by Alora Kate
“Your roommate?” he guessed.
“Yes.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I couldn’t tell him what I asked her to do. She was just supposed to watch him and take some notes. It was silly really, but something about him bothered me and I’m a nosey person.
I hoped she drank her wine and passed out.
I called. No answer. “Marv honey, you better be passed out in your bed by the time I get home,” I warned when the voicemail beeped.
“Why are you worried about her?”
“Just a feeling.” I put my phone back in my clutch and grabbed his hand. I made up my mind. We were leaving but first things first. “I need to use the ladies room one last time.”
“You did have a few glasses of water tonight.”
“Like twenty,” I muttered while we walked a few more feet to the ladies’ room.
I had him hold my clutch while I used the restroom.
I worried about Marvey every day working at places I’d never step foot in. Not because of the establishment itself, because if my parents found out, I’d get lectured for it.
It wouldn’t look good for the family.
Marvey was a good friend. She was honest about life, about herself, and even though I give her shit most of the time, she’s perfect just the way she is. I love that she could be herself. I love that she could wear what she wanted to wear and not care about others’ opinions.
I didn’t even wear sweats to bed.
I shook my thoughts aside, dried my hands, and made sure my hair was still perfect.
I walked out of the ladies’ room and Kennedy was holding my phone.
“It rang.”
I grabbed it. “Was it her?”
“It said it was, but no one spoke.”
I called it right back and it only rang twice then went to voicemail. Now I was starting to panic.
“I need to go home.”
He saw my urgency and put his elbow out for me. I hooked my arm and we walked back to the table on a mission. I smiled liked the good daughter I was and let him do all the talking.
“If you’ll excuse us,” he told our parents. “We’re calling it a night.”
“Okay dear,” his mother said standing and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You two have a wonderful night.”
She wanted grandkids.
She wasn’t getting them until after we were married, though. Kennedy and I were still virgins. We fooled around with each other but were raised to wait until our wedding night before we actually had sex. We should have been married by now, but I stood up to my parents when I was a senior in high school and begged them to push the wedding off until I graduated college. I wanted to live on my own, have some kind of life before I was married with kids. For some reason, Kennedy’s parents agreed. I figured that was my one and only chance to stand up for myself and haven’t pushed my luck any further. The time flew by and now I graduate in a few weeks. At that time, the wedding plans would be finalized and we’d be married before the end of the year.
Then kids.
I would a wife.
A mother.
That’s it.
Arm candy, as Marvey calls it.
I don’t even have a hobby!
My father shook hands with Kennedy and I gave my mother a quick kiss on the cheek before we left. We stepped outside and starting walking down the massive steps that lined the front of the building, and Kennedy made the call to his driver. His driver, Marcus, wouldn’t be that far away, he never was and would take me home right away.
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“I’d do anything for you, Sofia, besides I was getting bored.”
“This one lasted longer than most.”
I honestly couldn’t keep track of the fundraisers and dinners we’ve attended over the years, but most were about helping needy children or raising money for cancer.
“Our parents feel the need to make everyone happy.”
I could only smile in agreement. I don’t talk to him about my real feelings because I’m not sure how he’d take it. I was keeping things from my best friend, from my future husband.
“You want company tonight? We could watch a movie and hang out.”
“I don’t think tonight’s going to work, Kenny. I’m sorry.”
He stopped halfway down the steps and pulled me into his arms. Mine were between us and he ran a hand up my back and stopped behind my neck. “I love it when you call me that.”
“I know you do, Kenny,” I said softly, staring into his light brown eyes.
He deserved to be happy and I would do what I could to make that happen, even if I had doubts about us. I called him Kenny when we were children. The older we got, the more my father told me it was silly and that I needed to use his proper name. I only called him Kenny in private.
He kissed me. With tongue. Something else we weren’t allowed to do in public, but our parents weren’t around. His kisses always held a promise, a purpose. We were always in sync with each other, making me feel safe and wanted.
“I’d kiss you all day if I could,” he said breathlessly against my lips.
“I’d probably let you,” I teased back. Just because I had my doubts didn’t mean I didn’t love and respect the man, because I do. My thoughts and feelings don’t make sense most of the time and I’m torn between them.
He glanced down the steps and saw the limo pull up. “Let’s get you home.”
We were halfway down the steps when I felt my phone buzz in my clutch. I stopped, pulled it out, and answered it as soon as I saw Marvey’s face on the screen. When I asked her to send me a picture for her phone contact, she snapped a selfie with her tongue sticking out. It always made me smile.
“Marv honey, are you okay?”
“This isn’t Marvey,” a deep man’s voice said, irritated.
“Who’s this?”
“A friend.”
“Hah! Marvey doesn’t have any friends.”
Something was wrong. I held my hand over the bottom of the phone and told Kennedy to call 911.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the man said.
I glanced up and down the block. “Do what?”
“Tell the boytoy to put his phone away.”
