The Tempted Series: Collectors Edition

by Janine Infante Bosco

  He untied the blindfold giving me back my vision. My eyes slowly opened, blinking as they tried to focus. I lifted my head as the man’s shadow loomed over me and tried to make him out. My heart sank as his face came into focus, realizing that he had taken his mask off unveiling his identity to me knowing that it could only mean that if he let me see him he had no intention of letting me go free.

  He wasn’t older and by older I meant that I had envisioned him to be around my dad’s age. If I had to guess, I’d say he was in his forties. His green eyes held me captive as they locked with mine his hands working on pulling out a bagel wrapped in wax paper. He held the food to my lips and tipped his chin.

  “Eat,” he demanded.

  My eyes diverted from his to the bagel he was offering me. I swirled whatever saliva was left pooling in the sides of my mouth and spat on the food before lifting my eyes back to his.

  “Fuck you,” I hissed. If I was going to be at his mercy, I was going to go down swinging with everything left inside of me.

  He raised an eyebrow at me. “Daddy taught you well,” he said throwing the bagel onto the floor. “Suit yourself. I don’t give a fuck if you starve,” he pulled out a chair, turning it around backward and sat down in front of me. “Time to make a phone call.”

  I drew my eyebrows together as I watched him pull his phone out of his back pocket lifting it up and waving it in my face.

  “It’s time to make my demands clear to your old man. It would be good if you sounded scared and if you can’t do that then I’ll just have to put a little fright in you,” he reached behind him again pulling out his gun and aiming it at me.

  “You know what I think? I think you’re full of shit because if you were going to kill me, you would’ve done it already, but you don’t have the balls to kill me.” I said gravely.

  He cocked his head to the side, contemplating my words. “It’s a good theory, but make no mistake I will kill you if I have to. However, if I kill you now then it’s not likely daddy will deliver what I need from him.”

  He took the phone and quickly worked his fingers making his phone call all the while holding his gun steady on me. I don’t think I ever hated someone as much as I hated the person before me. The sound of the phone ringing echoed off the walls of the warehouse as we waited in silence for someone to answer.

  “Hello?” my father’s frantic voice filled the room, bringing tears to my eyes. I fought to hold them back to hold it together at the sound of his voice. I had never heard my father’s voice sound so full of fear before.

  He shoved the phone in my face. “Talk,” he whispered harshly as he lifted the gun to my temple.

  “Daddy?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

  “Nikki? Nikki sweetheart are you okay?” he cried into the receiver.

  “I’m okay Dad,” I choked on my sobs as I stared at the bastard’s cold eyes. “Whatever he wants don’t do it don’t let him win because he’s going to kill me regardless,” the tears streaked down my cheeks as he pulled the phone away from me.

  “Listen to me, Nicole. I’m going to bring you home, I swear on everything that’s holy. I’m going to get my little girl back,” my heart broke for him because he spoke with such conviction that one would think he really believed that he could save me.

  “That’s enough,” he said, dropping the gun from my temple but still keeping it aimed at me. “How you doing Victor? You know who this is?”

  “Deke, you listen here if you so much as harm one fucking hair on my daughter’s head so help me god I will bury you alive,” my father yelled into the phone.

  I lifted my head to look at the man who now had a name to go with his face.

  “That’s pretty bold of you to be making threats when I’m the one holding a gun to your daughter’s head,” Deke laughed maliciously before winking at me tauntingly.

  “Just tell me what the fuck it is you want already!” My dad pleaded sounding as if he was losing whatever little shred of control he had left.

  “Now you get it,” Deke said, rising from his chair as he paced in front of me. “As you know for years I have been trying to push my product through the New York harbor, but you are always standing in my way shutting me down. You’ve been a thorn in my side for a long time, Victor. You’ve cost me thousands upon thousands of dollars and I don’t take it lightly when someone hurts my pocket. You have exactly twenty-four hours to relinquish your power of the docks meaning that the Longshoreman, you have in your pocket will be employed by me and turn their cheeks to my shipments. I’m serious Victor if I don’t get what I want I will kill your daughter. I’ll be in touch,” the corners of his mouth lifted as he smiled like the wicked bastard he was and ended the call before my father could speak another word.

