Why am I here? God, have I been such a bad person, to deserve these things that keep happening to me? I'm sorry, but I don't understand you. She began to cry softly.
The bedroom door opened slowly, and a lamplight came on at the corner of the room. Celina's eyes opened wide, and her heart began to beat faster.
“What do you want with me?” she screamed, trying hard to focus on the person in the room. Oh God, is it Homer? Please, don't let him hurt me, again.
“Please, there's no need to shout,” said the man’s voice from the corner of the room, with a soothing voice.
“Don't come any closer,” she said, moving back to the center of the bed. “Who are you?” she demanded.
“Please, I know you're scared, but I'm here to help, not to hurt you,” he came closer.
“I said to stay away,” she looked at the man who stood in the middle of the room. “You? You are the one who is doing this to me?” she raised her voice in anger.
There stood the handsome, broad-shouldered man that had her heart skipping beats a few days ago at the club, where she had the kiss of her life. Her handsome stranger.
“No, please let me explain.” He walked over to her.
Celina grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at him, then grabbed another and threw that at him, too. “You creep!” she screamed out to him. “And I thought you were an angel from heaven. Some asshole you turned out to be.”
“I didn't kidnap you. Just a minute!” he screamed back at her, dodging pillows. He quickly moved in when she ran out of pillows, grabbed her by her arms and pinned her down on the bed, in less than two seconds.
“You asshole, turn me loose,” she screamed in his face. She flashed teeth, like a shark trying to bite him.
“My God, you are a firecracker, aren't you,” he told her in a mocking tone of voice, looking directly at her. “What's wrong now, you don't want to kiss me anymore?” He flashed her a sexy smile.
“You are a jerk!” Celina kicked him with her foot on the back of his head and then again.
“OH, so you like to play rough. Don't you?” he shouted back, getting better control of her as he straddled himself over her body.
She kicked her legs but couldn't reach him, and she shook her head but couldn't bite him. Her chest moved up and down repeatedly with her breathing hard. Her expression tightened in anger.
“Okay, you give up? Are you tired now? More than likely, you have a bigger headache then you did before.” His eyes scanned every inch of her face. “Oh man, she's beautiful,” he mumbled to himself.
She didn't speak to him. She ignored him and turned her face to one side, only to look at a bare wall. Her chest moved up and down from the heavy breathing, as she tried to catch her breath.
He didn't move either, and he didn't relax his hold on her. He stared at her small fists and if he applied any more pressure, he could easily break them. He watched her, seeing the hurt and the anger that darkened her eyes.
After a good five minutes, she finally spoke. “When are you going to get off of me?” She was still furious, as furious as a cat in a cage.
“I see you are ready to talk. Well, I think you might be a bit calmer, but I still don't trust you,” he said, looking directly into her eyes. “If I turn you lose, you might hurt yourself.” He didn't let go.
“Hurt myself! Oooh, you are so pissing me off.” She tugged at her wrist. “Excuse me!” she tried to lift her head. “Trust you,” she snarled, lifting her head again, glaring back at him, her beautiful hazel eyes watching him tease her.
“Stop fighting me. Or are you trying to kiss me again?” he chuckled. He was enjoying every minute with her.
“Ooo, you're starting to piss me off again,” she stomped her foot on the bed a few times. She knew he was messing with her, but what had her in a whirl was the fact that they had drugged her and taken her against her will.
“You see, there you go again, getting yourself all worked up.” His gaze moved briefly over her gorgeous hair, scattered over the bed.
“You are provoking me, and you know it. I think you're getting off on it too,” she snapped back.
“Man, you're beautiful and even more when you're mad. So tell me your name.” His eyes fixed upon her lips, waiting for her to say her name, through those lips that could fuel wet dreams. Those same lips that had kissed him and rocked him off course a few days ago.
She didn't speak. She ignored him.
“Okay, there you go again with the silent treatment. No problem, so I'll begin. My name is Francisco Guerrero, but everyone calls me Pancho, and I am not your enemy. I didn't kidnap you, but my cousin did, and you are here at his place in Mexico. I was just informed that they had you here two hours ago, and I've been waiting for you since then to wake up. Actually, you were beginning to worry me, because you should have been up a long time ago.”
Curiosity getting the best of her made her come out of the silent treatment she had decided earlier she was going to give him. “How did you know that I had just woken up?” she asked, softly.
He leaned into her, and whispered, “Because there's a camera pointed at the bed, and I've been watching the monitor in another room since I arrived here.”
She instantly turned her head to see where the camera would be. “Can they hear us?” she whispered.
“No.” His warm breath was on her face.
“Where's the camera?”
“Behind the two-way mirror.”
“Are they watching us right now?”
“Yep, and they too were worried.”
“Why would they care about me?” Her voice got louder. “Those creeps drugged me with a needle. Who knows if it was clean, used, or filthy dirty, God help me that I don’t contract AIDS.” She moved her head back and forth on the pillow, letting out a big sigh.
“I know, and you are right. They don't care about you. These guys are animals. They're ruthless people that will do whatever it takes to have things their way.”
“So why did you tell me they were worried about me?”
