by Linda Verji
“Do I look like his keeper?” Hanna asked. “Why would I know where he is?”
Tasha stepped forward as anger suffused her expression but Keifer held her back with a hand on her waist. He whispered in her ear. His obvious protectiveness of Tasha was irritating to see. Once Keifer had looked at Hanna like that - as if he’d step in front of a train for her.
“But you know how to contact him, right?” Keifer asked, giving her no room to wiggle herself out of giving them information. Hanna had no intention of wiggling! Polo’s actions had given her the opportunity to eliminate her own little problem.
“I’ve got his number if that’s what you’re looking for.” Hanna nodded. Relief crossed both her guests’ faces. She pointed to Keifer. “But I’ll only give it to you. She has to stay out here.”
“You bitch.”
Hanna felt the harsh sting of Tasha’s palm on her cheek even before she saw her move, its force snapping her head to the side.
“That’s my baby’s life you’re playing games with.” Tasha’s expression was a storm of furious emotions.
Hanna lifted her hand to slap her back but Keifer had already jumped between them to protect Tasha. Hanna face throbbed as she fought to keep herself from rubbing her cheek. She wouldn’t show weakness.
I hope Polo fucks you over. Spite blazed in the pit of her belly but her voice was deceptively soft when she said, “Keifer and I have some business to discuss. And it’s the only way you’re getting your daughter’s number. You understand, right?”
Hanna didn’t wait for a response. She marched back to the house expecting Kiefer to follow – and he did. Once in there, she didn’t even bother with preliminaries. She keyed in the code to her safe, pulled out a set of documents and handed them to him. “If you want Polo’s number sign these.”
His ebony eyebrows arched up in surprise as he took the documents from her. The more he read the more his face furrowed in anger, “What the fuck is this?”
“What? Reading classes weren’t part of the package in witness protection?” Her voice was bland, covering up the anticipation coursing in her veins. She needed him to sign those papers. They’d been waiting for him ever since she’d seen him at the police precinct.
“Are you sick?” His grip on the pristine papers tightened, his eyes shot angry sparks at her. “Are you seriously trying to get me to relinquish the parental rights to my son?”
“You gave me a choice the other day, Keifer. Let me give you mine?” Hanna sat on the edge of the table, watching him. “Your son or her daughter! The choice is yours.”
*
“Did anyone see you?”
Polo kept his thumbs on the controls just in case he had to shut the gates fast. There were no other cars on the drive that led up to the gates except for Becky’s little Vitz.
“No, Baby,” Becky tried to wrap her arms around his neck, pressing her perky tits in the tight green vest against the planes of his chest, but Polo shook her off. Pouting she said, “I was very careful.”
“Where is she?” Polo strained his eyes to see through the darkness into her car but the pale evening light combined with her car’s tinted windows prevented him from seeing anything.
“In the back,” Becky said.
“Get her.”
She went to the car and came back carrying Asia. The little girl was swathed in a large trench-coat. She clung onto Becky’s neck like life support, wailing over and over again, “Please. Please. Don’t leave me here. I want my mommy.”
“Shut up!” Polo barked. Immediately Asia quieted down, a look of fear in her teary eyes.
Becky’s eyes shifted between Polo and Asia. There was a glimmer of pity in her eyes as she offered, “Maybe she can just stay with me until you finish with her mother?”
“No.” Polo snatched the wriggling Asia from her arms. “I thought you said you were my Ride or Die? Now go Ride.”
“So you’ll come for me when you’re done?”
Polo didn’t answer. Instead he pushed her out of the estate then clicked the controller sliding the gates shut. He had no intention of going anywhere with Becky. He’d only asked Rashad to make him two passports; his and Asia’s.
Polo chuckled as he carried Asia into the house. You had to laugh. To think that he’d used Tasha’s own guy to engineer his own revenge scheme and escape plan. Asia sniffed in his arms.
