King's Ransom: South Side Sinners MC

by BT Urruela

  “Who is that?” her mother nagged again. “Is that some hooker? Is this why you never come home at a reasonable hour. Who is she? Who is …?”

  The crack reverberated through every part of Annalise’s being. Skin on skin, the blow caused her mother to gasp and crumple to the floor. Annalise forgot all instincts of self-preservation and threw open the bedroom door, running to her mother’s aid. She raced down the hall and knelt beside her mother, putting herself between them.

  “No, you will fix this!” he growled into the phone, his hooded eyes peering at the woman as she cowered from her knees.

  “Come on, Mama. Let’s get you back to bed, okay?” Annalise pleaded with the incoherent woman, grasping her arm and wiping blood from the side of her mother’s mouth. Victoria struggled to get her bearings. Her wide eyes blinked open and closed slowly in exaggerated movements as she fought the drugs and tried to make sense of what just happened.

  “Gary, don’t you dare raise your fucking voice to me,” her father said, shaking his head and frowning.

  “I … I …” her mother stammered. Annalise fought back tears, trying to help her mother to her feet. She couldn’t stand seeing her like this. As much as she sometimes hated the woman, she could never let him hurt her.

  “Fuck me? No, fuck you!” Her father barked into the phone, and then he held it out in front of his face, staring at it with a lip reared back. “That motherfucker,” he muttered, slamming the phone down onto its cradle with a clatter.

  He walked toward the two women as Annalise steadied her trembling mother. Annalise’s body tensed as he approached. She knew before even looking at him she had made a grave mistake coming out of her room. All the safety that locked door provided was gone. Someone would have to pay for whatever had gone wrong, for the alcohol he had consumed because of it, for the anger that grew inside of him, and Annalise knew exactly who that would be.

  “You were talking to the general?” Victoria piped up, coming back to herself but still too far gone to realize she should’ve just left. “What is going on, Ronald? I’m your wife, I deserve to know.”

  He let out a heavy breath, and something like remorse crossed his features—as close as he could get to it anyway. “He got himself in trouble and was forced to retire,” he said, glancing ravenously at Annalise. He had forgotten his anger toward her mother for the time being, furious his daughter had dared get involved.

  Annalise swallowed hard and forced a brave face. Whatever happened, she had to keep her mother safe.

  “Why does that matter? Are we in trouble, Ronald?” Victoria questioned, a hint of panic in her voice.

  Victoria leaned against Annalise and pushed her way back to standing. “Well, I do. What kind of mess did he get himself into?” her mother fired back. “I seriously hope this isn’t going to come back to hurt us. The last thing we need is to get caught up in the middle of some scandal.” She put her hands to her cheeks and started to cry. The hysterical kind of sobbing that came only when she was really messed up on the pills.

  Annalise shook her head. Just like that, her mother overlooked the fact he just hit her and once again assumed the role of senator’s wife. The campaign and his public image superseded all else, as usual.

  “Dammit, Victoria, get ahold of yourself. We’ll be fine. He just got himself mixed up with some questionable company and I need to figure some things out,” her father offered casually but never took his eyes off Annalise. Her skin crawled and bile teased the back of her throat.

  ‘Questionable company’? You mean, besides you? Annalise didn’t dare say it out loud. He was the epitome of a monster. While all the world saw him as this saint of a man, this American hero, here at home, he was evil incarnate. Why couldn’t her mother see it? Why couldn’t anyone see it? Annalise knew the answer, no point in asking the same questions over and over again. He was Senator Hale … and everyone, including her mother, just turned a blind eye because of what that title and name brought with them. They only saw what they wanted to see. As long as they weren’t hurt, who cared, right? Annalise forced the bile back down.

  “Well, I hope it’s nothing that will blow back on us in some way,” her mother piped up. Her interest was piqued now. The tears were gone and her whole demeanor seemed to shift. Her pill-raddled mind on a roller coaster of rapidly changing emotions. “Kim’s going to be a mess. Maybe I should give her a call. I should probably call Allison too. I’m sure she’s dying to chat about it.”

