See my mom is evil, she wants me to marry well, but she wants me thin. I can’t help it, I’m curvy, I have a flat stomach and wide hips and big breasts. I’m the odd one out in my family. I’m constantly belittled, always the butt of everyone’s jokes.
I thought if I could get Nathan, my family would back off, they would leave me alone, now I’ll never get that chance.
“Beautiful ladies should not cry.” I turn towards the heavily accented voice; I see an Arab man. His face is scarred, he’s wearing normal clothing, a shirt and pants. I take a closer look at his face, it’s familiar, it clicks, that is the face I’ve seen every day for the past two months. It’s the man that is on the board at P.I.G.S. He comes closer to me.
“Do you know who I am?” He asks me, he has moved closer. I can only nod. He places his hand on my face, I look into his eyes, and he is handsome, frightening, but handsome.
“Beautiful lady, I am Mullah Al Mohammed, I’m not to be feared, you have it all wrong. Your boss is after me because of his lady. She has told him many lies. I am not here to harm anyone. I love this country, but the lies this lady tells, I am now being targeted.” That evil bitch, how dare she!
“I’ll tell them for you.” He gives me a small smile.
“Ah, Beautiful lady, you’re so very naive, it is a good feature, but also a downfall. They will not listen to you; they will believe her. I just saw your beauty; I didn’t want you to be afraid of me. I’ll leave you now. Have a nice evening.”
“No, you’re fine, I want to spend time with you, and you’re not evil, you’re being persecuted, just as I am by her.” He takes a hold of my hand.
“Why are you being persecuted?” I look at the ground, I lie, I don’t want this handsome man to think I’m a slut.
“She thought I wanted my boss, I didn’t, I just worked extra hard, and she got me fired.” He gets this angry look in his eyes.
“That woman is despicable. She needs to be taught a lesson. You do not deserve her persecution.” I smile at him.
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you, beautiful lady, you have shown me great kindness. Allow me to take you to dinner.” I nod, hoping this sexy man will bring me home with him, I haven’t had sex in a while.
“That would be amazing.” We start walking, he turns to me.
“We will get our revenge against Sophia Dallas.” He says with so much confidence that I know he isn’t messing around, he will do everything he can to make her pay.
Good, the fucking bitch, she took away my chance at happiness, I have no one, I won’t go back home to my parents and have my mom tell me I’m not allowed to eat. I won’t be bullied for the way I look.
Chapter Twenty
Sophia
I make it home without killing Nathan, the idiot, he doesn’t know why I’m pissed, he called me a crazy fucking bitch. He can fuck off, how he doesn’t know what he’s done wrong I’ll never know. I’m pissed that he didn’t follow me home. I walk into my house and turn on the lights. I love this house so much. I go and pour myself a glass of water. I turn on the radio and hear “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber. I absolutely am in love with this song. I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a Belieber. I grab the mail and walk to the living room. Once I sit in the living room, I open all my mail. The last one is the one that sets me on edge.
I came for you. You are the only one to survive me. You won’t escape me for long. I know everything about you Sophia. I will not rest until I have finally killed you. Like I killed your friend. You cried for him, who will cry for you? I will see you soon.
No it can’t be; my mind is racing. Oh god, how can he be here? I rush to the front door and look out. I rush upstairs and pull out my Beretta M9. How the hell did he enter the U.S? Just thinking about him makes me feel nauseas. I run to the bathroom and throw up. Once I have thrown up all the food I just ate, I’m dry heaving, there is nothing left in me. I hate feeling like this, that man didn’t break me, he couldn’t break me. I’m not going to let him dictate my life, I’m not going to live in fear of him. Once I’m finished throwing up, I wash up, get changed and call the Serge. He answers on the second ring. I don’t let him speak.
“Sarge, I need your help. I have a problem.” I hear clothes rustling.
“Where are you?” I do a mental sigh in relief.
“My new place.” I hear him closing a door.
“Be there in 15.” he hangs up. Those fifteen minutes are like torture.
