Chapter 34
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"Well, no shit," I spat and she recoiled a bit. "What do expect of a shitty person with power?"
She opened her mouth to say something but then resorted to silence. She stared at me.
"How old are you?" she asked as her almond-shaped green eyes focused on me.
I was caught off guard by her question. "Is that relevant to what I'm doi-" I started, but she interrupted.
"You are twenty-five," she said looking at me dreamily. "Mantha told me."
"You're going-" I said, but she interrupted again. I was beyond furious.
"You are too young to be asking me this or even doing this, son," she said with some twisted smile and I stared at her speechless for a moment.
"Can you get to the point?!" I demanded and she sank back in the couch still smiling. I frowned.
I was losing control.
"You are a twenty-five-year-old boy, holding a gun, threatening a woman your mother's age. To me, you look like a baby," she said shrugging and I smirked.
"Well, maybe if I put a bullet in one arm of yours, we'll see who screams like one," I said seriously and her smile faltered. "For the last time I repeat," I said miraculously calmly, tightening my hand around my gun in anger. "-I'm not here for chit-chat and some biscuits with sweet tea. You're going to answer my questions the way I want when I want. Don't let me use barbaric methods and most importantly," I said staring icily in her forest green eyes. "Do. Not. Underestimate. Me. That's a common, fatal mistake."
Her hands reached for the pearl necklace that surprisingly didn't choke her. "Okay."
I smirked still glaring at her.
"Good. Now, Danielle," I said standing straighter, my gun still pointing at her leg. "-tell me, where the hell are Ricardo's documents?"
"Weird. I thought that you came here to discuss Manth-" I squeezed shut my eyes in renewed rage, took a sudden deep breath and with a quick movement pulled the trigger. I heard glass shatter and I smiled satisfied. I opened my eyes to find the glass face that stood in the corner of the room become glass shards with its flowers littering the pristine floor.
I looked at her. She had her hands' heels pressed to her ears and her eyes squeezed shut. She let out a whimper as I sighed boredly. It was no longer entertaining.
"You weren't deaf when I gave my terms," I rolled my eyes. "And I certainly was not joking." My voice came harsh and she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
"But I can't tell you," she said wringing her hands and sobbing. "You can kill me if you'd like to-"
"I WILL!" I yelled furiously and she recoiled biting her lips. I approached her and clutched her dress's collar in my hands. She shrieked and tried slapping my hands away.
"Shut up!" I barked as her lips trembled. "And why the fuck aren't you willing to tell me, huh?" I shook her vigorously; thus tearing her dress from the shoulder.
Her other hand flew to hold her dress. "They will ki-kill Bianca," she said desperately looking in my eyes with tears flowing out.
"Who will-?" I said narrowing my eyes curiously at her as I let her go.
"Ricardo's sons," she breathed terrified.
"Sons?" I snorted. "Now where in heaven's name did that come from?" I said angrily screwing my face.
"Leonard and Maxime," she said sobbing. "I swear."
"Well, goddamit!" I said in frustration. "Explain!"
"Please-" she muttered shaking her head as her eyes filled with tears. Her veiny hands then grasped my wrist. "Please, they'll kill my only baby-"
"Stop whining," I scowled, shaking her hand away. "Tell me everything you know-"
She sobbed harder and I averted my gaze from her shaking figure. I then sighed, looked back at her and almost rolled my eyes."If you tell me, I promise no one will harm her. They wouldn't know," I tried.
She sniffed loudly and looked into my eyes pleading. She was making me feel bad and I hated it.
"I TOLD YOU, I'LL PROTECT HER, DAMMIT!" I shouted and she flinched. Her hands were shaking beyond control. She held them in a tight shaking fist.
She then nodded robotically as if paralyzed from fear. I leaned in and clutched her face in my hand, causing her to inhale sharply. "Tell. Me."
Her right eye twitched as she nodded. "I will-I will-" she hyperventilated and I nodded slowly.
"Good. Talk. I'm listening. We've got all day."
"They are sons from his very first wife on which he cheated on with Samantha's mother," she said her eyes losing focus as she slipped into memory mode. "They're about your age. I don't really know them, but I know they're dangerous. They do their father's dirty jobs. Mini Ricards is what they call them. They were born and raised in France. France where he met Samantha's mom. Where she lives now after they divorced."
Great.
"Ricardo," she said with tears flowing out. "-valued them the most. He told them that he trusted me," her voice broke. "And that's why I should keep his possessions in case anything happened to him."
She sobbed hard and I let her as I processed what she said. "But he never really trusted me," she continued. "Bianca would be the price I paid if I tried doing anything treacherous. He knew I'd die for her," she wept as her voice broke.
I let go of her. I then dragged my hand across my face and exhaled loudly.
"So you have the documents?" I asked and she nodded. "Can I have a set?"
She looked up at me. "I-"
"It's about my father's company," I said matter-of-factly and she shook her head with her eyes wide open.
"Ricardo left his sons and trusted them to continue his legacy-" she tried ignoring me.
"But the thing is Danielle," I said raising an eyebrow and leaning closer. "I happen to really want those documents. Because even Samantha's life is on the line because of them. And many other people's of course," I said glancing at her and she sniffed.
