No Escape

Chapter 6

I woke up covered in silk sheets. I tried to lift my head but it was heavy. I moved the sheets and realized I was completely naked. What the hell. I covered back up. "Daniel!" I shouted.

"Yes." A voice answered calmly.

I turned my head to the right, a little bit too fast and regretted it as soon as I did. Damn hangover. Daniel was sitting there in front of the window, watching me. The sun peeking through the window glistened on his brown skin.

"Why am I naked?"

"I can see that you don't remember last night's events."

"Wait, what? Did we..."

"No. I'd never take advantage of you when you're drunk Abby, you know that."

Last night came back to me. Mike. I closed my eyes.

"You threw up all over your clothes and mine. Would have given you a shirt to sleep in but I figured seeing your reaction to waking up naked would have been better. I was correct."

I flipped him off and turned my back.

"I brought some of your stuff over here, you can shower and change."

"How'd you get into my appar...nevermind."

"I'll make you something for your headache after you shower."

"Why not while I'm showering?"

An evil smile spread across his face. "You'll see."

I got up to head to the bathroom. "Where's the shower?"

"Right there." He pointed to a transparent structure ahead of me.

"What? This is offers absolutely no privacy, you can see m... I see now." I responded shaking my head.

"I told you, you would," he laughed.

g

I sat around the island watching Daniel blend up a remedy. I was watching but I wasn't really watching. I couldn't stop thinking about what Daniel told me last night. I would say I couldn't believe Martel would do that, but that's a lie. He would stoop to any low level. But Mike. As much I was forcing myself to hate him I couldn't. He didn't know what he was getting himself into, and he lost his life, because of me. I caused this man to lose his life. He had his sister's wedding coming up. Oh gosh his family.

"What on your mind mi amor?" Daniel questioned as he pushed his remedy in front of me.

"I'm not your love," I whispered.

"We both know differently," he said stretching his hands around my waist.

There was a weird knock on the door.

Thank you Gunz.

Gunz came in, nodded at me and he and Daniel went into a private room. I'm grateful he came when he did. I was not ready to address my feelings for Daniel yet.

I felt it was time I went back home but Daniel was still in the room with Gunz, I sat down about to enjoy some TV, when Gunz and Daniel came out. Gunz had a gun in his hand and one in his waist. "What's that for?" I asked. Gunz and Daniel both looked at me and turmed back around. "Hello. I'm not invisible."

"Take care of yourself Abby, I'll call you in a few Jet." Gunz said as he walked through the door.

"He has never liked me," I stated.

"He likes no one," Daniel answered.

"I think it's time I go home."

"Why? Don't you think it's best if you stay here? With me," he said, reaching for my hand, "You're safer here."

I pulled my hand away, "I still need my space D." I could see a glimpse of sadness on his face, which quickly turned to anger.

"Fine. Leave me like you did before."

g

Daniel let me off downstairs my apartment. I walked up, unlocked my door and sat in my recliner. I gave up my life to get away from both Daniel and Martel. I travelled across states, finally settled down here and now they have both found me. Daniel would never hurt me, he loved me too much, but Martel, I was married to this man for four years and not even I know the extent of his cruelty.

"Let me goooo, STOPPP." I screamed,

"Hold her down I said!" Martel shouted at his henchman.

"You wear my ring on your finger and you want to flirt with another man in my face?! At my own party?!"

"I wasn't flirting! We were having a clean conversation," I uttered through sobs.

"I saw the way he looked at you Abbigale, like you were a meal. No one who is sensible enough to know that you're my wife, should be looking at my property like that! HOLD HER STILL I SAID!" he shouted as he kneeled on my feet, "Well since it's not clear enough let me make it a bit clearer," he said as he pressed the hot iron into my abdomen.

Branding. That's what he called it. I traced my fingers over the scars on my abdomen. They were fading to the sight but could still be felt, maybe that's why Mike never saw it. Then again he didn't explore me that much.

"He's going to redo it and this time it won't fade," a voice said from the dark corner of my kitchen.

Frightened, I fell out of my recliner. I scrambled to the far side of my living room looking around for a weapon. A large man emerged from the shadows. Puncho, Martel's henchman.

"I'm not here to hurt you chouchou," Puncho.

Chouchou. Pet. What Martel used to called me.

"I'm simply here to deliver a message," he said, reaching behind him.

Before he could remove his hand from behind him, I heard my door open. Daniel.

"What the fu..." they both said in unison.

At that point they both drew their guns and fired concomitantly.

I was in shock I couldn't even release a scream. Puncho fell on the floor with a large thud. Blood spewed from his neck which was where the bullet from Daniel's gun pierced his body. Daniel on the other hand was standing strong, unharmed. I piece of my door post was chipped. I assumed that's wear Puncho bullet had hit instead.

"Are you okay?" Daniel rushed over to me.

I couldn't speak.

He got up and pulled out his phone, I couldn't hear what he was saying but I assumed he was speaking to Gunz.

"We gotta go," Daniel said, picking me up into his arms. He kissed my forehead and I burrowed my head into his arm.

g

Daniel carried me back to his apartment and placed me on his couch. "I'll be back in a few."

"Please don't leave me."

"I'm sorry, I gotta go take care of this mi reina." And with that he left.

g

Daniel came back hours later, with some box of my stuff and placed them on the floor. He took out a single tulip and gave it to me. "Puncho had this."

A tulip. This must have been the message from Martel. Tulips were my favorite. Before he ruined them for me. Hated them now.

"Well since Puncho won't return back to Martel, he's going to figure out that I'm here, and now you have no choice but to stay here." Daniel said with a large smile on his face.

"I know you want your space though so I'll..."

"Don't leave me," I said wrapping my arms around him.

"I won't mi reina," he said kissing my forehead, "I won't."