Nicholas
I wake up in my truck behind the supermarket where I parked last night. My whole body aches from trying to sleep in that cramped space. None of that matters though, nothing matters except for what happens today. I will either succeed and be able to get Jessie back or I will fail and condemn us both to death. The pressure of today is weighing on me and I am just praying that I can pull this all off. I walk toward the warehouse where they house the evidence. This is it, make or break time. I either get in and get out with what I need, or I get stopped and arrested on the spot.
I open the door and see the window, the window that separates me from everything I need to scrap the case. Behind it is the woman from the bar. The one person who holds mine and Jessie’s fate in her hands.
I walk up to it slowly but say nothing once I’m in front of it. She looks up at me seemingly annoyed until she recognizes me. Her eyes light with a fire that burns solely for pleasure. I second guess my assumption last night that the alcohol had affected her. I can tell by the way that she is looking at me that she is just as desperate as she was last night.
“Well if it isn’t my lucky day. I didn’t know that you worked in here, I know you mentioned something last night but I didn’t connect the dots,” I say smoothly to her. I lean against the ledge that sticks out from the window, trying to appear casual and interested at the same time. My insides are a mass of nerves, so I’m not sure if I pull it off or not.
Her face forms into a pout. She must have assumed I came here for her. “What are you doing here?”
I smirk at her. “I have to pick up some evidence for my captain to review, but now I have completely different intentions.” My eyebrow raises as I make a show of moving my eyes slowly up and down her uniformed body. God, I hate myself right now.
She smiles bigger than the Cheshire cat and I have to keep myself from grimacing at her. Girls who are this easy are not hot at all. I find it completely pathetic that any girl would just throw herself at a guy because of his looks. For all she knows, I could be some psychotic murderer but, hey it’s okay because I’m hot.
“Hmmm, well I may have a little more than just evidence back here for you to look at, sexy.” She winks at me, and I hear the buzz of the door. That sound is fucking music to my ears, and it could just mean freedom for me and Jessie. Looking at her, she nods her head to the side indicating for me to come on through. I smile at her and then push the door open. Within seconds of me crossing the threshold she is plastered against me. Her hands are grasping at my shirt trying to rip it over my head, as her one leg is wrapped around me almost like a damn dog in heat. She’s moaning and licking and sucking my neck, causing my stomach to protest.
I reach into my back pocket and grab the handcuffs I put in there earlier. I slowly step forward pushing her back toward her chair and when she sits down on it she smiles up at me. “Mmmm, you gonna give me a lap dance?” God I can’t stand this bitch.
“Close your eyes,” I demand. The harshness of my tone causes her to sit up, but she’s turned on by it. I can tell by the widen of her eyes as they darken with desire.
She giggles but quickly does as I instruct her to. Before she realizes what’s happening I have her one arm handcuffed to the chair and reach for my other set securing the remaining one in the same way.
“What the fuck are you doing?” She looks at me half intrigued and half pissed off. I look around the room for something I could use to shut her the hell up. The only thing I find is some duct tape. As much as this will suck for her, it will have to do. I don’t have a lot of time and I can’t risk her yelling the place down and alerting people that I’m back here.
When I turn around with the tape in my hand her mouth drops open. “Don’t you fucking think –” I secure the tape over her mouth and enjoy not having to hear her damn voice again.
“Next time you may want to consider getting to know someone before ripping your clothes off, not everyone is who they seem these days.” I smile at her, and thank God that her yelling is muffled by the tape over her mouth.
Pulling her chair away from the desk, I hunch over at the computer and type the Acardi’s name into it. Once I have the case number, I walk out of the small office and into the evidence room. There is a crate full of documents and statements that have been used to build a rock solid case. Most of the information is stuff that I brought in. There are also two duffel bags full of the money we confiscated. I grab both bags and stuff the contents of the crate in them as well.