  Annalise could not believe she actually saw a little twinkle in her mother’s eye. Fuck, they were both monsters. She could see it plain as day—her mother was actually excited about the tidbit of gossip. Had forgotten all about the thunderous slap. Oh, the drama of it all.

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass who you call, Victoria. Will you please just leave me be? I’ve got business to tend to.”

  “If everything is okay then”—Annalise began to see her opportunity to get back to the safety of her room—“I’m going to try and get some sleep. I have rehearsal in the morning. Mom, come on.” She grabbed her mother’s hand and tried to guide her along.

  “Annalise, wait,” her father ordered before she could take two steps.

  Fuck. Annalise paused, her body stiff as a board. Please no.

  “Your mother and I will need to go to D.C. for a few days and I need to go over some things with you.” His voice took on the commander-in-chief tone.

  Her mother clapped when she heard D.C. “How many days?” her mother practically sang. “Will we be attending any events? How soon are we leaving?”

  Victoria spewed a million questions as she pranced back up the hallway in her Louis Vuitton slippers, toward her bedroom. All traces of the broken lush vaporized in the excitement of the moment.

  “Three or four days, max,” her father answered, standing between Annalise and her escape back up the hall toward her bedroom. “We will have at least two dinners but be prepared for four.”

  They were seriously acting like this is a normal day in the life of the Hales, not three in the morning after her father nearly tearing the house apart and hitting her mother. The only light at the end of this tunnel was the fact that they would be gone for at least three days. Her mother disappeared around the corner into the master suite leaving Annalise alone with her father. He said nothing but pointed toward his study. Her stomach sunk like a stone into an endless well. Desperately she tried to think of any possible reason not to go in there.

  Annalise saw papers were strewn about the floor, and a shattered vase lay in the hallway. He was in no mood to be trifled with. Whatever was going on with him and the general, it was bad. She walked slowly down the hall, hoping her mother would pop out of her room any moment with another barrage of questions. As they reached the door, she heard the shower start running and knew all hope was lost. Her mother would be at least an hour. She turned back and saw the demonic grin forming on her father’s face. He heard it too.

  Annalise contemplated running. If she took off like a shot, maybe she could make it to the front door and out into the night before he could catch her. The idea of freedom and the cool night breeze sounded like a dream compared to the stale suffocating air of his office. Demons swirled like smoke into her fragile lungs, choking out the very breath from her body. Before she could make a move, his hand clamped firmly onto her shoulder. She winced and closed her eyes, her legs turning to jelly. There was no escape now.

  “Walk,” he commanded, and Annalise complied.

  Annalise flashed back to her nine-year-old self. On the outside, she maintained steel resolve, while the child inside retreated to the corner and rocked back and forth, crying. She vividly remembered the first time being so confused and desperately thinking one human could not possibly be this cruel to another. One look in his eyes and she knew there was no limit to the depravity that he could inflict.

  Annalise thought of the tray of escape in her dressing room. That really was the only way out. She almost laughed now at how fool
ish she had been when she was accepted to Julliard. She really had thought she would be free. She was going to put all this behind her and start a new life.

  She knew now that was just childish fantasy. There was no escape and there was only one way out of this hell. Her mother and all her holier-than-thou friends liked to talk about heaven, but their streets of gold were paved with empty promises and the damnation they feared had nothing on this life. Annalise had felt the brimstone and breathed the fire that consumed her, for the devil himself had claimed her soul a long time ago and she knew there was nothing left to save.

  She heard the door lock behind her and every fiber of her body screamed into the void. Silent tears began to stream down her cheeks as his footsteps cross the floor behind her. She desperately wanted to be anyplace else. Death was a welcome mistress to her current state. Just as he reached her, his cell began to ring.

