Estelle In Denver (In Denver Series Book 2)

by Colora, R.

  We make it to the newsstand and I can see Mr. Marks looks bashful as she grabs a paper and then turns white as a ghost. When I look at the headline, I realize her father has beaten the FBI investigation my brother helped build against him. I know in my gut that Estelle isn't safe here. The neighborhood is great, but the building isn't secure.

  My building is secure and protected so we agree that she will go pack a bag and come stay with me. We make it to her door and I notice it's cracked open; the look of fear in her eyes kills me. I text my family while she calls 911. When we finally make it into her apartment there doesn't seem to be anything that isn't destroyed. We walk to her bedroom and in the middle of total destruction is her made bed, with a new tarp in the center. I know it has meaning, but she shows no reaction.

  We make our way out to the living room, and I see a sad look suddenly appear on her face as she picks up the only remaining piece of what looked like an amazing chess set. When she tells me she saved for three months to buy it for me, my heart breaks. She won't take anyone's money, we have all offered, but she's determined to make it on her own. I look at the inside of the ‘Chess for Dummies’ book and see that it's inscribed: ‘To many more checkmates Love, Estelle’

  I watch as she walks into her room, grabs the tarp off her bed and walks out of the apartment. I know that whatever that tarp means, it can't be good.

  Chapter 2

  I don't even make it out the door before Kennedy is calling. I look around before I answer, "He's coming for me."

  She is silent for a minute before she says, "What’s the only thing you can do?"

  "Be prepared, stay calm and defend myself!" I say calmly.

  "Exactly! Estelle, he will attack, just make sure you’re ready! Are you coming here?"

  "No, I don't want this shit around your kids. I'm going to Rhydian's so I won't be in today. I only have the running clothes on my back, I have to go shopping."

  "Well, you happen to be in luck because I don't have a private lesson until 4:30 pm. The Grandmas are coming over for snuggle time with the kids, so it's you and me. I will pick you up around nine. Sound like a plan?"

  "Yup, see you then! Hey, Kennedy, I want to say I love you."

  "Estelle, you are so loved! See you in a bit!"

  Heading to Easton's car, I see an SUV pull out in to the road and as it passes I yell "Hi Daddy!" and wave.

  He hates the word daddy. The first time I was raped by one of his associates, the man held me down and made me call him Daddy. He held my head so I couldn't look away from my father, who sat in a chair in the corner masturbating while he watched as the man pounded into my body. The more the man made me call him daddy, the faster my father's hand moved. Every time one of his associates raped me, he would watch and masturbate. He took a while, but it really wasn't too long before he joined in.

  When I get to Rhydian's I immediately feel like I need a shower. I'm sitting in a pair of his boxers and a shirt when he walks into the guest room.

  "You want to talk about it?"

  "No, not really," I reply, "I'm just tired." I yawn and stretch my body out

  "Stacy has jeans and stuff that you left over there from the last girl’s night out, she is bringing it over. I'm giving Kennedy my card and she is buying you clothes. It's not charity; I'm taking care of my girl's needs so let’s not have a forty-five minute debate about it." His blue eyes twinkle as the corner of his mouth twitches with a smile.

  "Alright, thank you, I appreciate it. My computer was destroyed, can I use yours? I also need the largest flash drive you have please."

  He makes his way to the den to get what I need. I pull my heart pendant from under my shirt and pull the bottom and the top apart.

  "Rhydian, I'm making you a copy of this flash drive. If anything happens to me, I need you to get it to Reed Sterling and Governor DeWitt." I say with a blank expression on my face I’m trying to keep my emotions under control, but I can feel my heart start to beat a little faster. I am scared that Edwin will never pay for any of his crimes.

  "What's on it?" he asked hesitantly.

  I’m picking at my nail while the flash drive is copied, I can’t look at Rhydian because I don’t want to see his reaction when I answer his question. "It's nine years of my father and his business associates raping and torturing me. He liked to record it for blackmail, but mostly so he could watch it and jerk off when I was too beat up for him to use. I also wrote a statement naming everyone in the videos so it would be admissible in court under the dying declaration act. If he kills me, I want you to release the flash drive to the media. I will be dead, so I won't care who sees it."