As I pass the office I see her trying to dial the phone with her damn nose. She sees me and the hatred is so thick I can feel it from across the room. I casually walk over to her and pull the wire out of the phone. “Sorry, can’t have you outing me just yet.”
She mumbles something that resembles “You bastard”, but I can’t be sure. “Thanks for playing your part, and don’t worry, you probably won’t lose your job for being completely irresponsible.” I look at the corner of the room where the camera is and wave.
When I reach the exit, I inch the door open and look around before exiting out to my truck. I quickly toss the bags in and pull away. My heart is racing and my hands are starting to shake now that the adrenaline high is starting to wear off. I feel exhilarated, triumphant, and guilty all at the same time. I’ve just screwed myself and everyone else who has spent years building a case against the Acardi’s. I have just given criminals a free ride on murder and extortion. I let the bad guys win. And that makes me feel sick. I could very well be responsible for a future murder that wouldn’t have happened if this evidence never went missing.
On the other hand, I am saving the woman I love from suffering at their hands. I would do anything for Jessie, to keep her safe and happy. Her safety trumps everything else. Since the day that I met her, I have felt this unwavering loyalty to her, an urge to make sure nothing bad ever happens to her. I thought that with me watching over her she would be safe. Unfortunately, my presence is what put her in danger.
I know I can’t call the Acardi’s yet, I need an insurance policy. I need something that will ensure Jessie and I make it out of there alive together. I don’t trust Anthony Acardi for a second. For all I know, I could show up there with everything and have them shoot the both of us. It’s not like anyone would be looking for me. Everyone thinks I’m dead.
Chapter 12
Jessie
My side is throbbing, and it hurts to breathe. I have been praying that I could fall asleep. Hell, I would rather pass the fuck out then endure this. My lip has finally stopped bleeding but from the feel of it, it has to be at least three times its size.
My mind drifts to Lo. Does she know what has happened to me? Is she freaking out? Did she load herself with pills last night just to get through the day? It’s ironic that I was considering the possibility of running away and not telling her. In the end, I knew I couldn’t do it to her, but here I am, being held against my will, and the outcome may be the same. Except instead of living in some unknown location, I’ll be killed and dumped somewhere to rot. That sobering image has tears springing to my eyes. I wish that I could have seen Lo one more time to tell her everything I’d been keeping from her and to let her know how much I love her. I just pray that Nicholas gets us through this and I’ll have another opportunity to be there for her and say all the things I didn’t get to say. When Nicholas showed up I had no idea what to say. It was like the part of my soul that died was reborn. He revived a part of me that I thought was dead and gone. My problem is that I couldn’t just focus on him, but now I can. I pray that he is still around, that he can save me, and that I can finally tell him that I love him. I have never said those words to him, even though he has said them a few times to me. I couldn’t say them until I had no doubts about my feelings. I always had doubts because I couldn’t separate Damon’s wrong doings, from the repentance that Nicholas showed me. Now, I can safely say that I belong to him completely, every inch of me is connected to him, craves him, and feels incomplete without him. I’ve
made peace with what he did and I’m ready to forgive and forget it. I just want to move forward with him now.
I can hear voices on the other side of the wall. They are loud and sound angry. I inch closer to the wall wincing each time because of my injured ribs. When I put my ear to the wall I can just about hear what they are saying.
“Once that asshole gets here you make sure that he has everything he should then get rid of him.”
“What about the slut?”
“I don’t give a shit about her. Put a fucking bullet in her head and dump her with him.”
“I’m gonna have some fun with her first.”
“Do whatever the fuck you want, just clean up your damn mess.”
My stomach drops and I feel lightheaded. All the blood rushes to my head and I think I could pass out at any moment. They are going to kill Nicholas, and do God knows what to me. I know that the one voice was Randy but I have no idea who the other one belongs to. That conversation just shattered all of my hopes and dreams of getting out of here. Nicholas is walking into a trap, and I’m the bait that will soon be disposed of too.
