“What makes you think I am going to help you. I could have called the police.”
“You wouldn’t be here if you had.” I growl at him in frustration. “We are wasting time. Goldoni will be making a move; he won’t keep Isa long, if he hasn’t sold her already.”
“Sold her?” his eyes are wide with shock.
“I didn’t stutter cocksucker.”
Opening a hidden panel in the wall I offer him a bullet proof vest. “Suit up pretty boy.” I toss him an extra piece too.
Cyrus comes back as we are leaving dragging Rain with him. “Good, we can trade the bitch,” I tell him as she tries to twist away from him.
“Goldoni won’t trade for me Tris,” she whines.
“Then I have no use for you.” I aim my gun at her and pretty boy Gabe gets between us.
“You aren’t going to hurt her,” he says being a martyr.
“Try me Gabe. I dare you.” I hit him dead center between his eyes with the butt of my gun knocking him cold. Not so pretty now.
“He can ride in the back with the bitch,” I tell Cy.
We load him in next to whore Rain in the backseat of his SUV. His GPS can lead us to Isa. Cyrus drives while I text orders to the rest of my men.
Hold on Isabella, I’m coming for you princess.
Chapter 23
ISABELLA
My memory keeps coming back to me in larger fragments. I can remember being in the hospital after the accident and hearing my parents talk about my memory loss and what they should do going forward. They think it is best if I’m not pressured to remember anything from the accident. My father hushes my mother when she mentions Tristian. She says she thinks he can bring me back but Papi is having none of her ideas.
“I won’t have it Rosa. Isabella needs to forget she ever knew that boy. It’s a blessing in disguise that she can’t remember!” he shouts at her.
“Hector he could bring my girl back to me, she doesn’t even know who she is or who we are.”
I have to get out of here and call Papi. I have so many questions. And I want to tell Tristian I’m sorry I hurt him. He needs to know I remember. I remember everything.
Feeling along the wall I hope it is still here. All this time the key to the dungeon has been within my grasp. I push in on a few stones and they don’t move. I am about to give up when I decide to try one more and voila, it comes out of the wall revealing a small hole with the key that will set me free. Hurriedly, I slip my hand through the bars, and with a twist of the key, I am free.
Rushing up the stairs, I search for Tristian, calling out his name. I can’t find him anywhere. Walking into his room I am taken back to last night and the love that we made. It was beautiful. So many of the things he has done all makes sense to me now. He only wanted for me to remember. I unknowingly hurt him, and I can only hope he understands.
Looking around his room, there are several photos of us displayed as children. I smile picking up one of us baking with my Lita in the kitchen. It seems we were making Valentine heart cookies.
How could my parents let me forget about my Lita and Tristian? How could they not try to give me back the piece of me that was missing?
I see a laptop on his desk and the screen is on. I go into his trash and open up a video that he deleted. It’s of Tristian and his late father. I watch in horror as he lets him die but then I hear Tristian’s final words. “I’ll see you in hell, Angelo. This is for my mother and this is for Isabella, you’ll never have her.”
He killed him for me? My head hurts and a memory dances in my head. “I’ll kill him for this Isa, I swear,” Tristian whispers in my ear as he touches me, where he shouldn’t.
I can remember what he can’t forget and my stomach lurches.
I need to talk to Tristian.
Unable to find Tristian I go to my room to call Papi on my cell phone.
“Hello,” he answers after three rings.
“Papi we need to talk.”
“Isa have you talked to Ari?”
“No, why? She gone off on a bender?”
“Isa she left the store unlocked and the car running. No one can find her. I need you to come home.”
“You know how she is Papi she probably met some guy and forgot all about her responsibilities as usual. I need you to tell me why you discouraged Mama from helping me to regain my memory after the accident.”
Silence.
“Papi answer me.”
“Isa we will talk about it after we find Ari.”
“We’ll talk about it now Papi or not at all.”