  "Stop talking like that! He isn't going to get to you, princess!" Rhydian gently pulls my hands into his and kissed them.

  "Rhydian, the night he killed my mother, his men wrapped her in a blue tarp, they carried her body out like trash while I watched from the top of the staircase. He put that tarp in my room to let me know he was coming." Walking to the window I straighten my spine, the fear and nervousness are gone.

  "Princess, let me help you, we can face this together!"

  "You’re not understanding, Rhydian! He will kill me or I will kill him. I’m done being scared! When he comes I will be ready. Only one of us will still be breathing when this is over!" I finish the transferring the files, and get dressed in the clothes Stacy brought before waiting for Kennedy.

  "Hey, how are you holding up?” Kennedy asks while Rose, Rhydian's sister-in-law, gives me a sympathetic look.

  "To be honest, I'm stressed out and it has nothing to do with my psychotic father. I know this is the safest place for me, but honestly, living with Rhydian is not my ideal situation. We are in this strange holding pattern and have been since that week at the farm. “We both want a relationship but we know the timing is wrong.

  "Don't rush it,” Rose said "Rhydian knows you have a lot going on, we have all warned him about adding stress to the situation."

  "Kennedy, I wanted to talk to you about taking time off. I think it's time I go for my in-patient sessions, especially with my father out of jail. He was waiting for me outside when I left my apartment." I say somberly inhaling a deep breath and releasing it.

  "Did you tell Rhydian that he was there?" I see the concerned look on her face as she asks.

  "No, I don't want to bring him into my problems." I'm already staying with him I don’t want him to go after Edwin, I don’t want to take a chance he could get hurt.

  "When are you thinking about leaving?"

  "I was thinking in the next two weeks. We don’t have any events booked and as far as my other duties, if anything serious comes up, I can work remotely."

  "Ok, let’s go shopping!" Rose interjects, “That makes everything better.”

  Walking through the stores, I feel like I’m being watched, but every time I look around, I see no one I know or anyone that stands out.

  After lunch, the girls and I say our goodbyes and I head back to Rhydian's apartment to get changed. Since I'm feeling uneasy, I head to The Denver Fight Club; they have an early afternoon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class I try to take every once in a while.

  Walking into the gym, it smells like sweat and feet. Most people don't care because it has churned out five champion MMA fighters. Walking to the mat, I stretch and look over and see Gavin “The Highlander” Ainsley, former Heavyweight Mixed Martial Arts Champion, on a different mat.

  "Playing hooky from work today Estelle?" Gavin said in a mock tone of authority.

  I meet him on the mat and continue to stretch. "He's out, Gavin. The bastard trashed my place and left a blue tarp on my bed." I say shaking my head in disgust. Gavin is one of the few people beside the Kerrigans that knows about Edwin.

  Gavin stops stretching, "Are you staying somewhere safe?"

  "Rhydian insisted I stay with him," I tell him as I continue stretching.

  "Damn girl, when are you gonna put that poor guy out of his misery? You have been coming here for over a year and h
e is the only guy I've heard you mention that makes you get that ‘Oh please, take me up against the wall face’!" He said followed by roaring laughter.

  "What the fuck kind of face is that?" Gavin then makes the most ridiculous face I've ever seen.

  “My face does not look like that, asshole!" I say punching his arm and laughing.

  "Yes it does, toots!" he replied with a smile.

  "Oh, just choke on a bag of dicks!"

  "Sweetie, there isn't a dick on the planet that can make me choke!" he says in a girly, high-pitched voice.

  I spit out my water, “Seriously, Gavin, you're killing me!"

  He grows serious, all laughter gone. "Estelle, seriously, I don't know your whole story, but I know enough. Staying with Rhydian is a good start. All this training you have been doing is great also, but until your old man gets put away or put down you should think about hiring a bodyguard."

  "Where is the money going to come from for this bodyguard? You know I'm not rich, I work a regular job."

