There was no way to stop it, she could not help herself, the words just rolled from her lips, “Oh my Ghherrrrrrrd, Saxton.”
He started to laugh. “That’s it, where is my gun?” He continued to laugh and she laughed with him. When in doubt, her mother told her, make them laugh. Odessa had no plans to escape being raped by a group of men to be forced by another one. If laughter took his mind off his need, then she would be safe. At least for a little while. He rolled off her, pulling her with him, making sure to keep them covered from the waist down. She absently ran her fingers across his exposed skin that was not covered by his tee or outer shirt. For a few seconds, it actually felt as if this was a real moment they were sharing.
There was a banging on the door, their time was up. As they got dressed she had a million questions and was afraid to ask them all. Eyes wide and full of fear, she was worried about what was next, but moreover, she didn’t understand what was actually occurring. He held her close telling her to keep her back to the door and her voice low.
“I’m sorry Saxton, I don’t understand any of this; before we go back down there and I say something else stupid that may just get us killed, please bring me up to speed.”
“I’m a drug runner, Rentería is my boss. Mateo is his cousin who specializes in human trafficking, and he hates my guts, which is why he always intentionally leaves the N off my name,” he told her as he fastened his pants.
“And the whole marriage thing, is that real?”
He handed her a sandal, “It was a real Catholic priest. I am a real Catholic, so it makes it real.”
“But, we can get it annulled, if it’s not consummated, right?”
“Nope,” he told her, “there is video,” he pointed up at the camera in the corner, “We just consummated it.”
“I am missing something,” she said as she unfurled the collar on his shirt that he wore over the tee, helping to right his appearance as if it was something she did every day.
“I am a practicing Catholic; Mateo knows that. He also knows that the one thing I never wanted to do was get married,” he smiled at her.
“I’m sorry, Saxton. I really am. I don’t know how many times I can tell you.”
He pulled her closer and planted a feathery light kiss on her forehead, “My bigger concern is getting us out of here alive. You have seen the hornet’s nest, now let’s go and dance for the hornet.”
He reached for the door handle but she pulled him back, “I am not sure how to act...or what to do.”
“You are the woman of a notorious drug smuggler, act like it and take on the role of being Mrs. Blakemore.”
Chapter 3- Being Mrs. Blakemore
The newlyweds descended the stairs to be greeted by a very large crowd that whooped and hollered in congratulations. Odessa immediately noticed the 50-inch television in the great room, which was now replaying Saxton’s big finish on the screen. Her final cry which brought him laughter, played out well on the display, making it appear as if the two of them had actually copulated. Pats on the back were given to Saxton, followed by lewd comments and tips on how to have a better performance.
Mateo sat in the corner watching, which caught Saxton’s eye. Mrs. Blakemore was more focused on Delgado, whom she felt was more of a threat. Rentería himself seemed bored by the whole ordeal and dismissed his soldiers who returned to their posts. The special guests were invited to join him in the dining room for a celebratory dinner honoring his number one runner and his new bride.
Before they took a seat, Saxton faced her, “I need for you to kiss me, right now.” She did not question, but wrapped her arms around his neck, ran her fingers through his hair and provided him a very passionate kiss. Her lips trailed away to his ear, “Was that for his benefit?”
Saxton smiled at her, “Nah, just mine. You have an extremely sexy mouth.” She laughed and playfully swatted at him. While he still had her in his arms, he reminded her to stay as close to the truth in any of her answers that she could.
The massive Chechen hardwood table comfortably sat 16 people, with Rentería facing the door, flanked by Delgado and Mateo, leaving Saxton and Odessa’s back exposed. There were two other Americans at the table, one a scientist, the other a businessman. The two women on the opposite sides of the table ran Rentería’s whore house in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, and the other people—Odessa was uncertain of their roles in the organization. She had picked a fine day to venture off the path.