"But-"
"I will be the one to get the documents. I'll get you out of the picture," I said slowly and she shook her head as she stifled a whimper.
"You'll have to get through them first," she said shuddering and I raised my eyebrows.
"Alright, sure, where can I find them?" I gritted on my teeth.
"The brothers?" she said cringing.
"The documents. Danielle," I snapped and she looked away.
"They check on them-"
"You keep running away from answering and I keep running out of patience!" I yelled but she didn't look at me as she whimpered.
"They're with me," she said.
"Where the fuck, may I fucking ask?" I said impatiently, sucking the inside od my cheeks as she clasped her shaking hands together again.
I've been the most patient right now than all the moments of patience summed up in my entire life.
"With me. Here. In a safe," she whispered and I raised my eyebrows.
"Great! Lead me to them," I said and she sniffed. I frowned. "Get up!" I then demanded and she immediately tried to get up, but her knees failed under her weight. She tried again before finally getting up.
I clutched her fat arm harshly as she directed me to a big, fancy office next to the kitchen. There were beige, plain walls with a few random paintings of horses, a big office desk in front of a huge shelf carrying a lot of books and big windows through which the sunlight rays penetrated, lighting up the room. There were also several wild plants lined up along the windows.
Danielle tried to kneel, but collapsed on the floor in front of the big shelf, behind the office mahogany table and leather chair. I watched her shaky hands remove books away frantically.
Then there was a safe.
She looked up at me and I glared down at her. "What? Take a picture?"
She shook her head shuddering and turning away as her hands fumbled with the lock. She opened it and I knelt down immediately, pulling out five big folders.
"That's all?" I asked and she nodded, her thin lips stifling a sob.
"They take one every month. F-finish the cases," she said as I glanced at the folders.
"Alright then. I think I have to g-"
"NO!" she said frantically grasping my arms and digging her nails in my skin. I looked at her shocked. She shook her head. "You can't leave like that! You promised! You promis-"
"I'll send someone tomor-"
"No, no, no!" she hyperventilated. "There might not be tomorrow, please-" she sobbed more. "Please, Julius. You wouldn't know how it would feel to lose a child. Please-"
I looked at her sharply and said nothing. A slight pang in my heart.
"What will I do now?" she said desperately and frantically slapping her face with both hands. "What will I do? Samantha-"
"I'll handle Samantha," I said curtly. "You take care of Bianca or whatever. If you feel unsafe, you can leave the town-"
"Bu-but I can't," she said holding me tighter and looking in my eyes pleadingly. "I don't have the money! I don't have anything!" She was frantic and I was irritated.
"I'll give you the money then, dammit!" I said and she shut up.
"When?" she said and I grimaced, detaching her hands from my arm.
I reached for my back pocket and took out some money. "Leave. Get a house. Have a job and raise the kid. This isn't a way to live, the way you were living."
She stared at me as I got up. I turned to leave. "Oh, I think the rice is burnt. Bet you have to throw it away."
And I was soon out of the house, with five documents in my arms.
I'd never been so close.
I then thought of Samantha's surgery. It must've been over. I had to go, but not after heading to the hotel to hide away the documents.
---
"When will be ready to remove the patches?" I asked the doctor cautiously outside Samantha's room.
"There have been some complications, so we decided that it was better to keep her under anaesthesia for a while. When she wakes up, we can remove them," the doctor said wearily.
"Oh," I said and he nodded. "But she's okay, right? The surgery is a success, yeah?"
The old doctor looked at me and smiled faintly. "She is okay. Yes, the surgery was a success, but we have to make sure of that when she wakes up."
"Oh. Good. Great, I mean," I said awkwardly.
"You can see her if you want to," the doctor suggested and I nodded.
"Yeah, I'd rather get to that," I cocked my head and the doctor left. I took a deep breath and opened the door to her room.
The light was faint and comfortable. The quietness of the room contradicted greatly with what my life was like for the past few months.
There was simply a bed and a heart monitor, next to which there were a chair and a lot of flowers. I smiled and walked to her bed, sitting on the chair next to it.
Her eyes were obviously concealed and her hands lay on top of each other on her chest while her hair flowed around her head on the pillow. Her lips were slightly parted revealing the edges of her front teeth. She was covered in a startchy blue-green blanket that touched her smooth, round chin.
Beautiful. I wanted to take a picture.
I found myself hesitantly reaching for her hand, but took it anyway in mine. I rubbed circles at the back of it with my thumb and sighed heavily.
What was I going to tell her when she recovered? How was I going to tell about how her family cheated her and used her and her disability? How was I going to tell her that who she was trusting herself with was not Amanda, but Danielle?
I let go of her hand as if it burnt.
How dare they? How dare they use such innocence and purity for their dirty shit?
I clenched my jaws angrily but then convinced myself to calm down. There was nothing I could do to her more than protect her and I did my best here.
But how could she wake to see a world who hated her and wanted her blind? How would she handle it?
She wouldn't be alone. I'd be with her. I gently brushed her forehead with my thumb, then let my hand rest on her soft hair.
