The Chains: Temptations

40 - Light at the End of the Tunnel

MARA

It felt like years—an eternity of extreme wretchedness. It felt like they took my soul and lit it up on fire on repeat as I screamed my lungs out.

My heart feels trampled on until little tiny pieces were left at my despair. That's what it has felt like for two entire months.

Two months while I'm carrying my baby.

I haven't been counting. Doug has been the only real, strongest one between the two of us to keep counting the sunsets and sunrises from the vent.

Doug has been keeping a good eye on me. He's done well trying to distract me from this by talking about the things we will do when we're free. He's promised me that I would never give birth to my miracle here.

Discussing going shopping for the baby's clothes, diapers, baby bottles, and all the other cute stuff when we eventually get out got me distracted.

It's given me hope. Not false hope.

From my other conversations with Doug, I've learned that he also trained to be a doctor. He grew up with a Brazilian mother and father who were involved with the Cosa Nostra; his parents died when he was a young boy. The Cosa Nostra ended up taking young Doug due to his father's loyalty.

His full name is Douglas Ribeiro and he is 26 years old.

But above all, I wanted Nico. I just wanted him. Doug promised me that he would make sure to tell Nico the whole truth and he would fight for my case, and that he'd also spend the day with me doing anything I liked.

I don't know why, but I've never thought I'd get so close to Doug. He was always so cold and closed off. The Doug I knew couldn't care less to make me feel any better.

He'd make me forget how I was so worn out. I don't know how many days went by as they washed out my dignity...until I didn't have any left to stand up right.

I knew the reason why he suddenly had a change of heart. It's because he's going to an uncle soon enough to my miracle baby and he felt like he was obligated to protect me since Nico wasn't here to. He just wouldn't say it, which is okay because I preferred it that way.

"Doug?" I whispered. He hummed a reply.
"What's his fiancée like?"

"I don't want to upset you, so I'm not going to say much. But all I know is she's half-blooded Italian and Russian, and she's the daughter of the head of another crime family in New York.

"Oh...wow..." My voice ran on silence. God, I wanted to cry. I've done so much of it already that I think I've run out of tears to shed.

I'm not from another crime family. I'm just another broken girl that burdened Nico.

"Do you think Nico would want to be a play dad when he's married to another woman?"

Doug sighed. I know he's tried of me already. "Mara..." He shook his head.

"I'm sorry—all I can think of is him. He's going to be the father of my baby, Doug!" I whispered angrily. "I can't do another minute in here! They've stripped me of everything. They've sent videos to him, and he knows that I'm a used whore. No man wants something that's used!" I sobbed.