  Deke’s eyes found mine again. “Better say your prayers little girl and hope daddy comes through for you,” he bent down to pick up the bagel that lay on the dirty floor and then threw it on my lap. “In case you get hungry,” he said, chuckling and started to walk away, but stopped in his tracks turning back to me.

  I peered up at him, hoping that he could see the hatred I had for him reflected in my eyes and not the fear. I didn’t want to give him any satisfaction whatsoever.

  “I haven’t been very nice to you,” Deke said pointedly. “I owe you a great deal,” I turned my head as he pulled up the chair and sat directly across from me. He leaned forward and cupped my chin twisting my head so that I was looking at him. “I won’t tolerate rudeness.”

  “There’s nothing you have to say that I want to hear,” I said forcefully turning my head again.

  “Really? Not even the slightest bit curious as to what your whole part in this was?”

  I turned around quickly clenching my teeth as I spoke. “I had nothing to do with this you miserable fuck.”

  Deke tilted his head back laughing in amusement. “That’s what you think. I should be on my hands and knees thanking you for being a stupid little bitch and making this whole thing possible.”

  “Fuck you,” I hissed. His hand lurched backward before connecting with my cheek the force behind his slap so strong that the chair I was tied to rocked back on its legs.

  “I said I won’t tolerate your rudeness,” he cracked his knuckles. “Now where was I… oh yes, I was telling you what a stupid cunt you were.” He smiled proud with the way his words degraded me. “You see many years ago, my father and I made a play for Victor’s territory, but that underboss of his stepped in our way. Val was too smart and too wise to our moves shutting us down before we could ever make a dime sticking us with thousands of dollars in drugs and ultimately sending my father to rot in prison,” he balled his fists at his sides as he spoke. “After he set my dad up I put a hit out on your father. The wrong man died in front of that bakery Val should’ve never gotten in the way, but he was too fucking loyal to Victor and his loyalty wound up getting him killed.”

  “What does any of this have to do with me?” I asked, not understanding how I played a part in any of that when I was just a kid.

  “Your father avenged Val’s death killing the hitman that murdered him, he probably would’ve killed my old man too for ordering the hit, but we had him transferred to a maximum-security prison. Victor thought he was fooling us by sending his soldier Anthony Bianci to the same prison my father was in he thought Anthony would get close enough to kill him. Victor went to extreme measures to destroy my father, but we were one step ahead of him.”

  held a straight face even as he shocked me with the truth of why Anthony had gone to jail, leaving my sister and the life they were meant to have behind. Still, none of this had anything to do with me.

  “Fast forward to a little over a year ago when I found the perfect opportunity to finally conquer what my family had set out to accomplish years ago. It was really a brilliant idea if you think about it. I’d not only be able to gain the control of the harbor, but I’d also give the son of the hitman your father killed a chance to punish the man who
killed his father. Are you connecting the dots?”

  I rolled my eyes at him. I was fucking exhausted my wrists hurt my face still felt the sting of where he slapped me and to top it off I was probably going to die. I didn’t feel like entertaining this son of a bitch and didn’t care what the fuck riddle he was trying to deliver me.

  “You forgot about your boyfriend that, quickly did you?” he nodded, seeing it register in my eyes. “Now you follow yes? Rico’s father killed Val and your father killed him who better to lead Victor’s daughter on? Nobody, by Rico playing the doting boyfriend to the mobster's daughter we were able to push our product through the New York clubs and set your father up all in the same play. I told you it was brilliant.”

  I swallowed as the truth finally became clear to me confirming my suspicions from the shootout at Temptations. Rico had never given a damn about me he only used me to get to my father to pay him back for murdering his dad. This whole fucking mess was my fault. If I hadn’t been so, naïve to believe Rico’s bullshit neither one of these assholes would have been able to execute any of this.

