Young Love Murder

by April Brookshire

  From the looks of the inside of the house, the four kidnappers were squatting at the vacation home of the Greek businessman. Won’t he be in for a surprise when he’s contacted about the dead bodies? The house was a little outside of town, but the nearest neighbor lived down the beach. Someone probably heard the shots.

  Anna’s head is resting on my lap for the drive, but no matter how long I stare at her face, she’s still unresponsive. No slight movement like in normal sleep, but dead weight. Again, I wish I’d had the opportunity to shoot one of those bastards for doing this to her. Unfortunately, I was the bait. She would hate this, being helpless. Plus, she missed all the action. Like any good predator, Anna had to be taken down from a distance with sedatives. I can’t imagine any other way they could have taken her alive.

  Brushing back the hair from her face, I lean down and kiss her softly on the lips. Sitting in the back of the dark van, I finally let the immense relief wash over me. She’s safe and within the next twenty-four hours, we’ll be on a plane to somewhere else. It doesn’t matter where because we’ll be together. And maybe having Jackson along for the ride isn’t so bad after all. To think what would’ve happened had he not been in Greece with us. Perhaps our story would have ended as Annabelle’s parents’ did, with both of us dead.

  Driving through Athens, a phone starts ringing with a ringtone of Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes”. It doesn’t wake Annabelle unfortunately. Brent answers with a, “Hello?” Must be Simon from what he’s saying, confirming that we have Anna and that everyone’s alright. He ends the conversation with, “Okay, see you then.”

  Stroking Anna’s hair, I realize I’m about to meet her parent, uncle, whatever. Wonder if he’ll have a shotgun with him. Instead of the normal fatherly warning of owning a shotgun, Simon will probably just promise to make me disappear if I hurt her. Maybe he’ll be creative and throw in a torture threat for good measure. I’d like to think that Annabelle and I are done hurting each other. I’ll do everything in my power to never hurt this girl again. Cupping her cheek, I lean down to give her another soft kiss on the forehead. Yeah, we’re done with all that aren’t we, baby?

  Jackson barely manages to squeeze the van into a tight space just down the street from the house. Brent gets out to slide open the door for me. Gathering Anna in my arms, I climb out of the van and start walking to the house. Through the windows I see that the lights are on inside. Jackson jogs ahead of me and opens the front door, holding it for me. Brent is at my back and I can feel his alertness to everything going on around us. We don’t know who else may be in Athens gunning for us. Relieved that I didn’t just take a sniper bullet to the back of the head while walking to the front door, I step into the entryway.

  Stopping in my tracks, I just stare at the man a few feet in front of me. Strange, I pictured him looking differently, maybe taller. Don’t get me wrong, the guy is in great shape for being middle-aged and not bad looking either. But I guess I was expecting an elegant James Bond type, wearing a tux or something. This guy is more inconspicuous. He has curly medium brown hair and brown eyes. He’s of average height and dressed in plain clothing. Attractive, but not movie star handsome. He returns my stare, as if giving me time to take in his presence. Perhaps he’s also taking in mine.

  Brent passes me, heading for the kitchen, probably to patch up his wound. I shift Annabelle in my arms and Simon steps forward, reaching out to take her from me. Keeping eye contact with him, I shake my head and walk down the narrow hallway to her room. The sound of the shower already running clues me in Jackson’s whereabouts. Using the toe of my boot to nudge her door open, I enter and lay her down over the comforter.

  Not turning around, because I can feel him behind me, I just stand there looking down at her. “Do you know yet who’s doing this?”

  “I think you know who it is,” he answers.

  Feeling a sense of despair, because I can no longer live in ignorant bliss, my chin drops. “I was hoping it wasn’t, but I couldn’t think of anyone else it could be, at least not anyone else that I know of.”

  “I’m leaving on a plane tonight to take care of it.”

  Resigned to what must to be done, I nod wearily. Looking over my shoulder, I meet his gaze. “Thank you.”

  His eyes shift from my face to the girl on the bed. “If you hurt her again-”

  “Then I’ll shoot myself,” I say honestly.