They are going to take my life and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I’ll end up another unsolved murder case in a huge pile on someone’s desk. After a month or so my name will be forgotten and the world will move on.
There will be no happily ever after.
Nicholas
I dial the number that Anthony called me from. “Is it done?” His clipped tone tells me that I have taken too long for his liking.
“I have everything. Now where do I come to meet you?” I try to keep my voice steady and not show any sign of weakness.
“Come to 234 State Street. If anyone but you is around, I kill her, no questions asked.”
I clench my fists as he mentions hurting her. “How do I know that she is okay? Let me talk to her.”
After a pause, he finally says, “Hold on.” I hear footsteps and what sounds like a door opening. “Hey, Randy, Lanutti wants to know that his little whore is still alive.”
A second later I hear Jessie scream. “Leave her the fuck alone!” I shout at the top of my lungs. I can hear her crying and it’s fucking tearing me apart.
“Listen, you little prick, you will watch the way you fucking talk to me. I will do whatever the fuck I want and not you, or the fucking army will stop me. You asked to hear her, now you did. Bring me my fucking shit.” The line goes dead. The phone falls from my hands as I stare blankly ahead.
The things they could be doing to her or have already done to her run through my mind. A deep seeded anger I didn’t know was possible takes over my body. I feel the blood boiling in my veins and fear my teeth are going to shatter under the pressure of my clenched jaw. I take a deep breath trying to calm myself down. Anthony Acardi is not one to take disrespect well. I need to be smart about this. If I go in there guns blazing, all I’ll do is get both of us killed.
I steer my truck in the direction of the address praying that once I get there Jessie is okay.
Chapter 13
Jessie
I hear what sounds like stones being crushed under the tires of a car. A car? Is Nicholas here? My heart speeds up and I can’t contain my excitement until I remember what I overheard. I won’t get to see him because they intend to kill him before he gets to me. The racing of my heart immediately plummets at that revelation. I wish there was a way I could warn him, tell him to run far away from this place and save himself. The door to my room opens and Randy walks in.
His eyes immediately find mine and I look away. He walks forward until he is standing in front of me. His fingers grip my face firmly, forcing me to look up at him. I’m sure my face has bruises on it with as many times as he’s roughly grabbed me like this. “I bet you’re probably all excited cause your knight in shining armor is here, huh? Well don’t be because you ain’t ever gonna see him. The boys out there will take care of him. I will have some fun with you in here, and then you’ll finally be reunited with him, in death.” He lets out this chuckle that can only be described as the voice of the devil himself. I’m staring straight into the eyes of pure evil. What’s worse is that he enjoys and relishes in the dark that covers his soul.
His free hand comes out from behind his back revealing a roll of tape. Before I can scream he forces it over my mouth.
“Can’t have you letting loverboy know what’s going on in here. He might interrupt us,” he says directly in my ear before licking up the side of my face. I throw my head to the side releasing myself from his grip. “You still haven’t learned shit about respect, you fucking bitch.”
His fist connects with my cheek and I slam down onto the ground, releasing a yelp that goes unheard as my side collides with the cement.
“I don’t know why you’re fighting me so hard. If this were a couple years ago, all I would have needed to do was throw some money at you.” His comment is further proof that these assholes know a lot about me and have been following me for quite some time. He kneels down beside me and his hands start at my ankle and slowly make their way up my leg. His touch is rough and it sickens me.
I reach up to shove his hands off of me, kicking my legs to fight him off, but he delivers a quick jab to my injured ribs causing my entire body to feel like it’s on fire. I curl up and wrap my arms around myself in an attempt to block another blow if it comes.
“You know you can’t be a whore for three years then all of a sudden act like you have morals. This can either be an enjoyable last memory, or I can make it fucking hurt.”
His hands slide under my shorts and toy with the edge of my panties. I push at him but his heavy body doesn’t budge under my weak arms. I haven’t eaten much and I’m probably dehydrated. I have almost no energy and it feels like I can’t even control my limbs anymore. When he slips a finger into them and roughly inserts it into me, tears start to fall from my eyes. I am praying that he just kills me at this point.
