by Prince, DD
Tommy
Anger didn’t begin to describe what was inside of me pacing and biding time until I could unleash it. Wrath, rage, fury? They might come close if they were each multiplied a hundred thousand times.
Things were in motion that would bring the Castillo cartel to their knees. Juan Carlos Castillo would be torn limb from limb and I would personally piss on the bones of Earl Johnson. My heart felt coal black right now and if it hadn’t been for the fact that she needed me more last night, I’d have already gone off to take care of it.
Listening to her in that bathroom throwing up, brushing her teeth, throwing up again, sobbing, it went on for so long and listening to her fall apart like that, it broke me like I couldn’t ever remember being broken before. I felt so fucking helpless then. I never wanted to feel that way again. Ever.
Now I needed to get her home and I needed to get this done so that I could get the rage out of my head. That rage had never felt so strong in my life and I hoped I could channel it into ridding this earth of the scum that were responsible for taking her from me and for putting her through that and then I could go home and start my life with her and take advantage of the clean slate it felt like she was giving me.
What had happened to her had upgraded me from villain to hero in her eyes and when I got home I was making her my wife and taking this opportunity, fucked up as it was, to build a real relationship with her. That t-shirt smelled like her. I’d given it to her last night and then worn it deliberately today. It was comforting to me to have her scent on my body, knowing what I was going to do next.
I was having Dare bring her home today because I needed her the fuck out of Mexico and right now he was the only one I trusted to keep her safe. He and I had shared a few glances and I knew that he now knew how important protecting her was to me. When I got home I’d re-vet employees to determine who would be in the inner circle for keeping her safe. I’d also find out the truth about why Pop had given her to me and I’d make that lowlife of a father of hers pay whatever penance I’d deemed necessary. Yeah, I knew it was fucked up that I’d punish him for the very reason I was lucky enough to own her but that’s just how I felt about it.
I wasn’t kidding myself, thinking that the darkness inside of me that wanted her submission, her fear, was gone. But right now I had a different place to channel that need, that hunger. I’d figure the rest out later.
Tia
I ate a surprisingly decent amount of food, and then I waited for him to come back. I fell asleep and a while later woke up to his lips on my forehead. My hands came up and rested on his chest, “Hi,” I said.
His eyes crinkled and he smiled a little, “Time to go,” he said and then kissed me on the mouth quickly, then he started digging through the suitcase. He looked angry and stressed. I felt the desire to do something about it, so I could see warmth in his eyes again. I just didn’t know what to do to bring it back.
I got up off the bed, grabbed my toiletries from the bathroom and put them in the suitcase, and then proceed to get into my sneakers. He was doing something on his phone one-handed while pulling some of his things out of the suitcase and into a big barrel rucksack, then he tied it up.
I gave him a sad look.
“Just one more day, then I’ll be home,” he muttered.
I picked up his silver cross necklace, which was lying beside the vase on the dresser, “Do you want me to fasten this?”
He winced at it, “No, take that home.”
I put it in my toiletries bag, then I tied my hair up in the elastic that was on my wrist, thankful that there was one in my things that had been packed for me, probably by Sarah Martinez.
He put his hands on my shoulders and his touch almost brought me to tears again. I didn’t know why. I held the tears back.
“My brother is taking you home,” he said, “I trust him 100% to keep you safe. You need to let him protect you.” The intense way he looked at me was his way of asking me not to try to run again. I nodded up at him.
“Come back safely,” I said and his eyes warmed and then he kissed me slow and soft and sweet and then took my hips into his hands. He gave them a little squeeze and then wrapped his arms around me tight and held me for a few minutes against him, lifting me a few inches off the floor. I melted into him, not wanting him to let me go.