Although aware that the men at the market had been herding her towards a capture, she was not about to be anyone’s victim, not Mateo’s, not Saxton’s or even Rentería’s. The one she was more concerned about was Delgado. He eyed Saxton with a feigned interest, but remained more focused on her. Delgado opened the conversation, “So, Seňora Blakemore, do you know what it is, your husband,” he said the title with some contempt, “does for a living?”
The food had been brought out and she was absolutely starving. Her last meal had been breakfast on the ship and it was now close to 8 pm. The pork carnita they had earlier only served to whet her appetite and she was ready to place a hurting on whatever it was that was in front of her face. They were still handcuffed, so cutting meat was difficult and coordinating who ate next was even more cumbersome. Finally, she took Saxton’s plate, cut up his food and passed it back to him; he smiled at her thoughtfulness. This freed her to cut up her own food, and use her right hand only to feed herself, and the question caught her off guard and in the midst of face stuffing.
“Yes, he is in the import and export business,” she said as she patted Saxton on his thigh, still trying to get the tender morsel of chicken in her mouth.
“Ah, si, Seňora, but do you know what it is he imports?” Delgado had not cracked a smile. He reminded her of every Mexican villain she had ever seen in a movie about Mexican bad guys who sold dope. This stereotype also included the tattoos on his neck, the porn star mustache, and the highway-patrol black shades.
Odessa looked at him with clear eyes, but not in a direct stare, which he would feel was a challenge, “Of course, Seňor Delgado, he imports raw products into the U.S. and uses a new initiative to turn the raw product into a green commodity.” She turned to Saxton, “This chicken is delicious; I must learn how to make this.”
Mateo did not waste the opportunity to make a dig at Saxton’s expense, “It sure beats having fried chicken and watermelon every night, eh Amigo?”
She tightened her grip on Saxton’s thigh, “I haven’t had anything fried in so long, and a cold slice of watermelon sounds delightful.” No one had laughed at Mateo’s racial dig and now all eyes and interest were more focused on her. Delgado wanted to say more, but Rentería was now in the conversation by first chastising his cousin, then apologizing to Odessa.
“My aunt indulged him far too much. He seems to have little self-control over his tongue or his other body parts.” His voice was deep, rich and held very little of an accent. His dark eyes took in everything around him and he reminded her more of a Hispanic movie star than an evil defiler of women and children. Odessa raised her glass to him, and thanked him for such a wonderful wedding dinner as she leaned into Saxton, who planted a small kiss on her temple. She smiled at her pretend husband, who again found himself unwillingly smiling back at her. She was a beauty, he kissed her again, then privately cautioned himself.
Rentería asked, “What is it you do in America, Seňora?”
This was the moment Odessa had been waiting for, the opportunity to increase her worth in this scenario. If she calculated the odds correctly, her next words would be a game changer. She looked Rentería in the face, adding a coy smile, “I am an actuary.” The scientist and the business man both looked up at her with new reverence.
Saxton felt like an idiot for not asking her earlier. His new bride was making him look pretty smart and calculating. Their odds of surviving to live a few more days just increased. Odessa Trodat was far smarter than she seemed and he remained quiet as she went to work.
As much as she wanted to eat the corn on the cob, picking it up with one hand was just classless, and that was not going to happen, no matter how hungry she was. “I am one of the best in the country, my calculations are always rather accurate,” she said as she asked Saxton for help with her corn cob.
“Do you trust Saxton?” he wanted to know. This question was asked as Saxton held one end of her corn cob and she the other. They had to work in unison to eat the corn, she bit first, then helped him take a bite. He was still smiling at her with corn kernels in his front teeth.
She smiled back at her new hubby, gazing into his eyes as she said with full honesty, “I trust him with my life.” She bit into the corn again, held it, as Saxton bit in on his side. By all who were watching, the scene was romantic and sweet.
It must have overlooked her attention when Rentería nodded his head and one of his henchmen brought in a half-naked, severely beaten young girl. She looked to be no more than 16 or seventeen, high out of her mind, and in violation of some rule of the house.
