Not at First

by Phalla S. Rios

  He knocks the tray of food sitting on a table near her to the floor. The girl cries harder. This must make him angry, because he grips her hair and yank her head back. He whispers something in her ear. She stops crying immediately.

  The girl looks like she hasn’t taken a shower in a long time. Her blond hair is messy and in knots, her clothes look worn out.

  Roman leaves slamming the door on his way out and pulls out his phone. I slump back down letting the tears flow freely. My hand moves to protect my stomach of its own accord.

  He gets back in the car and drives. I don’t really care where we are going at this point.

  He takes us back to his estate and leaves the SUV. I sit up to watch him walk away with purpose. Does he even feel bad about what he has just done to that poor girl?

  I pull out my phone from my pocket. Roman had given it back to me during the week we were together at his house. I guess I proved to him, he could trust me again.

  I dial the only number my heart tells me to do.

  “Angel?” Kevin’s voice comes on the line.

  “Kevin, I think I’m in trouble,” I whisper.

  “Where are you?” There’s panic in his voice.

  “Sicily.”

  “What the fuck!” He roars. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No,” I try to remove the frightened sound out of my voice.

  “I’m coming to get you.” He barks into the phone.

  “No, there’s no time. I will call you back when I get to a safe spot.” I say. “I have to go…” I hang up on him and turn off the ringer.

  I look around to see if the coast is clear and climb out of the car. I causally walk up the cobblestone walkway. Roman opens the front door and I try to not jump away from him.

  “Where were you?” He asks. “The kids stopped playing twenty minutes ago.”

  “I guess I was hiding pretty well,” I giggle to soften my frightened mood.

  “Don’t scare me like that again.” He says, taking me inside.

  Maura and Ellie are waiting in the foyer, ready to go on our shopping trip. They both walk out and I try to follow them, but Roman pulls me back to him.

  “Remember to keep close to Andres.” He says.

  I nod and he kisses my temple and lets me go.

  Andres waits by the SUV and opens the door for us, we climb in.

  “You are going to love the shops, Angel.” Ellie tells me, smiling wide.

  “Let’s buy you a pretty dress for dinner.” Maura joins in.

  I nod and stare out the window and plan my escape. Maybe I should just wait to get home to leave him, I think to myself. I might not make it out alive if I run away in a country I know nothing about. I change my mind on my escape.

  We head into a jewelry store first; Maura pulls out a wad of Italian money and hands it over to me.

  “Roman said to give this to you.” Maura smiles proudly. “But, let me know before you purchase anything, I will help you with the currency.”

  I accept the money, knowing she will protest to the end, if I refuse. I walk around the shop pretending to be interested in the jewelry. Maura and Ellie ooh and aah over the pieces.

  I stop looking and walk out, Andres is waiting by the door.

  “Going somewhere?” He asks.

  “I want to go to the next shop.” I snap.

  “No, boss’s orders. You stay near everyone else.” He says.

  “Fine, I’ll wait right here with you.”

  Ellie and Maura walk out a moment later, both with shopping bags. We move in and out of every shop, not missing even one.

  “Can we stop at the café for lunch?” I ask, my stomach growling.

  “Oh my, it’s past lunch time.” Maura says

  I follow them into a café near us, the hostess seats us right away, and I excuse myself to the ladies room.

  Big strong arms circle around my stomach, haul me out the back door of the restaurant, and press me against the outside wall.

  “Shhhh…” He covers my mouth with his hand.

  My eyes widen with shock, they stare back into calm hazel eyes, and I slightly gesture my head yes.

  Kevin removes his hand away from my lips. “Hey.”

  “That’s all you’re going to say to me,” I snap.

  “You’re safe, that’s all I care about,” he breathes.

  “Why are you even here?” I ask, casting my eyes onto his black and white flannel shirt.

  “I’m not letting you leave the fucking country without seeing for myself that you will be safe,” he says, clinching my waist with his hands.

  “Will you follow me everywhere?” I ask.

  He narrows his eyes and laughs a low throaty rumble. “Yes.”

  “I know who you are,” I whisper, holding his gaze. “Why didn’t you just tell me when we first met at the hardware store?”

  “I…didn’t want you spooked,” he murmurs.

  “I spent a year in a mental ward…I’m better now,” I say, my voice low, blinking back tears.

  “Babe, I know,” his voice breaks.

  “You shouldn’t want me, I’m not…good,” I say, glancing away.

  “Dammit Angel, stop being so hard on yourself,” he mutters. “We should get out of here, they’re probably looking for you now.”

  “I can’t go…” I say, standing my ground when Kevin tries to move me with him.

  “Why the fuck not?” He asks, looking down the alley.

  “I-I might…I think…I am pregnant,” I stammer.

  He stops, frozen in place and slams his hand over his face. “Fuck, Angel.”

  “I should get back inside,” I say, walking away.

  “Don’t,” he grabs my arm. “You can’t go back…I’ll explain later…let’s go.”

  I let Kevin drag me down the alley, stopping before we reach the end of the café. He looks around and dumps me into the passenger seat of a silver Mercedes.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, strapping on my seat belt.