When he finally did, he caressed my cheek with the ridge of his thumb and looked deep into my eyes for a beat, heat and intensity and some emotion I couldn’t name lighting them, before backing up and picking up the suitcase and the rucksack. I followed him out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door to where Dario was waiting in a car with two local-looking men standing outside with machine guns slung over their shoulders and two men inside the car that looked more Italian than Mexican. Maybe they were from home. One stepped out of the back seat and Tommy ushered me in and stepped back. The man got back in beside me. I buckled my seatbelt. I saw Tommy’s brother standing beside him and they said a few words I didn’t hear and exchanged glances that I’d imagine had something to do with Tommy telling Dario to get home safely with me and Dario telling Tommy to clean house but carefully. They hugged briefly and I heard the trunk slam, then Dario opened the back door and signaled for the guy to get into the front so he could sit beside me.
The car drove away and I looked back and Tommy’s face had a hard, angry, steely look but then he caught me looking and gave me a thin smile. I smiled back, hoping that he’d make it home and hoping that what I’d seen from him in the past 12 hours had not been a mirage. I didn’t want to hope that he got his revenge but I did. I didn’t dwell on it for long but the idea of him fighting back was a little bit satisfying. I knew it wasn’t going to be all about me, probably more about holding a position of power and proving that he was stronger than those who took me to get to him but it was still a little bit satisfying and I suspected from the way he’d handled me in the past 12 or so hours that revenge would be at least a little bit about what was done to me.
The ride was thankfully uneventful and we got to a small private-looking airfield and boarded a private jet. Dario offered me a drink and a blanket and pillow. He told me I could lay down on one of the sofas and sleep if I was tired.
I took the pillow and blanket and thanked him and laid there but I didn’t sleep. I just sort of stared off into space, going over the past few days’ events in my head.
I caught him looking at me a few times. I didn’t know if it was curiosity, compassion, or what it was that was in his eyes but I didn’t feel uncomfortable around him today. I felt safe and it was a welcome feeling.
There were other men on the plane with us but they stayed to the opposite end of the sitting area, talking amongst themselves quietly. At one point I looked up and saw that they were watching a zombie slasher type movie and that Mexican actor was in it. He looked so much like that horrible man and I felt the tears well up again and I turned over and faced the back of the sofa so I couldn’t see the TV.
“You okay?” Dario leaned over me, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s okay, I’m okay.”
“You sure?”
“It’s stupid.”
“What’s stupid?”
“There’s an actor on that movie they’re watching that looks like one of the guys and the guy… hurt me.”
Dario’s face went ice cold, “Turn that fuckin’ shit off!” he hollered at the guys, making me jump.
He touched my shoulder, “Sorry, it’s okay.” He backed away to his seat and then stared out the window with his mouth in a tight line.
“I’m acting like a baby.” I said and wiped the tears away.
He looked a bit like Tommy but was not as tall and had fair hair and bluish gray eyes. His facial features were quite similar, at least the angry ones as I was now noticing. His jaw tightened and he stared out the window.
I closed my eyes, deciding to try to nap until we landed.
I woke up to him tapping my arm gently, “We’re here,
” he said.
Then he grabbed my suitcase and ushered me off the plane and into a waiting SUV. He signaled to the driver to get out. The driver got out and got into a black SUV parked behind it. It was just me and Dario in this vehicle.
After we left the airport he said, “I wanted a minute to talk to you.”
I looked at him expectantly but a little frightened because I had a feeling he was about to berate me for taking off on Tommy, for starting the chain of events that led to Mexico. I decided to cut him off at the pass, “Thank you for being so nice to me under the circumstances.”
“The circumstances?” he looked at me strangely.
“You know, since all this happened because I took off. You might not believe this but I hope and pray nothing happens to your brother because of it, because of me. I also wanted to tell you both, I didn’t get a chance to mention it to Tommy but they told me that if I didn’t cooperate they could easily take your pregnant sister. Maybe she needs someone to watch, needs some security.”
