Heart of Ice

by Jalissa Pastorius

  “Where’s mother?” she asked.

  “Don’t worry about it. Now move your ass!” he roared at her. Christina ducked and moved quickly to the bathroom. She would admit that it felt good to finally get the grime off her. She put on the new underwear and clothing. It felt amazing on her skin. Maybe, god had heard her prayers. There was hope, it felt like the heavens had opened up and light was finally shining down on her poor withered soul. Her heart raced in her chest. She left out of the bathroom with a huge smile on her face.

  “Christina come here.” Her father yelled. When she entered the den area, she saw her father talking with a man. Her father had that gleam in his eyes. A brief case was on his desk.

  “Is fifty grand enough. I’ll expect you to remain discreet about this.”

  “Of course,” he father said rubbing his hands together. Christina looked him over. She got her black hair from her father and her grey eyes from her mother. Her father had brown eyes. She had read somewhere that brown eyes were so supposed to be warm and inviting, but his—they remained dead. The only time they became lively was when dealing with money.

  “Christina, this nice man would like to spend some time with you.” It was then that she realized what was going on. No. Surely her father wouldn’t sink that low. She backed away from him slowly.

  “Where’s mother?”

  “I said come here! You will do as you’re told!”

  “Let go!” she screamed. He pulled her close so that she was leaning over the desk. Christina’s eyes darted around the room. She saw the expensive ball point pen neatly in its holder. Even a ball point pen had more value than she did. In a fit of rage she snatched it up and stabbed him in the neck. She hit a major artery. Blood squirted from his neck onto her when she removed the pen. She turned her sights onto the man.

  “Stay away from me!” she roared before running out of the room.

  “Ah, I always thought he had it too good. I can keep you for myself.” He said as he tackled her to the grounded. Christina cried and screamed. Her heart raced rapidly in her chest, she thought it was going run away. It was physically impossible to get him off. She could see her hope dying. Her light dimmed becoming a speckle in the dark.

  “Mother!” she screamed. It was all she had left. She was surprised when a woman’s screeched joined her own.

  “Get away from her!”

  Christina sobbed in relief as her mom pushed the man aside. He wasn’t done yet. He began to beat her mother repeatedly.

  “I did not spend fifty grand for this shit!” he roared furiously. After silencing her mother, he moved towards her once more. Christina raced towards the kitchen. He was gaining on her. She would never escape. She grabbed the closest thing to her. She had read about it countless of times. This was life or death; she knew where to hit him. She only had one shot, turning around she screamed as she shoved the steak knife as hard she could into his chest hitting him in the heart. Blood rushed from his mouth. He fell forward onto her. Christina shook as the light left his eyes. He was dead.

  She was too weak to move the body. She cried as she smelt the bowels release. She was exhausted now that the adrenaline rush was over. She welcomed the darkness.

  Christina jerked awake. She rushed past a shock Sarah to the bathroom and vomited. He knew. Matt knew. She couldn’t stop shaking. How did he find out? They assured her that no one would ever know. She never wanted to remember that night.

  “Christina are you alright?” Sarah asked.

  “He knows, he knows.”

  “Calm down honey. Breathe. It can’t be that bad.”

  “I killed my father.”

  It was the first time in a long time that she stunned Sarah into silence. Sarah didn’t know what to make of it, but the fact that Christina hadn’t been convicted must’ve meant that she was innocent. She couldn’t believe her friend had experienced something like that.

  “Well figure it out.”

  ***

  Charlie was flipping through his phone. Christina had sent him some pictures of her and Sarah in Cornwall. He smiled at the pair. It was then that he realized Christina had given him the address to the place she’d been staying. It looked vaguely familiar. He decided to get his car and take a drive. It was late; Martha had been busy packing things up. He debated about selling the place. In the end, he decided to hold on to it. Just in case Christina decided to returned to the city. Charles navigated through the city, it was then he realized who the address belonged to. No. It was impossible. He was going to kill that boy!

  Chapter 23

  Christina laid on the couch as Sarah rubbed her belly.

  “You’re getting so big!” Sarah giggled massaging her stomach.

  “Thanks, it’s what everyone woman wants to hear. How fat she is.” Christina griped. She felt good about finally telling Sarah about her past. It felt great to not have anyone judge her or look at her in pity.

  “How far along are you now?” Sarah asked.

  “About sixteen weeks.”

  “That means you should be figuring out the gender of the baby by now.”

  “Yep, I’ve already made an appointment. I see the doctor tomorrow.”

  “Good. I hate to bring it up, but shouldn’t you call him?”

  “No.” Why would Sarah bring that up? What if he tried to take the babies from her or something?

  “Christina, this thing has got to stop. You need to tell him. It was secrets that got you in trouble the first time.” Sarah said exasperatedly.

  “No, he’s dangerous, especially if he couldn’t control his temper. I wouldn’t have that around my babies.”

  “They’re not only yours Christina, they are his children too. Listen to me, Matt has a look in his eyes. He’s been hurt before.”

  “I know he’s broken. I was trying to fix him,” she said, she didn’t know what happened to make him that way, but she had vowed to fix it. Right now, she could care less.

