Brooke looks at me with tears in her eyes. “You really believe he's that man?”
I smile. “Yes, I really believe Draven is that man.”
She rolls her eyes and smiles. “Fine, but if he hurts you...” I laugh loudly and hug her again.
Brooke makes breakfast for us, and we talk while we eat. She's happy to listen to my plans for the nursery I want to prepare for the baby while she feeds Gabe. He squeals and claps his hands each time he looks at me, and I laugh and kiss his head. I'll miss spending my mornings with him. He brightens my day.
Brooke and I talk about the wedding, which she isn't too keen on. She even tries for half an hour to talk me out of it, telling me that living with Draven is good enough and that we don't need to be married to raise a child together.
She thinks I'm insane when I tell her that I want to marry Draven. After I thought about what Draven said last night, I realized marrying him wouldn't be so bad. We may never fall in love, but there will be some kind of love between us. We'll be joined by a bond, the bond that links us together, our baby, and I will do whatever it takes for my child to have the happy, stable life it deserves.
On the ride over to Brooke's last night, Draven promised me that he would never hurt me. I told him that if he does want to sleep with someone, to just tell me so that I don't have to find out from one of his whore's. Not that it would bother me, him sleeping with someone else, looking the fool in front of my friends would. Draven told me, with a laugh, I might add, that he will never need anyone else, and I can fight him all I want, but one day soon, I'll want him as much as he wants me. I didn't know whether to believe him or not, but it made my pussy throb like crazy!
Brooke tells me that as long as I know what I'm doing, and as long as I'm happy, then she'll not stand in my way. Not that she could stop me doing what I wanted to do, but it's nice to know that she cares so much about me.
Draven arrives at Brooke's at 10.53: AM, seven minutes early. Brooke then sets about making Draven swear on his niece's life that he'll take care of me, that he wouldn't stop us seeing each other, and that if I needed her, he'd call her right away.
That's when he hands me a brand new cell phone, top of the range, and tells Brooke that her number is already programmed in. I'm pissed off, but I don't say anything, and I hope that my face doesn't give that anger away. I told Draven that I didn't want to be a kept woman!
I hug my sister hard and thank her for everything she's done for me, and then we leave.
As soon as we get back to Draven's, he shows me how the alarm systems work. He doesn't want me to come home and set one off without knowing how to disable them. Then he shows me how to open doors, turn on lights, etc., just with my voice or the click of my fingers. It amazes me.
Tony takes my belongings to my new room. I smile and thank him. Draven then takes me to his study and copies my thumb and forefinger print into his computer system before scanning my eyeball. It all seems so spy like to me, but Draven tells me that now I'll be able to open the doors to the house with my fingerprint or eyeball with ease, along with my voice, of course. It boggles my mind, but I nod like I understand, even though I don't.
Panels on walls. Touch doors that slide open when you press your finger to the panel next to it. Lights that turn on by the clap of your hand or the sound of your voice etcetera. Yeah, the whole house is like that, digital and computerized. It's all crazy!
Once we've gotten the tour of the house and how to work everything out of the way, Draven shows me to my room. It's such a beautiful room. The bed is huge! I've never seen a bed that big in my whole life, but then, I grew up on a farm with five siblings and just three bedrooms. Everything was small and cramped. Here, everything is so big and open.
The covers on my bed are softest cream silk I've ever felt in my life. The canopy above matches and the mattress is comfortable yet firm enough to support my back. There are white lamps either side of the bed on small cabinets, a dresser to the left that looks like Egyptians of old carved it. Beneath the window is a cushioned seat that runs from one end to the other — a pretty light lilac color with cushions everywhere. I'll enjoy sitting there reading. I love to read. I devour books like wine.
There's a beautiful light wooden rocking chair in the corner of the room, there, ready for when I'm nursing my baby, so Draven told me. That was so thoughtful of him. God, the carpet is so beautiful, cream and soft, and thick, but I'm not sure it's necessary for the Tennessee heat.