“What are you crying about?” Polo barked as he roughly deposited her on one of the high stool in the kitchen. She didn’t answer just kept looking at him like he was some sort of criminal. Polo kissed his teeth. She was just as ungrateful as her mother.
He brutishly shoved a sandwich at her. She didn’t even look at it. Instead more tears pooled in her eyes. Throwing the sandwich to the floor, he snapped, “Fine, if you’re going to be a bitch like your mother you can stay in your room.”
He jerked her out of the stool to drag her out of the kitchen but she fell to the ground with a cry and in a flair of weak limbs. He’d even forgotten that she was just from the hospital. He lifted her in his arms but she started to struggle and wail in his arms making him drop her to the floor again on her feet.
“I want my mommy. I want my mommy.”
Unconsciously, he drew back his hand and slapped her so hard that she fell on all fours to the ground. Asia looked up at him with such shock in her eyes that Polo felt a twinge of regret but it was quickly overshadowed by the thought that she was acting just like her mother. “If you make another sound, I’ll use a belt. You got it?”
The brat nodded as she rubbed her cheek, fear embalming her deceitful face. Just like her mother. The message was received because she didn’t protest anymore when he lifted her back into his arms, even though he could still feel the tension and fear in her body.
Look what the bitch did! Turned my own daughter against me.
Polo carried Asia to one of the bedrooms and deposited her on the bare mattress before slamming the door shut and turning the key, effectively locking her in. He’d chosen this room deliberately. The windows had metal grills so she wouldn’t be able to escape.
Now for the second part of his plan.
Fixing a cap over his head, Polo shut the gates silently as he exited the compound while carrying a plastic cap. The dark night swallowed him up as he began to walk, its thick gloom pregnant with silence. The cold bit into his bare arms. He should’ve taken a coat. Memories of his plan instantly banished the cold.
He smiled. He was going to get even with Tasha for all the ways she’d humiliated him. Did she really think he’d let her live without him? His steps hastened, his feet and heart padding in almost perfect musical accord, eager to get on with the plan. As he walked, he kept to the shadows, away from the street lights. It wouldn’t do for anyone to recognize him.
The lights of the gas station called to him. Once there he went to one of the pumps. The man who was supposed to be watching the pumps was lounging inside the convenience store reading a magazine. Polo filled up his plastic can with gas and left. The new weight of the full can was heavy on his arms but light on his heart.
He cackled. Tasha wouldn’t even see it coming.
Back at the house, he gave the house one last longing look before he deliberately uncapped the can. Dousing the grass around the house with liquid was easy. For good measure, he also soaked the walls. All that remained was the inside.
He could hear Asia’s pitiful cries in the room that he’s stuck her in as he came back into the house, but he wouldn’t allow her to distract him. He sprinkled gas everywhere; living room, kitchen, master bedroom. Everywhere!
His phone vibrated in his pocket as he was in the master bedroom, dousing the bed’s wooden frame. He smiled as he put the can down and pulled his phone from his pocket. It could only be one person.
“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you, Tasha.”
CHAPTER 26
“Where’s Asia?” There was panicked worry written all over Tasha’s face but her voice re
mained calm.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Tasha.” Polo’s mad laughter filled the interior of the car where Kian and Tasha sat listening to him. They’d parked outside the gated community that housed Hanna. Once she’d handed him the number, she’d insisted that they leave her house.
Kian hadn’t yet told Tasha what he’d given up for it.
“Where’s Asia?” Tasha repeated steadily into the phone cradled in the palm of her hand. Kian squeezed her free hand in reassurance. He knew it was taking all of her self control to not give into the fear for Asia’s safety and shout at Polo. “Is she okay?”
“No ‘hello?’, ‘how are you doing?’ or an ‘I’ve missed you’ for your husband?” The amusement in Polo’s voice was palpable. “Oh well! That’s what I get for marrying a whore. Does Harper fuck you better than I do? You were always a whore for a big dick.”