  A thoughtful expression crosses his face. “Yes, I believe you would.” With that remark, Simon is gone. And a few seconds after that, the front door slams shut. Feeling relief and hope at the same time, I just stand there, watching the rise and fall of her chest.

  Liking Jackson’s shower idea, but not wanting to be separated from Annabelle, even by a wall, I sit down at the foot of the bed. The mattress bounces but still she sleeps. Reaching down, I tug off my boots and strip out of my cargo pants and t-shirt. Crawling up the bed, I pull her into my arms and fall asleep almost immediately.

  Annabelle

  Holy crap, my head hurts. This is worse than the time I drank an entire bottle of Irish whiskey in Dublin. This is even worse than the time when Jackson kicked me in the head during training. Someone get me some drugs, please! Of course, that’s what has me feeling like shit in the first place.

  Groaning, I blink open my eyes, only to look into a green pair not a foot away. Okay, what happened to me being kidnapped? Bad dream? Feeling ultra-dehydrated, I rasp out, “What happened?”

  He chuckles softly. “I saved the day, with minimal help, and got the girl.”

  “Did you now?” Glancing over his head, squinting, I see the pale morning light shining through the white curtains. “Damn, it’s a new day again isn’t it?”

  He grabs both of my hands in his. “A new beginning.”

  Raising my eyebrows, I give him my best skeptical look. “Is it now?”

  His smile falters. “I love you, Annabelle.” His eyes plead with me to believe him.

  Reaching out to cup his jaw, I whisper, “I know.”

  Pulling me closer, until my body is flush with his, he attempts to kiss me but I avert my face. Uncertainly, he says my name, “Annabelle?”

  “No offense, Gabriel, but I haven’t brushed my teeth or showered in two days, so your amorous attentions will have to wait.”

  His laugh is louder this time, heartfelt, and I find myself being carried into the bathroom. He gently sets me down on the counter. “Wait right there, baby.” Leaning over the tub, he starts the shower and fiddles with the knobs until he’s satisfied with the temperature.

  Feeling awkward and grimy, I start pulling off my tank top. He’s only wearing a pair of boxer briefs and smirks at me as he strips them off. I roll my eyes and twist around to grab my toothbrush and apply some toothpaste to it. Then I get to work preventing cavities. Not that the assholes gave me any food while in their care. Food is definitely next on the agenda after a shower. Finishing up, I wipe my mouth with a hand towel. When I turn back around, Gabriel is there ready to assist me with the rest of my clothing. He’s so helpful. Stepping in, I'm pampered and washed in the shower, then watch as Gabriel soaps himself up.

  Once clean, I’m not surprised when I find myself against the shower wall with my legs wrapped around him, being made love to. But I am enjoying his amorous attentions. Gabriel muffles the sound of my enjoyment with his lips on mine. I return the favor when he groans into my mouth. Hugging his body to mine, I know that I’ll never let him go again.

  “I love you too, Gabriel,” I whisper into his neck. “Forever.”

  In response, he kisses me like it’ll be our last. Wanting to reassure him that nothing will tear us apart again, I rub my hand up and down his wet back as he pulls his lips away from mine. Shutting off the water, he dries both of us off, quiet the entire time. Following me into the bedroom, he says from behind me, “I’ll go make you something to eat.”

  Turning around, I wrap my arms around his waist. “Thanks. They didn’t feed me.”

 
A hand cups my chin, lifting my face to this. I’m startled by the intensity in his eyes, the pain. “I thought I’d lost you again, Annabelle.”

  As he fights back the tears watering his eyes, I stroke his face in a soothing gesture. “Everything is going to be fine, Gabriel.”

  “It’s my aunt,” he says hoarsely. Immediately, I know what he’s referring to.

  That makes me start to cry too. After everything he’s been through, to add this on top of it? “I’ll kill her.”

  He shakes his head and makes a noise that might be a laugh. “Simon says he’ll take care of it.”

  “Simon? You talked to Simon?” Damn, a person misses a lot while involuntarily sedated.

  His lips quirk into a small smile. “Yeah, and I think he sort of gave me his blessing.”

  I pretend mock indignation. “Don’t go thinking that I’ll ever make it easy for you, Gabriel.”

