by Nikki Ash
“Puta cuidadosa o morirås!” A man spits out before grabbing me and dragging me out of the car. I hear Marco crying and saying something in Spanish. The man smacks me across the face hard and then throws me onto the ground. I curl up into a fetal position while I am kicked several times in the back and a few times to my ribs. Eventually it is too much and I throw up. They finally stop and I am picked up and brought somewhere where I am thrown onto cold hard cement. I try to stay calm but my body is aching. I can taste the blood coming from my mouth but I don’t want Marco to know anything is wrong.
I only know Marco is with me because I can hear him breathing loudly. The place goes quiet a few minutes later and I take the chance and speak.
“Marco, sweetie are you ok?”
“Yeah, mom, I’m ok. Are you?”
“Yes, I’m ok. Do you know what the man said to me in Spanish?”
“He said to be careful or you will die. I tried to tell him to stop.”
“It’s going to be ok, Marco.”
He doesn’t say anything back.
A little while later the door opens and our blindfolds are removed. I have read enough books to know this isn’t a good thing. If the kidnappers are ok with letting you see them they don’t plan to let you live. Once my eyes adjust, I see we are in an empty room in a warehouse and sure enough it’s Hector and Santos along with the two guys who got out on bail. There’s another guy there as well, dressed nicer than the other guys, and I wonder if he’s the owner of the expensive vehicle that has been parked down my street.
“You know why I took off your blindfolds? So you can see who is in charge of your life. Let’s hope you and the boy are worth a million dollars,” one of the men says in his heavy Spanish accent. He takes his cell phone out and snaps a picture of Marco and me.
“And then you will let us go?” I ask.
“We’ll see.”
“Please just let Marco go. You can keep me. He’s just a child.”
“Just a child? He’s the reason for this shit! Him and his druggie mother!”
“He’s a child!” I yell back! The man backhands me so hard tears spring from my eyes and I can feel more blood in my mouth.
“Mom!” Marco yells out. He looks so scared. All I want to do is hold him and make him feel safe even if neither of us is.
“Shut up! Both of you!” They put the blindfold back on Marco and then on me.
The door slams shut leaving us once again in the dark.
“I love you, Marco.” It’s all I can say. I don’t know at this point if we will live or die but I need him to know I love him.
“You are the best treasure ever brought into my life. No matter what happens I need you to know I love you, son.”
“I love you, too Mom. Thank you for saving me.”
There’s so much more I want to say but I can’t speak without crying and I don’t want Marco to hear me crying. My body is in so much pain and it’s hard to breathe. I take a slow deep breath and pray to God somebody finds us.
After telling Marco over and over again I will protect him he finally falls asleep with his head in my lap. It seems like hours before the men return. I am exhausted and it’s got to be well into the night or early morning but I am too scared to sleep. I need to protect my son.
I hear the men getting closer. They are yelling back and forth in Spanish and while I have no idea what they are saying, it doesn’t sound like they are very happy. Every few words I hear one I can translate like police and money. Damn it, I wish I had paid better attention in Spanish class back in college!
The voices keep getting closer and before I know it I hear the door swing open and before I can react Marco is no longer sleeping on my lap and my shorts are being ripped off me. Marco is screaming out my name and I am just so thankful he won’t have to actually see me being raped. I am pushed down onto my back and because my hands are still handcuffed I can’t stop myself from falling backward, my head hitting the concrete hard. I feel dizzy but try hard not to blackout.
“Your boyfriend made a grave mistake, you little bitch. He involved the police. His mistake is your punishment.” He grabs my breasts hard and then spreads my legs so wide I scream out loudly in pain. I can’t just let him rape me. I need to fight but how can I fight without my hands or sight. I attempt to kick him hard and must make contact because when my foot hits him he grunts out what sounds like curse words in Spanish. I take the opportunity to begin screaming again trying to get away.
