Just Breathe Mi Amore

Ch. 3

A/N: Just assume from here on out that each chapter contains violence and mature scenes

As I step off the bus, cold wind stings my face. It feels good to get up and stretch. I'm not really sure where I am going, but I just start walking.
I can't believe I did it. I left home. I'm somewhere that is hopefully safe for me. Father free. Maybe I can start a future here. To do that, I'd probably need to start with looking for a job.
I continue walking. Keeping an eye out for a place to stay or any hiring signs. It's starting to get dark, so I need to find a place to sleep soon. I'm trying to find a Denny's or Waffle House. Any twenty four hour restaurant where I can stay all night.
It's so busy and bright here. Big screens with various advertisements. Groups of people walking every where. Late night traffic. I love it. One of the screens is advertising a position for Salvatore's Enterprises. I'll have to check that out tomorrow. I may not have a resume, but maybe I can start small with a secretary position or janitor position.
Eventually, I see a Dennys. It's not like a small town Dennys. It looks more modernized and fancy. I walk in and slightly shiver at the warmth that surrounds my body. I make eye contact with a waitress.
"Good evening, ma'am. Take a seat where ever you like." The waitress greets me with a smile. I smile in return and make my way to a both. Once I sit down, I immediately feel the pain leaving my sore feet. I'm out of shape. I haven't walked that long in a while. I let out a sigh and lean back into the booth.
"Is there anything I can get you, ma'am?" The waitress asks.
"A water with lemon is fine. Thank you," I respond with a tired smile. I scan my surroundings as the waitress walks away. Her pink hair bouncing with each step. The restaurant would give off old time diner vibes, but it lacks color. It's so plain and gray. On one wall, there's like a rectangular opening to where you can see the chefs cook. There only seems to be one cook back there.
The waitress comes back with my water and places it on the plastic table. I smile at her and grab my straw she put by my glass.
"Is there anything else I can get you?"
"No thank you, this is fine," I respond to her. She nods and walks away. I take sip and close my eyes in content. I was parched. What cold air does to your throat, creates a different kind of thirst.
I glance around the room and end up making eye contact with the cook. He sends a smile my way. It's kind of creepy, but I don't want to be one to judge. I give him half of a smile and look away. I take my coat off and ball it up on the table to rest my head on it. Time to get some rest.

***

Cold hands on my shoulder gently shake me awake. Letting out a groan, I try to go back asleep, but the shaking continues. I slowly sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. A yawn escapes my lip as I turn my head to look at the person with the cold hands. It's the waitress. I give her a confused look.
"I am sorry ma'am, but I am gonna have to ask you to leave. You can't sleep here, especially without buying anything. I'm sorry it's store policy," She kindly informs me. I sigh. It's not her fault. She's just doing her job.
"I understand," I give her a smile in reassurance and get up from the table, "Could I at least get my water in a to-go cup?" She nods and walks away. I stretch my arms out and put on my coat. She walks up to me and hands me my water. I thank her and make my way outside.
I shiver as the cold air nips at my face. Where do I go now? I start walking down the sidewalk. I am thankful this city is so bright. It makes night time less scary.
All of this is so crazy. I can't believe this is actually real. Me, in New York. I just can't believe it. My thoughts are interrupted when I am tugged into an alley way.
A scream starts to escape my lips, but a hand quickly covers it. My water falls from my hand and spills onto the ground. I start thrusting a round, not really being able to see in this alley way. Despite my efforts, I am forced up against this brick wall. I finally see the face of my attacker. Fear flows through my body.
It's the cook from Dennys. I am so confused. What is his problem with me? He doesn't even know me. He gives me the most devilish smile. I cringe under his look.
"Eric is gonna get a kick out of this," he says in a cunning tone. My body freezes. No. No, it can't be. He knows my Father. I was this close. I don't know why I thought I could pull this off. I mean, what are the chances?
"No. Please don't tell him you saw me. Please. I'm begging you," I plead with this stranger. I can't go back. I won't. I can't live like that anymore.
"Hmm. I like hearing you beg. I think I could be convinced," the guy says in a suggestive tone. Ew. The thought of his suggestion makes me want to throw up. Of course he has to be a perv. I don't know what to do. Think. Think. Think. I assess my surroundings. I'm in the city that never sleeps yet no one is in sight.
"Please just let me go. Please," I start to thrash around. His grip around my arms tighten. He pulls me away from the wall, only to slam me back against it. The back of my head bangs against the brick. Things get fuzzy and I let out a groan. One of his hands comes up to my throat. He pushes me further into the wall, making me stand on my tip toes.
"Please," I grunt out. He just smiles at me. No. He better not. I can't go through that again. He sends a hard punch into my ribs making me groan out in pain. He throws me onto the graveled pavement.
"There's only one way I am letting you go, Paisey," the creep whispers. I recognize who he is now. One of my dads poker friends, Brad. He no longer towers over my body, but is now straddling my waist. I try to push out from under him, but he is too heavy. A tear finally escapes and rolls down my cheek. His hand comes up and I flinch away. He moves a strand of my hair out of my face.
"No, please don't," I cry. He unzips my coat and another tear falls. I try to push his body off of me, but he grunts and pulls me up to his chest. He gets my coat off of me despite my tries to stop him. I wiggle one of my hands free from his grasp and slap him across his face. His head turns slightly. Fuck.
"You're gonna regret that," Brad whispers in a dark tone. He moves to where he is sitting on my shins, so he can unzip my pants. He uses his hand to grab both my arms, so I don't fight him. The other goes to the buttons on my pants. Tears stream down my face. I let out a cry for help. A sting erupts on my cheek. He slapped me. My head falls back in defeat.
"Stop squirming, you whore," Brad cusses at me. He pulls my pants down far enough to have access. Grinning at his work, he starts to unbuckle his pants. I close my eyes and prepare for what's about to happen. You're gonna survive this. You're not gonna die. He's just gonna take what he wants and will let you go. Tears continue to stream down my face. My bottom lip goes in between my teeth to stop the sobs from coming out.
His tip presses against my entrance. God please. Save me. Someone save me. A helpless sob comes out of my mouth.
"Please don't do this," I beg of him. His grip on my wrists just tightens making me whimper. He smiles at me in response. What a sick perverted man. He pushes in roughly. A cry escapes my lips. It burns. It feels as if I am being teared in half. I can't help but feel disgusted. I don't try to be quiet anymore. I just sob as he does what he wants with me.
"Hey!" A masculine voice yells. Yes! Please see me. Help me. Anything.
"Help me," I cry out, "please help me!" This results in a slap to my face. The slap doesn't even feel like anything. My body has grown used to all of the pain.
Suddenly, the guy is pulled off of me and is thrown up against the wall. Whoever is helping me, starts to throw punch after punch. My quivering arms grab my coat to cover myself up. I don't even bother telling the guy to stop before he kills him. I just fall back on to the ground and cry.
"Hey," the guy who saved me whispers, "Can I pick you up, so I can get you somewhere safe?" I nod my head. His voice is like honey. I feel his arms go under me. His cologne is intoxicating. Tears continue to fall down my cheeks as I think about what just happened to me.
Before I know it, I hear a car door open and I am set down on the passenger seat. My coat still covering my slightly exposed body. He puts on my seatbelt before shutting the door. I lean my head against the window and close my eyes. Why? What did I do to deserve this? Nobody deserves this kind of life, so why do these things happen?
"Do you want me to take you home?" A strong Italian voice interrupts my thoughts. I didn't notice the accent earlier. I violently shake my head no.
"Well, can I take you back to my place?" The man questions. The worst to me has already happened, there's no harm in staying one night with the guy who saved me, is there?