He could see us. “Where are you?!” I yelled. I started walking around looking further down the street, across the street, searching for a man on a cell phone. But it was dark and I didn’t see many people out walking, just cars driving by.
“What’s going on?” Kennedy asked when I shook my finger at him.
“The question is,” the man continued, “why are you having me followed? Who do you work for?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Latch,” he grunted into the phone and my heart stopped. He knew that I would know his name! But how and why?
Shit! What the hell was going on? What did Marvey do? She was supposed to watch him from the apartment, not follow him or talk to him!
“Where’s Marvey?” I hissed into the phone. “If you hurt her I swear to-”
“Answer the question, Sofia Blackstill. Why are you having me followed? And by an amateur? Clearly, you’re way out of your league.”
He knew my full name.
Kennedy kept staring at me, concerned, trying to get my attention.
I didn’t know what to do.
“Look, I know who you are. A spoiled little daddy’s girl. The man you’re with is Kennedy Weston, your soon-to-be husband. You’ll get married, have some kids, and no one will think twice about you. So again Sofia I ask, why the fuck are you following me?”
Rage.
Pure fucking rage.
I heard tires squealing like someone had just slammed on their breaks. I jerked my head to the vehicle, a black SUV, larger than mine with all tinted windows.
“You in the SUV?” I asked while marching towards it. “Me responda.” I insisted he answer me in Portuguese.
Before he could answer, before I could gr
asp the situation, the passenger window slid down only to see a man with a black mask was already pointing a gun at us.
“Sofia!”
I felt my body jerk backward.
Bang!
We fell to the ground.
Kennedy on top of me.
Bang!
Kennedy’s body jerked.
Bang!
My ears were ringing so loud by this point I couldn’t even hear myself screaming but I knew I was.
“Fuck!” he cursed laying on top of me.
“Oh my God!” I felt the warm blood soaking into my dress by my belly. “They shot you!”
He rolled over and had his hands at his side, covering his wound. “Fuuuuuck!” he cursed again in pain.
“I’ll call 911,” I said getting on my knees.
Keep it together.
Stay calm.
But it was dark. I couldn’t see where my phone had landed. I tried to ignore the fact I was crying, but the tears sliding down my cheeks wouldn’t let me.
“The phone Kenny, I can’t find it.”
He grunted, “My pocket.”
Blood was everywhere. I was afraid to touch him.
“I’m bleeding here babe, hurry it up.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
He laughed but it quickly turned painful. “Not going to get any worse.”
I slipped my hand in his pocket, heard sirens in the distance, and then two men approached us. I recognized Latch right away while the other man grabbed me, pulling me to my feet.
“Let’s go,” the other man said, pulling on my arm. “Now!”
“You shot at me!”
“I didn’t shoot at you!” Latch yelled back while the other man was pulling me away.
“He needs to get to a hospital!”
“I’ve got him,” Latch said kneeling down next to Kennedy. He pulled his shirt up and I heard them talking as I was shoved inside a van.
What the hell.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, fear threatening to take over my body.
“You’re coming with us.”
I opened my mouth and let out the best scream I could but it his large hand covered it quickly. He yanked me towards him and whispered in my ear, “Seems like someone tried to kill you tonight. It’s best you sit your pretty little ass in here and let us deal with this shit. We’ll get the boy to the hospital and make sure he’s safe.”
I nodded.
Holy shit.
I did as I was told, again.
Was someone really trying to kill me?
I crawled to the back of the van where I could look out the back window. My abductor, savior, whatever the hell he was, walked back over to Kennedy as EMTs ran to his side. I couldn’t see what the EMTs were doing, but noticed he and Latch were in deep conversations off to the side of Kennedy. Another man joined them, an older shorter man with a large waist and soon there were people everywhere.
I realized then I didn’t have a phone or my purse. “Shit!” I must have dropped it. Or maybe he took it. “What the hell did you do Marvey?”
They got Kennedy on the stretcher and I watched them slide him into the back of the ambulance.
I was crying.
He protected me, took a bullet for me, and was being rushed to the hospital without me.
People were spilling out from the dinner party, including our parents. I saw Caroline, Kennedy’s mom, rush down the stairs like she knew it was her son that was hurt. The ambulance was gone, but the short fat man went to talk to her as Latch and his partner started walking towards the van.
He had Marvey’s phone.
He must have Marvey.
Why the fuck did he have her?
The van had a shitty ass extra seat I sat in. I starting digging around for some kind of weapon but I was too late. I’m so stupid!
Latch crawled into the passenger seat and the other man drove.
“Put your seatbelt on,” Latch growled at me.
“Are you fucking kidding me!?” I yelled while buckling up. “I want to be with Kennedy.”
“If you want to live, you’ll shut the fuck up.”
“I want answers,” I yelled.
“So do I,” Latch barked twisting in the seat. “Who are you?”
