Straight Up Interfererence

by Rose von Barnsley

  "Even your parents, though. I know you want them to not be mad at you, but they’ve proven they can't be trusted."

  We made a few more moves back and forth, finishing the rest of the first game in silence. He wasn't wrong about my parents. They had wanted me to help take down the Valente’s, but I didn't see how that would affect Daniel out here. He wasn't connected at all.

  I set up the game again, trying to think of a way to ask him about what was going on. I knew he was messed up with bad anxiety, because he had been kidnapped before, but I didn't think that was an issue anymore.

  "I'm sorry I used your phone."

  He laughed and shook his head. "You have no idea how risky it was for me to leave it out, what could've happened if you'd tried to order food to be delivered, or hell, just called anywhere. Having you out here poses a much higher risk for exposure, and that was why I was so stunned when they brought you here. You don't know how dangerous it is that you're here. They believe you can be trusted, but that usually isn't enough in the Valente family."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "When they said you were just coming here for a little while, I knew something was very wrong. Sending you out here was probably a last resort on Ann Marie's part. I have no clue what the hell she was thinking when she sent you here, though," he shook his head.

  "It's a nice quiet place to hide out. Why wouldn't she send me out here?"

  He laughed blackly and got up, not finishing our last game. "I forfeit," he said and disappeared into his room. I heard the shower turn on as I made my bed, and I was startled by a loud thump up high on the wall. It sounded like he had punched it.

  I was feeling even more lost and confused than I had been before dinner. For once, talking hadn't helped, and he hadn't made it any clearer what was going on. It looked like I was going to have to drag it out of him.

  Chapter 25 – Naïve

  The next morning, I woke to Daniel moving a couple of things in his office. He shut down his computer and tucked his phone into his pocket. I was so focused on his scruffy face that I had missed what was leaning against his desk.

  He picked up the giant axe and swung it up to his shoulder, like I would swing my backpack on. He gave me one grimacing glance and then walked out the back door. I made it to the door in time to see him disappear into the brush. I was stuck alone at the house today, and I didn't think I would like it.

  I had breakfast and showered. Once I was ready for the day, I went to the back porch to see if I could find Daniel. I heard him chopping in the distance, but it seemed to echo, so there was no way to pinpoint where he actually was. I pouted and went back to my room, or his study. I picked out a book, determined to sit on the porch swing and wait for him.

  I looked around the yard and noticed Daniel had finished the cleaning. The pile of broken things was gone, and I wondered how late I had actually slept. It didn't feel that long, but it sure seemed like it. My curiosity got the better of me, so I walked around the front of the house to see if Daniel had loaded the stuff into his truck to take to the dump. For some reason, I was disappointed that he had. I didn't know what I thought he would do with the stuff, but he had a way of dealing with things in ways I would never expect.

  I went back inside the house and opened the doors for a cross breeze. It felt really nice, but I heard the fluttering of papers coming from Daniel's desk. They had originally been tucked under his keyboard, so I was surprised to find they were out at all. I was sure Daniel would freak out about them, just as he had over his stupid phone.

  I shut the doors and went to tuck them back under the keyboard to keep him from freaking out again, when I saw something unsettling. The name on the papers wasn't Daniel Bartoli, but Daniel Collins. I heard clunking around the backyard and quickly tucked them back into place. I would keep this discovery to myself for now.

  It felt like lunchtime, so I got to work making us some sandwiches. When he came in the back door, he didn't say a word, but got right to work setting the table. I placed a large glass of ice water out for him along with his food. I settled down across from him nervously, worried he would be able to tell I knew something I shouldn't.

  "You've been gone all morning." I wasn't sure what to say, but I didn't like the way things were right now.

  "We need firewood," he said, not looking up from his plate.

  "But it's still summer."

  "Can't chop in the snow," he grumped.

  "I guess that makes sense. Can I help?"

  "You're stuck out here." His eyes burned into me.

  I swallowed hard and shrugged. "Here's nice, when you're not being a butthead."

