“Hey, Ivan! What’s up?”
“Hi, Clay.” I croaked. “Everything’s fine. Listen, I’ve been looking for Scarlet. Have you seen her?”
“Yeah, she was here earlier today. She bought ink, some potatoes and a couple of blouses. Why?”
“Nevermind.” I said on an exhale. “Thanks.”
The phone call only made things worse. Scarlet sounded like she meant to come straight back, but, for some reason I couldn’t fathom, she hadn’t. Within moments, horrific memories flashed back into my mind. Five years ago, two police officers knocked on my door to tell me about Laura’s accident. The ten minutes it took us to get to the scene were perhaps the longest of my whole life. Both of those policemen were talking to me throughout the drive, and I couldn’t hear them or respond to any of their questions. All I could think of was the fate of my baby.
“I’ll be damned if I’m going to wait this time.” I thought to myself, grabbing my car keys from the kitchen counter. I was much too upset to stay in. Waiting to catch a glimpse of her red Toyota or my phone to ring was pure torture.
The engine of my truck roared into life. I put my foot hard down on the accelerator, determined to track Scarlet down. The tires screeched, tossing gravel and water on my driveway as I drove off. There were three routes she could have taken, but, since she was still somewhat new in town, she only knew one. I decided to take that same root, hoping I would find something out soon. Pretty much anything could be useful, from tire marks to traces of paint. Of course, such a development would spell disaster, but I just had to know more about her fate.
Bend after bend, straight after straight, I scanned the area. My task wasn’t easy. I had to rely on my high beams and a torch. To make matters worse, the rain could have washed away any traces. Almost an hour later, I had nothing to show for my efforts. Scarlet’s car was nowhere to be seen. It was good that I hadn’t found and ruined trees along the way, but that fact alone wasn’t enough. I need more information, and the only way to get it was by paying a visit to her landlord.
I stepped hard on the brakes outside the old apartment building. In my agony, I even left the motor running and popped out of my truck. Jumping over the staircase steps, I reached the entry door, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. I pressed the apartment buzzer, tapping my fingers on the wall in pale impatience.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Jenkins, I’m sorry to bother you. My name is Ivan Peterson. Scarlet Hayward, one of your tenants, works for me. When was the last time you saw her?”
“I’m sorry, son. I haven’t seen her in weeks.”
“Thank you.” I spoke in a faint voice, swallowing hard. I felt like someone had stabbed me in the gut and I was still recovering. Scarlet had lied to me. She could have pulled over on her way in or her way out of town, but she hadn’t. With a heavy heart, I made my way back to my pickup truck. I was dragging my feet across the asphalt, unable to believe why she had disappeared on me like that.
Sitting back in the driver’s seat, I lowered the window first, and then switched off the engine. I had nowhere else to go to. The notion of going back to my house didn’t appeal to me at all. Tiny raindrops landed on my wrist as her absence began to plague me. It had just been a few hours since we last saw each other, and yet, I thought she had been gone for weeks. A deep coldness swept through me. And it was so familiar… It was the same, ugly sensation that had brought me to my knees when I lost my family. Scarlet wasn’t dead, though. She was gone.
Maybe the whole thing between us had been a lie, an illusion of some kind to help me through the grief that been gnawing away into me for years. I was a fool to believe Scarlet was there to stay. She had run away from her own birthplace. Why shouldn’t she run from a town that had been terrible to her so far? Perhaps she had found somewhere new to start over. Wherever she was, it wasn’t near me. Just like that, she had taken off, without even bothering to say “goodbye,” or a simple “thank you.” I popped my head out the window, seeking comfort in the gentle rain as tears rose up in my eyes. No one stayed, not even my porcelain doll. Everyone left…
Scarlet
Tim’s gruff voice woke me up from my deep sleep. I opened my eyes to slits, biting my lower lip to prevent myself from groaning in pain once more. I was still in the back of the van, lying on my back, with my mouth duct tape shut. Those two had bound my legs as well. Looking up, I visualized a metal shield standing between me and Livingston’s men. I had no time to waste. Bringing my legs to my chest, I reached down. I slipped my cell phone out of my boot, keeping my gaze up at the shield. Thankfully, my kidnappers were too busy chatting with one another.