"Oh, Samantha, what are you going to do now?" I said, exhaling as I brushed her hair with my fingers. I then leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead.
I then backed away and smiled at her peaceful, fragile figure, before getting up and leaving.
---
This was the tenth call I gave to Augustus and he didn't answer. I felt my chest tighten as I reached out for the five folders I got from Danielle. I lit a cigarette and guiltily gave up on calling him.
I flipped open the first file but immediately put it away. It was about some stolen diamonds I think.
I reached for the second file and then flipped it close again. It was about some kidnapping.
Two cigarettes and a can of beer later, I boredly reach for the last file skipping the rest.
Shockingly, the name of Father's company was written across the front page. I sat up as my heart started beating loudly.
I carefully flipped the page to be startled by a phone call. I groaned and glanced at it.
Caroline.
I looked at it, sighed but answered.
"Hey," her squeaky voice said.
"Caroline," I said sighing softly.
"How are you?" she asked hesitantly and I nodded smirking.
"Good, you?"
"I'm okay," she said and I narrowed my eyes.
"Okay, huh?"
"Yeah," she said and I smiled.
"Right, let's dive straight to the point. What happened?" I said tiredly as I stared at my rough hands and ring.
"Well, if you insist," she said and took a deep breath. "Tom. He wants me back."
I think I choked on the beer I was drinking.
"Romeo? Romeo, are you okay?"
I coughed a little, before recovering. "I'm fine. What did you say again?"
"Tom wants me back. Well, that's what I called you for. I'm really confused," she sighed and I shook my head setting the beer can aside on my bedside table.
"What are you confused about exactly? I don't find your situation particularly confusing," I said thinking of my situation.
"Do you mean, I should've agreed?" she whispered and my eyes widened.
"NO!" I said. "You should never. Caroline. He doesn't -uh- deserve you. He's a dick," I said surprising myself with my rage against him.
Well, I guess nobody should dare hurt any of my 'friends'. Not Father. And definitely not a pussy like Tom.
"But-" she paused. "But he said it like he meant it, you know? He looked sincere. I really wanted to agree with him, but I remembered you-"
"Good you did. Because you were about to do the biggest mistake ever."
"I was scared of that and that's why I asked him for some time to think," she said and I sighed.
"Good. Don't ever go back-"
"But he calls me and texts me like he actually cares, you know?" she paused and I didn't say anything. "Like he really learned from his mistake-"
"He is definitely using you," I said irritably. "If he really liked you, he would've known your worth from the very beginning."
Wow, Julius Caesar, nice seeing you become a counsellor again.
A defeated sigh. "I know. But my heart keeps pulling me to him."
"He's toxic to you. You have to give him the pain he caused you. You say he wants you, yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Well, shut him off, completely. And I mean it when I say completely, Caroline. Let's see how long he'll last. Give him a week and he'll be gone out of your life. He will think that you aren't worth the time he'd be wasting, waiting for you," I said as if an expert in relationship shit.
I am not.
"You think so?"
"Yup. You gotta do it, Carls," I said and heard her laugh. "What?" I said raising an eyebrow.
"That's one weird nickname. You can call me Carol," she said.
"Nope, I'll stick with Carls," I said remembering Augustus.
It's over, mate. Once a nickname is out, it sticks...
She laughed and I was filled with bitterness at the memory.
A yawn. "Alright, Romeo, I'll go sleep."
"Yeah, sure. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She hung up.
I sighed and looked back at the folder in front of me. My heart rate picked up again. I turned the page and held my breath. I let my eyes over what was there. My eyes widened.
***
A/N: Now, any guesses about what could be in the documents? Anyway, hope you're enjoying it!!
Love you all forever!
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
"Well, no shit," I spat and she recoiled a bit. "What do expect of a shitty person with power?"
She opened her mouth to say something but then resorted to silence. She stared at me.
"How old are you?" she asked as her almond-shaped green eyes focused on me.
I was caught off guard by her question. "Is that relevant to what I'm doi-" I started, but she interrupted.
"You are twenty-five," she said looking at me dreamily. "Mantha told me."
"You're going-" I said, but she interrupted again. I was beyond furious.
"You are too young to be asking me this or even doing this, son," she said with some twisted smile and I stared at her speechless for a moment.
"Can you get to the point?!" I demanded and she sank back in the couch still smiling. I frowned.
I was losing control.
"You are a twenty-five-year-old boy, holding a gun, threatening a woman your mother's age. To me, you look like a baby," she said shrugging and I smirked.
"Well, maybe if I put a bullet in one arm of yours, we'll see who screams like one," I said seriously and her smile faltered. "For the last time I repeat," I said miraculously calmly, tightening my hand around my gun in anger. "-I'm not here for chit-chat and some biscuits with sweet tea. You're going to answer my questions the way I want when I want. Don't let me use barbaric methods and most importantly," I said staring icily in her forest green eyes. "Do. Not. Underestimate. Me. That's a common, fatal mistake."
Her hands reached for the pearl necklace that surprisingly didn't choke her. "Okay."
I smirked still glaring at her.
"Good. Now, Danielle," I said standing straighter, my gun still pointing at her leg. "-tell me, where the hell are Ricardo's documents?"