  "You don't need money, this security firm takes cases pro bono you just have to prove a need. I used to train the owner's son. He's off fighting on a circuit right now, and he got his first big fight. I can call him, please Estelle, I'm worried about you."

  "Ok, make the phone call.” I groaned “I can’t give Edwin anymore of my time. He took more than twenty years from me, I’m just ready for this to be over.” I look over noticing he is putting on his training gear. "Fuck! You’re teaching! I hate when you teach! I end up bruised and sore for days. Where's your wife today?"

  "Stop complaining, Ellie is at your job. She wants to sign little man up for piano lessons."

  "Lord help whoever has to teach that Spawn of Satan you call a son!” I add an exaggerated shiver.

  "Hey, that's my kid! He isn't that bad."

  "Your son tried to bite me last week because I bought the last blue Powerade from the machine and I wouldn't give it to him."

  "He likes blue Powerade!" he laughs. "Let’s go, toots, stop running your mouth and let's train!"

  Forty-five minutes later my legs feel like noodles, and I officially can't lift my arms. Laying on the mat, I see a shadow standing over me. I see a leg moving towards me to deliver a kick; when I grab it, knocking the attacker off balance, he recovers fast. I'm tired, but my adrenalin kicks in. I feel him come up to choke me from behind, but reverse the move on him. He's bigger than me and heavier, but I'm faster and he is underestimating me. I kick his knee out and shove my elbow into his face and when he is falling down I reach up and deliver a knee to the face knocking him unconscious.

  I take a second to catch my breath when I hear clapping "You have disabled one of my best men, but once you have your attacker unconscious you need to flee." I hear a man yell from across the gym.

  Why the hell did he attack me? I hiss getting ready to fight whoever is speaking.

  “I needed to see how you would react if attacked. Having a bodyguard is a great tool to have, but being able to defend yourself if your guard is taken out is the difference between life and death. You fight like you want to live.”

  Turning around I hear a sharp intake of breath, "Celine?"

  "No, my name is Estelle. You must have known my mother. Her name was Celine."

  "What's your father's name?" The man asks.

  "Edwin Mayò."

  "How old are you, Estelle?" he inquires stepping closer trying take in all the features on my face. "What month were you born in?"

  "I'm twenty-four. I was born in August." I respond hesitantly.

  "Why are you asking? Who are you?" I see the large man sit on the bench. Putting his hand on his chest I see he is trying to catch his breath. I step forward against my better judgment. "Do I need to call 911? Are you okay?" He shakes his head no but is unable to speak. I see his eyes welling with tears and his mouth set in a thin line.

  "I'm Antonio De Luca and I believe I'm your father." He reaches for my face but I move backwards, "You look so much like my Celine but you also look like your younger brother." It's then I realize I'm looking into a pair of golden eyes in a face of sun-kissed skin that matches mine.

  "My father is Edwin Mayò." I say shaking my head this isn’t happening, I don’t know this man he, could be telling me anything. He opens his wallet and pulls out a picture of him and a beautiful women I don’t recognize right away but then I look closer and I know it’s my mother.

  "Is that what that bastard told you? Can we go somewhere to talk? Please, I don't want to have this conversation in a gym."

  "No, I’m not going anywhere with you, but you're right, this isn’t a conversation to have in a gym. Do you know where the Glendalough Building is? I will meet you in the lobby of that building in thirty minutes."

  "You’re staying with a Kerrigan?" he speculated with a raised eyebrow.

  "Yes, Rhydian Kerrigan. His brother Easton is married to my best friend, Kennedy."

  Antonio is silent as I make my way to my truck. As I drive I can see his headlights right behind me. We make it to the lobby of the building and I see the concierge at the desk.

  “Good evening, Ms. Roux, Mr. Kerrigan made us aware you will be living here, so please call down if you need anything."

  Can you please call up to Rhydian’s and ask him to come down to the lobby?

  "Mr. Kerrigan just accessed the elevator so he should be down any minute now." Phil nodded his head towards the elevators doors.

  "Thanks, Phil." I nod and we make our way towards the lobby area.

  “Is there anything I can do for you Mr. De Luca?” Phil looked at Antonio nervously.