  “God you’re so naïve!” Sarah shouted at her friend. Matt was completely wrong, but if he’d been hurt by a woman in the past he probably thought Christina was doing the same. She saw the loving look on his face, whenever he looked at her friend. Sarah could tell this was Christina’s chance at true love.

  “Now you’re on his side,” Christina said tears welling in her eyes. Sarah couldn’t take it, not the crocodile tears.

  “It’s so obvious, for you to be so smart you can be obtuse! He was hurt by a woman Christina! Don’t you see? He’s terrified of you leaving him!” Sarah screeched at her. She hated making her pregnant friend cry.

  “I’m sorry. I just want you to be happy, and you must admit. He makes you happy.”

  “Okay, after the doctor’s appointment. I’ll call him.” She sniffed.

  “Good.” Sarah said feeling better.

  “What would I do without you?” Christina asked hugging her friend.

  ***

  Christina left the doctor’s office. She couldn’t believe it. She was having a boy and a girl. She wondered how they would look. Would they have her eyes or Matt’s? Her heart stuttered in her chest at the thought of a little boy running around. She couldn’t wait to tell Charlie and Martha. Christina was bigger than the average pregnant woman because of the twins. She was well into her second trimester. The doctor had warned her that premature birth was normal for women carrying multiple babies. He kept a close eye on her. She sat on a patio sipping tea. She made sure that it was caffeine free. The people in the café was so sweet to her. Christina glowed. She just had to work up the nerve to call Matt and tell him the news.

  It was then she spotted a familiar face in the crowd. No! He couldn’t be here. How did he find her? The same way Matt found out about her past. She wasn’t ready. She got up and tried to avoid him.

  “Christina!” he shouted moving towards her. She walked faster away from him. If he was here that meant Matt was here too.

  “Wait a minute,” Collum said as he grabbed her by the shoulder. It took h
im two months to find her. When he turned her around to face him, words escaped him. He stared down in shock at her round belly.

  “I don’t know a Christina.” She huffed out.

  “Excuse me, Tina Washington.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Does he know?” he asked looking pointedly at her stomach. Christina didn’t trust Collum.

  “Why do you think he kicked me out? Assaulted me and almost killed my babies.” Collum went pale. This was his fault. Did she really think that was the reason Matt kicked her out? Wait a minute, did she just say babies.

  “Babies?”

  “Not your concern.”

  “Christina I think there was a misunderstanding,” he started off. Rubbing his hand through his hair.

  “Don’t. I don’t want to hear it. He didn’t want me or his babies.” She said getting up from the table.

  “Christina wait! He hasn’t been himself. He’s sick with grief. Please, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t serious.”

  “I don’t need a guilt trip Collum; you didn’t see him that day. I won’t subject myself or the babies to it.” She started to walk away from Collum.

  “It was a woman. Natalia.” He shouted out. Collum may not have known what happened in her past, but he was beyond grief right now. It hurt Matt more to have Christina away from him. Collum would do anything to get her to return to New York. So he did the only thing he could, blab about Matt’s past. He swore after this, he was going to stay out of his friend’s affairs. He shouldn’t have went digging anyway.

  Christina paused in her steps. Damn. He had her and he knew it. Her heart still ached for Matt, but the fear for her babies kept her away. She never seen him lose control like that before. It was completely different from the way he was when they were intimate.

  ***

  Matt finally gave up. He worked up the nerve to enter his own bedroom. Christina’s imprint was everywhere. He had refused to enter the bedroom. Christina grey eyes were still painted on the ceiling. He wanted her back. God, they could have talked it out. If he thought about it, he would have realized that there had to be a story or a reason why she did it. She wasn’t in jail. He was so afraid of her using him and leaving that he held onto any excuse to push her away. He made the bed. He hung her silk robe up in the closet. It was then that he saw the purse on the floor. He cried picking it up. She really was gone. He opened it up hoping to find a memento of some sort. His hand ran into a box. He pulled it out.

  His hand began to shake. Why would this be in her purse? He pulled the test out and looked at it. A positive result. She was pregnant. She was pregnant the whole time. A scream tore from Matt’s throat. Sobs wreaked his body. That’s why she was holding her stomach. She probably thought he kicked her out because of the pregnancy test. Her past was probably the last thing from her mind. He had to find her. She was having his baby. He was going to be a father. Matt stood staring at the pregnancy test not really seeing it at all. He remembered putting her out in the rain.

  It was in that same spot that Charles found him.

  “What did you do?!” he roared at Matt.

  “I didn’t know!” Matt cried. Charles moved swiftly grabbing Matt by the throat and shoving him against the wall.

  “I should kill you! You hurt her! I thought I taught you better than that.” He roared. Charles was hurt. Matt and Collum were nothing but young teen boys. He was the leader of their little group. Seeing adult eyes on children so young, he took them under his wing. Taught them everything he knew. They were like his sons. He was hurt when they returned to their families. They had families, where he did not. They were his first dream at having children. Martha was going through a tough time, and the boys although killers made her feel better. It was uncommon what he did, especially among mercenaries. But he saw loneliness in their eyes that matched his own. He felt his hand tighten around Matt’s throat, he could easily crush it. The sounds of his last breaths leaving his body would satisfy the rage roaring through his veins.