"Weird. I thought that you came here to discuss Manth-" I squeezed shut my eyes in renewed rage, took a sudden deep breath and with a quick movement pulled the trigger. I heard glass shatter and I smiled satisfied. I opened my eyes to find the glass face that stood in the corner of the room become glass shards with its flowers littering the pristine floor.
I looked at her. She had her hands' heels pressed to her ears and her eyes squeezed shut. She let out a whimper as I sighed boredly. It was no longer entertaining.
"You weren't deaf when I gave my terms," I rolled my eyes. "And I certainly was not joking." My voice came harsh and she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
"But I can't tell you," she said wringing her hands and sobbing. "You can kill me if you'd like to-"
"I WILL!" I yelled furiously and she recoiled biting her lips. I approached her and clutched her dress's collar in my hands. She shrieked and tried slapping my hands away.
"Shut up!" I barked as her lips trembled. "And why the fuck aren't you willing to tell me, huh?" I shook her vigorously; thus tearing her dress from the shoulder.
Her other hand flew to hold her dress. "They will ki-kill Bianca," she said desperately looking in my eyes with tears flowing out.
"Who will-?" I said narrowing my eyes curiously at her as I let her go.
"Ricardo's sons," she breathed terrified.
"Sons?" I snorted. "Now where in heaven's name did that come from?" I said angrily screwing my face.
"Leonard and Maxime," she said sobbing. "I swear."
"Well, goddamit!" I said in frustration. "Explain!"
"Please-" she muttered shaking her head as her eyes filled with tears. Her veiny hands then grasped my wrist. "Please, they'll kill my only baby-"
"Stop whining," I scowled, shaking her hand away. "Tell me everything you know-"
She sobbed harder and I averted my gaze from her shaking figure. I then sighed, looked back at her and almost rolled my eyes."If you tell me, I promise no one will harm her. They wouldn't know," I tried.
She sniffed loudly and looked into my eyes pleading. She was making me feel bad and I hated it.
"I TOLD YOU, I'LL PROTECT HER, DAMMIT!" I shouted and she flinched. Her hands were shaking beyond control. She held them in a tight shaking fist.
She then nodded robotically as if paralyzed from fear. I leaned in and clutched her face in my hand, causing her to inhale sharply. "Tell. Me."
Her right eye twitched as she nodded. "I will-I will-" she hyperventilated and I nodded slowly.
"Good. Talk. I'm listening. We've got all day."
"They are sons from his very first wife on which he cheated on with Samantha's mother," she said her eyes losing focus as she slipped into memory mode. "They're about your age. I don't really know them, but I know they're dangerous. They do their father's dirty jobs. Mini Ricards is what they call them. They were born and raised in France. France where he met Samantha's mom. Where she lives now after they divorced."
Great.
"Ricardo," she said with tears flowing out. "-valued them the most. He told them that he trusted me," her voice broke. "And that's why I should keep his possessions in case anything happened to him."
She sobbed hard and I let her as I processed what she said. "But he never really trusted me," she continued. "Bianca would be the price I paid if I tried doing anything treacherous. He knew I'd die for her," she wept as her voice broke.
I let go of her. I then dragged my hand across my face and exhaled loudly.
"So you have the documents?" I asked and she nodded. "Can I have a set?"
She looked up at me. "I-"
"It's about my father's company," I said matter-of-factly and she shook her head with her eyes wide open.
"Ricardo left his sons and trusted them to continue his legacy-" she tried ignoring me.
"But the thing is Danielle," I said raising an eyebrow and leaning closer. "I happen to really want those documents. Because even Samantha's life is on the line because of them. And many other people's of course," I said glancing at her and she sniffed.
"But-"
"I will be the one to get the documents. I'll get you out of the picture," I said slowly and she shook her head as she stifled a whimper.
"You'll have to get through them first," she said shuddering and I raised my eyebrows.
"Alright, sure, where can I find them?" I gritted on my teeth.
"The brothers?" she said cringing.
"The documents. Danielle," I snapped and she looked away.
"They check on them-"
"You keep running away from answering and I keep running out of patience!" I yelled but she didn't look at me as she whimpered.
"They're with me," she said.
"Where the fuck, may I fucking ask?" I said impatiently, sucking the inside od my cheeks as she clasped her shaking hands together again.
I've been the most patient right now than all the moments of patience summed up in my entire life.
"With me. Here. In a safe," she whispered and I raised my eyebrows.
"Great! Lead me to them," I said and she sniffed. I frowned. "Get up!" I then demanded and she immediately tried to get up, but her knees failed under her weight. She tried again before finally getting up.
I clutched her fat arm harshly as she directed me to a big, fancy office next to the kitchen. There were beige, plain walls with a few random paintings of horses, a big office desk in front of a huge shelf carrying a lot of books and big windows through which the sunlight rays penetrated, lighting up the room. There were also several wild plants lined up along the windows.
Danielle tried to kneel, but collapsed on the floor in front of the big shelf, behind the office mahogany table and leather chair. I watched her shaky hands remove books away frantically.
Then there was a safe.
She looked up at me and I glared down at her. "What? Take a picture?"
