by B. B. Hamel
“No!” I screamed. “Don’t touch him!”
The man ignored me. “Let go,” he said, his Russian accent thick.
“No! Dad, what are you doing?”
Terror gripped me as the other man hit me in the face. Pain blinded me, and the second man managed to pull Alexei from my arms. Alexei began to cry, screaming shrieks of fear.
“Stop!” I screamed. “What are you doing?”
But the man had already left with Alexei. The one holding on to me dragged me toward the back of the house and shoved me roughly through an open door. It was my old bedroom, but it was different. There were bars on the window and there was no furniture, only a mattress and a bucket in the corner. The door slammed behind me.
I threw myself at the door and began to pound on it. “Let me out, you bastards!” I screamed. “You fucking sickos. You can’t do this! Give me my baby back, you fucking sick fucks!”
I pounded and pounded on the door, screaming at the top of my lungs, but nobody came.
I screamed and yelled and smashed at that door until I couldn’t scream anymore.
And as I sank to the floor, my body wracked with sobs, I knew I had made a horrible mistake.
Sophie had betrayed me. My father had betrayed me.
And they had taken my baby away.
I sobbed, and I felt myself breaking.
34
Vince
I hated fucking waiting.
I was not the type of man to sit around and wait for something to happen. I didn’t like taking orders, and I sure as hell didn’t like being told I couldn’t go after my own woman.
I paced angrily around my office. Rafa watched from his desk, though I could tell he was trying to pretend like I didn’t exist. He’d learned firsthand what I was like when I was angry, and he knew that it was better to stay the fuck out of my way.
I didn’t know what Kaley was to me. I didn’t know what we were going to be, but I could tell that it was something. We were just getting close, I was just beginning to open myself up to her, to get used to the idea of being a father. And suddenly that was all taken away.
She left on her own. I knew that. I knew that she chose this, that she wanted to leave. But something had to have happened to make her want to actually go. I couldn’t believe that she would want to go back to her family unless something new had come up.
That was really driving me insane. I needed to know what that thing was. It was so possible that she just didn’t want to be around me anymore, that I had somehow pushed her away. Maybe she decided that she didn’t want her son raised by a fucking violent mobster.
I couldn’t really blame her. I was raised by mobsters more or less, and look at how I turned out.
“Fuck,” I said, slamming my fist onto the table as I walked past it.
“Boss,” Rafa said, “I just got a text from Lucas.”
I stared at him. “So the fuck what?”
He cleared his throat. “Text says you should go meet him in his room.”
“Why didn’t he message me that?”
“He did, but you’re not answering your phone.” Rafa paused and grinned at me. “Probably because you’re pacing around like a crazy person.”
“Watch it,” I said.
“Don’t take it out on me, boss,” Rafa said. “I’m the only one that has your back no matter what.”
I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. I nodded. “You’re right.”
“You gonna go talk to him?”
“Yeah. Give me a second.”
I took a few steadying, deep breaths. I couldn’t go up to Lucas acting like some insane person. I couldn’t take my anger out on him like I could on Rafa, although I knew it was an asshole move to be a dick to him.
“Call if you need me,” I said, grabbing my phone and then heading out the door.
I headed through the hallways, trying to keep my mind off Kaley. I tried not to think about how she likely ran off because of what a piece of shit I was. I knew I’d been pushing, but I must have pushed too hard, went too far.
It was my fucking fault. It always was my fucking fault.
I had to stop once and take a few deep breaths to calm myself again before starting back up. Finally, I found myself outside Lucas’s door.
I knocked twice. “Come in,” I heard.
I went inside and saw Lucas sitting down at his kitchen table. He gestured for me to sit.
He was looking at a bunch of papers as I took a seat beside him. He pushed a glass toward me. I picked it up and sipped: good whisky.
“What do you need, Lucas?” I asked him.
“About the girl,” he said, “I know how she got away.”
I clenched my jaw. “How?”
“Louisa.”
I cocked my head. “Really?” The time I caught them in the greenhouse came back to me.
Lucas laughed. “Turns out that Kaley and Louisa became friends. I asked Lou if she knew what had happened with Kaley, and Lou flat out told me.”
I shook my head. “Are you kidding me? She helped her?”
“No joke. Want to talk to her?”
“Yeah,” I said, “I do.”
“Okay,” Lucas said. “But drink up first. You’re fucking pissed, and you know that shit doesn’t fly with Lou.”
I laughed and knocked the drink back, motioning for more. Lucas filled me up again.
Louisa was no joke in the Barone compound. The daughter of Arturo, she was probably the most feared person outside Arturo himself. There were rumors about her, rumors about why she never left her room, but most of them were false. And besides, ever since Natalie and Lucas got together, Louisa had started venturing outside her room more often.
But I knew the truth about her. At least I knew part of the truth.
Louisa was a skilled computer hacker. Since Arturo wouldn’t let her join the Barone crime family on her own, she had been using those skills for nefarious purposes for a long time.
