“No,” she said as she faced him. “I need to be away from you.”
Dalton’s heart clenched as he took in the mood of the room, but everyone is off in their own corners. Willie didn’t do drama. This huge scene wasn’t something the craziest GOG could put together.
“You want to break up with me? Okay, I’d never force you to stay, but any chance I could find out what I did? Was my blocking off?”
Willie’s lips twitched as she tried to suppress a laugh. Now wasn’t the time, but he deserved a reason for her breaking his heart.
“My last boyfriend isn’t over me yet.” Her voice trembled and he noticed it wasn’t just her voice. Her fingers where locked tight, but her foot was bouncing on the seat of her chair. “I was hoping he was.”
“That sounds like a him problem.”
“Did you notice the receipt I sent you for your tire had Stan’s name on it?”
“I really didn’t pay attention.”
“Right, well I really wanted to come to Denver. You have no idea how much, but I was scared. I haven’t used my name on anything since I ran away the fourth time from him.”
“Ran away?” Dalton questioned as he worried because who runs away from a lover?
“I should have told you but—He found me the other times. Quickly. After the second time, I realized he sent someone to fetch me not long after I used a credit card. So I started stock piling cash to make my way, but when I bought the train ticket to go east they entered my driver’s license information.”
“I put your name on the ticket.” Dalton closed his eyes tight and prayed he’d not made a fatal error. “I’m so sorry Willeen if I would—”
“Don’t,” she interjected. “I didn’t share my past with you because I had convinced myself it wouldn’t go past your trip to the lake. Then you called me and…I pigeon holed you…as a professional athlete that was just having his fun. I couldn’t imagine we actually had a future.”
“Are you seeing one now?” he asked with a silent prayer behind it.
Willeen turned her head away. “When I left Hector a year ago, I didn’t know if I’d make it down the block let alone all the way to Wisconsin. I have no idea what happened to the men who were tasked with watching me, but I’m sure it wasn’t good. They were men who didn’t have options in life. Work in fast food for minimum wage or work for Hector and hope you’ll be able to avoid jail. The money is good, fast and washed a few times before it makes it to your hands. That’s the way Bennie explained it to me on the way back from Los Angeles.”
“Bennie?” Dalton asked as he circled her hand with his. A lone tear ran down her cheek, but she still wouldn’t look at him.
“When I ran the third time, Hector beat him to death in front of me.” Her voiced dropped as she repeated her next words. “He failed me mi alma. He lost you, again. I hope you understand I will not allow for such failures.”
Dalton closed his eyes and cursed his stupidity. Bile rose in his throat as his stomach clenched. Had he really described killing a bee’s entire family because it hurt her? Could she see the difference between him and Hector?
“Willie…I…you know I could never…”
“Bennie knew what kind of man he worked for. One misstep could cost a life. Usually your own. Can you imagine me in high heels, short skirts and all made up for display?”
“I can, but I think you’re most beautiful when the sun is setting behind you. It highlights all your features and makes your eyes sparkle.” It was then he noticed her mismatched outfit. Sure she could get made up, but this was more than that. He stayed silent since she had finally started to share her life. Dark and painful, but it was her life and he would do anything possible to protect her from those parts.
“The more I pulled away the less I was me. If I looked at a door for too long he reminded me I was his. I was to be properly groomed and by his side. He had to have his mi alma by his side always. By always, he meant that. For a year after Bennie’s death, I had to watch him brutalize people in the name of his business. I knew he had a violent streak, but he could calm himself in a way around me.”
“Did he ever hit you?”
“No,” she said as she wiped away a tear. “Not on purpose. Once I stepped into his swing. He was beating a woman who wouldn’t tell him where her son was. When he killed Bennie, the whole time he told me it was my fault. Do you see what you are making me do mi alma? I am trying to keep you safe. The world is dangerous and without you, I am lost. Mi Alma means my soul. He sees me as an extension of himself. Early on, I thought I had stopped him from going too far. I learned that was not the case. He let his frustration out on a punching bag while his men were tasked with the dirty work.”
“In theory, I know this world exists, but I’m so removed from it I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Tell me truthfully, did I put your life in danger?”
Willeen finally turned to him. “He knows about us. My fear comes from him harming you.”
“Me? Not much hurts me.” Dalton couldn’t remember the last time he felt unsafe in a situation.
“Hector can. His body count…” Willeen trailed off and shook her head. “Dalton, I don’t want to lose you, but Hector could take more than just your knee. If he finds out what you mean to me—”
Dalton pulled her from the chair and onto his lap. “No one will ever hurt you again. You understand me? Never.”
“I bet you wished I was an old fat guy wearing flannel right now,” she tried to tease, but the reality of the situation was killing every part of both of them.
“Nah, our beards would get tangled.” Gently stroking back her hair, he cradled her head in his hands. “Willie, you’re all I want out of life. Bullies are just children that haven’t learned what no truly means. I know you’re scared, but I’m not.”
“That’s because you don’t know him.”