She shook her head shuddering and turning away as her hands fumbled with the lock. She opened it and I knelt down immediately, pulling out five big folders.
"That's all?" I asked and she nodded, her thin lips stifling a sob.
"They take one every month. F-finish the cases," she said as I glanced at the folders.
"Alright then. I think I have to g-"
"NO!" she said frantically grasping my arms and digging her nails in my skin. I looked at her shocked. She shook her head. "You can't leave like that! You promised! You promis-"
"I'll send someone tomor-"
"No, no, no!" she hyperventilated. "There might not be tomorrow, please-" she sobbed more. "Please, Julius. You wouldn't know how it would feel to lose a child. Please-"
I looked at her sharply and said nothing. A slight pang in my heart.
"What will I do now?" she said desperately and frantically slapping her face with both hands. "What will I do? Samantha-"
"I'll handle Samantha," I said curtly. "You take care of Bianca or whatever. If you feel unsafe, you can leave the town-"
"Bu-but I can't," she said holding me tighter and looking in my eyes pleadingly. "I don't have the money! I don't have anything!" She was frantic and I was irritated.
"I'll give you the money then, dammit!" I said and she shut up.
"When?" she said and I grimaced, detaching her hands from my arm.
I reached for my back pocket and took out some money. "Leave. Get a house. Have a job and raise the kid. This isn't a way to live, the way you were living."
She stared at me as I got up. I turned to leave. "Oh, I think the rice is burnt. Bet you have to throw it away."
And I was soon out of the house, with five documents in my arms.
I'd never been so close.
I then thought of Samantha's surgery. It must've been over. I had to go, but not after heading to the hotel to hide away the documents.
---
"When will be ready to remove the patches?" I asked the doctor cautiously outside Samantha's room.
"There have been some complications, so we decided that it was better to keep her under anaesthesia for a while. When she wakes up, we can remove them," the doctor said wearily.
"Oh," I said and he nodded. "But she's okay, right? The surgery is a success, yeah?"
The old doctor looked at me and smiled faintly. "She is okay. Yes, the surgery was a success, but we have to make sure of that when she wakes up."
"Oh. Good. Great, I mean," I said awkwardly.
"You can see her if you want to," the doctor suggested and I nodded.
"Yeah, I'd rather get to that," I cocked my head and the doctor left. I took a deep breath and opened the door to her room.
The light was faint and comfortable. The quietness of the room contradicted greatly with what my life was like for the past few months.
There was simply a bed and a heart monitor, next to which there were a chair and a lot of flowers. I smiled and walked to her bed, sitting on the chair next to it.
Her eyes were obviously concealed and her hands lay on top of each other on her chest while her hair flowed around her head on the pillow. Her lips were slightly parted revealing the edges of her front teeth. She was covered in a startchy blue-green blanket that touched her smooth, round chin.
Beautiful. I wanted to take a picture.
I found myself hesitantly reaching for her hand, but took it anyway in mine. I rubbed circles at the back of it with my thumb and sighed heavily.
What was I going to tell her when she recovered? How was I going to tell about how her family cheated her and used her and her disability? How was I going to tell her that who she was trusting herself with was not Amanda, but Danielle?
I let go of her hand as if it burnt.
How dare they? How dare they use such innocence and purity for their dirty shit?
I clenched my jaws angrily but then convinced myself to calm down. There was nothing I could do to her more than protect her and I did my best here.
But how could she wake to see a world who hated her and wanted her blind? How would she handle it?
She wouldn't be alone. I'd be with her. I gently brushed her forehead with my thumb, then let my hand rest on her soft hair.
"Oh, Samantha, what are you going to do now?" I said, exhaling as I brushed her hair with my fingers. I then leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead.
I then backed away and smiled at her peaceful, fragile figure, before getting up and leaving.
---
This was the tenth call I gave to Augustus and he didn't answer. I felt my chest tighten as I reached out for the five folders I got from Danielle. I lit a cigarette and guiltily gave up on calling him.
I flipped open the first file but immediately put it away. It was about some stolen diamonds I think.
I reached for the second file and then flipped it close again. It was about some kidnapping.
Two cigarettes and a can of beer later, I boredly reach for the last file skipping the rest.
Shockingly, the name of Father's company was written across the front page. I sat up as my heart started beating loudly.
I carefully flipped the page to be startled by a phone call. I groaned and glanced at it.
Caroline.
I looked at it, sighed but answered.
"Hey," her squeaky voice said.
"Caroline," I said sighing softly.
"How are you?" she asked hesitantly and I nodded smirking.
"Good, you?"
"I'm okay," she said and I narrowed my eyes.
"Okay, huh?"
"Yeah," she said and I smiled.
"Right, let's dive straight to the point. What happened?" I said tiredly as I stared at my rough hands and ring.
"Well, if you insist," she said and took a deep breath. "Tom. He wants me back."
I think I choked on the beer I was drinking.
"Romeo? Romeo, are you okay?"
I coughed a little, before recovering. "I'm fine. What did you say again?"
"Tom wants me back. Well, that's what I called you for. I'm really confused," she sighed and I shook my head setting the beer can aside on my bedside table.
"What are you confused about exactly? I don't find your situation particularly confusing," I said thinking of my situation.