“Fine Isa. Your relationship with Tristian Vandacamp was unhealthy and I didn’t like it. You depended on him like he was the air that you breathed. He was sickly and I thought he was going to die, and I thought that when he did, it would be easier if you weren’t so attached to him.”
I don’t know how to respond to that.
“I remember everything Papi. I also know why Angelo Vandacamp gave you money. He didn’t give you a loan. He paid you off for your silence. You didn’t want me to remember. You didn’t want Mama to find out what you were hiding!” I hear a door slam downstairs. Tristian. “I have to go Papi.”
“Isa don’t end our call this way! What has Tristian been telling you?”
“Nothing but the truth. I remember everything Papi and I love him. There is nothing you can do to change it.”
“Isa!” he calls as I click the phone off.
I grab a fresh change of clothes and go into the bathroom to clean up before I talk to Tristian. I feel all gross from the day I have had.
I don’t know why I feel so nervous about talking to him, but it just feels a bit different, now that I can remember everything we have shared. I figured he would have discovered I am no longer down in the dungeon and come looking for me by now.
After checking the library and game room for Tristian I go into the kitchen figuring he has gone down to the cellar. I am getting ready to go down the stairs when I am grabbed from behind.
Rough hands that feel nothing like Tristian’s hold my arms as I kick.
“Shh, Isa it’s me Briggs. Tristian told me to come get you.”
I stop fighting, maybe Tris did send him.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he apologizes but he is still holding me.
“Where is Tristian?” I demand.
“Sorry Isa, you’ve been sold.” Suddenly he shoves a rag in my mouth and pulls my arms behind me, securing them with a plastic zip-tie.
Tristian wouldn’t. I know deep down he isn’t behind this.
I am too shocked by what is happening to react as he drags me out the side door and throws me into a van. It smells terrible in here, and I am terrified I will never get the chance to tell Tristian I’m sorry. I hear his words echoing in my mind. “You can’t remember and I can’t forget.”
A tear slips down my cheek, I’m so sorry Tristian. I think to myself all the things I wanted to say. I wish I could have been the friend he needed. I wish I could have spent the years we’ve lost by his side. My eyes are bugging out of my head as I struggle to breathe. My panic reaches an all-time high and I can feel the hives as they spread across my chest.
I feel faint and try to gasp for air without swallowing the cloth gagging me. Tristian’s face flashes in my mind, and I concentrate on our last conversation. Is this his idea of drastic measures?
I shake my head as my breathing regulates.
The van crawls to a stop and I strain to hear what Briggs says into the intercom he is speaking in to. “Let Goldoni know I am here with his beauty.”
Goldoni? The man from the helicopter. This can’t be happening.
The gate opens and the van moves again, traveling a short distance, before shutting off.
The driver’s side door opens and a gunshot fires. Terror hits me, spreading over my skin in the form of goosebumps. I watch as Briggs slumps against the steering wheel. I think I am going to be sick. His blood is splattered across the windshield. I
stare in horror as his brain matter runs down the glass.
The side door where I am strapped in slides open.
The short grease ball from the greenhouse jerks me out of the vehicle and to my feet. He pulls the gag from my mouth.
“Do as you are told sweet thing or you’ll end up like your friend.” He holds me tight against him. His breath reeks of liquor and cigar smoke. My stomach rolls and I fall to my knees and vomit.
“He’s no friend of mine.”
“Not him the other girl.”
“Other girl?” I question and he takes the gag and wipes my mouth for me.
He says nothing after cleaning me off, shoving me through a door that leads into a warehouse of some sort. I scan my surroundings trying to pick up on any clues that might tell me where I am, but there is nothing telling. Oddly there is a large stage in the center of the room, it’s set up like a fashion show with chairs lining the sides.
As I am pushed into a small room it hits me. I’m going to be auctioned off. Grease ball pulls out a chair and tells me to have a seat.