“Because my cousin knows what I'm capable of. He's scared of what I can do, to him and his entire operation.” He looked at her with sincerity. “I take it right now, he's having tequila shots, to help him with his nerves, while watching you and me on the TV monitor.”
“And what would you have been capable of if I hadn't woken up?” She looked directly at him.
He leaned in closer, as if to kiss her and said, “If they would have killed you with an overdose, I would have killed every single person in this place, starting with my cousin for giving the order, and then the two fools that brought you here.”
She wanted to believe him, but she didn’t know anymore. She didn’t trust her own decisions, with the awful things that had happened in her past. “So why are you here, if you said, you have nothing to do with them? If you say they are animals and bad people? Are you guys playing me, like bad cop, good cop?”
“Of course not! It's a long story, but they are using you to get to me.” He stared into her eyes. Hazel eyes, eyes that drew him to her with hope of a possible relationship.
“You’re serious,” she murmured, her voice dazed.
“I’d kill for you,” he said softly. “I’d die for you, too.”
They locked eyes for awhile. Celina wanted so much to believe what he was telling her. There had been sincerity in his voice, and she hoped that she could trust him. “My name is Celina. Celina Gonzalez,” she whispered.
He then smiled and whispered back, “It's nice to finally know who you are, and know your name, Celina. I can't tell you everything. All I can say is that I'm being forced to do a job for them, and they are using you to make me do it.” He looked at her lips, those lush, sensual lips that had kissed him and bewitched him that other night. “And I am truly sorry for involving you in this.”
“When you say them, who are they?”
“The drug cartel. My cousin is one of their top leaders with the Gulf.”
&
nbsp; Her heart sunk, and she felt all the life leave her body. Could this be any worse?
“Don’t worry. It will all work out.” He tried to reassure her with a soft voice.
“Are you going to do it?” She kept her voice low to keep anyone around from listening.
“No, I'm sorry. I'm not like them.”
“But you just said you’d kill for me?” She then tried to buck him off her. “Oh my God. What's going to happen to me now?” Her eyes began to water.
“Be still and calm down.” He pushed down on her arms. “That mission is a wrong killing. I have NO problem killing them, the bad guys. I'm going to be coming for you. Please don’t worry. And if they ask you what we talked about. You don’t tell them any of this. Do you understand? Only that you have to wait until I do a job for them. And tell them no more. Again, do you understand? Because that's all I told you.” His voice was brisk.
She nodded her head, and whispered, “When are you coming for me? Will it be later tonight?”
“No, you will be heavily guarded, and I need to get supplies and weapons together. But I will be here for sure, tomorrow night.”
“Are you going to notify the police? Will you bring help?”
He looked at her and just nodded, no.
“What do you mean? Are you coming alone?” There was disappointment in her voice, and her heart began to race again.
“I don't need any help.” He tried to reassure her with a smile.
“You must tell the police,” her voice accelerated. “You can't fight these people by yourself!” She sunk more into the pillow. “I guess I'm dead for sure. Ay, Dios mio.” She released a deep sigh.
He smiled, and said in a calm voice, “You don't have to worry. You are in good hands with me. I would never let anything happen to you.” His eyes raked over the curves of her face. Beneath him laid femininity, a beautiful woman.
“I want to believe you.” She drew a hard deep breath.
“Please believe me… and Celina…” he trailed off.
“Yes,” she replied.
“I am going to kiss you before I leave. Just so you'll know,” he leaned into her face.
She didn't reply, only looked into his eyes and raised her head a little, waiting for him to make the move.
“I’ve wanted to taste your lips again. To feel your tongue against mine,” he whispered in her ear. Then he kissed her softly on her lips but then pulled back to look at her face. He smiled and kissed her again, nice and slow, parting her lips for his tongue to slip past. A firestorm of need rocked through his body.
Even though she was there against her will, she believed him. She believed that he had nothing to do with her kidnapping and that he would come for her. Celina returned the kiss in full force, remembering the night when she first saw him. Remembering when they kissed at the club, and how she felt afterwards. She kissed like a woman whose need for pleasure had grown to the same height of desire as his. Her lips moved beneath his, and her heart raced, but this time in pure excitement.
Talking between kisses he said, “I don't want to stop kissing you.” He worked her lips over with his tongue, stroking in and out of them with his hungry kiss. “You left me in a whirl that night at the club, when you kissed me and then just left me there. It's as if you had kissed me and left me for dead with that one kiss.”
She gave him a wicked smile.
“Now I’m regaining what you took from me that night, because you are no longer an enigma to me.” Eyes blazing and breathing hard, he claimed her mouth once more. He consumed her, relishing the feel of her tongue against his.
Celina groaned low in her throat as he kissed her ravenously over her mouth.
A loud knock at the door pulled him from the kiss. “Yeah!” he shouted, looking up towards the door, containing his breath.
The door cracked open and a male's voice was heard. “Pancho, the boss wants to see you.” The door closed again.