"Do you mean, I should've agreed?" she whispered and my eyes widened.
"NO!" I said. "You should never. Caroline. He doesn't -uh- deserve you. He's a dick," I said surprising myself with my rage against him.
Well, I guess nobody should dare hurt any of my 'friends'. Not Father. And definitely not a pussy like Tom.
"But-" she paused. "But he said it like he meant it, you know? He looked sincere. I really wanted to agree with him, but I remembered you-"
"Good you did. Because you were about to do the biggest mistake ever."
"I was scared of that and that's why I asked him for some time to think," she said and I sighed.
"Good. Don't ever go back-"
"But he calls me and texts me like he actually cares, you know?" she paused and I didn't say anything. "Like he really learned from his mistake-"
"He is definitely using you," I said irritably. "If he really liked you, he would've known your worth from the very beginning."
Wow, Julius Caesar, nice seeing you become a counsellor again.
A defeated sigh. "I know. But my heart keeps pulling me to him."
"He's toxic to you. You have to give him the pain he caused you. You say he wants you, yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Well, shut him off, completely. And I mean it when I say completely, Caroline. Let's see how long he'll last. Give him a week and he'll be gone out of your life. He will think that you aren't worth the time he'd be wasting, waiting for you," I said as if an expert in relationship shit.
I am not.
"You think so?"
"Yup. You gotta do it, Carls," I said and heard her laugh. "What?" I said raising an eyebrow.
"That's one weird nickname. You can call me Carol," she said.
"Nope, I'll stick with Carls," I said remembering Augustus.
It's over, mate. Once a nickname is out, it sticks...
She laughed and I was filled with bitterness at the memory.
A yawn. "Alright, Romeo, I'll go sleep."
"Yeah, sure. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She hung up.
I sighed and looked back at the folder in front of me. My heart rate picked up again. I turned the page and held my breath. I let my eyes over what was there. My eyes widened.
***
A/N: Now, any guesses about what could be in the documents? Anyway, hope you're enjoying it!!
Love you all forever!
"Well, no shit," I spat and she recoiled a bit. "What do expect of a shitty person with power?"She opened her mouth to say something but then resorted to silence. She stared at me."How old are you?" she asked as her almond-shaped green eyes focused on me.I was caught off guard by her question. "Is that relevant to what I'm doi-" I started, but she interrupted."You are twenty-five," she said looking at me dreamily. "Mantha told me.""You're going-" I said, but she interrupted again. I was beyond furious."You are too young to be asking me this or even doing this, son," she said with some twisted smile and I stared at her speechless for a moment."Can you get to the point?!" I demanded and she sank back in the couch still smiling. I frowned.I was losing control."You are a twenty-five-year-old boy, holding a gun, threatening a woman your mother's age. To me, you look like a baby," she said shrugging and I smirked."Well, maybe if I put a bullet in one arm of yours, we'll see who screams like one," I said seriously and her smile faltered. "For the last time I repeat," I said miraculously calmly, tightening my hand around my gun in anger. "-I'm not here for chit-chat and some biscuits with sweet tea. You're going to answer my questions the way I want when I want. Don't let me use barbaric methods and most importantly," I said staring icily in her forest green eyes. "Do. Not. Underestimate. Me. That's a common, fatal mistake."Her hands reached for the pearl necklace that surprisingly didn't choke her. "Okay."I smirked still glaring at her."Good. Now, Danielle," I said standing straighter, my gun still pointing at her leg. "-tell me, where the hell are Ricardo's documents?""Weird. I thought that you came here to discuss Manth-" I squeezed shut my eyes in renewed rage, took a sudden deep breath and with a quick movement pulled the trigger. I heard glass shatter and I smiled satisfied. I opened my eyes to find the glass face that stood in the corner of the room become glass shards with its flowers littering the pristine floor.I looked at her. She had her hands' heels pressed to her ears and her eyes squeezed shut. She let out a whimper as I sighed boredly. It was no longer entertaining."You weren't deaf when I gave my terms," I rolled my eyes. "And I certainly was not joking." My voice came harsh and she looked up at me with tears in her eyes."But I can't tell you," she said wringing her hands and sobbing. "You can kill me if you'd like to-""I WILL!" I yelled furiously and she recoiled biting her lips. I approached her and clutched her dress's collar in my hands. She shrieked and tried slapping my hands away."Shut up!" I barked as her lips trembled. "And why the fuck aren't you willing to tell me, huh?" I shook her vigorously; thus tearing her dress from the shoulder.Her other hand flew to hold her dress. "They will ki-kill Bianca," she said desperately looking in my eyes with tears flowing out."Who will-?" I said narrowing my eyes curiously at her as I let her go."Ricardo's sons," she breathed terrified."Sons?" I snorted. "Now where in heaven's name did that come from?" I said angrily screwing my face."Leonard and Maxime," she said sobbing. "I swear.""Well, goddamit!" I said in frustration. "Explain!""Please-" she muttered shaking her head as her eyes filled with tears. Her veiny hands then grasped my wrist. "Please, they'll kill my only baby-""Stop whining," I scowled, shaking her hand away. "Tell me everything you know-"She sobbed harder and I averted my gaze from her shaking figure. I then sighed, looked back at her and almost rolled my eyes."If you tell me, I promise no one will harm her. They