  “To the airport,” he pulls the car onto the rough bumpy road. “Where’s your phone?”

  I hand him my phone, Kevin rolls down my window and tosses it out.

  “Kevin!” I scream.

  “He will track you down, Angel.” He says, looking ahead.

  “Tell me what the hell is going on,” I say, panic rising up my body.

  “Roman is not who you think he is, Angel.” Kevin sighs. “He’s dangerous and goes for what he wants without fear of remorse.”

  My heart constricts to a painful squeeze. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

  “I’ll take care of us and everything,” he says taking my hand to his lips. “I promise.”

  The ride to the airport is long and strenuous, just as how Roman had described it would be. The never-ending road would be the downfall to our comeuppance. There was no way we are both getting out of Italy.

  Kevin drives up to the tarmac to an awaiting airplane. “Fucking hell.”

  Roman and his men stand guard around the plane that would’ve been our escape. My heart sinks down to my stomach.

  “Don’t do anything stupid, Kevin…please,” I beg opening my door.

  “What the fuck are you doing...” He reaches for me. “Angel!”

  But, I’m already out the door and walking to Roman. His men swarm the Mercedes, guns drawn out, pointing directly in Kevin’s face.

  “Don’t you dare hurt him,” I hiss.

  Roman steps up close, forcing my body to him, my back pinned to his front. “I will, if he takes you. Now the question is, do I have to?”

  “No, let him get on the plane and I will leave with you,” I whisper, my eyes locking with Kevin’s raging ones.

  Roman yells something out in Italian and his men drop their guns, stepping away from the car.

  “I want to talk to him before he goes,” I say.

  “Remember, my men will be close by,” Roman’s voice is low and deadly.

  I make my way back to Kevin,
pull him out of the car, and throw myself onto him.

  “I’m sorry, Kevin. I’m so sorry…” I cry into his chest.

  “You don’t have to stay with him,” he roars gripping his arms around me.

  “Shhh…don’t. When we get back to the states I will find a way to leave and I will come to you. Just stay…away for now,” I whisper stepping back from him.

  Kevin moves towards me, but the men stops him, one presses his gun to Kevin’s temple. I shake my head letting my dam break as I watch them usher Kevin onto the plane.

  Roman circles his arm around my waist and leads me to his helicopter. The breathtaking view that captured my soul the first time around is now just a blur of malevolence that consumes me.

  Angel changed.

  She came back to school closed off more than ever.

  The words that slipped out of her mouth the moment I laid eyes on her, back at school, tore my fucking guts out.

  “I’m pregnant,” She burst out, crying moments later.

  I didn’t know what else to do, but punch the damn fucking wall repeatedly. There was nothing to do; the motherfucker now has a hold on her forever.

  Now, I sit here watching her be led away from the hospital, I haven’t seen her in over a month. She’s crying into the chest of a man I will die hating.

  I’ve waited long enough.

  I’m bringing my girl back, and I will kill that motherfucker if he stands in my way or I will die trying.

  Nothing ever comes easy loving Angel.

  Well, not at first, but we have the rest of our lives to make it work.

  To my husband, Phillip: Thank you so much for supporting me and pushing me to chase my dream. You are my world. Love is not a strong enough word for what I feel for you. You are my dream come true. I love you, baby.

  My brother, David: You bought me my first laptop! At the time you had no idea your gift to me was a huge stepping stone to complete my writing. I cried for a week over the keyboard, typing up my story for the very first time. Thank you for giving me such an amazing gift.

  Mom and Dad: Thank you for giving me life and raising me to become the woman, I am today. I am nothing without you two.

  To all my girlfriends: Thank you for cheering me on and becoming ecstatic when I finally let the secret out.

  My editor, Mary-Nancy Smith: Thank you for fixing my words and making my story shine. You are the best!

  My cover artist, Sarah Hansen: You are an extremely talented designer. I am so happy I am among the lucky authors to have you as their cover artist.

  To all the bloggers who helped me along the way. I appreciate each and every one of you. You guys work hard for us authors and I seriously can’t thank you enough.

  Tami, from Into the Night Reviews: You were very kind to me even though I came to you in a frustrated mess. Thank you for being the rock star blogger that you are and for being kind to me.

  Becca the Bibliophile: Thank you for helping me with my cover reveal and for always being there when I had a question.

  Debra, Owner of The Book Enthusiast: You kick ass! The best host to all blog tours and anything to do with book promotions. Thank you!

  Angela, Owner of Fictional Formats: You really know how to make the words in a book beautiful. Thank you for taking me on as a client!

  Last but not least. Thank you so much to all the readers out there. Thank you for giving my book a chance and simply for loving to read.

  Phalla S. Rios lives in California with her husband and two goofy pit bulls. She loves to read and write drinking her favorite tea, Joy, from Starbucks. During her spare time she is usually at the movies or looking for the next best place to eat. She often refers to herself as a foodie. Her debut novel is Not at First. She is currently writing the sequel, Always at First.

  You can find her at:

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  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phalla-S-Rios/477714938971799?fref=ts

  Goodreads:

  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7101849.Phalla_S_Rios