“Seňora, should this woman trust you with hers?” Rentería asked, “And how would you calculate the odds of her leaving this house alive?”
Odessa raised her head and witnessed the look of confusion on the girl’s face. What popped into her mind were Saxton’s words; she needed to take on the role of a drug runner’s woman and be Mrs. Blakemore. She chose each word carefully, “Well, if you kill her, a Bitch will never learn.” She used her fork to stake another piece of chicken, “If you allow her to get clean the hard way, and put the whore back to work right after she is detoxed, then she will serve as a lesson to others.” She continued to eat on her chicken, then looked up and made eye contact with Rentería, “The only thing worse than going to a job you hate, is having to do that job stone cold sober.”
Saxton was impressed and kind of scared at the same time; the smile was unwillingly generated in a moment of pride. He watched Odessa as she asked for seconds, fully aware that she had become more valuable in Rentería’s eyes while becoming a threat in Delgado’s. His eyes cut to Mateo, who was now plotting a way to punish Saxton. In two years, Mateo had never seen Saxton smile at anything. This woman brought him joy; Mateo did not like that.
Chapter 4- Hmm...Here’s the Problem
The remainder of the evening had progressed nicely as the meal ended with dancing, a Mariachi band, and more tequila; lots more tequila that she did not partake in. As they headed toward midnight, her eyes began to droop. Saxton requested permission to be excused and escorted her back to their bedroom. He moved the dresser over to block the door and opened the top drawer to remove two cotton tees. She held up their wrist emphasizing the obvious. Saxton took a small key from his back pocket and unlocked the handcuffs, placing his finger to his lips indicating she needed to remain quiet.
“I have to go,” she told him.
“I want to leave as well, but we need to think this through,” he told her with some disdain in his voice.
“No. Saxton, I have to go. I have not been to the bathroom all day, and I am not a camel!”
He slipped his hand into hers as he walked her to a door in the corner of the room and slipped inside the bathroom. He stood in the shower with his back to her as she used the facilities and she returned the favor as he relieved himself. Back inside the bedroom, he turned off the lights, then handed her the tee. Stripped down to his skivvies, he slid in between the covers waiting for her to join him.
Little thought was given as he pulled her close to spoon with her, “I am due to head back to the U.S. with a load the day after tomorrow.”
“It doesn’t leave us a lot of time then,” she told him as she snuggled closer. It was odd. There was a closeness between them now and this did not feel weird or unpleasant. They began a discussion as a husband would with his wife as they ended the work day. She told him about her job at a major insurance company in Dallas. She spoke of her family and he was not surprised to find she was the middle child of three. Saxton was the eldest of four, loved fishing, and traveling. Odessa confessed she always wanted to see Paris, but now, she admitted, she really just wanted to see next week.
“I will get you home in one piece,” he told her as his hand moved absently against her hip.
“Yes, but can you get me there before the ship arrives and reports me missing?” That, he was uncertain of, but he would get her home. The last thing she needed was for her Daddy to get worked up.
A few things were working up Saxton and he needed to know, “Why did you tell Rentería what you did for a living?”
She turned in the bed to face him in the dark, explaining that his boss was a business man who would immediately see her value, and would not want to let her go or see her harmed. Delgado would feel threatened that there would be the possibility of someone else moving into his number two spot. “Delgado wants to be in charge and Mateo underestimates the intelligence of women.”
Saxton laughed, “Of course he does. If he cannot fu....I mean screw it, or sell it, Mateo has no use for a woman.” Odessa was counting on him under estimating her, her mind and her will to live. “What are you thinking, Odessa?”
“I am thinking about turning them against each other, setting the women free, and poking a hole in the hornet’s nest,” she whispered in the darkness.
“Odessa, I am very proud of how you handled yourself down there, but don’t get cocky, those are some pretty bad men,” he stated.