  He snorted, but didn't say anything.

  "I don't like you acting like this and not shaving. You need to go back to the way you were," I insisted.

  "The way I was? Gabby, I’d hoped you'd understood. I wondered if Ann Marie had made your dire situation clear."

  "I know I can't go back right now."

  "You're not going back, Gabby, ever! I didn't understand why she sent you here. No one walks away from here alive. I'd hoped you were something different, a fluke, and had accepted it somehow. But you're not. You like people. You invited others out here, and I'm amazed Ann Marie got so many cleared. Three of my brothers had never been out here before. I doubt they were supposed to be." He sank back in his chair. "You were set up, we were set up, and I suspected as much that first night I spoke to Ann on the phone. She told me to get to know you, that you were a nice girl. I wondered why they’d send a nice girl out here."

  "They just wanted me out of the way. If you don't want me here…"

  "That's the thing, Gabby, and I thought you'd figure it out. I don't like people here. No one is allowed out here, and so many people out here freaked me out."

  "I know you have anxiety issues."

  "It's more than anxiety! It's a downright legitimate fear. They're out there, and they'll get me if the opportunity presents itself!" He pointed harshly at the door, "If someone squeals, if someone breaks because they're tortured, I'm screwed. I sent you away that day we knew someone was here, because I didn't want you to be collateral damage.

  "Looking at the broken furniture, I realized you liked people. You didn't know the danger you'd put them in by inviting them out here. You want family, and I can't give you that. I can't even have my own. There's too much risk associated with knowing me and where I live. It's not allowed. The only reason Jerry is still alive is because no one knows he exists. They think we lost touch before I moved out here. They don't know that he's come back. He's a risk, and I told him that. I told him he'd be killed by both sides if word ever got out."

  "What about that Amy girl?"

  "Jerry called me something different. He didn't tell her my real name. He gave her something bogus like John Smith. He knows better than to even breathe a word about me to anyone else."

  I stood up pacing, not completely sure what the hell was going on.

  "I asked you what you'd do when you'd leave, testing to see if you knew. When you said school, when you said go back to high school, I knew you didn't."

  "I'm not going back until the spring semester. I still don't understand why you're giving me crap. I'm fine without other people. You're enough company for me. I know you're in hiding, even if I don't know from what, it doesn't matter."

  "I've given you space. I wondered if you could ever have feelings for someone like me, for someone trapped like I am. I realized, as I moved that broken furniture, that you still didn't know you were in a cage. You didn't know you've been locked away. You're not going for the spring semester, Gabby. They had no intention of ever letting you leave."

  "Yes, they do!" I knew Ann Marie cared for me. "Your sister said she'd take care of it. That they were even going to pay for it. She wants me to get my education. She gave me extra college applications for Christ sakes. Whatever you're thinking, you're thinking wrong. It's not what you think. I didn't come here of my own accord, but I like it here, s
o I'm okay with it. I'm happy here. She sent me here for my own good. I think she sent me here to help you, too. We've had fun, we've become friends, and yes, I don't know everything, but I do know I'm fine here, or there. I'm safe."

  He got up and walked out the back door, slamming it hard.

  I still felt like I was in the dark and totally missing something. He hadn't really enlightened me to anything. I knew he was in hiding. I got that from when those guys had come for me, and they had been "taken care of" by his brothers. I knew anonymity was important, but I was trusted. I was here, because I had proven I was loyal.

  I hadn't gone over the college applications Ann Marie had given me, but I knew she had added to my stack. She had hugged me and comforted me. She had protected me from getting hurt, and she had taken my side, when it came to her son's bad behavior. I knew she had sent me here for my own good. It seemed like the safest house she knew of, and she wanted me safe.

  I didn't want to fight anymore. I went back to reading my book and decided to ignore the brooding Daniel. I would act normal, even if he wasn't. I made dinner and set up the chessboard. I waited for his return, worried he might not come back. He hadn't taken his truck, and it would be dark soon. I didn't like him being out so late.