I expect him to come back at me to take my underwear off so I bring my legs up ready to kick him again but instead I hear a loud gunshot ring through the air, what sounds like a door swinging open and then loud voices yelling, “Police. Put your weapons down.” Suddenly several gunshots go off.
I bring my shoulder up to my face as I try to move the blindfold the best I can but it’s not working. A few seconds later, hands are on me and I jump screaming out loud. “Shh… it’s ok, Hayles. I got you.” The sound of Caleb’s voice allows me to relax. He removes my blindfold and that’s when I see Kaden, Cooper, and Bentley, as well as several armed police officers all point their guns at the five men who are on the ground bleeding having been shot. It looks like at least two of them might be dead and the others are definitely injured.
I search for Marco and see him curled up in the corner. I get up the best I can and hobble over to him. I can’t hold him but I attempt to soothe him with my words.
“It’s ok sweetie. Caleb and the police are here. They saved us.” I sit close to Marco blocking him in case anything goes bad, hoping my body will protect his.
The officers handcuff the three guys who are alive but injured and another officer calls for more ambulances saying there are several injured. One of the officers comes over to Marco and me, and using a key unlocks our cuffs. I immediately grab Marco, taking his blindfold off, and hold him tight vowing to never let go of him. First date? Hope he enjoys a third wheel. College? He better be prepared for me to join him. I might even have to home school him.
While I am holding him and refusing to let go, I feel hands encompass us and when I look up I see Caleb with tears in his eyes holding both of us.
“I thought I was going to lose you both,” he says through his tears. “I am so sorry, baby. I am so sorry for leaving you guys.”
I am not sure why Caleb is apologizing. He didn’t do this. He can’t control what those men did. Then it hits me. He blames himself because he left us to go find an apartment, and I know I should be grateful we are all ok and I should tell him it’s not his fault or at least say it’s ok but the fear that has consumed me for so long turns into anger. As I get up to grab my shorts I feel a sharp pain in my side hit me and I double over before blacking out.
Caleb
I fucked up. I know I fucked up and now I am going to have to fix this. I walked out on Hayley and Marco to find an apartment in an attempt to push her away. All she has done this entire time is fight for me and instead of pulling her closer and leaning on her I pushed her away. I should have just told her about the flashbacks. I should have explained what was going on inside my head but instead I walked away like a scared little bitch.
I should have been at the park with her and Marco. If I were there with them, they never would have been taken. She never would have been so close to being raped.
I grab ahold of both Marco and Hayley apologizing over and over again. I can see when her fear turns to anger and then she gets up to walk away. What I am not prepared for is when she doubles over in pain and a loud scream rings out in the warehouse and I realize something isn’t right.
Luckily when the police came they also dispatched ambulances. The EMT’s come running in and cut her shirt open. That is when I see all the bruises. She had to have been beaten. There are bruises all over her stomach and legs. Her face has several bruises and her lip is split completely open.
“We are going to bring her to the nearest hospital. They will be able to assess her and check for internal inj
uries,” the EMT says carefully placing Hayley on the gurney. As they are rolling her out Hayley comes to, and starts calling for Marco. She is hurt and her only concern is to make sure Marco is ok.
I run over to her side and tell her Marco is with me and we will follow her to the hospital.
Marco starts crying and I grab ahold of him to hold him close. “It’s ok. She’s going to be ok.”
“Marco, did they do anything to you? Are you hurt?” I look over his body making sure he is ok.
“No, they didn’t do anything to me. Can we please go to the hospital? I want to make sure mom’s ok.”
Hearing him call Hayley mom warms my heart. I wonder if she knows he is calling her mom.
Cooper comes over. “Why don’t we head to the hospital with you guys and stay out in the waiting room with Marco until they say it’s ok for him to go back and see Hayley?”
“Ok.”
On our way to the hospital I give Hayley’s sister a call to let her know what has happened. She let’s me know they are on their way and she will call their parents to let them know.
