by Erin Trejo
“I need you to call Lorenzo. Give him an update. Gaia is good and safe.”
“Is she?” I turn to look at him and nod my head.
“She will be when you hide her.” He smirks.
“Where you goin’ with this?” I didn’t want to tell him. I wanted this to come as a surprise to everyone but if I want his help, I know I have to fill him in because Grave is going to demand what knowledge he has.
“I’m goin’ after Leonardo. Gonna eliminate the competition.”
“Is he really a competitor?” He laughs. I shake my head and roll my shoulders back trying to ease the tension in them.
“Not in the way you’d think. He’s still out there, brother. You think he won’t want to come for her at some point?” I ask him, knowing full well how the Mafia works for the most part.
“And you ain’t lettin’ her go, huh?” Shaking my head, I scrub my free hand over my face and sigh.
“No.” It’s a simple answer that doesn’t need an explanation. If I’m keeping her, I’m keeping her. There doesn’t need to be a long, drawn-out reason. Psycho nods his head before his eyes drift past me.
“You gonna tell her?” He nods toward the hallway. I turn to look over my shoulder and see Gaia coming into the room. Her small frame, her long dark hair, fuck, that girl has my head a mess.
“Yeah. Just not every detail. Called ahead and that spot in Rockford is set up and ready for her. Once I leave, tell Grave the deal. Get someone set up to watch her, yeah?” Pulling my gaze back to his, he nods his head. A serious look takes hold of him and I know he’s gone from giving me hell about this to understanding why I’m doing it. Shoving out of the chair, I set my bottle on the table and head toward Gaia. We haven’t talked. Hell, I have avoided her like the goddamn plague because at the end of the day, I know it would be that much harder for me to make this decision if I was buried inside of her. Grabbing her hand, I pull her along with me without hesitation from her. Once we’re outside, I let her go and rest my hands on my hips, staring out into the blank sky.
“What’s wrong?” she asks softly.
“I have to go for a while. My boys are gonna move you somewhere safe.”
“You’re leaving me?” I didn’t miss the hitch in her voice. Damn it! This is what I didn’t want to happen. I need her all onboard with this shit.
“I have to do somethin’ and you can’t come along for that,” I add. She moves to stand in front of me, peering up at me.
“I’m sorry, Preacher. I’m so fucking sorry! I don’t know what else I can say that will make this better. Just… please don’t leave,” she begs, and it’s the best thing I’ve heard in my life. Call me a sick fuck, but I like her begging. I ignore her rant anyway but, she goes on. “I’ll do whatever you want. I… I’ll follow all your rules. Just, please.” When I finally give in and look down at her tear-streaked face, something cracks in me. Grabbing her face in my hands, I hold her there while my thumbs brush away all the tears.
“I need you to pull yourself together, Gaia. I need you to be that smartass little girl I met the first day. I need you to listen to what my boys tell you to do, you got that?” She looks at me confused but she won’t say yes and God, I need her to say yes.
“No.”
“Listen to me, Gaia! This isn’t a game. This isn’t a drunken night in Vegas, this is life. Real fuckin’ life and I’m about to step into the fires of hell for you! I need you to do what you’re told!” I roar, squeezing her face a little harder than I should but she has to hear me right now.
“What are you going to do, Preacher? What the hell are you going to do?” Panic inserts itself deep inside of her and I feel her tremble. With a deep sigh, I pull my hands from her face and pull her whole body into mine. Holding her against me, this is fucked up. It’s wrong and I don’t care. I don’t care what’s the right choice here. To me? There’s only one, and that’s the one I’m going with.
“I’m fixin’ a problem, darlin’. I ain’t never met a girl like you. Somethin’ about you has me goin’ crazy, Gaia. My head ain’t right and I don’t want it to be. Not if this feelin’ I have in my chest stays. I want it.”
“Preacher,” she breathes.
