Body Count (BWWM)

Chapter 10

Gloria

"Tati!" I wake up breathing heavily, yelling for my daughter as sweat trickles down my back. My shirt is soaked and I'm not sure where I am but I know I'm not in my house.

I'm in a daze as I circle the large room and take in the architecture of my current prison. Dark drapes cover the windows and I notice the detailing on the canopy bed. This room was beautiful but so many emotions flood my mind as I recognize this place.

"Artemis." I mumble underneath my breath.

Gathering what little strength I had, I run to the door and swing it open. I'm met with a pale giant, resembling a wildling from Game of Thrones. His face was red and icy blue eyes, he just stood there staring at me.

Moving past him, I'm snatched back by the collar of my shirt. "Get the fuck off me!" I scream pulling the material out of his hand.

"Boss, say you stay!" He says pointing to the room.

I roll my eyes, "I have to find my daughter. You willing to die for 'bOsS'?" I ask mocking his Russian accent.

"If it comes to that," he responds. 

I act like I'm retreating back to the room and I turn around and kick him in the balls. While bent over in pain, I make a run for it down the hall. I look back to see if he's following me and I make impact with a large wall. It steadies my feet but I feel large hands cupping my arms. It wasn't a wall.

It was Artemis.

"Hey, beautiful." He says.

I'm frozen in time. This can't be real. Where has he been all this time? Emotions hit me like a trainwreck and my confusion shortly turns to anger. I slap him hard in the face and I watch as he clenches his jaw, fighting to control his own anger.

"Why the fuck am I here?"

He releases my arms and steps closer to me. "You're here because I saved your life."

I chuckle. "Funny. Why was I in danger in the first place?"

He puts his head down. "Yeah, that's what the fuck I thought." I start moving past him, "get out of the way I really need to go back to the hos-"

He interrupts. "Tati is napping downstairs with her uncle."

I halt my feet and slowly turn to face him again. "She's beautiful and extremely intelligent."

This time I punch him in his face. "DON'T!"

"You don't get to say her name or speak about any of her qualities. You weren't there to raise her, she's not your kid!"

Once again, I begin to make my way to her and I'm pulled back by my arm. "It wasn't my fault. If I had known I would have taken care of her and you!" He pleas.

Facing him again, "what do you mean it wasn't your fault?"

"I came back to this house to tell you. It was empty. I peeked through the windows and everything was cleared out. You made sure to pump and dump, huh." I retort.

He shakes his head. "It wasn't like that. I promise. I had every intention of seeing you again and seeing where it could go. That night, on the morning you left. Some shit went down and I couldn't escape it. I spent the last three years in prison."

I huff. "So, my daughter's father is a convicted felon?"

"Um, actually not anymore. My attorney is working on expungement." He says in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Do you want to be slapped again?" I tell him while crossing my arms.

"Listen, can we just please go somewhere quiet and talk?" He asks.

"No. I need to find my daughter and go home." I say to him as I'm running down the stairs.

I'm searching the place while he's on my heels. "Where the fuck is the living room?" I yell to him.

We finally reach the area and I see a man sitting on the couch watching Aladdin and Tati is sleeping with her head in his lap.

"Get the fuck away from her!" I yell at him which startles Tati and she begins to wake.

She smiles and jumps up on the couch almost falling but the man's quick reflexes catches her. "Mommy!"

"Hey baby! How are you? Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I drill her with questions.

She looks confused and shakes her head no. "I'm fine. Aladdin and Wai Wai gave me animal cookies."

"Wai Wai?" Artemis asks and I'm equally confused.

"She means Lai as in me. I'm Nikolai." This large man stands and extends his hand and I just stare at him, then Artemis and roll my eyes.

"Are you and auntie done with your nap?" Tati asks.

"Auntie? Is Auntie Licia here?" I ask Tati and then stare at Artemis. I notice some toys on the floor by the tv and tell Tati to go play and watch her movie. She follows my instructions and I begin to converse with Artemis and Nikolai.

"Artemis, what the fuck is going on?"

"We received word that you were in danger at the hospital. When Niko and I came to get you both, Alicia was unconscious and hit her head pretty bad. We brought you both back here. She's been stitched up and she's in the guest room resting." Artemis shares.

"How'd you know what was going on at the hospital?" I ask.

"We've been keeping tabs on you?" Nikolai shares.

I step back in disbelief. "Tabs? For what?"

Artemis releases a deep sigh. "The Albanians. We've had dealings with them for some time now. they frames me and Niko for murder which landed us in prison. We were able to prove that we were innocent and because of that they now want to kill you and our daughter. I will die before I let that happen."

I clutch my invisible pearls. "What the fuck, Artemis!? My daughter? She's only 3 and fucking innocent!"

"Oh my God," I start to have a panic attack. I could feel the tears forming at my waterline. My body felt like it was on fire, my breathing was uncontrollable.

"Gloria, shh...calm down. I promise I will not let anything happen to Tati." Artemis tells me while rubbing my back as I'm bent over.

I push his hand away, still struggling to breath. "Bro, do I need to call the doctor?" Niko asks.

I shake my head no. "S-shower. C-cold." I'm trying to push the words out.

I find myself losing consciousness. Artemis picks me up and runs me to the nearest bathroom. He turns the shower on cold and steps in with me. He sits down and leans me against his chest. My hand grips his shirt as I'm trying to control my breathing. 

As much as I hate him right now.

I needed him.