Once I've unpacked, Draven spends more time showing me around the rest of the house, basement, attic, even the yard. It's so beautiful, everything about the place is beautiful. It's modern and bright. I thought a Mob Boss would have a home fit for a film star, not royalty, but hey, I like it.
I'm allowed in every room but Draven's office. Not that I'm bothered about that. I know what kind of man he is and what he must get up to, what he must hide in that room. I know it's ignorant, but I figure, what I don't know about won't hurt me. All I want to think about right now is the baby growing inside of me.
Draven makes dinner for us later in the evening, but I didn't even know he could cook! The pasta salad he prepared to go with the lasagna is just delicious, the whole meal is, and the conversation is easy. I offer to do dishes, but Draven laughs and tells me that's what a dishwasher is for. I wouldn't know as I've never had one. I thanked him for a lovely evening and retired to my room.
I take a nice, long, hot bubble bath, and I just lie here relaxing with my hands on my stomach and a smile on my face.
Yes, I think I'm going to like it here.
* * *
To say this first week with Draven had been hard would be a lie, it's been, dare I say, nice? Well, it has been nice. He's nothing like I thought he would be. Okay, I've seen him with his men, the powerful man in charge that he is, but at home, he's... kind, funny, attentive. I don't deserve such kindness, and to be honest, it's kind of odd to me. I've never had anyone treat me the way Draven does.
I've quickly gotten used to being allowed to do whatever I want, well, within reason. Paul never let me do anything without his permission. Draven laughs to himself whenever I ask him if I could go somewhere. He told me, 'Marnie. You are not my prisoner, sweetheart. Go where you want. All I ask is that you allow Stefano to drive you, and Tom to stand guard over you. You know the man I am, and you know I have to keep you safe, no matter what.' I agreed because I want to please him, and it's not like it's terrible having someone drive me around, or having a bodyguard. Although, sometimes I wish I could drive myself around like I used to.
Brooke and Maria, Draven's little sister, have made a joke once or twice today about how I must think myself some royalty being driven around the way I am.
Of course, now I'm crying like an idiot. Over a silly comment or two? Yeah, I'm hormonal.
“I'm sorry,” I tell them while wiping my eyes on the tissue I just fished out of my pocket. “Didn't mean to start blubbering.”
“It's okay, sis, we both know what it's like.”
Yeah, they do, both of them are pregnant as well. Brooke will have her baby first, Maria second, then me. All three babies will be born within a couple of months of each other. It's exciting and scary all at the same time.
“I know.” I smile as Brooke takes my hand and squeezes it.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” Maria takes a sip of her lemonade through the straw inside the glass filled with ice and lemon slices.
The wedding. Draven said I could have anything my heart desires for this wedding, but the truth is, I don't want a big wedding, I just want something small and intimate. Draven is having none of it. He told me that being the man he is, it's expected of him to have a huge wedding. So many important people to invite, to impress.
Shouldn't it be about us?
But then I have to tell myself that this isn't about us. There's no love there; we're marrying for the sake of the baby, nothing more.
Over the past few days, I've seen a weddin
g planner, a dressmaker, a caterer, a florist, and... God, I've lost count!
I'm beyond tired. I don't sleep well at all. I wake every night in cold sweats from the nightmares that plague me. Then all I can think about is the fact we're organizing a wedding that I'm not sure will happen any time soon.
How can it when I still haven't been given my divorce?
I don't even know how to find Paul because he's not around. Where the hell he could be, I don't know. It's not like he doesn't disappear for weeks on end, he always did when I lived with him anyway.
He's probably shacked up with some busty slut, filling her holes like every other whore he's been with.
Not that I care what he does, but I want to be free.
If I'm completely honest with myself, I'm scared that Draven has done something that will mean I'll never find Paul. If that were the case, however, surely Draven would have found a way to make sure I was either divorced or widowed in a way the police could have notified me? I don't even know anymore; everything is getting on top of me, and I can't cope.