“You know who I am,” I stated, glaring at him in the darkness. “You told me all about that on the phone before someone shot at me!”
“Your boytoy will survive, just some flesh wounds.”
“Why would they shoot at me?” The tears were piling up again.
“I don’t know, but you’re now in our care and we’ll make sure someone’s keeping an eye on the boy.”
That was good to know but I still preferred to be with Kennedy than these animals.
“He’s a man,” I said firmly but was ignored.
“Why’s your girl following me?”
I’ve been told what to do my whole life. Wear this. Eat this. Sit up straight. I’m told when to talk and when not to talk. I’m told what to wear and what not to wear. I don’t have any kind of life. No fucking life. Every part of it is controlled. Even when I’m home alone.
I’m trained.
Well, fuck this.
And fuck them.
I said nothing.
Just stared out the windshield. We were driving north out of town. I should have paid attention to where we were going but my thoughts shifted to Kennedy.
He took a bullet for me, and my feelings and thoughts were bouncing around my head.
My parents. What did they tell my parents? As much as I wanted to know I didn’t ask. Maybe this would snap some sense into them.
The men were silent the rest of the drive but Latch was texting on his phone. No music, just the sounds of the van driving down the road. Eventually, we ended up on a dirt road.
Fear spiked and adrenaline was pumping through my body as the van slowed down in front of a little ranch house. Latch helped me out the side of the van and glanced down at my dress.
My white dress now had large splotches of blood covering the fabric.
“Oh God,” I cried. “Kennedy.”
“Shit. Get her in the house.”
“He’s hurt,” I cried. “I need to leave. Eu presciso sair.” I got the seatbelt off and rushed out of the van.
“In the house,” the other man said softly and pointed towards it like I needed help.
“Kennedy,” I whispered.
“He’s fine,” Latch said.
“I want to see him.”
“Not yet.”
“I don’t like you!” I stomped away. Some man was sitting on the steps smoking and I asked, “Who are you?”
He laughed.
Fucker.
“Sofia?” a familiar voice asked.
I glanced up and saw Marvey standing on the porch. We rushed to each other and I cried harder.
“They shot Kennedy,” I cried. “He’s bleeding.”
“Who shot him?”
“I don’t…”
“It’s okay. Come inside with me and we’ll talk.”
Kennedy
Everything happened so fast. It was a blur but in the end, I was bleeding. After the SUV carrying the men who shot at us drove off, two men approached. One took Sofia, and one kneeled at my side.
“You’ll live,” he stated simply, checking me over.
“Why are you taking her?”
“Someone just tried to kill her.”
Pain shot through my side and I held myself tighter trying to prevent more blood flow. I could hear sirens in the background, and I glanced at the dark van and saw the other man open the door for Sofia.
“Shit,” I grunted.
“Try not to move,” he said, and it almost sounded like he was concerned. “We’ll keep Sofia safe while you get looked over.”
“Who are you?”
“Someone you can trust.”
“Police?” I asked.
“My uncle is Detective Smith. I’ll let him k
now Sofia is safe and when I can, I’ll be in touch with you. Don’t talk to the press, and carry a gun if you can.”
“I don’t like this.”
“Trust me, neither do I, but if you want to keep your woman safe, this is how it’ll be.”
“What do I tell her parents?”
“That she’s safe.”
He stood and walked off when the EMTs arrived. They lifted me onto the stretcher and could hear my mother yelling my name as they loaded me up in the back of the ambulance. I had no option but to go without Sofia. The man never told me his name nor did he answer my question. I didn’t like it one bit, but I was in a lot of pain and the medicine they just pushed through my IV was hitting me hard.
“You’ll be okay,” the EMT said. “Might need surgery, but we’ll see what they say when we get there.”
I felt my body start to relax and I was no longer holding my side.
Sofia. The love of my life, the sweetest woman I knew, was in danger and I couldn’t protect her. I’ve only ever wanted Sofia. Always had eyes for her. I didn’t care that we had been told, this was our life. I knew I wanted her the moment I was born.
Why would anyone want to kill her?
Chapter 4 – Randy
I sat on the steps smoking my cigarette and watched the clouds slowly roll through the night sky, sometimes giving me a peek at the stars. The combination of the two kept me calm and centered. It helped to remind me that I’m still alive.
I’ve never made good choices growing up. Never. I did things. Bad things. And I’ve seen even worse. I hated the memories that I’ve put in my head, never being able to let them go. Never being able to forget.
I’ll never be able to do enough good things in my life to offset all the bad shit I’ve done.
I wasted my life away. All those years wasted, with no chance of changing them.
Until last year.
I decided that after the events of the day, I needed two cigarettes. It was also a bonus of staying outside so I could listen to the conversation happening on the porch. Half the time Latch and Jaxon forget I’m even here. I knew things I shouldn’t know but it wasn’t like I could tell anyone.
No communication.
No reception, not even cable television.
I watched movies, cooked, and exercised my days away.