He turned to look at her. “Remember what I told you.” He lowered his head and whispered in her ear very softly, “I will come for you. I promise.” He kissed her lips one last time. He pulled away, not wanting to, sitting straight up and looked into her eyes only for a few seconds more. His expression, and his eyes, grew taut with possessiveness. Possessiveness and lust. He released his hold on her wrists, jumped off her, and left the room.
She lay on the bed, replaying each word that came out of his mouth in her head, and hoping that he would come for her.
Chapter 20
Negotiations
Pancho walked into his cousin's office, with a blank look. He didn't want him to know, what he was thinking.” Yeah, you wanted to talk to me.” He glanced at the dogs that were lying next to Rafael's desk.
Rafael extended his hand, directing him to sit down on a burgundy leather chair that was in front of his desk. “Please, sit down, primo. Let's talk.”
Pancho looked, at the tufted buttons pushed into the long back of the elegant chair, and took a seat.
“So, I guess this is the girl that you were hoping to find.” He looked at him waiting for a reply. Rafael rested his back into the matching swivel chair and twirled a big gold ring in shape of a gun on his finger. “Well, an answer would be good… sometime soon.”
“You know she is. I know you were watching me on the security monitor. So why ask me that question.” He tilted his head and cocked it back. “I didn't ask you to do this for me. You know that.” What a fine mess Celina has gotten herself into, just by kissing me that night. I'm happy she did, but I wish it could have been elsewhere and not at Rafael's club.
“Yeah, I know. And you also know, that I did it for me, and not for you, so no te hagas güey.” His gaze darkened, as he rubbed at his jaw, sitting back in his chair. He opened a dark, wooden box and pulled out a cigar, clipped it and then lit it.
Pancho dismissed Rafael's last comment, to stop pretending about the situation. “Well, thank you,” he held back his sarcasm. “So, I'm ready to take her with me.” He played on with the conversation.
Rafael let out a loud laugh, and then blew out some smoke from his cigar. “You want a hit?” he gestured to a silver tray that was on his Mahogany desk.
Pancho looked at the white powdery substance, shook his head and stared back. You fucker you know I don't touch that shit.
“Oh, that's right. You've always been Mr. Goody Two Shoes.” Rafael lowered his head and inhaled a line of cocaine. Seconds later, he brought his head up, taking deep breaths, wiping his nose, and shaking his head. He sank back into his chair, and stared at Pancho, waiting for the substance to take effect.
Pancho felt the hairs at the back of his neck lift and rubbed at them in irritation. “Like I said earlier, Rafael, I'm ready to leave, and take the girl with me.” His jaw was set firm.
“Ha, ha-ha, no te hagas güey. Look, let's stop playing around, and get down to business. This way, I don't waste your time, and you don't waste mine.” His lips thinned, and he waved his hand in the air. “You know fucking well that the girl is going nowhere today, until I get what I want, and…” he paused, slamming his hand on his desk and tilting his head to one side. “If I don't, she will stay here with me. And I will make her my personal sex slave for awhile.” He took a deep breath and regained his composure. “Then afterwards, after I've had my fill, I will make a shitload of money, putting her out there with the others.”
Rafael noticed Pancho gripping the armrest of the chair and knew he had struck a chord. Celina was Pancho's weakness. “After weeks of trying to break you, I now know that this mystery girl is your weakness. The girl is going to be my bargaining chip.” Rafael’s tone was stern.
“Okay, have it your way.” He ran his fingers over the brass tacks on the armchair. “I'll do it, but nothing better happen to her while she's here, or all hell will break loose.”
“Well, there is one more thing,” he said, taking a long puff of his cigar.
“Now what?” he asked, in frustration. “We're not little
kids anymore, to be playing games.” His voice was heavy, his chest still tightening.
“Calm down.” He gave him a sarcastic smile. “Since you had me wait, things sometimes come with big penalties.”
“Don't give me that bullshit, Rafa. No mames.” His fingers curled into a fist, and fury spiked hard and hot inside him.
“The same job still stands that I had asked you for before, but now something else has come up, and I need for you to do this other job, after you get the kid for me.”
“Tell me first.” He wanted to howl at the unfairness of this so-called business deal.
“United States is going to back up Mexico in the war against drugs, because that bitch Helen Clinton says it's intolerable. She came over here to Mexico, moving her pie hole, and the big man wants her to shut the fuck up, and you're going to do that for me.”
“Are you serious? You want me to kill her for you?” he leaned forward opening his eyes wide. I can't believe these sick fuckers.
“Yes, they want to make an example of her, and her daughter. So the order is that you will kill Helen with a bullet between her eyes. You can do that.” He looked at him with a serious look, the same way he would look at a rabid animal. “Am I right? I did tell them you were the best, and you will place a bomb under her daughter's car.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “This is crazy, Rafael.” He could feel the burning anger in his gut. The idea of hurting a woman or a child made him physically sick.
“No, it's not, this is just business. We want it known that no one will fuck around with our drug cartel. The U.S. needs to stay clear and stay away.” He then leaned forward and did another line of cocaine. “So, are you ready for your assignment?” he snorted, then rubbed his nose. “Or let's just say… are you ready to get your girl back? Because that’s what it's going to take.” He looked deep into his eyes, through his soul.
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