wouldn't know," I tried.She sniffed loudly and looked into my eyes pleading. She was making me feel bad and I hated it."I TOLD YOU, I'LL PROTECT HER, DAMMIT!" I shouted and she flinched. Her hands were shaking beyond control. She held them in a tight shaking fist.She then nodded robotically as if paralyzed from fear. I leaned in and clutched her face in my hand, causing her to inhale sharply. "Tell. Me."Her right eye twitched as she nodded. "I will-I will-" she hyperventilated and I nodded slowly."Good. Talk. I'm listening. We've got all day.""They are sons from his very first wife on which he cheated on with Samantha's mother," she said her eyes losing focus as she slipped into memory mode. "They're about your age. I don't really know them, but I know they're dangerous. They do their father's dirty jobs. Mini Ricards is what they call them. They were born and raised in France. France where he met Samantha's mom. Where she lives now after they divorced."Great."Ricardo," she said with tears flowing out. "-valued them the most. He told them that he trusted me," her voice broke. "And that's why I should keep his possessions in case anything happened to him."She sobbed hard and I let her as I processed what she said. "But he never really trusted me," she continued. "Bianca would be the price I paid if I tried doing anything treacherous. He knew I'd die for her," she wept as her voice broke.I let go of her. I then dragged my hand across my face and exhaled loudly."So you have the documents?" I asked and she nodded. "Can I have a set?"She looked up at me. "I-""It's about my father's company," I said matter-of-factly and she shook her head with her eyes wide open."Ricardo left his sons and trusted them to continue his legacy-" she tried ignoring me."But the thing is Danielle," I said raising an eyebrow and leaning closer. "I happen to really want those documents. Because even Samantha's life is on the line because of them. And many other people's of course," I said glancing at her and she sniffed."But-""I will be the one to get the documents. I'll get you out of the picture," I said slowly and she shook her head as she stifled a whimper."You'll have to get through them first," she said shuddering and I raised my eyebrows."Alright, sure, where can I find them?" I gritted on my teeth."The brothers?" she said cringing."The documents. Danielle," I snapped and she looked away."They check on them-""You keep running away from answering and I keep running out of patience!" I yelled but she didn't look at me as she whimpered."They're with me," she said."Where the fuck, may I fucking ask?" I said impatiently, sucking the inside od my cheeks as she clasped her shaking hands together again.I've been the most patient right now than all the moments of patience summed up in my entire life."With me. Here. In a safe," she whispered and I raised my eyebrows."Great! Lead me to them," I said and she sniffed. I frowned. "Get up!" I then demanded and she immediately tried to get up, but her knees failed under her weight. She tried again before finally getting up.I clutched her fat arm harshly as she directed me to a big, fancy office next to the kitchen. There were beige, plain walls with a few random paintings of horses, a big office desk in front of a huge shelf carrying a lot of books and big windows through which the sunlight rays penetrated, lighting up the room. There were also several wild plants lined up along the windows.Danielle tried to kneel, but collapsed on the floor in front of the big shelf, behind the office mahogany table and leather chair. I watched her shaky hands remove books away frantically.Then there was a safe.She looked up at me and I glared down at her. "What? Take a picture?"She shook her head shuddering and turning away as her hands fumbled with the lock. She opened it and I knelt down immediately, pulling out five big folders."That's all?" I asked and she nodded, her thin lips stifling a sob."They take one every month. F-finish the cases," she said as I glanced at the folders."Alright then. I think I have to g-""NO!" she said frantically grasping my arms and digging her nails in my skin. I looked at her shocked. She shook her head. "You can't leave like that! You promised! You promis-""I'll send someone tomor-""No, no, no!" she hyperventilated. "There might not be tomorrow, please-" she sobbed more. "Please, Julius. You wouldn't know how it would feel to lose a child. Please-"I looked at her sharply and said nothing. A slight pang in my heart."What will I do now?" she said desperately and frantically slapping her face with both hands. "What will I do? Samantha-""I'll handle Samantha," I said curtly. "You take care of Bianca or whatever. If you feel unsafe, you can leave the town-""Bu-but I can't," she said holding me tighter and looking in my eyes pleadingly. "I don't have the money! I don't have anything!" She was frantic and I was irritated."I'll give you the money then, dammit!" I said and she shut up."When?" she said and I grimaced, detaching her hands from my arm.I reached for my back pocket and took out some money. "Leave. Get a house. Have a job and raise the kid. This isn't a way to live, the way you were living."She stared at me as I got up. I turned to leave. "Oh, I think the rice is burnt. Bet you have to throw it away."And I was soon out of the house, with five documents in my arms.I'd never been so close.I then thought of Samantha's surgery. It must've been over. I had to go, but not after heading to the hotel to hide away the documents.