I do as he says. It isn’t as if I have much of a choice at the moment. His grubby fingers run along my jaw and extend to touch my hair as he sniffs me. I shrink back away from him.
“Too bad Goldoni wants to move on you fast or we could have had some real fun.” He grins at me, exposing a gold tooth in his top front teeth.
“I think you and I have different ideas of fun,” I tell him trying to keep him talking.
“Oh, yeah. What do you like?”
“Reading.” I smirk as he looks at me confused.
His face falls, he is dumbstruck for a response.
“Ahem.” He clears his throat. “Well won’t be much reading where you are going.”
“And where is that?”
He shrugs. “Wherever the highest bidder takes you.” He shuts the door leaving me alone.
Hopping up I don’t know how much time I have. I search the room for anything that may help me. A phone, a weapon, anything, but there is nothing but my chair, a trash can and a desk with locked drawers. Great.
The door opens and a heavyset woman enters the room carrying a dress and heels. She looks so motherly in her Mumu and pink lipstick. All she is missing is hair rollers and house shoes to fit the part, but I know appearances mean nothing.
“Well this won’t do,” she fusses pulling a set of keys from her pocket, ignoring me.
She opens the top drawer taking out a pair of scissors. I smile when she catches me staring.
“The boys weren’t lying; you are the prettiest I have ever seen.” She comes behind me and cuts my hands free.
I need those scissors. She lays them on the desk and I am tempted to just grab them and threaten her, but I don’t know who or what else is on the other side of the door.
“Thank you.” I rub my wrists relishing in the freedom.
“Here put this on.” She hands me a red slip of a dress and the heels to match.
“A little privacy.” I blush hoping she falls for it.
“You don’t have anything I haven’t seen before.” She sees my frown. “Well alright I’ll give you just a minute.” She pats my shoulder and shuts the door behind her.
With no time to waste I pull my dress over my head and put on the red silk that leaves very little to the imagination. I open the drawer to the desk finding nothing but stationery. I look longingly at the scissors and wonder where in the hell I am going to hide them at.
Praying I’m not told to sit down I tape them to the crack of my butt. They aren’t very large. It’s a bit uncomfortable but if given the chance, I can use them as a weapon if needed. The door opens just as I stick the tape back in the drawer. I lay my white dress over the spot where the scissors just were, hoping she doesn’t look for them.
“All set.”
“Yup,” I pop the P. She runs her fingers through my hair fluffing it out around my shoulders.
“Good we are just getting started. Come along now.” She motions me forward.
I take an awkward step forward blaming the heels for my awkwardness.
“Pretty girl like you I doubt you’ll be wearing them for long.”
Oh God. This is really happening. My palms begin to sweat. Now is not the time for a panic attack. That’s all I need is to have an attack, and fall, stabbing myself in the rear with my stolen scissors. It would be just my luck.
Tristian has to know I'm missing by now, unless they have done something with him. No, I can’t have thoughts like this, it isn’t good for my anxiety.
A small group of men are seated around the stage. I think I am going to puke all over again.
Another door a few feet away opens and out walks Ariala. “Ari,” I whisper in her direction, but she doesn’t even notice me. Her eyes are glossy and distant. Her arms are bruised with fingerprints and her face is swollen. Did they beat her? Is this what grease ball was talking about?
More doors open and more girls walk out, all dressed like me.
One by one, we are led to the stage and lined up. They have us spaced just far enough apart that we can’t speak to one another. I need to do something, but what? If I try to make a move right now I am surrounded by Goldoni and his people. My plan is to wait until I am sold, then when I get the opportunity, I will stab whomever I need to, to get out of here.
No one speaks. Goldoni steps onto the stage and motions the first girl forward. She isn’t a bit shy and seems to be enjoying herself. She smiles boldly, pushing her chest out, showcasing her fake breasts, but I have to hand it to her, she has nice legs.
An older gentleman with more wrinkles than father time holds up two fingers. Goldoni twirls his finger for her to spin. The leggy blonde rotates slowly and winks once she has reached a full turn. I think I am going to be sick again.
