Something deep in my chest is telling me something is wrong. Something is not right.
I'm not safe. I hear my sister's voice screaming at me to run. “Run!”
Warning bells ring in my ears and I quickly turn the key in the ignition. But it's too late.
The window smashes and something hard crashes into my skull, splitting the skin on my forehead. I scream out and try to put the car into drive, but large hands reach in and grab my body. Blood drips down my face as strong hands wrap around my neck. I try to scream; I try to fight. The seat belt digs into my skin and holds me down as I hear the doors being unlocked. I open my eyes and see a large man wearing all black open the passenger side door and reach across the console. He's older, and his skin is tanned and wrinkled. His lips are thin and his eyes are deep set and dark. I try to move and get away, but I'm pinned in place by the man I can't see reaching in through the window.
The man to my right turns off the car and removes the keys. I feel hopeless and weak. I should've known better. How could I let this happen? Anxiety courses through me.
“You will not scream.” The man in the passenger seat speaks in a deep, low voice. A voice I don't recognize. Maybe Vincent didn't trust me after all. Maybe they've come to kill me because of Tommy. My heart twists with agonizing pain. Maybe they killed Tommy. It's also possible that Tommy knows. My throat dries up as the man slaps his hand across my face. The slap burns my skin, and it's so forceful that it splits my lip.
“You will answer me!” I hear a faint accent as he yells at me. Russian. My eyes pop open and I stare back at the man.
His lip curls into a sick smirk. “Do you recognize me, Officer Kelly? You should. We know who you are.” I do. I've seen his face before. He's a member of the Russian Bratva not far from here. One of the last times Petrov was seen was on their territory.
Revenge. They're here for revenge. But we didn't kill Petrov.
My eyes widen with fear. Maybe he's still alive.
A sick part of me wishes it were true. I find strength in thinking I'll see him. I want to see his face. My fear and anguish dissolve into nothing but sheer determination.
The hand over my mouth slowly moves away. I wish I could wipe the spit off of my mouth, but I can't. The arm pinning me down doesn't move.
“You're going to listen to me, and answer me when I tell you to.” I stare back at the man who thinks he's calling the shots.
“Yes,” I say obediently. I'm just waiting for my chance.
“You're going to call Tommy,” the man says, staring me in the eyes. “We need one Valetti. And he'll come to you any time you call him. He doesn't tell anyone, just sneaks off to find his bitch in heat.”
“Why?” I ask him in a calm voice. So calm it nearly terrifies me. I don't recognize my own voice.
“Why do you think, sweetheart?” He gives me a twisted smile. “We need to set an example.” He looks at the man holding me and I'm released. I hear more glass fall as the man to my left leaves my side and opens my door. “Be a good girl, and call him.”
I look down at my purse and consider doing just that. But I don't want to lead him to his death. “Don't you want to live?” he asks. If I didn't know I was pregnant, I would never do it. But I have to do what I can to save my baby.
They'll never let you live, a sad voice whispers in my ear. My eyes dart to his. They're dark and full of excitement. I know they're going to kill me. There's nothing I can do to stop them. I turn my head, and see there are two more men standing outside the car. Four men total.
I think back to the alley. There were only three, and I had my gun in my hand aimed at one. I had an advantage there, that I don't, here. My heart stutters in my chest. I'm not going to be okay. I can't do this. And I need to. I can't fail.
I look back at the man as I take out my phone. I have to call Tommy. He's my only hope.
Tommy
I've never been nervous going into Vince's house, never. It's a good sign that Elle opened the door and didn't seem to act any differently. It's funny seeing her with a baby in her arms. She's carrying him around like a pro now.
I open the door and reluctantly take a seat across from Vince. I know this isn't good. All his text said was that we needed to talk. I wonder what happened between Sunday and now. A million possibilities are running through my head. I don't think he'd kill me, not his own blood. Especially not with Elle around. But giving me a head start to run, or telling me to go away and never come back? That thought is a very real possibility.