  “Oh, I know. But I wouldn’t want you any other way.” His salacious grin hints at how much he’s looking forward to it. His expression turns serious and I wonder if he’s thinking about his aunt again. “But why me, Annabelle? Why do you love me?”

  I sigh at the question I’ve asked myself frequently over the years. With a quick peck to his lips, I tell him, “Because, in you, I found my heart.” I shake my head ruefully. “It may have taken awhile to get past the obstacles, but you’re my match, the other half of my soul. Someone who has what it takes to be my partner in life, but isn’t already disillusioned by this lifestyle.”

  Grinning like my answer just made his day, eyes shining with happiness, Gabriel asks me, “Aren’t you going to ask me why I love you?”

  Holding back a smile, I answer, “Nope, I already know why you love me.”

  He raises his eyebrows at that. “Oh yeah? Why?”

  “Because I’m awesome.” At my answer, he picks me up and tosses me on the bed. Laughing, he follows me down.

  Before he can occupy my lips again, I need to tell him something. “Thank you for coming to save me, Gabriel.”

  Those green eyes catch mine in their mesmerizing hold. “You saved me too, Annabelle. It’s you and me forever now.”

  “Forever, Gabriel.”

  Simon

  Three days later

  Getting into the building late in the evening was simple enough. The busted lock on the back stairway exit won’t be discovered until tomorrow. On the sixth floor, taking out the two guards posted outside the office door gives me open access to the room past them. Now I’m standing here, pointing a gun at the threat. She looks respectable and harmless in her designer business suit. A beautiful woman at the age of forty-three, Lucy Garcia sneers at me and the weapon in my hand. “You’ll die for this.”

  “No, you will,” I calmly inform her before pulling the trigger. The first bullet enters her chest and the second enters her head with a spray of blood on the window behind her. Her body jerks back in the chair before slumping forward against the glossy black desk. Lucy Garcia, aunt of Gabriel Sanchez, is no longer a threat.

  The original contract on Xavier Sanchez was traced back to her as well. It seems she meant to slowly eliminate the Sanchez family until herself and her son inherited the fortune and businesses, both legal and illegal. It can be assumed that the death of Gabriel’s mother can also be blamed on Lucy. Having her killed and making it look like a suicide wouldn’t have been hard with Eva Sanchez’s mental state at the time. I’ve done something similar in the past.

  Walking out of the building, into the warm Miami night, I pull off the ski mask and gloves. My family is safe once again. Or, at least as safe as we ever are. The choices I make are never easy, but I’ve never regretted raising Annabelle and Jackson myself. Since the day each of them was born, I’ve loved my godchildren.

  The threat of Lucy Garcia was nothing compared to the enemies still out there. I’ve prepared them to the best of my ability for what’s to come. I’m counting on them to not only protect themselves, but others as well. The occurrences of the past three years have put us on the radar of enemies from long ago. Max Garcia unwittingly fed the secrets Gabriel had confided in him to one of those enemies, Lucy Garcia. That enemy in turn leaked the information to others.

  We may not have complete anonymity anymore, but we’ll hide from anyone who means to harm or use us. And we’ll survive.

  Epilogue

  Toronto, Canada - February

  Dancing with her, I run my hands down her back. At the feel of her trembling, a predatory smile forms on my lips. I have her now. When she gets up on her toes and begins to kiss my neck, I lean down and suggest that she meet me in the parking lot in five minutes. She eagerly agrees, her eyes expressing lust. But, she’s a predator too, and I also see that in her eyes.

  A quick phone call and a few minutes later, I discreetly follow her out of the club, slipping on a pair of leather gloves as I go. Winter in Toronto is brutal. I breathe in the cold air, missing warmer climates. When I reach her, standing under a streetlamp in her red wool coat, she gives me a knowing look. “How about we go to my place?”

  Nonchalantly, I ask, “Where’s your car?”

  She gestures to a white luxury sedan parked two spaces down. “I’ll drive.”

  As she unlocks the car with the press of a button, instead of sliding into the passenger seat, I slide into the back. The syringe is at her neck before she can even shut her door. With the slightest pressure on the plunger, I push the drugs into her system. This isn’t a slow-acting poison, this is instantaneous and more merciful than someone like her deserves. She thought she’d get away with murder. She was wrong.