Not a lot of people knew that about her. I was sure there was more to it that even I didn’t know, but I was smart enough not to press too hard. I was lucky that I’d found out as much about her as I had.
I knocked back my second drink.
“You okay?” Lucas asked.
“No,” I said. “I want to get the fuck out of here and get Kaley back.”
Lucas nodded. “She left, man. Chose it herself.”
“I know that.”
“Do you though?”
I clenched my jaw.
At one time, I was Lucas’s second in command. I was closer to him than anyone else. But ever since I’d gotten my promotion, we had drifted apart. We’d been best friends once, and back then he wouldn’t have hesitated to strap on a gun and follow me into battle.
Things were different now. He still had my back, but not like the old days, not anymore.
“Listen,” Lucas went on. “I know you want her back. She has your son, and I could tell you were getting close. But be careful, Vince. She made this choice.”
I nodded slowly. “You think I’m not thinking that?”
“I know you are,” he said. “I also know you’re probably blaming yourself. But fuck it, man. You can’t do that shit. No matter what you do, I’ll help as much as I can.”
“Thanks,” I grunted and stood. “Let’s go see Louisa.”
Lucas nodded, stood, and we walked out of the room in silence. We headed toward Louisa’s wing of the house, not speaking another word.
We ended up outside her room not long after. Lucas knocked.
“Louisa,” he called out. “Open up.”
She pulled the door open a minute later. “Hello, big brother.”
“We have to talk,” he said.
Louisa looked at me. “Sorry,” she said.
“For what?” I grunted.
“You know what.” She turned and walked into the room. We followed her inside and watched as she sat down on her couch, stretching out.
“Lou, Vince w
ants to ask you some stuff about Kaley,” Lucas said.
She stared up at me. “I don’t have much to say.”
“I just have one question,” I said. “Why did she leave?”
Louisa stared at me for a second, her dark eyes piercing. It felt uncomfortable to be held under her gaze like that, but I didn’t back down.
“Do you care about her, Vincent?” she asked.
“What? Just answer me.”
“You give me what I want; then I’ll give you what you want.” She sighed and stretched. “Do you care about her?”
“Yes,” I said.
“How much?”
“She’s the mother of my son.”
“Besides that.”
I glanced at Lucas. “Yes. I care about her.”
“How much?” she repeated.
“Enough to do anything to get her back.”
She looked at me for a second and then slowly nodded. “She said her best friend from home told her that her family would take her back. She said her family was going to let her keep her baby, too.”
I cocked my head to one side. “Sophie?”
“She didn’t say the name.”
“Sophie, must be Sophie,” I grumbled. “Why would they change their mind?” I asked, looking at Lucas.
“I don’t know,” he said.
“Truth is, boys, I’m bored of this,” Louisa said. “I helped her because I thought it was the right thing to do. If she’s in trouble, well, it’s your call.”
“Did she seem afraid?” I asked Louisa.
“No,” she said. “Like I said, I thought it was the right thing to do. She doesn’t belong here, Vincent.”
“Yes, she does,” I said, surprised by my own anger. “She belongs with me.”
There was a silence as both Louisa and Lucas stared at me. I was shocked by my own words and feelings, but I knew it was true.
Kaley and Alexei belonged with me. I wanted them here and didn’t want them to ever go away. I was angry and upset because she was gone, and for no other reason.
I wanted her back.
“Thanks,” I said, and then turned to leave.
“Wait,” Lucas said. “If you’re going after her, I’m coming.”
I laughed. “You have kids.”
“Yeah, Lucas,” Louisa said. “You’re not going.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “I’ll give you gear at least.”
“And I’ll tell you where to go,” Louisa added.
I looked back at them. “Thanks.”
“If I knew how you felt, I would never have let her go,” Louisa said softly. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I have to go now.”
She nodded. Lucas was grinning at me.
“Shit. Lou never apologizes,” he said, laughing.
I cracked a smile but quickly walked from the room, heading back to the office.
I had to go, and I knew Rafa would come with me, but I couldn’t ask anyone else to put their life on the line for this.
It was my problem. I’d reward Rafa well enough for this, and he knew it. But nobody else could come; nobody else could risk getting shit from Arturo and the other captains.
No, this was my thing. With Lucas’s gear and Louisa’s information, I’d have more than enough.
They weren’t expecting me.
But they should have been. They took away my woman, my fucking kid.
So I was going after them like fucking fire and lightning.
35
Kaley
My own father locked me up in my bedroom with nothing but a mattress and a bucket.
I knew what the bucket was for, but I didn’t want to think about it.
Sophie had betrayed me, unless my family had lied to her, but I couldn’t imagine she’d be so stupid. No. Sophie had sold me out, and I was stuck in a locked room because of my own trust in her.
And my baby was gone. I had no clue where he was or what they were doing to him, and terror clutched my stomach.