When we arrive the nurse won’t tell me anything. I try to play the fiancé card Hayley played to get in to see me but this nurse isn’t having it. Thankfully Hannah comes running through the door demanding answers and since they are sisters and she’s on her emergency contact list the nurse will speak to her.
“Ms. Roberts is ok. She has a couple bruised ribs and she is currently receiving stitches for her lip. They are running tests because she hit her head pretty hard, and they will keep her overnight in case of a concussion. Once the doctor gives the ok, I will let two at a time go back and see her.”
Knowing Hayley is alone back there and in pain makes me feel sick but I know we are lucky she is ok. I sit down with Marco and hold him like Hayley would have done until he falls asleep for a little while.
A little while later Hayley’s parents arrive then Ashley, Kayla, and Liz all come in.
“You guys didn’t have to come here. She’s ok.”
“Are you crazy? Of course we are here. Once I can see her for myself I will bring Marco home with me,” Kayla says.
Marco tenses up and I know he is awake and listening. “I don’t want to leave my mom. Please don’t make me leave here.” He starts crying and shaking his head clearly scared of losing another mom.
“Hey, it’s all right. You don’t have to go anywhere. As soon as they say it’s ok, I will bring you back.”
We all sit and wait for another couple hours and then finally the nurse comes out and calls Hayley’s name. We all stand. “Hayley is ready for visitors but she requests that Caleb Michaels not be allowed in; I’m sorry.”
Everybody’s eyes fly to me and I don’t know what to even say. I should have seen this coming. You can only push someone so far before they give up fighting for you.
Chapter Sixteen
Hayley
Once I am brought to the hospital and admitted, they draw blood to run tests, perform scans to check out my head and ribs, and hook me up to an IV. Luckily I am just sore with bruised ribs but nothing major. They sew up my bottom lip with a few stitches. I think I am finally done being checked out when another doctor comes in and shocks the ever-loving shit out of me.
“Good morning, Hayley, my name is Dr. Jones. I have been looking over your chart and it appears you are pregnant. Were you aware?”
Immediately my hands go to my stomach, to the flashbacks of those horrible men kicking me. I had no idea I was pregnant. “I didn’t know, but I can’t imagine after the beating I had I am still pregnant,” I say feeling numb.
“You would be surprised how well the womb protects the fetus, but instead of assuming one way or another why don’t we do an ultrasound.” He rolls the ultrasound cart over.
“It says you are a doctor as well. What is your specialty?” I know he is simply making conversation to calm me but I will take it.
“I specialize in Sport’s Medicine. I work with UFC fighters at a local gym.”
“Very nice.”
“Since I don’t know how far along you are I am going to do a vaginal ultrasound,” he says rolling a condom over the wand and then inserting it slowly into me.
I know the monitor is on but I can’t look at it. I wish Caleb were here with me to hold my hand. But then I remember why I am here. He ran, instead of fighting for us he walked away and wasn’t there when Marco and I were taken. I hate feeling so consumed with anger but I can’t help it.
Caleb doesn’t deserve to be here. He didn’t want me. He wanted an apartment and away from me. He chose to let whatever was wrong, probably his past, win-out over me, over us.
“… And there’s the heartbeat.” I completely forgot about the ultrasound. I bring my face up to look at the screen and sure enough there’s a lima bean size baby and a heartbeat. Tears spring to my eyes and spill over.
“It’s a strong heartbeat, Hayley. I don’t see any tears in the uterine walls. The amniotic fluid looks good. Your body did its job. It protected your little one. You look to be close to six weeks. It is still very early and while I don’t want to scare you I am going to recommend once you are released you take it easy your first trimester. Your body needs time to heal. I am not putting you on bed rest but don’t over do it.”
“Thank you, Doctor Jones.”
The doctor prints out a couple pictures of the cute little lima bean and then says he will let the nurse know I can receive visitors.
“Umm, wait. Can you please let her know I don’t want Caleb Michaels visiting?”