My initial thought was notifying Ivan. It was dark outside; he had to have been worried sick by now. I swiped my trembling finger across the screen, desperate to send him a text.
“THE BAD MEN CAME FOR ME, I’M SORRY I…”
Just then, the van’s brakes screeched, bringing it to an abrupt stop. I meant to tell him how sorry I was and that I had to go, but my phone almost slipped from my grasp. I shoved it back into my boot in haste and straightened my legs, catching the sound of their heavy footsteps on the wet ground. Once again, Shane pulled the van door open, before jumping in. He moved around me and bent down as Tim reached forward. My heart was shattered to pieces when they dragged me out like a piece of meat. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs so my Ivan could hear me. I hadn’t gotten the chance to enjoy my relationship with him. I had only had a small taste of him, but with my past catching up with me, I doubted if I would get anything more than that…
Scarlet
A heavy, steel door creaked open, before my kidnappers carried me inside a large, empty warehouse. The only illumination was a fluorescent light in the middle. Right below it was a desk, with an executive chair and a plastic stool right across from it. The man in the expensive chair was no stranger to me. It was none other than Dwight Livingston, with a cigar in his hand and his typical ironic smile that made my stomach churn.
“Wake her up.” He ordered, Tim yanking the duct tape off of my mouth as they made their way towards him.
“They don’t have to.” I said, raising my head to look at him, my voice coming out slow.
“Hey, look who it is!” Livingston cheered. “How have you been, hun?”
“I was fine until I ran into your men.” I retorted as they set me down on the chair. “What do you want from me?”
“Straight to the point.” He remarked with a nod. “I like that. What else do you think I want from you, sugar? My money. I’ve been looking your step-dad for a while now, but I can’t find him anywhere. Any idea where he is?”
“He left Cleveland to get away from you.” I informed, maintaining a firm tone while Shane cut me loose. “I don’t have a clue where he is. How did you find me?”
“You left a whole trail behind you, pumpkin.” Livingston said, his aging face twisting into an expression of amusement as Shane tied me to the chair. “Same bank account, same cell phone number, same ID… Even a school kid could track you down. Now, where’s my money?”
“I don’t have it.” I sighed, dragging my gaze away from him.
“I’m fresh out of patience, girl.” He claimed, assuming a serious tone. “If I don’t have my money by tonight, I’m going to kill each and every person you love, right in front you.”
“Please!” I begged, my voice breaking. “Give me a few days and I’ll get you your money. Just don’t hurt anybody.” Livingston parted his lips, ready to come up with a rebuttal, but just then, my cell phone buzzed with an incoming call. “It’s in my boot.” I heaved one more sigh. Tim bent down, shoved his hand into the boot and pulled it out. The caller ID was “Ivan.”
“I’ll take that.” Livingston told his man, holding out his hand, palm upward. “Who’s this guy?” He asked, setting the phone down on his desk.
“Leave him alone. He’s got nothing to do with this.” I spoke too fast, shaking my head sideways, a wave of cold sweat washing over
me. The last thing I wanted was for Ivan to inherit my troubles.
“Hmm…” Livingston hummed, his ironic smile returning. “I don’t think so. You just admitted how much he means to you.”
“Stay away from him!” I shouted, jumping up, my voice riddled with tension and anger. I tried to lean forward, but before I could do so, I sensed two hands on my shoulders, pulling me back. My cell phone buzzed one more time while the loan shark burst into laughter. This time though, he didn’t ignore it. Instead, he put it up to his ear.
“I’m sorry, Ivan. Scarlet is unavailable. Can I take a message?” He spoke in ironic tones, his gaze settled on me. “Your girl owes me money, kid. Don’t try to track her down. You might regret it.” He continued, sending waves of horror down my spine. “Twenty-five grand. It was twenty-three, a month ago. Oh, do you, now?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow. “I’ll text you the address. Kid, if I as much as smell a cop, your girl’s dead. Get me? See you in a half hour.”