  “Goddamn it,” he cursed lowly and paused. At first, he ignored it and the ringing stopped, but it immediately began again. “Fuck!” he blurted, a little louder this time.

  Annalise held her breath. Please, please be important … Please. He snatched the phone up and stared at the number. Annalise watched the color drain from his face, his eyes widening, and he looked as if he was going to throw up. He stood frozen as if he was afraid to answer. After a few moments, it stopped then immediately started ringing again. The senator let out a long sigh and waved Annalise away with a flick of his hand before answering the call.

  Annalise did not have to be told twice. She ran for the door as if she were on fire. She didn’t know who was on the other end of that call or what they wanted, but right now, she loved them and owed them her life.

  As Annalise stepped in the hall, she could hear him pleading with someone for more time. Stick it to him. Whatever he was mixed-up in, he deserved every bit of what he got. She wasn’t going to waste any time getting the hell out of the house. Annalise ran back to her room and gathered what she needed for rehearsal, then called for a car. She didn’t care that she would be three hours early for practice. She would sleep in the gutter if she had to.

  Her mother would be fine. Annalise knew that, headed to Washington, her mother was in her element. Whatever was going on with the general, her mother would be the queen of the inside scoop while her father did damage control. Hopefully, it would keep them busy until her debut. A week and a half left. That’s all she had to do. Annalise took comfort in knowing it would all be over soon. She could do anything for a week and a half. Anything.

  Her cell phone pinged that the car was ready out front. As quietly as possible, Annalise grabbed her bag and slipped out into the hall. She could hear her father still arguing with whoever had him by the balls, and the water from her mother’s shower raged full force. She didn’t pause to tell them goodbye, just sprinted down to the kitchen as quickly as her delicate feet would carry her. Once on the porch, she slipped her shoes back on and ran to the waiting car without looking back.

  She had dreamed of running away so many times, but never had the courage to actually leave. Even now, she would go to rehearsal as expected. She never stepped foot outside the box laid out for her. After giving the address to the driver, Annalise settled into the back seat, content with the momentary reprieve. She put in her headphones and cranked up her music, mindlessly scrolling through her news feed, desperate to think of something besides her life.

  It only took a moment for the headlines to grab her attention. The general was as big a pervert as her dad. That’s no surprise, she thought, shaking her head. Looked like the general would be retiring. That doesn’t seem too bad. She wondered why her father was so upset about the whole thing. Suddenly, she sat straight up. Maybe he was involved with the same intern! Ha ha! The thought made Annalise smile. How classic it would be if his infidelity actually brought him down. Whatever was going on, her father really seemed to be afraid.

  As a senator, his image was everything. Annalise knew all too well he valued his reputation and public opinion far more than he ever had her mother or herself, but as much as she despised the pair of them, she could never do anything to hurt either one. Annalise knew if she ever spoke up, her father’s career would be over, and her mother would never recover. This had kept her silent for years and now the guilt of her silence was as crippling as the shame itself. Annalise had grown to hate every moment of her life, except for dancing. Knowing it would all be over soon brought a peace she had never known before.

  Her steps actually felt lighter when she got out of the car and walked up to the studio. The only people around at this hour were the cleaning staff. The rest of the dancers wouldn’t be here for another two hours at least. A white-haired woman with a mop smiled up at her with ancient eyes. Annalise nodded in her direction as she passed and returned a smile. Abruptly, she stopped and picked up some discarded trash that was in the woman’s way and threw it in the bin, before heading to her dressing room.

  “Thank you, Miss Hale.” The timeworn voice echoed down the hall after her. Annalise waved over her shoulder. The workers of the theater, she contemplated, were in many ways more like a family than her own. For a moment, she imagined a loving family and wondered what that would be like.

  Alone in the safety of the only space she really owned in this world, Annalise wrapped up in her robe and snuggled awkwardly on the small chaise. The adrenaline of the morning left her, and she crashed in exhaustion. It could have been a bed of nails, but she would still have fallen fast asleep. Just an hour and she would be good to go, she assured herself, and closed her eyes.