“They're coming.” I smile slightly and sip my iced tea. I have nothing else to say on the matter. I know there's a lot to do, but that's why Draven hired people, to do everything for us. Yeah, I'm not even getting much say in this ridiculous wedding!
I stay with the girls for a while longer, talking about the wedding and the parts they'll play in it. Of course, they're both going to be my bridesmaids. Along with God only knows how many others due to how large Draven's family is.
Brooke asked me if I'd like to join her and Maria for something to eat. I declined only because I'm not feeling all that great, and I just want to go home. I'm in the mood to relax in a hot bubble bath, soft music playing in the background, and even some scented candles burning. I'm smiling to myself in the back of the car. My head is tilted back against the leather seat as Stefano drives me home. I'm not sure where Tom is, but Stefano said he had an errand to run and I'd be safe with him.
It's strange that I'm looking forward to seeing Draven when he gets home from work tonight. I like to sit with him and hear about his day. The good parts at least, because I know he won't tell me anything else. I don't want to know the bad parts. I'd rather be ignorant to it while I can.
It seems to be taking a rather long time to get to the house. I sit straight in my seat and look out of the window beside me. Even the tinted windows can't hide the fact we're nowhere near home. “Stefano, where are we? I asked that you take me home.”
“I'm sorry, Ms. Webster, but I'm not taking you home.”
“Then where the hell are you taking me?” Panic is setting in. I know what people like Stefano are like. I've heard the stories as much as anyone else. Draven promised me he'd never let anybody hurt me. Why was I so stupid to believe a damn Mafia King?
Stefano says nothing until he pulls up outside an abandoned warehouse. I'm so scared that he's going to take me in there and kill me, I can't stop shaking. I know I need to be brave, but brave doesn't come into it when you're about to pee yourself in fear.
He opens the door and takes my arm, physically dragging me out of the car. “Stefano, please. I don't know what this is, but Draven won't be happy when he finds out.”
“Who said he didn't tell me to bring you here for this?”
I think I'm about to hyperventilate. Draven wouldn't have told this man to bring me here. Don't ask me how I know that, but something inside of me is telling me there is no way he'd put me in danger. Okay, maybe he doesn't give a damn about me, but I know our baby means the world to him. Draven would kill anyone who threatened his child, I may only be the vessel carrying said baby, but Draven wouldn't allow anything to happen to me while that baby is inside of me.
“Let go of me, you pig! Draven did not tell you to bring me here!”
Stefano laughs and ignores me. He drags me inside the cold and dirty warehouse, and my stomach is turning over. I'm going to have bruises on my arm from how hard he's holding onto me. Not that it will matter if he kills me.
I could fight against him to get away, and I may succeed enough to run for the door. He could also put a bullet in the back of my head before I even got a foot away from him. I touch my stomach and pray to God that he keep my baby safe through this. Whatever this is.
The huge room Stefano is literally dragging me through is empty, apart from the dirt and dust beneath my feet. I'm terrified that I'm walking to my death. I don't deserve this. I don't understand what I've done wrong!
Stefano ignores my pleas to let me go, and he drags me into a small room at the back of the warehouse. He pushes me through the door, and I fall to my knees. I instantly clasp my stomach because pain rushes through my body. I don't want to lose my baby; I just want to go back to Draven's house, and pack my stuff and leave. This may not be of his doing, I really hope it isn't, but I can't go through this again.
I don't even know what I'm thinking. I might not even make it out of here alive. Unless I've been brought here so they can kill my baby, threaten me with God only knows what, and then send me on my way. All I care about is this baby, and if my only way out of here with my baby alive is to run and never look back, then that's what I'll do.
“It's nice to finally meet you, Marnie.” I look up from my position on the floor. Two well-dressed men, I'd say fifty-something, stand above me. Everything about them screams power. Everything from their expensive suit and shoes, to the way their gray hair is slicked back, and especially the smell of their cologne.