  Stepping out of the vehicle, I walk down the block to the waiting SUV. This time, I get in on the front passenger side. “It’s done.”

  “You look good as a blonde, Gabriel,” Annabelle teases, reaching out to tug on a lock of my hair.

  I give her an amused smile. “So do you.”

  She laughs playfully and leans over to kiss me. Taking advantage, I pull her closer. “Love you.” I like the thin material of her black dress. Both the blast from the car heater and her body warm me.

  Wrapping her arms around my neck, with a satisfied look on her face she smiles. “I love you too. But Gabriel-”

  “I know, I know,” I cut her off, faking exasperation. “You get to do the next job.”

  Laughing again, she kisses my nose then straightens herself out in her seat. She grips the wheel, putting the car into drive. “That’s not what I was going to say.” Glancing at me sideways, she pulls slowly away from the curb. “I was just going to tell you that watching you dance with that woman has me feeling possessive. I don’t know if I can wait until we get to the cabin to reassert my claim on you.”

  Holding out my hands in mock surrender, I say seriously, “Reassert away. I won’t even charge you this time.”

  “Whatever.” She rolls her brown eyes, handing me her phone. “Check in with Simon.” She runs a hand up my thigh, her eyes are gleaming. “Tell him the contract is completed, but that we’re going to be on vacation for the next week or two.”

  Raising one eyebrow, I throw her a skeptical look. “Only a week or two?”

  She lets out a dramatic sigh. “You’re right. Better make it a month or two.”

  “That’s my girl,” I murmur approvingly while dialing Simon.

  After getting off with Simon, as Annabelle drives us out of downtown Ontario, my thoughts roam back to what happened six months ago. Max took his mom’s murder hard, but he can never know the truth. Finding out that my dad was a monster was horrible and I wanted to shield him from that particular pain.

  I’ve learned that there are two kinds of monsters. The bad ones, like my father and Aunt Lucy, and the good ones, like us. Sometimes, the good ones succeed in taking out the bad ones. Sometimes the good ones get killed, like Annabelle’s parents. I’ve fallen into this life so easily, that it’s almost as if Annabelle and I were made for each other. I’ve sold off all of my dad’s businesses,
so with our money combined, we’re set for life. What we do now is by choice, something to be proud of. Though, we do like our vacations.

  Next month we’re spending spring break with Max in Mexico and I’m hoping he’ll be doing better by then. At least school and life in New York serve as a distraction for him. I know they kept me going when I thought Annabelle was dead. Hopefully he’ll meet some nice girl and settle down in the kind of life he wants.

  Watching her fiddle with the radio, I wonder what my life would have been like had she never come into it. No, I don’t even want to think about it. Even with all the money in the world, it would have been dull. The type of woman I would have ended up with would have been dull. I’m not psychic, but I can see our future, and I like it.

  Jackson

  The room is dark, matching my thoughts. Boredom, apathy, dissatisfaction. Feelings I’ve grown all too familiar with. Another job just completed tonight and now I’m lying in the dark in this hotel room, with another naked woman next to me. Unforgettable and eventually nameless like all the rest. The feeling that there’s something I’m missing, something I need to find, is nagging me again. If only I knew what that something is. Barely twenty-three years old is too young to be having a mid-life crisis. Is there such a thing as a mid-twenties crisis?

  The job I completed tonight was another drug dealer. Drugs make my world go round, considering all the business I get by killing its producers. Hell, I watched the woman lying next to me tonight snort a line before we fucked. The restless feeling is returning again with a vengeance. Like I need to open up the window and scream out into the cold Amsterdam night. Disgusted with myself and my life, I slide off the bed and start fumbling in the dark for my clothes.

  When my phone rings, the woman stirs, and I think about how I better be gone before she wakes. That hopeful look on their faces the next morning always annoys me. As if I’m supposed to realize that they’re the one I’ve been waiting for. Guilt is another feeling I try to avoid with all the rest. I hate when they look to me like I’m the answer to their messed up lives. I’ve got my own life to worry about.