“That. The way you say my goddamn name like that. Fuck, Gaia.” Enough talking, I crash my lips to hers and kiss her like this may be the last time. In the back of my mind, I know what I’m up against. This may very well be the last time I touch her but isn’t that worth it, if she can live a life that isn’t bound by her dad’s wishes? Isn’t it worth everything for her to be free? When I pull back, I’m dizzy. She does this shit to me.
“You can’t go.”
“I have to. You’re gonna be safe, darlin’. I promise that much. Just remember Proverbs 18:22 says ‘He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord,’” I whisper in her ear. When I stand up straighter, I see the tears in her eyes.
“You and your bible quotes,” she sobs.
“Tell me it ain’t true,” I challenge her. Her hand flattens to my chest, feeling the rapid beat of my heart.
“I was never super religious. I didn’t know if there was really something else out there for us,” she says softly.
“And now?”
“And now, I know there has to be. I have you.” Grabbing her face once more, I lean back in and kiss her a lot gentler this time. I let every spark, every burn sizzle between us until I can’t breathe. Only then do I pull back and study her face. Those damn big brown eyes, her plump lips.
“Do what they tell you, Gaia.”
“Is that an order?” She cracks a smile.
“It is. I’ll see you soon,” I tell her before pulling away and heading back inside. Grabbing the bag I already had ready off the table, I look to Psycho and nod. He gives me a nod back and I head for the door. Hearing the side door close, I glance over my shoulder and see her watching me with her arms wrapped around herself. One slight nod and a small smile, and I turn and leave.
I know this may be a mistake. I know this may ultimately be my death, but to me, it’s all worth it. She’s worth it. The woman I’ve found beneath the exterior of her outer shell deserves a lot more than what she’s getting. She deserves to be happy and live the way she chooses, and I’m going to make damn sure that she gets that chance.
20
Gaia
He’s gone. I don’t know what to feel and I don’t have time to think about it either.
“Gaia, get the fuck in here!” Grave’s voice thunders through the room, causing me to jump. With my arms still wrapped around myself, I walk toward the office in a daze. I don’t know what Preacher has planned. I don’t know anything aside from what he said to me. When I step into the room, I can feel the tension. Psycho looks impassive as always, Freak tugs at his hair, Switch ignores everyone as usual but Grave? He’s pissed.
“Sit down,” Psycho says, nodding toward the row of chairs. I pull one out and sit, unsure of how to react to all this.
“He’s fucked, Gaia. He’s fucked because of you!” Grave roars. I pull my gaze to his and stare at the worry that now lines his face. I’ve never seen them before. Grave has always been so in control of himself but not now. Right now, he’s broken, lost, confused.
“What do you mean?” His eyes jerk to Psycho’s.
“He didn’t tell her?” Psycho shakes his head, not looking at anyone.
“Fuck!” Grave roars, spinning around and slamming his fist into the wall. “He’s goin’ after Leonardo!” My mouth falls open, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. No, he can’t do that. They will kill him. What the hell was he thinking?
“Stop him,” I yell, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“How do you want us to do that? Your husband left his cell here,” Switch adds, tossing Preacher’s phone and bible onto the table in front of me. I reach out and run my fingers over the worn leather of the small bible before grabbing it and holding it to my chest.
“They’re going to kill him. Because o
f me,” I whisper.
“You’re goin’ with Switch to Rockford. Preacher set up the safe house for you there. Switch is stayin’ with you until we figure this shit out,” Grave says with a finality that I don’t dare question.
“Call Enzo. You have to tell him what’s happening,” I beg. Grave chuckles darkly, looking at me like I’m the devil himself. And I feel it.
“Tell him what? That my brother fucked and married his sister? The one we were supposed to be protectin’ and now he’s gone rogue?” The way he says it sends a chill down my spine. If Enzo hasn’t killed my dad yet, he’s right. They can’t find out. If my dad has more men than Enzo, it wouldn’t end well for anyone involved.
“Now it’s sinkin’ in,” Freak says through gritted teeth.
“I didn’t want this,” I whisper.
“Doesn’t matter. This is the hand we were dealt and now we deal with it.”
“What are you going to do?” I look to Grave, knowing he has the answers I need.
“That doesn’t concern you. You follow the directions Switch gives you.”