  “No, Phil. I hear you are doing a great job here” he says kindly. When he turns he sees the look of confusion on my face, “I'm the owner of Iron Chains Security. We do security for several residential and commercial buildings. We offer a full line of security options.”

  Rhydian walks into the lobby area followed by all the Kerrigan men, Tristan and Kennedy. I hear loud yelling, "WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN, ESTELLE?"

  ."I took a Jiu Jitsu class this afternoon and Gavin suggested that I get a bodyguard until this whole thing with Edwin is over. This is Antonio De Luca; he owns Iron Chains Security." I tell them in a nonchalant manner.

  "We know Antonio well" Shamus came to shake his hand, "How is your boy doing? I hear he has a big fight in Vegas coming up."

  "Yes, he got a shot at the heavyweight title." Shamus looks back and forth from me to Antonio but doesn’t comment. "I think we should take this up to Rhydian’s apartment."

  "Where are all the kids?" I asked looking around for the kids.

  "They're at Liam's with Frankie and Rose. When no one could reach you, we panicked and came here to figure out our next step. Why the hell didn’t you call anyone Estelle with everything going on you can’t leave home without your phone" Kennedy yells.

  I sat down and looked around the room. I realize that everyone looks angry but they also look concerned. "I'm sorry, I wasn’t thinking! I just needed to work off some of the stress."

  We make it to the apartment and I see Rhydian is about to give Antonio the third degree but before he can say anything I blurt out “Antonio says he’s my father.”

  The room is silent until Shamus speaks, "I see the resemblance. I have known Antonio for almost three years and I trust him with the safety of my family. If he says he is Estelle’s father then I would give him the benefit of the doubt. I know him to be an honorable and trustworthy man."

  "Thank you, Shamus" Antonio says as he extends his hand to Shamus.

  “How did you meet Estelle’s mom?” Rhydian asks. I see pain cross Antonio’s face. “At one time Celine, Edwin, and I were all friends. Celine and I met when I was twenty. I was a part of an elite tactical team that worked with NATO stationed on the Paris Orly Air Base, Edwin worked on the base also. He worked for an independent contractor that was based out of his own country. We became friends, seeing each other around the base. One night we, a bunch of the so
ldiers, and logistical personnel went out for a night on the town. We were at a club when this group of beautiful girls walked in.” Antonio got a far off look in his face.

  “She was tall and willowy with hair the color of spun gold and eyes the color of sapphires. When she walked passed us, I grabbed her hand and asked her to dance; it was love at first sight. I asked about her and she told me her name was Celine. She was an eighteen year old dancer at The Ballet School Opera De Paris; she was young and naive. We dated for a year and we were both happy and in love; when my unit was going to be moved back to the United States, I asked Celine to come with me. I wanted to marry her.”

  Antonio stands up and starts pacing.

  “Being a dancer at the Paris Ballet was always her dream; she had worked her whole life to make it into the company. By then Celine, Edwin, and I had grown close. She looked at him like a brother. When I got deployed on a mission, Edwin must have used that opportunity to make his move because I came back to a Dear John letter that said she was in love with Edwin and they were going to get married. I contacted everyone I could think of, but I was told that Celine seemed distracted and withdrew from the school and company, even her closest friends had heard nothing from her.”

  Antonio takes a deep breath.

  “I tracked her down a year and half later here in Denver. She told me she and Edwin were happy and that she had just had a little girl. She told me she had moved on with her life; I needed to do the same and that if I ever loved her, I wouldn’t contact her again and cause problems between her and Edwin. I didn’t think to ask the age of the baby. I think I was so angry and hurt I didn’t want to think about it. I met Giovanni’s mother Lena a few years later and she was a wonderful woman. We fell in love and had our son Giovanni, but when he was fifteen Lena died of breast cancer. We moved to Denver from New Mexico about three years ago so Giovanni could train with Gavin. I could move my security business here.”

  “Then today I saw Estelle in the gym and I knew instantly that she was mine. I guess I will never know what Celine’s reasons were, but now I got my baby girl to make safe.”