  When he finally came home, I was furious. He stomped his boots on the porch, knocking out the dirt and alerting me to his presence. I yanked the door open and shouted at him, "Where the hell have you been?" He looked at me confused. "You had me worried sick. It's getting dark, and you take off all mad and don't come back. You didn't even take your gun!" His mouth opened and closed several times, but nothing came out. "Don't you run off on me again, or so help me god, I'll tie your wandering ass up!"

  He actually laughed at me, so I punched him in the gut. He caught my hand easily and pulled me into a hug. I didn't know what was wrong with me, but I squeezed him back with all my might and burst into tears. I felt his lips on the top of my head, as he whispered he was sorry.

  "I made dinner," I whimpered out. I pulled him over to the table, and we sat down to eat our cold meal.

  He glanced over at the set-up chessboard and took a deep breath. "Let me shower first, and then we can play a few games."

  I nodded, conceding

  I cleaned up while he showered, then sat next to the chessboard, waiting for him. He came out in his PJ's and sat across from me, clean-shaven.

  I launched myself into his arms, thrilled he had shaved. "I've missed you," I whispered.

  "I'm sorry. I'm worried about you, and I don't know how to tell you what's going on. I can't tell you more, but I think I should alert you to your precarious position. You said you only have circumstantial evidence, but enough for them to get a search warrant, one that could potentially cause a lot of trouble, because the Feds can't be trusted. They’d happily plant evidence, so they could attempt to take down the Valente’s."

  "I thought you didn't like the Valente’s? You said they were bad and deserved to be punished."

  "Some of the people they work with are very bad. Even a couple of my siblings are more trouble than your average thug. If one of them did anything in front of me, I wouldn't hesitate to turn them in. I think they know it, that's why they don't know where I am."

  "The missing two..."

  "Yes, the missing two. The other ten shouldn't be out here. Ann Marie was fine, but the rest, they shouldn't have come. My sisters put their noses where they shouldn't. They bust in and cause trouble here all the time. They don't think I can dress myself, and my bed needs to have matching sheets. My sisters knowing where I am puts them at risk, but they're also married to Marcello's brothers. They're pretty high up and have full security on them." He looked me in the eyes, as if he was waiting for something. He finally closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "Who will look out for you if you go back, Gabby?"

  I shrugged. "I'm sure Ann Marie will think of something."

  "I hope you're right," he grimaced and made his first move in chess, closing the subject. There was still so much I didn't know.

  He was too distracted to beat me, so I whooped him in chess and gloated obnoxiously, coaxing a smile out of him. That was exactly what I was shooting for.

  I hoped tomorrow would be a better day. That he would still be shaving, and I could get another smile out of him. I was going to try for a laugh. That would be my goal, to get Daniel to laugh. I missed hearing it, and I would not let him keep it from me any longer. That was just one more thing that was not allowed. He would have to learn who the boss was. It was me, and there was no pouting or brooding allowed.

  Chapter 26 – Keys

  The next morning, I woke to the smell of bacon. I stretched and yawned, as I came out of my room. "You better have had plans to wake me. You're not allowed to have happy bacon without me."

  He looked over at me, his eyes settled on my hair, and he smirked. "I'll gladly share my bacon with you."

  "Your bacon?" I made sure I sounded offended.

  "Okay, the bacon, we're sharing the bacon. I planned to, anyways. I was going to let you sleep, though. I'll be out collecting the firewood today," he said, as we started in on our food.

  "I'm going with you. Don't even think about leaving without me," I stated firmly, while I pointed my fork at him.

  "I'm not sure that's a good idea," he frowned and focused on his plate.

  "Not this again." I kicked his shin under the table. "I don't know what the hell is going on with you, but it stops now. We've already established that I'm happy here, and we have fun together. I like being out here, Daniel. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?"

  "It's not what I'm not grasping, but what you're not grasping, Gabby. It's right in front of your face. They said you were smart and would pick up on stuff fast, before anything ever went down, so why the hell can't you see what's right in front of your face!" he shouted.