---"When will be ready to remove the patches?" I asked the doctor cautiously outside Samantha's room."There have been some complications, so we decided that it was better to keep her under anaesthesia for a while. When she wakes up, we can remove them," the doctor said wearily."Oh," I said and he nodded. "But she's okay, right? The surgery is a success, yeah?"The old doctor looked at me and smiled faintly. "She is okay. Yes, the surgery was a success, but we have to make sure of that when she wakes up.""Oh. Good. Great, I mean," I said awkwardly."You can see her if you want to," the doctor suggested and I nodded."Yeah, I'd rather get to that," I cocked my head and the doctor left. I took a deep breath and opened the door to her room.The light was faint and comfortable. The quietness of the room contradicted greatly with what my life was like for the past few months.There was simply a bed and a heart monitor, next to which there were a chair and a lot of flowers. I smiled and walked to her bed, sitting on the chair next to it.Her eyes were obviously concealed and her hands lay on top of each other on her chest while her hair flowed around her head on the pillow. Her lips were slightly parted revealing the edges of her front teeth. She was covered in a startchy blue-green blanket that touched her smooth, round chin.Beautiful. I wanted to take a picture.I found myself hesitantly reaching for her hand, but took it anyway in mine. I rubbed circles at the back of it with my thumb and sighed heavily.What was I going to tell her when she recovered? How was I going to tell about how her family cheated her and used her and her disability? How was I going to tell her that who she was trusting herself with was not Amanda, but Danielle?I let go of her hand as if it burnt.How dare they? How dare they use such innocence and purity for their dirty shit?I clenched my jaws angrily but then convinced myself to calm down. There was nothing I could do to her more than protect her and I did my best here.But how could she wake to see a world who hated her and wanted her blind? How would she handle it?She wouldn't be alone. I'd be with her. I gently brushed her forehead with my thumb, then let my hand rest on her soft hair."Oh, Samantha, what are you going to do now?" I said, exhaling as I brushed her hair with my fingers. I then leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead.I then backed away and smiled at her peaceful, fragile figure, before getting up and leaving.---This was the tenth call I gave to Augustus and he didn't answer. I felt my chest tighten as I reached out for the five folders I got from Danielle. I lit a cigarette and guiltily gave up on calling him.I flipped open the first file but immediately put it away. It was about some stolen diamonds I think.I reached for the second file and then flipped it close again. It was about some kidnapping.Two cigarettes and a can of beer later, I boredly reach for the last file skipping the rest.Shockingly, the name of Father's company was written across the front page. I sat up as my heart started beating loudly.I carefully flipped the page to be startled by a phone call. I groaned and glanced at it.Caroline.I looked at it, sighed but answered."Hey," her squeaky voice said."Caroline," I said sighing softly."How are you?" she asked hesitantly and I nodded smirking."Good, you?""I'm okay," she said and I narrowed my eyes."Okay, huh?""Yeah," she said and I smiled."Right, let's dive straight to the point. What happened?" I said tiredly as I stared at my rough hands and ring."Well, if you insist," she said and took a deep breath. "Tom. He wants me back."I think I choked on the beer I was drinking."Romeo? Romeo, are you okay?"I coughed a little, before recovering. "I'm fine. What did you say again?""Tom wants me back. Well, that's what I called you for. I'm really confused," she sighed and I shook my head setting the beer can aside on my bedside table."What are you confused about exactly? I don't find your situation particularly confusing," I said thinking of my situation."Do you mean, I should've agreed?" she whispered and my eyes widened."NO!" I said. "You should never. Caroline. He doesn't -uh- deserve you. He's a dick," I said surprising myself with my rage against him.Well, I guess nobody should dare hurt any of my 'friends'. Not Father. And definitely not a pussy like Tom."But-" she paused. "But he said it like he meant it, you know? He looked sincere. I really wanted to agree with him, but I remembered you-""Good you did. Because you were about to do the biggest mistake ever.""I was scared of that and that's why I asked him for some time to think," she said and I sighed."Good. Don't ever go back-""But he calls me and texts me like he actually cares, you know?" she paused and I didn't say anything. "Like he really learned from his mistake-""He is definitely using you," I said irritably. "If he really liked you, he would've known your worth from the very beginning."Wow, Julius Caesar, nice seeing you become a counsellor again.A defeated sigh. "I know. But my heart keeps pulling me to him.""He's toxic to you. You have to give him the pain he caused you. You say he wants you, yeah?""Yeah.""Well, shut him off, completely. And I mean it when I say completely, Caroline. Let's see how long he'll last. Give him a week and he'll be gone out of your life. He will think that you aren't worth the time he'd be wasting, waiting for you," I said as if an expert in relationship shit.I am not."You think so?""Yup. You gotta do it, Carls," I said and heard her laugh. "What?" I said raising an eyebrow."That's one weird nickname. You can call me Carol," she said."Nope, I'll stick with Carls," I said remembering Augustus.It's over, mate. Once a nickname is out, it sticks...She laughed and I was filled with bitterness at the memory.A yawn. "Alright, Romeo, I'll go sleep.""Yeah, sure. Goodnight.""Goodnight."She hung up.I sighed and looked back at the folder in front of me. My heart rate picked up again. I turned the page and held my breath. I let my eyes over what was there. My eyes widened.***A/N: Now, any guesses about what could be in the documents? Anyway, hope you're enjoying it!!Love you all forever!