“What’s wrong Soph, this isn’t like you, you never ask for help.” He’s right, I hate asking for help. I hate feeling like a burden to people; I had enough of that when I was little. I know I’m stubborn. I walk Sarge to the living room and show him the letter.
“I opened this tonight, I don’t know how long I’ve had it, I hadn’t been at dads in about two months.” Sarge reads it, his eyes tighten, his jaw clenched.
“It can’t be who I think it is, Sarge, it can’t be.” He looks at me. He walks over and does something he’s never done before, he wraps his arms around me and hugs me.
“He is not going to get you; I won’t let him Soph. Just like we never gave him the chance to do to you what he had done to all his other victims. I have to tell you something, what happened in Afghanistan, it shouldn’t have happened, but especially not to you. I’m sorry I didn’t help you sooner; I’ll live with what you went through for the rest of my life Soph. I really am sorry.”
I hug him. “Sarge, you have nothing to be sorry about, you were tied to a chair watching everything they did to me. They weren’t just torturing me, they tortured the rest of you as well. I don’t blame you for any of what happened, I rather it happened to me than any of you. But Sarge, call me a victim again, I’ll junk punch you.” He chuckles.
“I’m glad you’re still the same old Soph. I have your back, no matter what. I’m going to ring the team and get them all here.” I nod.
“You’re on a roll tonight Sarge, first you call me a victim, and then you call me old; do you have a death wish?” He laughs and walks out of the room. I get my laptop out, I need information. I may not be as good as Oscar, let’s face it no one is, but I know how to get information I need.
Sarge comes back in a few minutes later “They are all on their way now. I say Sam will be the first here, you know what he’s like. Anyone threatens his family he goes gonzo. I’m going to have to reign his ass in. I didn’t give them much, just told them you were in trouble and had been threatened.” I sigh.
“Sarge, there is something you need to know before everyone gets here. Once I tell you, no one else is allowed to know. There are only a few people that know.” He laughs.
“Let me guess, you’re pregnant?” he’s chuckling away to himself. Once he notices I’m not laughing with him, he stops.
“No fucking way, Soph. You’re pregnant?” I nod, his face has such a look of awe to it that I cannot speak, that and the fact I’m in shock that he’s said more than ten words.
“How far along are you?”
“I’m about eight weeks, were not meant to tell anyone until we hit the twelve-week mark.” He nods.
“I understand; I won’t tell a soul.”
“Thanks.” He smiles and hugs me for the second time in as many minutes.
“Are you okay Sarge?” he looks at me with a raised brow.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” I just shake my head.
“Just checking.”
The rest of the team arrives, and Sarge was right, Sam was the first one to arrive and he did need to be reined in. Oscar followed next then Doc then Skye.
We all gather in the living room and Sarge speaks:
“We believe Mullah Al Mohammed has somehow entered the United States, Sophia received an anonymous letter. It sounds like it’s from him.”
He passes the letter around, everyone looks pissed, and Oscar gets on his laptop. Everyone starts speaking at once. Sarge whistles, it’s an ear piercing sound. We’re so used to it that we don’t fli
nch at the sound, we just shut up and listen to what he has to say.
“One person at a time, you act like children.” He’s so serious.
“Does that make you the daddy?” Sam asks and we all laugh.
“If I were your daddy Sam, I would have killed you a long time ago.”
“Ok all jokes aside, are you okay Soph? I mean that man is a fucking Sadistic fucker.” Sam asks and I nod. I’ve really missed these guys.
“Yeah, I just need to know, I need to know for definite if it is him.” I say, I hate that my vulnerability is showing. Oscar clears his throat.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Mullah Al Mohammed popped up on the FBI’s radar. He definitely entered the United States. In fact, he’s been here for over two months. The FBI has put their counter-terrorism department on it. They seem to have also brought in an outside source to help, although I haven’t been able to identify who that source is as of yet.” Oscar says and gives me an apologetic look, I nod. I knew it had to have been him, who else is that freaking twisted.
My eyes start tearing up, I’m fucking scared, I don’t think I could survive being tortured again. I’m also so confused. I don’t understand why I’m the only one he’s after. I look around the room and see everyone is staring at me, Skye and Caleb seem deep in thought.