I couldn’t believe my father was doing this to me. I knew he was a hard man, a dangerous man, but he hadn’t been so bad to me growing up. He never hit me, rarely raised his voice. Sure, he was strict, but he never locked me up in my bedroom and tore my baby away.
This was just so messed up. I should never have left, never have run away from Vince. I should have talked to him first.
There were two aches in my chest. One was for my baby, and the other was for Vince.
I sat alone in that room for a few hours before someone finally came. The door rattled, and I sat up straight on the mattress. My throat hurt from screaming for so long and my whole body felt like lead.
The door opened and it was my father.
I got up and charged him.
I wasn’t thinking. I knew he was dangerous, but it was my father. I wanted to hit him, scream at him, make him let me go. But as soon as I got close enough to strike out, he shoved me back, knocking me to the ground.
“Don’t get up,” he warned. The door shut behind him.
I tried to get up.
He kicked me in the side, and pain flashed through my body. I tumbled back to the ground.
“Kaley,” he warned. “I take no pleasure in this. Do not get back up.”
I tried to get up again, my eyes flashing fierce anger. “Fuck you. Where’s my son?”
He kicked me again, sending me sprawling. I coughed as pain blinded me for a moment.
“He’s safe,” my father said.
“Give him to me, you bastard,” I said.
I tried to get up again. I wanted to hurt him so badly.
“Kaley,” he warned.
“Fuck you.”
He kicked me again and again until I began to cry from the pain.
He backed off finally, sighing. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
I got myself together after a minute, the pain rushing through me. I wanted to get up and hit him, but I couldn’t move. Everything hurt; everything was broken.
“Give me my son back,” I said.
“Kaley, none of this would have happened if you hadn’t run off to those fucking swine Italians,” he said. “You know that, right? I’m your father.”
“I’m your daughter and Alexei is your grandson,” I spat.
“That baby is not my grandson,” he said. “That baby is part Italian. That baby is a fucking stain on your family.”
“You’re a stain,” I whispered. “You disgust me.”
He nodded. “I understand you feel that way right now, Kaley, but in time you will see that this was for the best.”
“No. Never. I hope they kill you.”
“Maybe,” he mused. “Maybe they will. But I very much doubt it.”
He leaned up against the wall across from me and looked down at me.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“I want to know their weaknesses, Kaley,” he said. “For every piece of information you give me, I will bring you back one luxury. First up will be the right to use the bathroom.”
“Go to hell,” I said. “I’d rather starve than help you.”
“We can do that too if you want,” he said, smiling. “Come on, Kaley, help your family. How many men work for the Italians?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is their security weakest?”
“I don’t know. Go to hell.”
My father sighed, shaking his head. “Kaley, please. Don’t make me hurt you more than I have to.”
“Listen to me,” I said. “You are a vile piece of garbage, and I genuinely hope you die a violent, horrific death. Do you understand that?”
He nodded, frowning. “It’s okay. You’ll come around.” He stood up straight and headed toward the door.
“Wait,” I said. “Please. Alexei.”
He smiled back at me. “Tell me what their weaknesses are, and I’ll let you see the boy.”
“He’s here?” I asked softly.
“He’s here. How many men are
in the compound at any given time? When are they most vulnerable?”
I stared at him, my mind running circles. Alexei was safe and sound as far as I could tell.
But if I talked, told him what I thought was right, Vince might get hurt.
I didn’t want to betray Vince, didn’t want to hurt him.
And maybe I could do both. Maybe if I kept my father happy for long enough, I could figure out a way to escape. All I needed to do was tell him plausible lies. I just needed a few days to think.
“Noon,” I lied. “They change guards at noon. I think there are less around then.”
He looked at me and nodded. “Good. That’s good. How many men are on the compound normally?”
“A lot,” I said. “I don’t know. Hundreds I think.”
He frowned. “Can’t be hundreds.”
“I never counted,” I said.
“Don’t lie to me, girl.” He took a step toward me. “Lying will be worse.”
“I really don’t know,” I said. “Please, let me see Alexei.”
He looked at me in silence for a moment and then shook his head. “No. Maybe next time. Think of something good to give me. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“No!” I screamed, but he was already walking away.
“Open up,” he called out.
“No!” I screamed again, getting up. My whole body hurt, but I hurled myself at him anyway. “Let me see my son!”
He whirled and punched me in the jaw, knocking me to the ground. I sprawled out, my head buzzing with stars.
“Think of something good, Kaley,” he said, and then he was gone.
The door shut and locked behind him.
I curled into a ball, dizzy and aching, my whole body in pain. I tried not to cry, couldn’t let them get to me, but I couldn’t help it. I cried as quietly as I could, but I was crying for Alexei.
My own father. He was beating me, interrogating me, using his grandson against me. It was disgusting, shocking, vile. I couldn’t believe I was there, that this was happening. I couldn’t believe Sophie would let this happen to me.
I wanted to die. I wanted to give up and kill myself, but I couldn’t do that to Alexei. I had to stay strong for him, for my son.
I had to find a way out of this hellhole and save my son.