Who the hell did he think he was speaking to like that? Kian wanted to take the phone and give Polo a piece of his mind, but the fear in Tasha’s face was enough to make him think twice. Tasha squeezed his hand tightly giving him a pleading look before she continued. “Polo I know you don’t want to hurt her. You’re a good man and Asia’s your daughter too. Just let me come and get her and this will be all over.”
“You really think it’s going to be that easy, don’t you?” Polo’s laughter was loud and long, sounding like it was from deep in the belly. It took him a while to get it out of his system before it wound down into chuckles. “Don’t worry Tasha. I’m not interested in keeping the little brat. She whines too damn much anyway. You can come get her anytime you want.”
“Where?” Tasha’s tone remained calm despite the excitement sparkling in her eyes. Asia was safe for now. “Where can I come and get her?”
“Uh uh uh uh! Not so fast,” Polo tatted. “Some house rules. You come alone. No police, no boyfriend and none of your sneaky friends. I’ll be watching. If I see so much as another fucking shadow beside yours…”
“Of course, Polo,” she agreed quickly but threw Kian a panicked look. They both knew what the incomplete sentence meant. Polo was willing to do anything to make sure that he got Tasha alone.
“Tasha. Tasha. Tasha,” he sung. “If you tell anyone, you know what I’m gon’ do to Asia, right?”
“I understand.”
“Good girl. I’ll send you a text message with directions.” Kian could actually feel Polo’s smirk as he added, “Oh, yes! And bring me a sandwich.”
The moment he ended the phone-call, Tasha let the phone drop to the seat with a gasp, as if just holding it was like touching a piece of Polo. Her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. ”
“Baby, calm down.” Kian reached across the seat to run his hand over her hair and back. “You did well.”
She looked green at the gills as if she was about to chuck her insides but she didn’t. She squared her shoulders and took in a deep breath, calming herself before sitting up straight. “Okay, I’m good.”
The phone vibrated signaling that he’d sent a text message and she snatched it up again, scrolling through it to read the message before handing it to Kian. The message contained the directions to Polo and Asia’s location.
A resolved look in her eye, Tasha knelt on her seat, facing him. She patted him on the shoulder. “Come on. You need to get out of the car so I can go and get Asia.”
“What you mean get out of the car?” Kian snapped without meaning to.
“Kian, you heard what he said.” She tapped his arm once more. “I’m supposed to go alone or he’ll hurt Asia.”
“Baby, this man is crazy. And you’re crazy too if you think I’m going to let you walk into his den alone.” He clasped his hand over hers. “Give me a minute to figure this out.”
He stared out at the dark road, tapping on the steering wheel as he weighed their options. Despite her eagerness to get a move on Tasha didn’t interrupt his thoughts. At the back of his mind Kian couldn’t help feeling happy that she was willing to let him be part of saving Asia. A week ago she would’ve done exactly as she pleased and let him figure out her plans on his own. She trusted him.
After a few minutes, Kian looked up. He had a plan.
“Okay. First we’ll call Jim.” He lifted his hand to stop her protest before it even began. “I know he said no cops but we need some kind of professional back up. We’ll ask him to stay a distance from the house so that Polo doesn’t see him. Then you and I can go into the house.”
“No. Polo asked for me only,” she insisted. “You’ll just make him angrier and he’ll end up doing something stupid.”
“I don’t want him to hurt you.” His fingers tightened around hers.
“I know, but you know what I’m saying makes sense, right?” she said. “You can get Jim, but both of you will have to stay far away from the house.” Sitting back on her seat, she reached into her bag to produce her pistol. “Besides I won’t let him hurt me – or Asia.”
There was an intense look in her eye that made Kian very glad that he wasn’t Polo.
CHAPTER 27
“I’m here.” Struggling to keep a calm expression and tap down on the fear that was pummeling the pit of her stomach, Tasha looked up at the camera bolted to the top of the gate. The security light that illuminated her was so bright, she had to squint.
Her phone vibrated. Without looking at the screen she pressed it to her ear.
“Hello, Tasha.” His oily voice called over the line. “Welcome to our humble abode.”