Maybe they work for a rival family, and they've got Stefano on the books. Draven told me how his enemies would do anything to get to him, to make him pay for the things he's done, how better to make him pay than to kill his baby. I doubt Draven would give a damn about me, nor what happened to me. Then again, I belong to him, so he keeps telling me, and no one takes what belongs to Don Vidal.
“Who are you? What do you want from me?”
“Who we are is irrelevant. Whom you're sleeping with, and the information you have is what we're interested in.”
I narrow my eyes at him, a yelp ripping from my throat when Stefano drags me off the floor and to my feet. He pulls me to the corner of the room, and I'm trying not to scream and call these men for what they are. I don't want to give them a reason to hurt me, but they are nothing more than cowards.
I close my eyes as Stefano sits me in front of the large pipe that I can't recall the name of, and straps me to it, strapping my hands behind my back, and around my chest. I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, trying not to give in to the frightened tears. “Draven will kill you for this.” I hiss at Stefano.
He looks at me, and tells me quietly, “I know.”
I watch Stefano walk to the other side of the room. He leans back against the door, eyes looking anywhere but at me. I close my eyes for a second, breathing deep through my nose and out through my mouth. I'm terrified, but there's nothing I can do to get out of this.
“Now,” The older looking one of the two men says while he looks down on me. “Why don't you tell us what you know about Vidal, and don't spare us the details, girl?”
“I don't know anything. I hardly know the man.” My arms are already starting to ache in this position. I have a funny feeling they're going to keep me here, but I have a worse feeling they're going to kill me slowly.
“So what's this,” He points to my stomach. “Scotch mist?”
“None of your business. Let me out of here!” I yank on the cuff trapping my wrists.
“The Don's baby.” He smirks, the other guy laughs. “What we could do with that.”
“You stay the fuck away from my baby!” I kick out at them as hard as I can, and then instantly wish I hadn't. My stomach is screaming in protest.
“Careful,” The younger looking guy says. I wish I knew their damn names. I think I'll call this idiot Prick Two. The one who looks like he's in charge will be Prick One. “That little bundle is going to make us a lot of money.”
“Y
ou will never get your hands on my baby!” I scream only to be doused in ice water. I don't know how or who did it, but the bucket must have been hanging over my head, and someone tipped it all over me. I can't catch my breath for a moment, and the water is soaking through my clothes at a fast rate.
“Are you going to play nice?” Prick One asks. “Tell me what you know about Vidal's business, and I'll let you go. It's not a lot to ask. Is it?”
“I don't know anything about Draven's business.” My fucking teeth are chattering. I'm so cold.
“Oh, I think you do, and you've got five minutes to tell me what I want to know, or my friend here is going to show you the meaning of pain.”
“But I don't know what the fuck you want me to tell you! You've told me nothing other than, “Vidal's business,” That could mean anything. Why the hell would you think I know anything anyway?”
Prick One, bends down in front of me, a vile smirk plays on his lips. “Your boyfriend took something that belongs to us. We'd like it back. You have two choices, tell us what we want to know, or we'll keep you here until that baby is born, then we'll send your body parts back to your boyfriend after we've sold your baby on the black market.”
“I've told you, I don't know anything. Why would Draven tell me about his business?”
“Because there's something about you that weakens him.” Prick Two informs me. My eyes dart from side to side. “He took it, didn't he?”
I don't know what the hell to say to him, so I say nothing. Prick One, moves away from me in time for Prick Two to press a cattle prod to my right shoulder. I scream in agony as it shocks my body. I can't stop screaming, I'm incapacitated, and I am so scared for my baby. I don't understand why they're doing this to me!
They continue to question me about Draven's business, about any deals he may have made, about where he's hidden whatever it was he took from these people. Prick One tells me how Draven doesn't care about me, and if he did, there is no way he'd have let this happen to me. There would have been no way for them to have gotten to me at all, but they did.
Vidal!: Snakes Henchmen MC Page 6