He nods once and then leaves.
A few minutes later my sister is walking in with Marco. He bursts into tears and I welcome him in my bed so I can hold him. He lies next to me and within minutes passes out.
“Everything is ok. Right?” Hannah asks. I know it won’t be long until my parents and friends are fighting to all come back so I need to tell her now.
“I need to tell you something but you can’t tell anyone, not yet.”
“Does this have anything to do with why you wouldn’t let Caleb back? He is completely torn up. A tornado couldn’t rip him from that waiting room.”
“He left, Hannah!” I yell but take a calming breath before continuing. I don’t want to wake Marco or do anything to put the baby at risk. As a doctor I know it would take more than yelling to do anything to my baby but as a mom-to-be I am not going to take any chances by working my self up.
“What do you mean he left?”
“He was giving me a massage and I think he had a flashback of some sort. I don’t know for sure but I have seen them happen a few times, except this time instead of fighting through it, he left. Then he said he was moving out. Marco and I were at the park alone while Caleb was looking for an apartment to rent.”
“Hayley that’s not fair. I know you are upset right now but think long and hard before you place that blame on Caleb. People get upset all the time. People leave and many women take their kids to the park alone. Most just don’t have psycho drug dealers stalking them waiting to kidnap them. Caleb leaving isn’t why you are upset. He came back a few hours later. He’s the reason you were even found. You know this. So what’s going on?”
I sigh loudly. I know she is right and that’s why I didn’t want Caleb coming in here. I am a mix of emotions and I imagine being pregnant isn’t helping.
“I’m pregnant.”
“Oh my goodness!” Hannah squeals. Then she sobers. “Is the baby ok?”
“Yes, the doctor did an ultrasound and I am roughly six weeks along. He wants me to take it easy for the first trimester to be on the safe side, give my body time to heal.”
“So you aren’t going to tell Caleb? Was this planned?”
“That’s the thing. We knew we were having unprotected sex and we knew this could happen but I had it in my head it would be harder to get pregnant than it actually was, and while I am so excited about this baby I am afraid Caleb will regret it.”
�
�I think you need to give him a chance, Hayley. I don’t know all that happened but the guy out in the waiting room doesn’t look like a guy who would ever regret having a baby with you. On the plus side we will have our babies months apart.” We both squeal and it wakes Marco up.
“What happened?” Marco asks.
“Nothing sweetie. We are ok. Go back to sleep.”
Hannah and I chat for a few minutes and then she goes back to get our parents. They give me hugs and kisses and as much as I want to tell them I think it’s best to keep it to myself for now. Anything can happen and every person I tell will be another person I have to tell if I lose the baby.
Once they leave all my friends take turns coming in and out. Finally Bentley and Kayla are last.
“He’s a mess, Hayley. I know you are upset but he’s a freaking mess out there. Please don’t punish him for too long. Even if you are ending it with him, just let him know,” Bentley says.
After spending the evening with Marco by my side the nurse lets Marco know he can’t spend the night. He is not happy at all but when Kayla tells him he can have a sleepover with Chloe he gives in.
The next morning I am released. Since Kayla had taken Marco home with her she picks me up and brings us home. Marco and I both take showers. When I tell him I would like for him to stay home one more day to get some rest he asks if he can sleep with me. I can’t even imagine how traumatized he is from all of the recent events. He obviously doesn’t want to be alone and the truth is I don’t really want to be alone either. I thought maybe Caleb would try to come home but I guess not. Marco cuddles into bed with me and I put on a kid movie hoping he won’t have nightmares. The kid has been through way too much.
I look at the clock and see it’s two in the afternoon. I go to grab my phone and remember it was smashed the day we were taken.
Marco stirs awake and I decide I am not going to let what happened bring us down. It will definitely be discussed at his weekly therapy session but I am not going to dwell on it. We are both ok. My baby is ok and the men who are alive will be locked away for a long ass time.