  I had half a mind to chuck my syrup-cover pancake at his head for calling me stupid. When he saw how hurt I was, he left the table. He didn't go out the back door, but the front this time. This was obviously going to be a point of contention until we cleared everything up. Maybe I was stupid, because I wasn't sure what needed resolving. I knew why I was here. I knew what I had planned for the future, but he didn't seem to think I had it right.

  I dressed for the day, only putting on a tank top and shorts, because it was warm and humid. I wasn't even going to pretend to wear jeans. I slipped on my hiking boots and met him on the front porch. He was staring off up the driveway, but I hadn't heard anyone coming down it. The gravel always announced someone's approach.

  "Ready?" he asked, not even looking at me.

  "Yeah." I hopped off the porch and strode out in front of him. "Let's get a move on." I marched away, ready to show him I was worth taking along.

  "Gabby, it's this way."

  I turned to see him walking around the side of the house. He stopped at the shed to get a wheelbarrow and led the way out, heading off the far side of the property towards the trash pit. I had yet to go out there, but I knew it was in that direction.

  "We'll start with the close wood first." There were several trees that had been chopped back away from the pit, most likely for safety reasons. They were already split into moveable pieces. At least I had thought they were, until I had tried to move one.

  "This is heavy," I grunted, moving the smallest I could find.

  Daniel frowned at me. "Maybe I should split them smaller first. They'll be easier for you to move then."

  "Yes, please."

  He nodded, kicking the biggest log on end and then went to standing another one on top of that. He drove a wedge into it and then split it with one hard swing. I actually screamed and jumped back, as the wood popped off the chopping log.

  "You okay?" He looked me up and down.

  "Yeah, that's just…"

  He waited for me to finish what I was saying, but I really had no idea how to finish that sentence, nothing sounded right. He stalked over to me, and I was worried he
was going to send me home, but he kicked over a log that was on the ground next to me. "Sit, I'll be done soon."

  I did as he said, watching him chopping logs like he was cutting cheese, and not the farting kind. He had twenty logs, and now he had forty. I thought that would be enough, but he started picking up the half logs and doing the same again, popping them off the chopping log with one hit. I knew he was strong, but I never realized how strong until this moment.

  I had been sitting there for a while and was getting thirsty. I knew Daniel had to be dehydrated. "Daniel," I called over to him.

  He looked up at me confused, but I brought over the water to him. He took it with a smile and sat down on the empty chopping block.

  "You're not making these any smaller, right?" I picked up a couple of quartered logs.

  "Nah, they'll fit that size."

  I hurried over to the wheelbarrow and brought it closer. I stacked up as many chopped pieces as possible. I felt lame, only able to fit twelve pieces into it. Daniel stood up, done with his break, and I tried to get the wheelbarrow out of his way, but was failing horribly. After I almost tipped it, Daniel jumped in to help, laughing at me. "Don't hurt yourself."

  He had reached around me to grab the handles and steadied it, so his arms were around me. We set the wheelbarrow down, and I turned into his chest. I didn't know why I was so clingy, it just felt like he had been trying to push me away, and I didn't like it.

  "I'll take this back. It's time for lunch, anyways." He stepped around me and grabbed both handles, moving the wheelbarrow with ease. I followed after him and hurried in to make lunch, as he unloaded the wood out back.

  "Food's ready," I called to him.

  He hosed himself down, and my eyes nearly glazed over. He was hot, and I wished it was totally acceptable for me to join him in the water. Too bad I didn't have a chance. He shut it off, and I handed him a towel from his back porch cabinet.

  I had already set the table, so he went right to his food. He wasn't talkative, but it wasn't a painful silence, so I let it be. We worked the rest of the day. I didn't really do much other than hand him water, and load the wheelbarrow. I would help him stack the wood in the shed once he moved it. I still couldn't lift that dang wheelbarrow when it was full.