Chapter Eight
Willeen stood on the balcony for the hotel room Dalton booked for the two of them. She refused to go to his parents’ home. Not knowing where Hector had disappeared to after the game had her scared to put them in danger. The Estes Park police were keeping a patrol car at their home. Keeping quiet had put her in this place and this time she wasn’t going to do that. Making a person listen, that’s a whole other story.
“Your dad challenged him, publically. Mix that with him knowing who you are—They need to go somewhere else.”
“No one chases me from my own home,” Gil stormed. “Not now, not ever.”
“At least accept protection,” Dalton pleaded. “For mom.”
Gil turned to his wife who sat silent on the couch and nodded his acceptance.
“We can order room service or I could get some menus from the front desk,” Dalton offered as he leaned against the doorjamb for the sliding glass.
“I should be running,” she replied absently.
“Running where?” Dalton asked. “To what end?”
Willeen searched deep inside herself for the answer. She was tired of being nothing. Was it really living if you existed, but weren’t allowed to have a future? “Maybe I should just let him have me.”
“Do you love him?” Dalton asked and she could hear the pain in his voice.
“I was in awe of him. He is powerful and made me feel important because he loved me.”
“Do you still feel that way? Is that why you’re going back with him?”
“He’ll never let me live without him. I used to think his constant need for me to be around showed how much he loved me. He couldn’t breathe if I wasn’t around. For the first five years, we never spent more than four hours apart.”
“And I’d kill to have four hours alone with you.” Dalton shook his head. “I’m sorry, poor choice of words. Are you sure he wants you? You said you watched him kill people. I’m not trying to judge, but—”
“You know how in the movies the camera sometimes floats around a carnival scene? Swooping by the Farris Wheel, a few screams come from the rickety old roller
coaster before panning through the midway games and finally landing on the main character eating cotton candy.”
“Yeah.”
“My eyes were trained forward, but my mind swooped. Flying through the rafters of the building or even going up the Vegas strip.” Crossing her arms, Willeen closed her eyes and disappeared to the lake instead of being stuck in the mountains of Colorado. At the lake, Dalton’s arms were around her as they watched the sunset paint the water in colors she couldn’t find anywhere else in the world. With a gentle tug, he’d help her up and they fall into bed. Not for sex, but to be with the other person.
“Willie,” he said coming up behind her with his hands on her upper arms as she let out the breath she didn’t even know she had been holding.
“I never went to the police. Told what I saw. Instead, I ran away. You’re the first person I ever shared fully what I experienced. I talked a little about him not leaving me alone, but the murders.” Turning in his arms she looked up at him. “If he hurts you—”
“I joked earlier, but the fight or flight in this situation leads me to fight.”
“When doesn’t it lead you to fight?”
“When there’s nothing worth fighting for. Walking out that door would remove more than danger, it would take away the drama of the situation.”
Willie stepped back and he hugged her tighter.
“Drama is momentary, you and me, that’s forever. Do you believe that?”
“Forever? I haven’t thought of anything past the next day’s chores for so long. Before I ran away, I thought I had found my forever and my choice—”
“How about you not compare him to me?” Dalton put his hand in hers and walked them back into the room. “Sounds like he’s winning in the whole killing people part of life.”
She sat at the top of the bed and looked at the flyers for food delivery. “I know it seems stupid, but I’m afraid of delivery men.”
“Room service it is.” He picked up the folder with all the hotel’s amenities. “Promise you won’t think I’m a freak when I order.”
“Yeah, that’s the reason I’m going to think you’re a freak,” she said as she peeked over the top at the food. Nothing appealed to her because her appetite disappeared when Hector touched her body. “Get what ever you want.”
“Glad I could get your permission.”
“You know what I meant. I think I need another shower.” Hopping off the bed, she went toward the bathroom.
“What do you want?”
“I’m not hungry.” Placing her hand on the doorjamb, she gave him a sly smile. “Order me something small. You know what your mom says.”
“That’s it. My mother stuffed you.”
“No, but she tried to. Even before we met formally.”
Dalton stood with one hand on his hip and the other holding the folder. With a shake to his head, he gave her the reassuring gaze that made her allow hope in her heart.
It took over an hour to get the food to the suite. She would have assumed it was the security issues since their floor was only accessible by key card and they had two armed guards in the vestibule for the suite. That was not the case. Four carts were needed to wheel the meals.
“Did you just order the kitchen itself?” she asked as she tugged the complimentary robe tighter around her neck.
“I didn’t eat after the game. Before the game, I barely got a snack in.”
“What are you, a Hobbit?”
“The comparison has been made more than once.” Dalton signed for the food and passed the two waiters each a hundred dollars. Alcohol bottles were mixed in with the four gallons of water. “Drink water.”
“I have been. I’m about to float away.”
Dalton shared a few words with the men outside guarding them and let them each grab one of the dinner plates.
“Don’t they get food?”
“Maybe a sandwich. The last thing I want is a man taking a few minutes to run to the vending machine and putting us in danger.”
“What about eating so much they get the idtis?” she asked as she lifted the silver plate cover on a medallion steak sliced over a puree of some sort. “They could fall asleep.”
“They have four-hour shift rotations that are two apart. So one is replaced at midnight, the next at two in the morning.”