The black mechanical gates slid opened eerily. Keeping the phone to her ear, she stepped through them. With a smooth purr, they slid shut behind her and the camera swiveled as it continued to stalk her movements as she moved closer to what felt like death.
Maybe by daylight it would’ve been just a beautiful piece of land that was dominated by a large bungalow. But in the dim evening light, coupled with the fear that pulsed within her at the knowledge that her daughter was in somewhere there, it seemed like a shadowy place shrouded in Polo’s evil mist.
The voice in her ear said, “Remove your clothes.”
“What?” Tasha exclaimed, her fear heightening.
“I said get the fuck out of your clothes,” Polo snapped. “Let’s make sure you’re not carrying anything.”
With unsteady hands, Tasha unzipped the dark jacket and threw it to the ground. The cold of the night air pinched her skin causing the already present goose-bumps to swell into larger bumps of fear. She chucked her flat shoes to the side of the stone path and stood up.
Polo’s voice purred in her ear, “Everything Tasha.”
Her trembling began in earnest as she unbuttoned her pants and pushed them down her legs. Her gun bounced in her pocket as if taunting her. How was she going to defend herself? Her fingers shook as she unbuttoned her shirt.
He kissed his teeth. “Nch..ch..ch….Tasha, Tasha. Tasha. What will I do with you? Bullet proof vest? You’re really a bad girl aren’t you?”
Tasha had warned Kian, Jim and Rafe that he’d know, but they’d insisted on her wearing the black thing. Attached to it was also a microphone that they were supposed to use to listen in on her conversation with Polo. Well that plan was a bust!
Tasha shrugged out of her shirt before unsnapping the vest too and throwing it on the side next to her other clothes. She stood in the glare of the security light in only her bra and panties. Defenseless!
It was just her and Polo.
“Very good Tasha.” She could hear the smile in his voice as he added, “Now, you can come in.”
The sharp stones bit into her soles as she struggled towards the large wooden door, but she was blind to the pain. Her only goal was to get in the house and get her daughter back. The front door creaked heavily as she pushed it open. Shadowy darkness and barrenness welcomed her and the door creaked again as it slid shut behind her.
His voice on the phone echoed in the silent unnatural emptiness, “Turn to your right, Tasha.”
Sh
e turned and was greeted by more darkness - except for a small light peeking from under one of the doors. It wasn’t much but it was everything. Her bare feet flew over the cold floor, as if they had a mind of their own, towards that light.
Polo’s voice echoed both on the phone and from inside the room with the light, “Open the door, Tasha.”
She opened it.
Asia was lying on the bare mattress on her back, a trench coat buttoned to her throat and fear written all over her small face. He was seated next to her, with his back against the headboard and his legs crossed one over the other on the bed. In one hand he held a beer bottle supported on his thigh. In the other hand, he held a gun.
And it was pressed to Asia’s temple.
Tasha had never been so scared in her life. Despite the fact that she was practically naked, she could feel cold sweat dribble down her spine. Everything was a blur except for the gun he was pointing at her baby’s head.
“Hello Tasha.” His smile was so beautiful in the light – cruel beauty. “Welcome to the Nelson family meeting.”
Her heart pounded even harder at the warm welcome.
“Don’t let me keep you standing.” He waved the gun in the air pointing her to a straight back chair that faced a vanity mirror. “Take a seat. Take a seat.”
She couldn’t even move, held enthralled by both fear and shock. This was not what she’d expected. Not that she really knew what kidnappers did – but this wasn’t it. The mattress creaked ominously as he stood up from it, pointing the gun at her. The tone of his voice changed from mildly amused to anger in a second. “I said take a fucking seat.”
His anger propelled her. She scrambled to the vanity table almost tripping over a length of rope coiled on the floor in her hurry. She sat down facing him and Asia. Setting the beer bottle on the bedside table, he swiped his arm across his lips wiping them of any trace of the liquid, then walked towards her.