  “How does it feel to know the life you lived for the last year was a lie?” he asked taunting me. “Not too good I imagine,” he said as he wiped his hands on his pants. He pushed himself off the chair and gave me one long final look before he exited the warehouse this time for real. I heard the metal door slide closed and broke down, unable to hold back the sobs that racked my body. I prayed for an end, even if it meant the end of me.

  “You have to eat something,” Aunt Gina said, placing a plate in front of me. I tore my eyes from my phone that I had been staring at for hours praying for it to ring and looked at the sandwich she had made for me. The idea of eating anything repulsed me and I gently shoved the dish away from me.

  Gina sighed, pulling out the chair beside me and taking a seat. “She’s going to be okay Michael. Nikki is a strong girl you know that.”

  I turned abruptly to meet Gina’s gaze. “I don’t care how tough she is, she shouldn’t be in this fucking situation.”

  “My brother isn’t going to let anyone hurt his daughter,” she said trying to reassure me.

  “Your brother? Right big bad Victor is going to come riding in and save the fucking day.” I pushed out my chair and rose to my feet. “While I sit here like a fucking dope, I should be doing something to bring her home safely since I am the reason she was taken in the first place.”

  Burt placed his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up, kid.”

  “Burt’s right,” Nana said as she sat across from where I was with her gun placed neatly in her lap. “You’re not to blame for this even if you hadn’t left Nikki they still would’ve taken her. It’s what these men do. He would’ve probably just killed you and taken her anyway, especially if he wanted to hurt my son.”

  “Ma’s right. This isn’t the first time our family has been compromised because of Victor’s career choice,” Gina agreed pouring me a shot of Sambuca. “Here this might calm your nerves.”

  I sighed heavily reaching for the espresso cup she had poured the shot in when my phone started to ring. I grabbed the phone not even bothering to look at who was calling hoping it was Nikki.

  “Hello?”

  “We know where she is,” Jimmy said.

  “She’s okay? How? Did you speak to her?” I fired off my questions holding my breath as I waited for him to answer me.

  “Vic spoke to her. She’s shaken up, but she’s hanging in there. Listen, we’re at the airport…”

  “Where is she? I’ll go to her,” I said, glancing around the kitchen in search of my keys.

  “No, now listen. We tracked the call to a warehouse down on Water Street but Mike, Vic wants you to stay put.”

  I didn’t give two fucks what Victor wanted I needed to get to Nikki. I disconnected the call and looked at Aunt Gina.

  “Do you know where Water Street is?”

  “Does a bear shit in the woods?” she said crossing her arms under her breasts. “Is that where she is?”

  “Yes. I need to know how to get there,” I said finally locating my keys snatching them off the counter.

  “Hold it right there,” Nana said, standing to her full four feet and eleven inches. “You’re not going by yourself.”

  My eyes widened as I watched her check her gun, making sure it was loaded.

  “Ma’s right. You’re not going alone, you’ll need backup,” she turned to Burt. “Be a dear and grab the rifle in the sunroom.”

  “What? No!” I said running out of patience for these people. “I’m not going after some fucking gangster with the Golden Girls as my back up.”

  “Who you calling a Golden Girl?” Burt said, puffing out his chest.

  “I put the Club on your car this morning,” Nana said pointedly.

  “Ma!”

  “What? He looked a little flighty,” the old troll said innocently before turning back to me.

  “So either you take us or you walk,” she said pulling out a set of keys from her straw pocketbook.

  “The little witch stole my keys!” Aunt Gina said sounding shocked as if anything her mother did surprised her anymore.