“You can’t be serious,” I huff.
“Oh, I’m dead fuckin’ serious! You’re the reason we’re in this mess, Gaia! Listen to him,” Grave growls and points at Switch. My insides tighten and I feel sick. I can’t believe Grave would do this.
“Let’s go. Silla packed your shit,” Switch says, ushering me out of the chair and toward the door. I turn back and my eyes find Psycho’s. I don’t know what I’m asking for. Reassurance? When he nods slightly, I know he’s going to do everything he can to get Preacher back. That doesn’t ease the ache in my chest though. It makes it worse. What if they can’t get him back? They don’t know what they're up against with Leo. He isn’t just some guy that wants things the way he sees fit. He’s a monster that will stop at nothing to get what he wants and what he wants is me.
I follow Switch helplessly out to the truck. He holds the door open for me and as I climb in, my heart crumbles. It’s the same truck Preacher drove all over the country to keep me safe. And what did I give him in return? Nothing. I gave him a wife that he never wanted and put him in danger. I fucking killed him.
“I killed him,” I gasp.
“No. He ain’t dead yet. Preacher’s smart. Give the man some credit,” Switch snaps. He starts the truck and pulls out as I think it over. If he dies, it’s on me. If they hurt him, it’s my fault.
“He knows what he’s doin’,” Switch says.
“Does he? He didn’t research, he didn’t think. He just left!” I’m angry. I shouldn’t be. I don’t have that right, but I am! He didn’t think this through.
“You ever think that he left for a reason? He’s doin’ this for a reason? I don’t know what the fuck he sees in you, hell, I’ve sat back and watched you, tryin’ to figure it out, piece it together but I come up blank.” What the hell is his problem?
“Fuck you, Switch. You don’t know shit about me,” I growl, causing him to laugh.
“Maybe that’s it right there. We all know there’s a fighter in you and now’s the time to bring that bitch out. This shit isn’t gonna be easy on you. Sittin’ around wonderin’ what may be happenin’ to him. If you care about him, even a little, you better harden the fuck up, princess. You’re in for one hell of a ride,” he informs me.
The silence in the truck is welcomed as we drive. There are far too many thoughts running around this head of mine. The main one is needing to find him. I need to know what he’s thinking. Why he’d do something so stupid. I need to get away from this asshole first. I could jump out of the moving car but that would land my ass in more pain than I’m ready to handle. I could scream, pretend to be kidnapped. My eyes flick to Switch, his jaw set, an annoyed look on his face but it’s the gun sitting on the seat next to him that grabs my attention. I could grab it. Then what? Make him stop the truck? I could run. Put him out.
In the middle of my indecisions, I reach for the gun and quickly raise it, aiming it at his head.
“Stop the truck, Switch,” I say, keeping the gun aimed. He glances over, sees the gun and laughs. Asshole. I’ll do it. I’ll shoot his ass.
“Put it down and don’t piss me off,” he says with an edge to his voice.
“I mean it. Pull the fucking truck over!”
“Oh, I mean it too, princess. If you don’t put that motherfuckin’ gun down, we’re gonna have problems,” he says. His tone never changes, never rises. In fact, every time I’ve seen him angry, his tone has been calm.
“Just let me out, Switch. I need to find him.”
“No, you need to stop pissin’ me off. Your man is fine, but I can’t promise the same for you if you keep that gun trained on me.” There’s a slight shake to my hand as I keep it held up. I don’t think Switch is playing but neither am I. I need to help Preacher.
“Now!” I roar louder. Switch laughs. He laughs loudly, further pissing me off. My fingers on the trigger but I don’t mean to pull it. The bang echoes through the truck as the sound of glass shattering rings in my head. The truck swerves before I’m snatched by the wrist. The gun is pulled from my hand as I gasp for air.
“The fuck is wrong with you?” Switch roars louder now. Fuck. It didn’t shoot him? Oh my God! Preacher would kill me himself if I shot his friend.
