.” Catrina and Britney rushed to her side.
“It was only a dream,” they both said, trying to calm her.
Chapter 31
The Bond.
The next morning, they went to the dance room. Gloria pulled her jumpsuit off and walked over to Clarence. The music started, and everyone started to dance. “Aunt Gloria looks like shit,” Cody said.
“She had a bad dream last night. I’m not sure it was because of what is going on or a side effect of the medication. She dreamed about Dad. It took the better part of an hour to get her calmed down. Another hour to get to realize it was only a dream.”
Cody kept his eyes on Gloria. “After today, we won’t have to worry about her anymore.”
Catrina narrowed her eyes. “Why do you say that?”
“I told Clarence what to look for and what to do to make the bond happen.”
“After last night, I’m not so sure that is a good idea, Cody.”
“Catrina, she is getting worse. If she keeps up doing what she is doing, they will kill her. Getting out of here alive should be our only goal. I don’t think she got that memo.”
Gloria moved back as Clarence’s body touched hers again. “What is wrong with you?” Gloria said.
“I just want to feel you next to me is all,” he admitted.
She looked at him as soon as her eyes was on his. Their lips met and his hand held her close. ‘Oh, my fucking God,’ she thought as his tongue explored her mouth. It was all she could do to muster the strength to pull away. Her body shook. “Don’t do that again,” she said low with a voice that indicated she wanted him to do it again.
“Gloria, you’re a mess. Why am I not like you?” His voice filled with honesty.
“I’ve answered that, several times in fact,” she said as she increased the distance between them.
“Yes, you have. You say that is because you are fighting it and I am not. But you have yet to explain how I am not fighting it when I am doing the same things you are.”
“If you were fighting it as much as me, then you wouldn’t have kissed me. Nor would you let your body come close to mine,” she said as she kept her eyes focused on Bobby.
‘Get her to thinking about the two of you touching. Every other time she looks at you, kiss her. Have her mind focused on the two of you. Bring up how it felt with her lying in your arms.’ Cody’s words played in his mind. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it.”
She looked at him briefly and looked back at Bobby. “It’s okay. We all slip sometimes but keep our minds focused on something else.”
“It’s hard, literally. I dreamed about you last night. The feel of your lips wrapped around my cock. And the taste of your pussy in my mouth. I actually had a wet dream.” She glanced at him and his lips met hers. He pulled her closer and she could feel his hard, thick cock touching her in all the wrong places. The image of her leaning forward with his head between her legs came to her mind. Just remembering how it felt made her nearly come. She wanted to push him away but found herself leaning into him, wanting him more and more. Her hands started towards his head and she shoved him back. She immediately looked at Bobby, who hadn’t looked her way since they started dancing.
“I told you not to do that. Don’t say things like that.” She looked at him. “I dreamed of Stanley last night.”
‘She will change the subject. Don’t make it obvious that you want her to focus on the two of you. So talk about whatever she wants to but bring the conversation back to the two of you.’ “So that is why you look so tired. Would you care to share what the dream was about? I’m sure it was far more interesting than you sitting on my dick with it sliding in and out of you.”
She looked away. “I told you not to talk like that.”
“The conversation was about dreams. I only spoke the truth. You would rather talk about that over what I dreamed?”
“No, I wouldn’t like to talk about my dream or yours. I was trying to change the conversation. I don’t want the image of your dick in my mouth or your mouth on my pussy. I dang sure don’t want to remember what you felt like inside me.”
“I thought I did a decent job of pleasing you. I thought when you said I… I… meant you were coming. Maybe I was wrong.”
She looked at him and his eyes were locked on another woman. She felt the hint of jealousy sweep over her. “You did make me come. But this isn’t the time or the place to talk like that.”
He looked at her and she saw the wanting her look in his eyes. “It really shouldn’t matter because your husband has a bigger dick and is better in bed. You could always think about him.” ‘When her eyes stay locked on yours, she will be at her weakest. Then bring up the most intimate moments you can as you kiss her. Not hers but yours. Then kiss her and pull her tight to you.’ “As for me, I can’t say that. Your hair wrapped around my fist. Your neck snapping back, the sound of your breathing out, the moan of pleasure as you moved me around inside of you was invigorating. I just had to have you again.” His lips touched hers. His hand grabbed her butt, pulling her to him, his other hand fisting her hair and the sting of it being pulled caused her memory to spring to life. She moaned out her breath in his mouth as her toes curled. A sensation started at the bottom of her feet and went up her legs. Every nerve in her body came to life. Her hands went to his hair as she pushed her hips forward, feeling his. Every inch of her body wanted him. She felt as if she was in the stars. The kiss was pure heaven. He started to move with her in his arms. The movements were nearly poetic.
Cody said out loud, “Oh fuck.” He looked at the instructor and screamed, “Turn the fucking music off now, now, goddammit!”
Gloria shoved Clarence back as she saw Stanley standing in front of her, his hand outstretched, touching her, blood coming from his mouth. His lips said, “I love you.” Her hand went to the side of her body. The knuckles on her hands turned white as her fists. “I am bent, not broken,” she said with a angry voice of rage. The air in the room was consumed by her presence. “You want me to fucking dance. My dance mate has been saying be careful what you ask for because you just may get it. He is my dance mate and he would never leave m
e, and I’ll be damned if I will ever give up on him.”
She started to turn. Cody dove, pulling Catrina with him. “Get down now!” Cody screamed.
Gloria brought her arm up. As she spun, a wave of energy moved the very air around her and went forward. The men with guns started towards her, lifting their weapons as the wave of energy hit them, knocking them back. Gloria moved towards them fast, her movements filled with beauty and grace. The men started getting up. She grabbed the closest one to her by the arm, pulling him up. She grabbed the weapon in his other hand and twisted, flipping the man over and holding the rifle that was in his hand. She spun, pulling the trigger, shooting the female instructor first. She pulled the trigger three more times, hitting the other men in the head. Without stopping, she spun, shooting the cameras on the walls. She started towards the door, when suddenly, the lights went out. The emergency lights kicked on and she heard the sound of a panther. She tried to shoot the gun at the door, but it wouldn’t fire. She ran and got another gun and it wouldn’t shoot. She grabbed the men and started searching for knives. When she had one for each hand, she spun, and a wave of energy came from her that knocked the door completely off its hinges. She walked at a rapid pace out the door. Several dancers started getting up. Bobby said above the noise, “What the fuck was that?”
Cody looked at the door as Gloria was walking out it. “Her taking all she is going to take.” Bobby stood and started towards her. Cody said loudly, “I wouldn’t.” Bobby looked at him. “She didn’t look at anyone. She didn’t see if anyone was hurt or not. She is out of control. Look around you, do you really want to get caught in her crossfire?” Bobby looked at him and stood still.
Gloria walked down the hall. The sound of fighting came from many directions. Two men started her way. She brought the blades to both field knives to her wrist. The corridor was too small for more than a couple to maneuver. Her head lowered, and her brow raised as they got near her. One swung. She ducked, spun between them, came up as they turned, and both knives crossed in front of her, catching both men by surprise and in the throat. Blood gushed from the wounds covering her. They grabbed their throats as she lunged the knives forward, stabbing them both in the center of the chest. She spun, bringing the knives out as the men fell behind her. Everything was just a blur to her. Her speed increased with every step. The corridor was filled with halls leading in many directions. She saw the explosives on the walls and the wires connecting them.
Love and Beyond Part 3 Page 33