At that, he rose to his feet, with the phone still in his grasp.
“Outside, boys.” He commanded, moving around the desk. My heart was floating in a sea of anguish. I was too far to hear what Ivan told him, but I didn’t have to. Obviously, he had set up a meeting with Livingston. The man who had taken me in had agreed to pay off my debt, and was just minutes away from risking his life for me. Every fiber of my being protested at the thought of Ivan and that bastard together in the same room. I knew Livingston. He wouldn’t hesitate to execute us. I just had to find a way to get the hell out of there and warn Ivan.
So, once they had slid the door shut behind them, I recalled the day when Ivan had shown me how to tie a few knots. Struggling to control my breath, I got a firm grip on the two strands of the knot with my fingertips. Gently, I worked them back and forth, creating slack. In a matter of minutes, I felt some looseness. I gripped the slack spots tightly and pulled the knot open. I bent down, willing to untie my legs as well. But, the sound of someone sprinting across the warehouse compelled me to stop. I whipped my head around, placing my hands on my knees. Shane was hurtling towards me, the grip of his gun sticking out of his pants.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He yelled, shortening his strides. In my panic, I tried to break free of my bounds; yet, I only managed to tighten the knot around my ankles. Halting behind me, he pulled my hair, causing me to scream in pain. He grabbed his gun from off his waist and cocked it, sending shivers of fear slice through me.
“I’m pregnant! Please, don’t kill me!” I cried out, throwing my arms over my head.
“Put that thing away.” Livingston’s familiar voice filled the warehouse once more. He was sauntering towards my spot. He wasn’t alone. Other than Tim, the man who had captured my heart was accompanying him: Ivan Peterson…
Ivan
I gazed upon Scarlet in utter shock and disbelief. I couldn’t even have suspected the bomb she had just dropped. She hadn’t had any symptoms, not yet at least. But, it wasn’t long before my surprise gave its place to a feeling of absolute rage. A few tendrils of her hair were lying next to her. She also had a bruised cheekbone. A drop of blood had left a trail on her cheek. Rolling my fingers into fists, I turned to face the goon on my right. I threw my arm and rotated it in mid air, letting out a fierce snarl. The tremendous blow I laid to his jaw sent him reeling back and to the left. His body was slammed against the door, just before his partner burst off in my direction. I flipped around, catching Livingston reaching for his gun out of the corner of my eye. Reaching forward, I grabbed the wrist he held the handle with and squeezed with all my might. His agonizing cry echoed back to me from the walls of the warehouse as he squeezed his eyes shut. I heard a bone cracking under pressure, just before I yanked the gun out of his grasp. A powerful jab in the eye knocked him off balance. Livingston landed flat and hard on his back, groaning in pain. Just then, I noticed his other goon drawing near, his arm jerked back. Gritting my teeth, I made another fist. A loud snarl left my mouth as my uppercut blow to his jaw sent him upward. I ran off towards Scarlet, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Upon reaching her, I halted and flipped around to face them. Livingston and his men were still lying on the floor. There was another gun a few inches away from the feet of his younger goon.
“Alright, you fuckers, listen up.” I growled, aiming down at Livingston as I unzipped my coat pocket. “Take the money and get the fuck out of here.” I added, throwing a thick envelope across the floor.
“You don’t have the guts, kid.” Livingston taunted me, propping himself up on his elbow. Fuming with rage, I raised the gun a couple of inches and pulled the trigger. The banging sound resounded through the warehouse as the bullet was lodged into the door behind him.
“You wanna find out?” I dared him, lowering the weapon to aim at him again. “I don’t want to shoot you, though. I’d rather beat you to death. So, what’s it gonna be?”
“Grab the money, boys.” Livingston murmured, pressing his wrist to his mouth. One by one, they got up, staring at me. I continued to hold the gun up as my chest heaved. My heart was pounding so hard that I could hear it. Stepping outside, the loan shark glared at me, his nostrils flaring. The nasty look in his eyes tempted me to beat up on him some more. I would love to bash that ugly face into the wall. Still, I chose to let him walk away. I had what I wanted.