“I… oh my God. I didn’t mean to pull the trigger. Fuck!” I cry as I cover my mouth with my hand. Switch is agitated and rightfully so. I almost killed him! Cold air rushes through the broken window as I scream and cry.
“Stop!”
“I can’t! I’m sorry! Oh my God!” I scream louder. What kind of fool am I? What the hell is wrong with me?
“Come here, princess,” Switch says in a soft tone. I scoot toward him thinking the bastard is going to say it’s okay but that’s not what I get. His arm comes up like he’s going to wrap it around my shoulders but instead it goes around my neck. He’s squeezing and I’m gasping.
“Switch,” I gasp for air.
“You’re so fuckin’ stupid. You’re lucky I don’t kill you. Now shut up and take a nap,” he says through gritted teeth. I can feel the tug of the darkness and try to fight it, fight him. Switch laughs darkly until everything fades into nothing.
21
Preacher
Rolling my shoulders, I inhale the nicotine into my lungs. I sit back in the darkness watching, waiting, evaluating. I didn’t think getting to a man like Leonardo Cancio was going to be easy; in fact, I was ready for the fight. Now I’m taking it all in. His routines, the way he travels, his connections. It’s all been interesting to say the least. There is far more going on in his world than what I first thought. His gambling addictions run deeper than any of us knew.
“Now why do you want my little Gaia so badly?” I ask myself as I watch from afar. There are things that I know I’m going to have to do but, in the meantime, I need to know more. I need to get closer.
“Who the hell are you?” A deep voice thunders through my ear. A chill runs down my spine knowing that anyone out here has to be related to Cancio in some way or another. Flicking my cigarette to the ground, I shove myself to my feet and turn to face the man. A gun is thrust into my face as I blow out a breath.
“We gonna have a problem here?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.
“That depends on you,” the man says, his accent thick. Now I know he is definitely one of Leonardo’s men.
“I plan on givin’ you hell, if that’s what you’re askin’.”
“Wrong answer.” The gun fires, and the blast leaves me on my knees. I could hear the bullet whirring past my ear, the noise racing through my skull. I grab my head as clench my eyes shut. No one understands the way the noise burns through your skull until you’ve had a gun fired near your head. In the matter of seconds, I’m lifted to my feet surrounded by voices speaking Italian. My head is still pounding as I’m dragged to a van and tossed into the back. I didn’t plan on getting closer this way, but I suppose it’s better than stalking hi
m from afar. I doubt they’re going to kill me right away, knowing who I am. They are going to want more information but I sure as fuck hope they don’t pull Lorenzo into this shit. That’s the last thing I need to deal with.
The van jostles around as they drive us to God knows where. From my research the last few days, I’d say they aren’t going too far. We’re still in Chicago and that gives me a small window of options. I can move around once I know where I am. I should have kept moving before they found me but the thought of him being anywhere near her pissed me off. I got lost in my own fucking head over that girl and that’s what got me here.
The van comes to a stop and I hear the door open. Being jerked from the back of the van, my ear is still ringing as I blink to get my focus. Fucking idiots didn’t even blindfold me. I take in the area around me and even though I haven’t been here before, I can find my way. Kicked in the back of my leg, I stumble and nearly fall, catching myself before I smirk. Getting shoved from behind once more, I nearly growl this time.
“Keep walking.”
“Keep puttin’ your hands on me and you’ll be the first one I kill,” I add. The man laughs but he obviously doesn’t know me. We step into the old building and I’m quickly ushered down a set of stairs. I don’t like being in the basement. That typically means one way out and that’s going to be hell if they keep men on me. Fuck. This isn’t what I was planning on.
“In there,” the man says, shoving me into a room. I take in the surroundings and make notes of everything I see—from the chains against the wall to the drain in the floor. I know exactly what this is. This is a kill room. Not that it shocks me, I see this shit every day when we do the same, I just didn’t expect to end up in this shit.
“You got a good reason for bringin’ me in here?” I ask as I turn to face the assholes.
“Who sent you?” I chuckle under my breath. Who sent me? That’s the line they’re going with? Could they be anymore cliché? Fucking idiots.