“You okay Soph? You don’t look good.” I look to Sam when he asks me, he looks tired, and he also looks worried.
“I don’t understand Sam, why am I the only one he’s after? I mean we were all in that cell, we were all subjected to torture. So what makes me so fucking special?” I ask and my façade crumbles. I’m crying now, I have never cried in front of them before, not even when I was being tortured. It’s Sam that walks over to me and hugs me, trying to stop me crying.
“Soph, he’s after you because he physically tortured you, you were fucking amazing and you didn’t break once. He’s after you because he failed. Yes, you’re special; you’re special to us, because we all love you. We all have you’re back, and this fucking asshole isn’t going to touch you again.” The rest of the guys are nodding.
“He’s right Soph, we have your back.” That’s all Sarge says, he walks into the kitchen, comes back with a beer for everyone, I on the other hand get given a glass of water. Sarge smirks and winks at me, the ass.
We’re strategizing, figuring out our plan of attack, we want to go in on the offensive. We want him on the back foot not us.
“Where are you staying tonight?” My head turns in Sarge’s direction and answer his question.
“Here.” He starts shaking his head I know where this is heading.
“No, he sent the letter to my dad’s house, not here. He won’t drive me out of my own home.”
“Fine, I understand that but that means I’m staying, unless you have another idea?” Fucking Sam!
“You can stay if you want.” I’m not a complete idiot. The rest of them leave. We’re all meeting at the office tomorrow. It was meant to be next week when we officially start work but this is urgent and we have more resources there to search for him. I’m left with Sam.
“Soph, I know you’ve got to be terrified. I would be too. But I also know you, you won’t let that fucking asshole win, you didn’t before, you’re sure as hell aren’t going to this time.” I smile.
“Hooah,” I reply.
“Hooah is fucking right” I smile at him, I love Sam, he is fun to be around.
“I’m going to bed, where do you want to sleep? One of the spare rooms?” he shakes his head.
“No, I’m sleeping down here.” I walk over to him and kiss his cheek.
“Thanks Sam.” He smiles at me.
“Anytime Soph.” I gather him a blanket and a pillow, and head to my bedroom. I shower and use the blow dryer on my hair. I hate sleeping with wet hair; it ends up into a big frizzy bush. I’m looking down at my feet as I leave the bathroom, thinking I need a pedicure, when I feel someone in my room.
“Why is there a man downstairs?”
I look into the eyes of Nathan, it takes me a second to realize that he asked me a question, one I’m not sure I want to answer, instead I dodge the question.
“What are you doing here Nathan?” he looks so contrite.
“I went home thinking you overreacted and then I sat on my couch drinking. I went over everything that was said and realized I’m a fucking idiot. You’re not a crazy bitch; you’re not crazy at all. I love you Soph, you’ve got to bear with me, I’m going to fuck up, I’m a man after all. I fucked up and I deserved to be ignored. Forgive me baby, I’m so fucking sorry.” I nod.
“Fine I forgive you. You’re right, you’re an idiot. You not only said I was jealous, I wasn’t, but you called me a bitch. I forgive you this time, but I won’t be spoken to like that.” He is nodding in agreement.
“I won’t, I made a mistake, one that won’t happen again.” I walk to the bed.
“Come on I’m tired, let’s get in to bed and forget today ever happened.”
We’re lying in bed and I’m close to falling asleep, when he suddenly asks.
“So who is that guy downstairs?” I turn into him and raise a brow.
“Jealous?” he shakes he head chuckling.
“That is Sam; he is my team mate from the army and now from Smithy International.” He just hums and strokes his hand down the side of my body, it’s hypnotic, I’m drifting again.
I’m leaning over smithy’s body; my vision is blurry from my head hitting the floor and my tears. I hear the door opening but don’t look up, I can’t, I just look into smithy’s eyes, it’s like I’m paralysed. His eyes are wide open; they are so empty. I wish my hands weren’t tied up. I wish I could close his eyes because I know this is going to be the last thing I remember him by, his eyes, instead of seeing them sparkle with mischief, they are going to be bleak and empty.