I don't know how I ever thought I could get away with being with Tonya. I never should've fucked with a cop. I swallow and it hurts my dry throat. I crack my knuckles and try to relax, but I can't. If I had to take it back, I don't think I would. That's the worst part of it all. There was something between us that I'm glad I felt. Even if it left a scar on my heart. I wouldn't change it.
They may think it was wrong. But there was nothing wrong about what we did.
“We gotta talk, Tommy,” Vince says from across his desk. His body is stiff. It's not a good sign. As I open my mouth, my phone goes off. Vince's eyes dart to my pants.
I should've put that shit on silent. I take it out quickly to turn it off and see it's Tonya that's calling. My bad girl. She sure has some real shit timing. I don't know why she's calling me. She shouldn't be. She should know I can't answer. I look Vincent in the eyes and I know that he knows who's calling. I hit the switch to turn it to vibrate and put it on his desk.
The shit part is that I would've answered her. Even though we've said our goodbyes. If I was anywhere other than here, I would've answered.
“You need to make a decision today, Tommy. If you go to her, you're leaving the family,” Vince says simply. It fucking hurts. He's telling me he'd kick me out. My own blood. The familia is all I know. They're all I have.
“It's like that?” I ask him, not holding back how hurt I am. Fuck it, he should know what he's asking.
“We can't have a cop in our family.” I bite the inside of my cheek, letting the pain consume me. My eyes settle on a dark swirl in the rug beneath my feet. “It's over. I told you that.” My voice is flat, just like my emotions.
“I know you did. But you have to have one more talk with her.” My eyes dart to his. What the fuck does he want from me? I'm not using her. She's staying out of whatever shit he's thinking up in his head.
“She's leaving town. She quit being a cop, did you know that?”
She quit? Damn. I wish I knew why. My brow furrows. I don't know why it hurts me to think that she quit. I should be happy. That means she's not a cop anymore. But whatever her reason is for quitting must have something to do with how fucked up she was the other night. And I don't like that. I don't want anything to hurt my bad girl. And something did, something tore her up. And I'm not there for her. She needed me. She still does. I know she does.
“No, I didn't know.” She never told me, maybe that's why she called. Just as I think that, the phone goes off again. It's a gentle vibration. The screen lights up and I see her number.
We both ignore it.
“She went to your place today.”
My heart stops in my chest and I lean forward in my seat. I have to grab the armrests so hard my knuckles turn white just to stay seated. “You better not have fucking touched her.” I swear to God if he laid a hand on her I'll fucking kill him.
He cocks a brow at me and shows no signs of fear. That's why he's the Don, but I know my threat didn't fall on deaf ears.
“She came to tell you she's pregnant.”
His words strike me with a force that makes me fall back in the chair. I stare at the phone as the words settle. She's pregnant. She's going to have my baby.
“So you need to choose between her or the family, Tommy.” Vince's words smack me across the face and bring me back to reality.
“Choose? Between family and my child? I fucking love her, Vince. I'm not giving her up.” Saying it out loud feels so fucking good. I love her. An
d I love that she's having my baby.
“I'm sad to see you go, then.” He's firm in his response.
“You said she quit.” He can't honestly expect that I'm going to leave her when she's pregnant.
“I can't allow it, Tommy. Do you know what kind of position this puts me in?” My anger comes back with full force, just as the phone rings, again.
“Fucking answer it already.” He looks at me with an exasperated expression. It pisses me off, but I answer it.
“Hello,” I answer her without giving anything away.
“Thomas,” she answers me with my name like that, and I hate it. Just because we ended things doesn't mean that she's gotta do that shit. I loved hearing her call me Tommy.
“Talk to me, baby.” I hope my answer warms her up to me. I know she's gonna tell me she's pregnant and she's probably worried. I don't want her to be though. I'm gonna be there for her. Even if Vince tells me I've gotta leave, I'm not leaving her.