Another man who is short, fat, and balding holds up three fingers. I am guessing this is how they are bidding.
I scan the room doing a check for exits and people. So far I have only spotted the way I came in as an out. There are two men other than Goldoni, grease ball and the bidders—all armed. Things keep getting better.
Goldoni takes her by the hand and places her in the hands of the second man. Trying to be sly I watch them from the corner of my eye to see how they leave. I’m gravely disappointed when they go into one of the rooms the other girls came out of.
One by one, the girls, including my sister, disappear into a room. Three bidders and myself remain. I step forward ready to get this over with. Goldoni holds his hand up stopping me.
“Sorry gentleman, bidding is over this one is special, and she belongs to me for now.” His mouth curves into a wicked grin as he sees the distaste on my face.
The men appear displeased but leave without a word.
Goldoni takes my hand and leads me back into the room I was in earlier.
“Have a seat Isabella.” He gestures to the chair, pretending to be friendly.
I smile politely. “I’d much prefer to stand.” There is no way he is going to put his greasy paws on me.
He takes a seat on the desk, appearing smug. His dark hair appearing wet under the glare of the track lighting. I imagine he was handsome in his youth. When he smiles there is the hint of dimples, suppressed by his bloated appearance.
Goldoni is a large man with broad shoulders and a protruding gut. His dark eyes rake over my body.
“Come to me Isa,” he demands.
I shake my head, hugging my torso. “Why am I here? I want to speak to Tristian.” I need to stall him. I need to buy Tristian time. He’ll come for me, I know he will.
He sighs, wiping his hand across the back of his thick neck. A large vein pulses near his Adam’s apple. That’s where I will stab him with my scissors, if he touches me.
“Tristian sold you to me. He’s not coming to the rescue.”
“I don’t believe you.” I stand firm. Tristian may have had unconventional ways for showing me his true feelings, but I know deep in my heart tha
t he loves me. He always has, we share a soul.
“Believe it or not, doesn’t change the circumstances you’ve found yourself in. Now come to me Isa. I’m not a patient man and I always get what I want,” he demands growing more irritated with every passing second.
Hurry up Tristian.
“You can’t have what isn’t yours to take, and I cannot give you what doesn’t belong to you. I gave myself to someone years ago, and until I am reunited with him, I will no longer be whole.” Tristian is my one, he’s the piece of me that I’ve been missing.
“That’s sweet Isa, but you are wearing on my patience.” He raises from the desk, and I slide my fingers up the back of my dress to retrieve my crummy weapon. But it’s the only defense I have. Sometimes a girl has to save herself.
It happens so quickly. Goldoni grabs me by my waist. Gun shots ring out from the other side of the door and I plunge the scissors into his neck, hardly grazing him. It always worked in the books I read.
He wipes at the scratch on his neck and laughs before pushing me to the side as the door swings open. Gabe.
My eyes widen in shock as he tackles Goldoni.
Chapter 24
TRISTIAN
Looking at Gabe’s GPS I know exactly where Isa is. Goldoni has her at his dummy corporation on the highway. He isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. I know where his secret entrance is. My father sold the property to him about six years ago.
Rain is running her mouth from the backseat while pretty boy snores.
“You are so dumb. Isa is long gone by now with all the others. I can’t believe you never figured it out Tris. The girls who fail their drug test. They don’t get fired. I offer them an opportunity to make better money. Only they don’t know they’ll never see a penny. Goldoni sells them to the highest bidder.” She laughs, cackling like the evil bitch she is.
Turning in my seat I slap her on the mouth. “Shut up bitch.” She laughs louder throwing her head back and wiping the blood from her mouth.
“I wish I could have seen Isa’s face when Goldoni told her you sold her to him. I bet she won’t be so pretty after he fucks her.”
Beauty & The Biker: A Dark Fairytale Page 14