The sound of a car engine tore the silence. I noticed the brake lights moving away from the warehouse. I sucked in a deep breath, shoving my hand into my pocket. I turned around and bent down, unable to utter a word. But, Scarlet didn’t give me a chance to use my pocket knife. As soon as I sat on my knees, she thrust her arms around my shoulders and pulled me in. I welcomed her in my embrace, my breath still coming out in gasps.
“I’m sorry…” She sobbed, resting her head in the crook of my neck, her body trembling. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s over, baby.” I breathed, burying my face in her hair. “It’s all over.”
“God, I was so stupid.” Scarlet whispered, gripping my skin tighter. “I should have told you about him.”
“Shhh…” I hissed. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” I uttered, putting some force in my voice as I eased back. I cut her loose, and then placed my hands under her armpits. With a strong, upward push, I picked her up. Scarlet draped her arms over my back when I shuffled off across the warehouse. A cool breeze blew through my hair as we abandoned the building. I opened the passenger door of my truck and eased her down on the seat, my heartbeat slowly going back to normal.
I had to admit I was curious about what she had to say to me. I could never have imagined a great professional like Scarlet Hayward borrowing money from a loan shark. All the same, it wouldn’t make any difference. Our ordeal was over. Its details sounded secondary. I started the engine and drove away, happy to have my porcelain doll back.
“You didn’t have to pay my debt.” She claimed, reaching out to put her hand on my wrist. “You risked your life back there. Your life was so peaceful before I came. I didn’t want to ruin it for you again.”
“Of course I had to pay off your debt.” I countered, my voice calm. “And I’d do this all over again if I had to.”
“Ivan…”
“Don’t insist, will you?” I interrupted her, turning my head left to face her. “I had to protect you. I just don’t get how a girl like you borrowed money from a loan shark in the first place.”
“Well…” Scarlet drew in a sharp breath. “It all started a year ago. I needed money for my mom’s medical treatments. I already had a loan in my name. My mom was unemployed and my stepdad was just a burger flipper. No bank would ever give him a loan. A loan shark was our only choice. Livingston was rumored to be connected to ‘Trinity,’ some organized crime group down in Cleveland, but my stepdad told it was just a personal loan and that Livingston needed collateral or a co-signer. Since it was for my mom’s treatments, I…” She paused. “I co-signed it without issue. We paid it off just days before my mother passed. Right aft
er her death, my stepdad went to Livingston, extended the terms and borrowed some more money. When the debt came due, he warned me about Livingston and then left the country. He wanted me to leave, too, but I didn’t listen. One night, some strange men showed up at my apartment. I didn’t let them in, but it was all the proof I needed to get out of Cleveland. I didn’t have the money to pay them.”
“So, desperation.” I concluded. “Only a health issue would get you to do something that dangerous.”
I waited for her response, sensing her light touch on my skin. However, Scarlet didn’t give me one. Glancing down at her, I discovered why. She was lying on her left side. Her eyes were closed and her stomach was rhythmically rising up and down. I wished we weren’t driving back home. I wished I had just a few more minutes to look at her. I knew my feelings for her. And I would do just about anything to keep her safe, including killing and putting my life on the line for her…
Scarlet
A tickling sensation on the side of my neck made me pry my eyes open. I was in Ivan’s bed, lying under the covers. He was sat in a chair on my right, wearing his brightest smile. I tried to sit up, even though I could feel the pain in my back and my cheekbone.
“Hey…” He whispered, climbing into bed. “You should be resting.”
“How long have I been sleeping?” I wondered, rolling on my side.
“About three hours.” He replied, gazing deep into my eyes. “The doctor’s on his way, but I don’t think we need any blood tests. I found your pregnancy tests in your room. All three of them. Why did you take three?”
“Because I wanted to make sure before I told you about it.” I stated, my lips curling into a sweet smile.
“I love you, my porcelain doll.” He confessed with a whisper, leaning his forehead against mine as he pulled a small, brown box out from under the pillow. “I want a big family. I want the whole nine yards.” He added, opening the box. “Will you marry me?”
Trapped with the Mountain Man Page 9