“I need you to meet me,” she says calmly. There's no emotion from her at all.
“Sure, baby. Wherever you want.” Again I soften my voice. I want her to know I'm receptive to whatever it is she's gotta tell me. I'm also anxious though. I wanna hear it from her lips. “We could talk now, if there's something on your mind,” I offer.
“It's nothing.” My forehead creases. Nothing? She's carrying my child, and she thinks it's nothing?
“I just want to see you before I leave. I thought we could meet where we first met. A small smile plays at my lips as I answer her, “At the station.” She doesn't laugh. Instead she replies flatly, “At Rosetti's. I know it's closed now, but it'd be nice to say goodbye by the creek in the back. Where we first met.”
Something's off. My eyes bore into Vince's skull until he looks at me.
“Something's wrong.” I mouth the words to him as I put it on speaker. We've never been there before. It doesn't make sense. She's trying to tell me something. “Sure, baby, you want me to bring anything?”
“No, I think it will be quick.” I don't understand what she's getting at, what she's hinting at.
“Maybe a bottle of wine. I can bring those chocolates; you remember the two packages we had at your place the first night? The two on the end table before I had your taste on my mouth for the first time. How many of those are you expecting?” I'm hoping she's getting what I'm talking about. Vince looks at me like I've lost my damn mind.
“I think four would be good.” She's quick to answer, and I nod my head. Four men. I knew it. Thank fuck my girl is so smart and so damn strong.
“Alright, baby. What time do you need me there?” I ask.
“As soon as you can.” Her last word comes out with strain. My heart aches in my chest like it never has before.
“Hey, baby, you okay?” I have to ask, even though I know she's not.
“I'll be better when you get here.” With those last words the phone cuts out.
I put the phone down and look at Vince, my cousin. The boss of my familia, but also my friend.
“What's wrong?” he asks as I try to compose myself. I can't help that I'm choked up. I just realized how much I love her. I just chose her over everything, and now she's in danger.
“There's gonna be shit happening tonight,” I tell him. “I need you.”
“You think it's a setup? She's setting you up?” Vince looks pissed.
“No. No, she wouldn't do that. But someone's got her, Vince. Four men.”
He stands up and runs his hand through his hair. “Fucking hell, Tommy.” Vince looks out of the window like he's debating on what to do.
“You gonna leave me to go in there alone?” After everything we've been through, too. We grew up together. He's my blood. My familia.
He cusses under his breath. “You go in first, but we'll be there.”
Tonya
I can't stop my body from trembling. They didn't bother blindfolding me, but I'm gagged, and my wrists are tied behind my back and my ankles are bound. Zip ties dig into my skin. I'm on the ground, propped up against a shed to the right of the restaurant parking lot. There's a creek to my left, and I'm almost certain that's where I'll be soon. I guess they wanted to hit him with shock factor. His girl, tied up and gagged, in clear view of the dirt road that leads here. Just beyond the treeline is the highway. I can hear the cars. I can even see the headlights. But they can't see me. No one can save me.
Maybe Tommy, but I may have also led him to his death. I'm certain he knows this is an ambush, though. Why else would he talk in code? My heart stopped when he said packages. My eyes almost darted to look at the man holding the phone, almost gave me away. Thank fuck I stayed calm. Four men. The odds are against us, but hopefully with the warning I managed to give Tommy, he'll have a chance.
They dumped me here like I was a bag of trash. Tossed me to the ground and went to stand behind their cars. Two black cars blend into the dark. But they're there, and if he's looking for something off, he should see them. They aren't in their cars. They're standing behind the one closest to me, with their weapons drawn and ready.
Jagged rocks dig into my knees as I move slightly across the ground. I'm moving slowly, so they don't notice. They aren't paying attention to me. One's smoking, and the other three are talking in hushed whispers. I can barely hear though, except for the occasional laughs. They're also going back and forth between Russian and English, so even when I can hear them, I'm not exactly sure what they're saying.