  Seven

  Muffled sounds of people murmuring excitedly as they rushed up and down the hall outside filtered through her dreams. Her body begged them to go away so she could sleep just a little longer. Suddenly, a loud knock shook the door and startled Annalise. She came to life, arms and legs reacting before her brain could interpret her whereabouts, and she fell off the chaise with a thud. The door flung open.

  “Thank God, you are here!” Madame Petrov exclaimed, standing in the doorway, hands on her hips. Her bluish-gray hair was piled up high on her head and her penciled in eyebrows were drawn in permanent disdain. “Rehearsal was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago. What is wrong with you? Are you ill? Please God, do not say that you are ill. We simply don’t have time for that!”

  “How can that be? I only closed my eyes for a minute!” Annalise jumped up, scooping her practice tights and leotard in one movement. She didn’t even care that Madame Petrov was still standing in the wide-open doorway as she began to hurriedly change. “I’m so very sorry, I have never been late for a practice before.” Annalise hopped across the room on one foot then the other, slipping on her tights.

  “Take time to warm up properly.” Madame Petrov’s voice softened as she looked around the room and back at Annalise. “We can’t afford to have you getting injured this close to opening night.” With that, she turned and shut the door, giving Annalise some privacy to finish dressing and stretch.

  Annalise’s heart was racing a mile a minute. How did I sleep so long? She glanced at the clock and her stomach dropped off a cliff. She should have been warmed up and ready an hour ago. Annalise was always the first one on the stage and the last to leave. This was inexcusable, she scolded herself, stretching as quickly as possible. She rushed through each of the repetitions and began prepping her feet. Annalise forced herself to slow down and take deep breaths. I’m late but I need to regain self-control, or the entire rehearsal will be a disaster. Annalise counted slowly to twenty and back to one as she prepared her feet and donned her pointe shoes. She cringed, thinking of the director’s face. Whatever lay ahead of her, when she reached that stage, she would take it because this was her fault and she knew it.

  By the time she approached the spotlight, Annalise had pulled together her usual steel resolve. A thousand times before, she had swallowed the storm inside to create the perfect facade that was her life.

  “Nice of you to join us,” th
e director chided. Annalise took a slow, measured breath as she stood alone in the center of the stage. The blinding lights prevented her from seeing the stern expression on the director’s face or the smug looks of the other dancers. It didn’t matter, she knew they were there. His angry tirade erupted from the darkness, but Annalise remained motionless. His voice boomed through the otherwise silent theater. Calmly, she listened and focused intently on his words, harnessing the embarrassment. Pain was the fuel to her passion.

  “Do you have anything to say?” he asked as he finished, winded from his fervent berating.

  “I deeply apologize for wasting your time, and the time of the company,” Annalise responded sincerely but without flinching. She meant it, she was very sorry, but criticism would not break her. Annalise stood perfectly erect, staring straight ahead into the darkness toward the sound of her director’s voice. Silence followed. Was he waiting for something? Seconds felt like hours before he answered.

  “Apology accepted,” he finally responded, sounding pleased. “Let’s get to work. Rehearsal will go one hour over this evening, thanks to the lovely Miss Hale.” A chorus of groans rose up in response.

  Great, and they were just starting to like me so much. She knew she would never be one of them, and in another week, it wouldn’t matter anyway. Still, Annalise hated that she ruined everyone’s plans. She pinched her lips together and took her position to start rehearsal. A disapproving murmur rippled through the theater in a series of grumbling protests. They had already waited an hour for her to show up and now they would have to stay an hour later to pay for it.

  Her partner for the number took his position. He clasped her delicate hand in his and placed his other hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about them. Everyone messes up once in a while,” he whispered, and offered her a small smile. “I’m just glad to see you’re actually human like the rest of us.” He squeezed her hand as the music began.