His jaw clenched. Then he furrowed his brows and shook his head, “Don’t do that. This isn’t your fault. Our family is under threat of some sort almost all the time. We go on living as normal because we need to in order to stay sane but believe this: this would’ve happened anyway, even if you hadn’t taken off from my sister. Earl was part of the plan and Tommy trusted him. He was Tommy’s number 1 for security for you so was the perfect person for the enemy to get to flip. Either he was planning this for a long time or that plan went into motion because he was allowed to be so close to you and it would’ve been pulled off sooner or later. The minute word got around that Tommy was getting married, that trigger got pulled. We’ve got extra security, don’t you worry. And I didn’t plan to talk to you about this part but don’t worry about my brother getting hurt; my brother is indestructible, trust me; he’ll be back tonight or tomorrow at the latest. He’ll hurry back for you. I wanted to talk to you about his feelings for you.”
I looked down at my hands.
“I know you were forced into the engagement. I also know that for some reason my brother fell head over heels almost instantly. I’m not saying ‘for some reason’ because I don’t think you’re a catch, you’re a beautiful girl, but this isn’t Tommy. He has access to an unlimited supply of beautiful girls who want him, who’d give their eye teeth to be engaged to him, knowing full well who he is and wanting the lifestyle that comes with it. I’m telling you he’s different with you. I know my brother might not seem like the relationship type and looking at the damage you did to his face I don’t think you took too well to your situation,” he laughed, “He will never live that down by the way, thank you.”
I grimaced.
“Sorry, very inappropriate. My point is that I know my brother can be a hard ass but I hope you’ll give things a chance with him because I think you could be good for him. Real good.”
We were pulling into the driveway of Tommy’s house already. The gate opened to let us in and when we stopped I saw the SUV behind us. There were four guards stationed at the gates.
“Thank you,” I said, “I’m, uh, hopeful. Things feel different.”
“Good. He is different. I’ve never seen him that affected by something. All he wanted was to get you out of there. We wouldn’t normally negotiate in a situation like that,” he added and looked at me with seriousness in his eyes. I nodded, the gravity sinking in even deeper as he confirmed what I already suspected, that Tommy normally wouldn’t have negotiated with kidnappers. If Tommy had just seen me as ‘property’ maybe I wouldn’t have been deemed worthy enough to have made it out of there. He could’ve replaced me easily. I’d been thinking a lot about that.
“He did not stop until he got you out of there. He barely ate or slept and was hell on wheels until he got you back. Tommy has a short fuse. He needs to work on that. I hope…I hope he does. For you. Try to be patient. You should know he’ll kill for you. I wouldn’t normally say this to anybody but given the situation I think I can tell you this and maybe it’ll give you some insight into who my brother is. He’s killing for you right now, Tia, I’m sure of it. If this were my father instead of Tommy, Pop would’ve sent someone to do it for him. But my brother? Tommy will do it himself.”
I shook my head, “I know it was probably a direct hit to his pride to have his so-called fiancée ---“
Dario cut me off, “Uh uh, Nope. This was more about you than about pride. I’m telling you, you’re not so-called. He’s all in.”
One of the guys who’d been in Mexico with us was at the car door, trying to get Dario’s attention. “One sec,” he said, and got out and spoke to the guy. Then he rolled his eyes, then motioned for me to get out, an amused look on his face, “The calvary has come,” he said. I didn’t know what he meant.
“My sisters and Pop’s wife. They’re here. Before we go in, Tommy doesn’t want you discussing things with them. They know a little, that you and Tommy had a fight, that you messed up his face, that you took off, and that you were kidnapped, but they don’t know other details. Okay? He also doesn’t want you to attempt to contact anyone by phone or to leave the safety of the house until he’s home and he’s had a chance to prep you. Alright?”
My eyes widened. Sisters, rules, craziness. I wished I could just go up and hide out in the bedroom and watch some brainless TV and decompress.
“Come, you’ll be fine. They just want to dote on you.”
The four women were in the family room but spilled out into to the hallway to greet me. There was Sarah, Tessa, and two others. One looked a lot like Tessa but about 6-7 months pregnant and the other looked around their age, too and she had long dark hair and was model tall and very beautiful. They were all very attractive. The pregnant one pulled me into an embrace, “I’m Luciana. They call me Luc, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Nice to meet you.”