  “Fine!” I shouted. “Just come on, let’s go!” I said, throwing my hands in the air giving up the losing battle I was fighting. I headed towards the door with Nana and her gun, Aunt Gina and her shovel and Burt holding a rifle the three clowns as my backup. Victor was going to fucking kill me.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Present Day

  I stared at the concrete floor of the warehouse wondering how long I had been trapped here as it was I had no concept of time. I figured I couldn’t have been here as long as it felt I had because I was still alive without eating or drinking anything. My mouth was dry, my stomach growled, and I had to fight to keep my eyes open as exhaustion settled in. I was starting to think that Deke wouldn’t get the chance to kill me as my body started to weaken thinking it would probably start to shut down on its own.

  I didn’t want to die I thought as I started to cry again. This was all so unfair I was only twenty-one years old I was supposed to have my whole life ahead of me. There was so much that I’d never get to experience so many places I’d never get to see things I’d never get to do. I would never walk down the aisle or become a mother and I wouldn’t get to see my loved ones again or be able to tell them just what they meant to me. That alone had me thinking about Mikey hoping that I was wrong when I assumed that Deke had done something cruel to him. I closed my eyes as I began to sob uncontrollably. Oh God, what if he really was dead? I looked across the room to where there was a pool of blood and felt the bile rise in my throat thinking what if it that was Mikey’s blood. I dropped my head between my legs, vomiting on the floor in front of me until there was nothing left in my stomach. I lifted my head as the room spun before me and for the first time I wished I really would die.

  I let out an anguished shout that vibrated off the hollow walls. I didn’t think anyone would hear me and that wasn’t why I screamed. I did it because there was nothing left for me to do, I grunted in frustration because I was so angry that I was in this situation. I kicked my legs and shook violently as if I had the strength to break the ties that bound me to the chair. I was torn between giving up and still wanting to get the fuck out of here. I knew the chances of my father finding me were slim to none realizing that I was my only hope. It was time for me to step up, be my own hero, and stop waiting for someone to rescue me.

  My hands were tied together and there was nothing I could do to free them. I tried to focus on conjuring up a way out of here. I spotted a window thinking that if I could break the window with the chair attached to my back then maybe I could hoist myself out of it. I still had the use of my legs and figured if I gave it my all then it might just be possible. I planted my feet firmly on the floor, careful not to step in my own vomit as I lifted myself to my feet hunched over because of the chair resting on my back and walked towards the window.
I was too short to reach the window and I would never be able to break it from the disadvantage of my height. I looked around frantically for something to climb on top of to make me level with the window. I spotted a wooden crate and tried kicking it towards where the window was. I climbed on top of the crate only to discover that I still couldn’t reach the window. I hung my head in defeat ready to throw in the towel once and for all when I heard someone begin to applaud. I froze as my stomach dropped and fear engulfed me.

  “Nice try,” Deke said still clapping. I slowly turned around dread filled me as I met his gaze and rightfully so for when my eyes met his he pierced me with a lethal stare. “Here, let me give you a hand,” he said keeping his voice controlled before pulling me forcefully by my bound wrists knocking me onto the ground. I whimpered as my forehead connected with the concrete the weight of the chair on my back feeling like cinder blocks.

  I closed my eyes, trying to block out whatever he was going to do next knowing that I was going to pay dearly for trying to escape his wrath. The next thing I knew I was being pulled by my legs across the filthy floor back to the center of the room. I cried silently all my will gone as he tied my ankles together and lifted my limp body and chair back to the upright position. I hung my head in defeat and prayed for God to take me.

  I was running along the docks as quickly as my legs would carry me ignoring the pain in my knee trying to get to my girl. I had left my geriatric crew in the parking lot of the docks taking off before they could argue with me. I reached behind me and pulled the gun from the waistband of my pants as I approached the warehouse. I looked around checking out my surroundings noting the two men that stood guard in front making it impossible for me to get through that way and forcing me to find an alternative way to get into the building.

  I walked around the side of the warehouse sticking close the perimeter of the building careful to elude anyone that could take me down before I got to Nikki. I rounded a corner watching on as a group of men retreated in the opposite direction. I waited until they were out of sight before inching closer to where they had been and spotted a metal sliding door that was slightly ajar. Bingo!