I want to fight back but it’s almost like my body is numb. I turn away not able to watch what he is about to do to me. That’s when I see it, a gun sticking out of his back pocket. I cry out as he inserts another one of his fingers into me but keep my eyes on my target. I look toward him and see his attention is fully focused on my body. My arm reaches out and my hand closes around the handle of the gun. Unfortunately being fed shit, no sleeping, and being dehydrated has weakened my reflexes. Randy catches my hand before I have the opportunity to point the gun at him.
“You were about to shoot me, you fucking bitch!” He points the gun at me, and I cower away from him. “No! You will fucking look at me.” He pushes my arms away from my face. This is it. I’m going to die.
He stands there staring at me for what seems like forever. The anticipation of his next move has my heart pounding in my ears. If he’s going to kill me, I wish he’d get it over with. “Get on your fucking knees and suck my dick.” I don’t move. I can’t. He cocks the gun and aims it at me. “I said get on your fucking knees or I will put a bullet in your fucking head.”
He reaches down and painfully rips the tape from my mouth. With the tears still streaming down my face, I carefully shift myself to my knees, wincing in the process. Randy comes to stand in front of me and begins to undo his belt. “Now you will suck my dick for acting like a sneaky bitch. I feel your fucking teeth once and I will shoot you on the spot. Do you understand me?”
I don’t answer him again. I just nod my head, looking down at the ground. I can’t believe this is actually happening to me right now. His free hand grabs a chunk or my hair and pulls my head up to face him. And there it is, the look that I saw in my classroom office. His eyes are dark and menacing, radiating all the hate he feels for me. But underneath that, is amusement. He likes being in power and pushing me around. And what’s more powerful for a guy like that than to take the one thing a woman will never get back? The one thing she normally has complete control over.
“When I speak to you, I expect a verbal fucking response.”
He roughly releases my head shoving me down in the process. I slowly lift myself back onto my knees. “Now let’s try this again. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” It comes out as a whisper because that’s all I can manage right now.
“Good girl.” His pants and boxers drop to the floor and before I can react, he shoves it into my mouth. I gag at the intrusion, not able to believe this is happening right now, but make no move to pull away. I’m hoping I can find that one second where he will be distracted, that I can muster up enough energy to save myself.
Nicholas
I walk into the warehouse and see the devil himself in front of me. Anthony Acardi is sitting behind a wooden desk with two of his henchman by his side. He is not what you would usually picture of a mob boss. He always has his full head of hair slicked back and he looks much younger then he actually is. I scan the room but there is no sign of Jessie anywhere.
“Welcome, Mr. Lanutti. I’m judging by the size of the two bags you are carrying that you have everything I requested.” His hands are folded on his the desk and his face is expressionless as he speaks to me.
“It’s all here. Where is she?” I ask, not taking my eyes off of Acardi. I need to see her. I need to make sure that they haven’t hurt her.
“You don’t need to worry about her. You don’t really need to worry about anything anymore.”
The two men to his sides rush toward me and I take the first strike connecting with one of their jaws. Before I can turn toward the other one he lands a painful shot to my kidneys. I buckle over as the shot knocks the breath out of me. One of them kicks me in the side causing me to fall to the floor. I am grabbed by my arms and lifted to a standing position.
“Did you really think I would just let you walk away?” A slow smile gradually spreads across his face, until he is grinning from ear to ear.
“No, I didn’t.” I’m panting and barely able to catch to catch my breath as I respond to him. I lift my head to look into his eyes. “That’s why I made copies of every single one of those papers. They are in the hands of someone who expects to receive a sign from me every week. If they don’t hear from me everything will be turned back into the police, and you will go down.” His face is one of pure shock and rage as his face turns bright red, but I can’t believe he thought I would come here without a plan.
Shattered Lives Page 8