The dark-haired one leaned over and air kissed both of my cheeks, “I’m Lisa, I guess I’ll be your mother-in-law soon?” They all cackled like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.
“Monster in law more like!” said Tessa, then she approached me warily. She’d stepped out of the embrace of one of the guys that’d been in Mexico with us. Clearly he was her husband. I eyed her apologetically and was about to speak. She shh’d me and pulled me into a hug and whispered, “Forget about it. Glad you’re okay.”
“Let the poor girl in!” Dario told them, “Give her some space!”
“Get outta here, you!” Luciana shoved at him, “Go home. We’ve got this.”
“Nope, got orders to stay here until Tommy is back. James, you can head out.”
James was Tessa’s husband, I guessed. He was the guy who’d signaled us at the car and he was in Mexico. Dressed in a dark suit, he was a tall, dark, good looking guy. He kissed Tessa on the lips briefly and whispered something in her ear and she nodded. Then he left.
The girls bodily pulled me into the kitchen where Sarah was putting a plate of sandwiches on the table. She put the plate down and then took me into her arms like I was her long lost child, “Look at you, Chiquita! Are you okay? We’re so glad you’re safe!”
I gave her a little smile, “I’m okay.”
Luciana sat down on a chair and picked up a sandwich, “So you were kidnapped and taken to Mexico? That must’ve been awful!”
“Shhh,” Lisa said, “Leave it.”
“Yes, leave it,” Tessa added, “She’s been through enough in the past few days. Let the girl relax.
Dario reached over and took a sandwich and then got a drink out of the fridge,
“Drink, Tia?”
“Thanks, just water,” I answered.
They all started to babble about things like food, about the size of Luc’s stomach, about the weather, about the last episode of the Bachelorette on TV. It was noisy, it was hectic, it was nice. It reminded me of Rose and Cal’s. I let out a long breath. I wondered how they were. I wondered about my Dad, too. Had Tommy followed him t
o the mall and then had someone hold him back? Had Tommy found me before my Dad got there? I still wanted to hear that explanation from my father about all of this. I’d talk to Tommy about contacting my Dad when he was back.
For the next few hours I listened the girls giggle and watched them eat the plate of sandwiches, then devour a fruit tray, and then eat a giant bag of pretzels. Sarah was right in there laughing and hooting and howling and Dario sat on the counter and shook his head mostly. I realized that no one had asked where Tommy was. Did they know he was taking care of business? Were they here to keep me company and pass the time so I wouldn’t be pacing the floors wondering if he was okay? Was he okay? What would happen to me if he wasn’t?
Tessa leaned over and patted my shoulder and illustrated some mind-reading skills, “He’ll be fine. That brother of ours is tougher than nails. Trust me! He’s tougher than Pop, even, and Pop is one tough motherfucker.”
The others were all nodding. This is exactly what they were doing. They were rallying together during a crisis. All of a sudden, Sarah held her cell phone in front of Lisa and Lisa squirmed, “That’s disgusting!”
Sarah almost tipped her chair over laughing so hard and I glanced over and realized she was still fixated on the picture of all the old men in the speedo bathing suits.
“Ah c’mon Lisa, we all know that’s what you’re into,” Dario said and everyone including Lisa started to laugh uncontrollably. I laughed too because it was pretty funny that they were all here laughing at the expense of Lisa’s husband, the girls’ and Dario’s father, a powerful mobster.
My back was to the entrance to the kitchen at this point and suddenly the room hushed. I saw everyone looking stone-faced past me. I looked back and Mr. Ferrano was in the doorway. He was in a black suit and looked solemn.
They all had a horrified look on their faces, like he was here with bad news.
Oh no. My belly dipped and not in a good way.
“What’s so fuckin’ funny?” he broke the tension, “Share. I like jokes.”