He could hear her deep sigh in the darkness, “Those men are playing with guns and pretending to be tough. You haven’t met tough until you’ve met Big Sarge!”
“Who is Big Sarge,” Saxton asked?
“He is my Daddy,” she laughed a little in the darkened room, “Guys would come over and try to impress him with fancy cars and fancy words, but my Daddy would pull up his shirt and show the puckered skin from his war wound. He would start, ‘You want to know tough? I stepped on a live mine coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Nam, took shrapnel to my side, and still carried my buddy five miles, uphill both ways, to safety.’” She was still laughing as he rubbed his hand against her side, “My Daddy and his buddies at the VFW could probably take out this whole place; and three of them have artificial limbs.”
“Your Daddy sounds scary,” Saxton said cautiously.
“Exactly, which is why those jokers are not intimidating and it won’t be hard to outsmart them. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not stupid. But right now, you don’t need a wife that is scared to do what she has to, for us to get out of here alive.”
Odessa hope she sounded far braver than she was feeling and as uncertain as she was, the one thing she did know: there was no honor among thieves, crooks or drug dealers. They were like roaches. Stamp out a nest this week and a next week there would be three more just like it. Drug runner or not, Saxton Blakemore had saved her life and she was in his debt. She felt for his face in the darkness, kissed him lightly on the lips, and turned back to her side.
“Good night husband, we have a busy day tomorrow. We are planning a coup.”
Chapter 5- Getting On Top of Things
Saxton awoke feeling a weight upon his torso. It reminded him of his youth when he would awaken and find his golden retriever, Max, sleeping across his chest. He opened his eyes to find Odessa there instead. His bladder was full and she was resting heavily upon it, as well as something else. Nature took hold as his body responded to having a beautiful woman atop him.
In the faint light of the morning sun that peered through the window, she looked like a child peacefully sleeping. Less than twelve hours ago she had been two streets over from being a statistic and he felt like a better man having come to her rescue. He had worked with Rentería for the past 24 months and had made six successful runs to the U.S. and three to Canada; never losing a man or a load. Mateo had attempted to make the same run on three separate occasions, but lost the loads, and many
men, which earned him his cousin’s distrust.
Saxton had implied that Mateo was working both sides with the Zeta Cartel and the Nuevo’s, and suggested the younger cousin be placed in charge of acquisitions. He rubbed Odessa’s arm and shuddered to think she had almost been an addition to the ever-revolving stable of women. She was so warm and trusting of him, and again he felt like an animal as he thought of the things he wanted to do to her and the ways he actually yearned to please her. She moved against him and he nearly lost it. It had been so long. His hands came up to her hips as he massaged the pones of her buttocks; she must really work out, she was solid. This prompted her to shift left which placed her directly in line with his..... “Oh. Good morning, Saxton,” she said apologizing as she slid off of him.
“You were two minutes away from becoming my breakfast, Woman,” he said as he drug her across the bed and towards the bathroom. Her eyes wondered downwards and saw his early-morning rising interest.
“Damn!” she told him as she eyed his God-given gifts, “I think I may want some breakfast too,” as she broke out into laughter. He pulled her by her hand so that if anyone was manning the camera to his room, it would appear as if they were still handcuffed. They entered the bathroom and he closed the door.
“Turn around; we can’t afford to get caught up and be distracted.” Odessa understood, but she still liked eyeing the early-morning buffet. He emptied his bladder, washed his hands and climbed into the shower, giving her a chance to use the toilet. He started the shower and threw out his underwear as he washed quickly and stepped out giving her a full view of everything. “You next. Hurry,” he told her while he turned his back for her to disrobe. Saxton knew the cameras were still running in the other room and he was uncertain at what time the door would be unlocked and they would be summoned downstairs. As instructed, she washed quickly and pulled back the shower curtain, looking for a towel.
Being Mrs. Blakemore Page 2