I feel someone grab my hair, next thing I know I’m being pulled up. I’m placed on a chair in front of my teammates, in front of Smithy’s body. My hands are tied behind my back, I have no escape, and I’m at the mercy of this man until I can get free.
“I am Mullah Al Mohammed; I am the one they call when they need answers.” He speaks in a heavy Arab accent. He calls for his friend; he speaks in a language I don’t understand, I think it’s Pashto, but I am not 100% sure. I feel a hand in my hair once again, my head is tugged backwards, and a cloth is placed over my head, I can’t move, his grip in my hair is so tight. I hear moving then feel water thrown over my face. Damn the fucker is water boarding me. I try to breathe through my nose; I don’t want to fill my mouth with water, but I start chocking, water has gone through my nostril, it’s burning. Damn. I try to stop choking; it’s just bringing in more water to my mouth.
“What are you doing in Marjah? You were meant to have left months ago. Why are you back?” He’s right we were all taken out of Marjah and surrounding provinces. The US and UK believed the Taliban had left this area. They had, the village was clear of all Taliban members, but we had intelligence; they stated the Taliban had started back up in Marjah. We were sent on a recon mission, what we found was awful. Not only had the Taliban started back up, they had recruited children as young as 8. Teams were sent to try and flush the Taliban out but we were the ones captured.
“Quiet one. That’s okay I’ll get it out of you eventually” he nods to the other man. My hair is tugged again, his grip feels tighter, more punishing. I hear moving, then I feel the water, I hold my breath, I don’t want the water in my mouth again, my lungs are burning, tears spring to my eyes. I can’t hear anything; the blood rushing to my head is loud. Finally, my hair is released, the cloth falls from my face, I struggle to take deep breaths.
I feel myself shaking, I hear “Sophia, wake up, it’s okay it’s just a dream, Wake up babe.” I’m pulled from my dream to see Nathan’s worried face.
“You okay babe?” I look around the room. The clock flashes 1AM, I look back to Nathan.
“Yeah, just a weird dre
am, sorry I didn’t mean to wake you.” I try to brush him off, I don’t want to talk about my time in Afghanistan.
“Ok babe, go back to sleep, I’m here if you need me.” Damn, he’s so sweet.
“Goodnight Nathan. I love you.” He kisses my forehead; I melt on the inside. I love those kisses; they’re the ones that make you swoon.
“Night babe, I love you too.”
My lungs burn with every breath I have to take. Every time he poured the water over me he waited longer and longer to pull me up. The form of torture is bad, but I can survive being water boarded.
“Ah you’re a strong woman, do not worry, I will break you yet.” I hate that fucking accent. He leaves the room. I can’t help it, my eyes drift straight to Smithy, and he is still laying there, his eyes still open, still blank.
“Soph, are you okay?” Sam is the first one to speak, I cough, it hurts like a bitch
“Just dandy.” Comes my smart reply. I can’t help it, when things are rough I turn to sarcasm.
“Seriously Soph, Are you okay?” that’s Doc,
“Yeah, my vision is blurry from my head smacking off the floor when we were dumped in here, my lungs hurt from holding my breath for so long. Other than that I’m okay, I just wish we could close Smithy’s eyes.”
“Ok Soph, it sounds as though you have a concussion, no sleep. And your lungs will get better just keep taking deep breaths.” Doc says.
“Sure thing Doc, It’s not like we’re going to be able to sleep here anyway.”
I was given a week’s reprieve. My lungs aren’t fully healed but they are okay, my vision is perfect, but my head feels tender.
“Time to break you Sophia.” How does that fucker know my name? This time there are four other men that enter behind him. They lift me to my feet and carry me over to the middle of the room. I’m wondering what they are about to do, when I’m lifted clean off my feet. I’m turned upside down. They lift me up, my feet almost touching the beam that’s hanging from the ceiling. They tie my feet to the beam and leave me hanging upside down. They all leave the room.
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