  “Then kill me,” Matt cried out. He heart bled so much. He bled for her. Charles relaxed his grip. Tears were in his own eyes. Matt was like a son to him. It hurt him to cause him pain, but he remembered Christina pregnant alone and in the rain.

  “Damn brat! I can’t! You stupid child!” He roared. Matt coughed as he sank to the ground. It seemed Charles was still as strong as he was years ago. Rubbing his throat, he tried to talk.

  “Explain yourself. You’re lucky I didn’t crush your larynx.”

  “Collum dung up some files. Christina was involved in a double homicide regarding her father. I thought,”

  “You didn’t think!”

  “I didn’t know she was pregnant. I just found out. I found the pregnancy test in her purse. Old man, even if she was a murder I wouldn’t care. I thought she was planning to make me fall in love with her and then kill me. I thought she was going to use me.”

  “Son, don’t say anymore.” Charles said putting his hand on Matt’s shoulders. The boy never known love until he showed up and became a part of his little group, even then. It wasn’t the type of love he could give him.

  “It was too good to be true. Mother, Natalia, someone like Christina didn’t exist. Then I became so desperate. After she left, I figured I didn’t care anymore. Any kind of love was better than none. I would give her my money, as long as she stayed. I was going to go to her, but Collum talked me out of it. I told him what I planned to do. We got into a fight.”

  “I bet that was a sight to see. Who won?”

  “It was a tie. I haven’t seen him since.” Matt threw his head up and looked at the ceiling. Christina’s face looked back at him. He hadn’t realized the tears were running down his face again.

  “Old man, I messed up big time.”

  Charles looked up at the ceiling and smiled when he saw little Christina’s face staring down at him.

  “Do you love her?”

  “With everything I am.”

  “Then I’ll do you this last favor. Hurt her again, and I wouldn’t hesitate.” Charles said getting up and slipping Matt a piece of paper.

  “One more thing boy, how did you find out about Christina past?”

  “Collum went digging around. He couldn’t get clearance. He wanted to bring you in on it, but I told him no. I didn’t want to resort to that sort of thing. I don’t know any more than what I told you.”

  “Very well.”

  He turned on his heel and exited the penthouse. It was time he did some digging himself. Charles knew she would be upset, but in the long run she would be happy. Matt reminded him of himself. He desperately craved a family of his own. Christina was going to be able to give him one. She really didn’t have any idea, how much of a blessing she was to them. What he had to do was get a hold of meddling Collum, and scold him. Matt needed to make his own decisions.

  Chapter 24

  Sarah returned to the table with their order, only to see Collum in her spot.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked stiffly.

  Collum looked up at the gorgeous blonde and stood up. He returned her seat.

  “I came here to convince Christina to go back.”

  “Already been there and done that,” Sarah said smugly.

  “What? And here I was getting ready to spill Matt’s secrets.”

  “She hasn’t committed fully,” Sarah said with wide eyes. Collum groaned. He could get used to looking in those eyes.

  “As I was saying,” he said pulling up a chair.

  “Natalia was the woman he was previously engaged to. I never liked the wench. She was always trying to pressure Matt into marriage.”

  “Looks like she succeeded,” Christina said with jealousy racing through her veins.

  “Not really, I had been doing some digging. It’s a bad habit I know I needed to get out of.” He said after the women shot evil glares his way.

  “His whole life, Matt’s been rejected. He sought love and support. I’m sure yo
u understand Christina.” Collum said looking at her. Christina nodded. She remember the horrible childhood Matt had.

  “Natalia was a means to an ended. He had just turned his family’s company into a billion dollar industry. Matt still doesn’t realize it; that he’s still seeking approval from his mother. She’s a cold horrible bitch. The night he went home to propose he found her screwing another man. It was the first time I seen him cry.” Collum said shaking his head.

  “That’s horrible!” Christina yelled. But it made sense. Why he insisted that she belonged to him. Why he behaved the way he did. It didn’t excuse his actions but she could better understand him. It was women who’d essentially broken Matt.

  “Christina partially is my fault. When Matt told me he would sign away all his billions as long as you remained at his side, it made me realize how desperately he loved you. He tried to go to you, but I stopped him.” Christina watched as Collum put his head in his hands.

  “All I ever wanted to do was protect him. He was so mad at me we got into a physical fist fight.” I’ve never seen him so angry before. Looking at Collum’s pathetic form, Christina gave Sarah a knowing look. It was time to go back.

  ***

  Matt was so angry. Where the hell did Collum disappeared to? He needed someone he could trust to keep an eye out on the company. He tapped his pen impatiently as he tried to devise a plan of action. He looked up as Charles entered his office.

  “Go boy, I’m capable of running this place why your gone. You don’t have a second to lose.” Charles said looking at Matt. If he was right, he bet Collum had already found the girl. He was their little group best tracker.