“How long are we locked away like this?” she asked spearing a sprig of asparagus.
“As long as it takes. No one should live their life in fear.”
Dalton actually put away three dinners, a cheese and fruit plate, multiple desserts and a whole basket of breads. Willie was impressed. She barely ate half of her plate. He didn’t push, maybe it was her that initiated, but that night they made love. The passion and lust melded into light kisses along the column of her neck while she held him tight. He feared crushing her under is weight, but she assured him he wasn’t. Instead they were feeling more like one being while rolling in the bed and exploring the other’s flesh. By the time the moon shone bright in the sky, Dalton’s light snore blew across her neck as he held her flush against his body.
A light flashed on her nightstand and she slipped her way out of his arms enough to answer. “Willie, I’m so glad you answered.” The panic in Rachel’s voice made the warm mush Willeen’s body had been stiffen as every hair on her body rose. “I just got DMed by a dummy account. I think it’s related to you.”
“Why is that?” she whispered back as she turned to see if the noise woke Dalton. Although his arms were searching for her and having to be appeased with a pillow instead, he stayed asleep. Finding her robe, she tiptoed out on the balcony and marveled at the temperate air. In Wisconsin she’d be freezing, but although it was a November evening, the only chill she felt came from her conversation.
“I’ll send you the video.” Rachel became silent.
Video?
“Willie if I would have ever thought—”
“Rachel, I was never allowed friends when I was with Hector. I’m glad I met you and that you still consider me enough of one to call me.”
“He’s crazy, how’s Dalton doing? Matt’s really worried about him.”
“Right now, he’s snoring after eating more food than a small Caribbean island does in a year and…” Willie trailed off as she leaned against the open-door frame and watched him. Splayed out on the bed that may be king sized, but he was more than a king. The moonlight streamed in through the windows highlighting his jaw and lips. She ran her finger over her own lips, finding them swollen and chapped around the edges. Buying stock in lip balm would be a good idea if she could ever truly be with Dalton because that beard provided pleasure with a hint of pain. Never in the moment, but after an hour with him she ached in the sweetest of ways.
“Did he help you relax a bit?” Rachel asked with a bit of surprise to her voice.
“I may never see him again,” the words choked in her throat. “Don’t I deserve a few good memories to reflect on?”
“Willie, you and Dalton will be together. I can’t believe that evil will win and that man is evil.”
“I better look at that video. Thanks again Rachel.” She hung up, closed her eyes and prayed for freedom.
Pulling the phone from her face, she touched the screen under messages. A video loaded with Hector’s face as the thumbnail image.
“I trust this will find its way to mi alma, Willeen. For I have personally not seen your mama for years even though I have been keeping an eye on her for you.” The camera moved and her mother came into view. Willie dropped to her knees as she saw the mother she hadn’t been able to be with for over five years sitting at her kitchen table. Her face stern, even as a tear rolled down her cheek. The last time Willie saw her mother she had braids in, now a natural afro cut about two inches around her head haloed her beautiful face. Willie’s finger traced her mother’s face, blocking out Hector’s demands and commands.
“We will be with her for the next day or so. Then there will no longer be a reason for us to stay
in Reno.”
Her heart clutched as she moved the playback line so she could actually hear his threats, demands and empty promises. Hector spoke of how he should have reached out to her mother sooner.
“She says she doesn’t have your number. I thought you were a good daughter.”
Willie turned off her phone, unable to watch his ramblings. Lord knows what her mother was going through as she stayed safe in a penthouse hotel room a thousand miles away. Closing the balcony door, she curled into bed next to Dalton and used her phone to find the next flight out to Reno. Her finger hovered over the purchase button. Hector knew where she was or at least how to find her. She would enjoy her few hours in Dalton’s arms. Maybe the strength he exuded could transfer to her. Either way she booked the flight, no longer fearing Hector’s watchful eye. He probably would have a man sent to pick her up at the airport. As long as her mother was let go, that’s all the mattered. A flight would be available in five hours. Reaching back, she found Dalton’s heavy arm and pulled it over her body. His nose nuzzled against her neck as his arm held her with an arm that should be big enough to protect her, but wasn’t. Not in this, not with her bad decisions coming back on her three-fold. All she could do was get lost in his arms for a few hours before she would give herself back to Hector.
“Hey babe, you made it through the night,” Dalton said as he squeezed tighter, only to discover the sweet smell of her shampoo was from a pillow and not her. Opening his eyes fully he didn’t want to assume the worst. Besides, how could she get out of the room? She couldn’t. Not unless there were two dead security guards outside his room. “Willie.”
Swinging his legs around he got up and scanned the room, but all he saw was his jersey laying across one of the high-top chairs. Running his fingers through his hair, he went toward the bathroom. “You’re gonna want to start that shower Willie, let’s get it nice and hot and stay until it’s ice cold.”
The bathroom was empty. His heart took off at breakneck speed as he sprinted to the balcony. Sliding the door open to find nothing. Going to the ledge, he prayed as he walked his way around that she hadn’t jumped.
Second and Short Page 13