I'm not certain, but I think they want him to watch me die. As soon as he drives down and sees me tied here and struggling, that's when they'll do it. Shoot me until I fall lifeless on the ground. Although one keeps saying how he wants to see Tommy run to me as they shoot us both. The others don't. They don't want to kill him right away. They have questions that need to be answered.
I don't care what they're saying. I know their endgame is to have both of us dead. I'll most likely end up in the creek, and Tommy's corpse will be sent back as a message to the Valettis.
I'm not going to let either of those scenarios happen. I need to live; I have to survive this. And right now, there's only me. If I can get free, I can run. My eyes dart to the four men who are in plain view and holding guns. My heart beats rapidly in my chest. I'll have to wait until I have a chance, but I'll try. I can't fight back without having any weapons on me. That would be suicide. But I can give Tommy a warning, and I can run. That's my only hope.
There's a broken bottle only a foot from me. If I fall over, I should be able to snag a piece. There's only a single zip tie binding my wrists, and one more binding my ankles. I can do this. Ankles first, so I can run as soon as Tommy gets here.
I scoot my knees across the dirt and they scrape against the gravel. I ignore the pain. Just another inch and then I prepare myself for the fall. It's gonna fuck up my shoulder since I can't brace for it. But I can fucking take it. I crash against the ground and hit my shoulder. My head bounces from the impact. The men look over at me while I struggle to take a piece of glass in my hand. My fingers graze across a few small pieces, but they aren't large enough. The jagged chunks pierce through my shirt and cut into my skin. Again, it's not horrible, but fuck it hurts. The fucker smoking sets his eyes on me. He tosses his cigarette onto the dirt and walks over with quick strides.
His dark eyes stare into mine as my fingers finally find a large chunk. I'm quick to make a fist to conceal it, even though it digs into the palm of my hand. I can't risk him seeing it. It's my only chance at freeing myself.
My heart skips a beat as he grabs my shoulders and drags my body back to the shed. The glass and gravel scrape my legs and I try to cry out, but the gag mutes the screams.
“Stay!” he yells, pointing his finger at me like I'm a dog. It gets a laugh from the other men. His large hand grips my chin and then he smacks my face several times—not hard, just enough to demoralize me. “Bad bitch. Stay.” His accent is thick. I rest my head against the shed and pretend that I've lost all hope. I let t
he tears that beg to be released, slide down my cheeks. He laughs sickly and his foul breath fills my lungs as he turns to leave me, walking back to stand with the others. They're talking louder now, and in Russian.
As soon as I hear them patting him on the back and laughing, I push the glass to the zip tie on my ankle. It almost slips from my hand. The blood from my hand makes it difficult to hold. But I keep my grip and move it back and forth across the plastic. The glass is uneven and cuts into my ankles a few times, but the pain doesn't register at all. My eyes are focused on the gap in the trees, marking the entrance to this area. Tommy will be here soon; all I need to do is free myself before that happens.
It feels like forever, but it must only be a few minutes until both the zip ties around my wrists and ankles have snapped. I don't move yet. My limbs are screaming at me to take off. But they don't need me alive, they just want to make it hurt that much more for Tommy. If I run, they could shoot to kill me and there's no reason they'd hold back. Even worse, if I did run and they caught me, I don't know what they'd do to me. But I'm sure they wouldn't let me get out again.
So I wait. My skin prickles with anxiety, and the only thing I can hear is my heart beating loudly in my ears. I remember my phone in my back pocket and I struggle to keep my movements slow. Every time one of them looks at me, I freeze and try to remain as still as possible.
I should call the cops. I need help, and I know they could possibly come in time to save me, but they may also find Tommy. I don't want him to get caught in the middle of this, but I have to do everything I can to save myself and our baby. My skin feels like ice as I dial the numbers 9-1-1 behind my back. But I've done it.
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