Hostage Love

Chapter twenty-six

“Don’t cry on me on now. Were okay.” I smile for my best friend. I grab her hand in mine and squeeze.” I’m just glad it over now.” She scrunches her nose like she’s confused or in pain a lone tear falling from her bright blue eyes. “Are you hurting again?” I ask, ready to get up. “I just missed you. I’m glad it’s over to. Honestly, I still can’t believe you found love while you were kidnapped. I mean, I’m happy for you. But are you sure you know who he is? What he's done.” She Asks me with obvious concern. I understand where she is coming from too. This man took me whether; it was my father’s orders. He still did it. “Yeah, I know who he is, and I trust him with my life. As for his past,” I shrug my shoulders. “Don’t matter much to me,” I say. She smiles and says okay, but I can still see she is not convinced, and I don’t blame her. “you will warm up to him. You will see it. Besides, you don’t have much of choice now,” I say, standing up, rubbing my stomach with a wicked smile. Her eyes widen in shock, the biggest smile I have ever seen plays on her face.

“No way! Oh my god! This is so awesome. I’m going to be an aunt.” She exclaims with a clap in her hand. I giggle like a schoolgirl and hug her, careful not to squeeze or press on her body.  We spend the next few hours talking about what the baby will be. She tells me it’s a girl and she going to spoil her rotten. We laugh and talk for hours. She never once mentions my father or asks me what I went through. I’m grateful for this because I just want to put all the crazy behind me and move on with my life. “Okay, babe, I’m going back home to clean up and get some rest. I will be back to check on you in the morning. Most likely, they will let you go tomorrow anyway. Love you,” I say, kissing her on the cheek. “Hey, Lyra? I turn back to look at her. Worry in her eyes.” Yeah, babe?” I ask. “Be careful — no more disappearing. I’m not ready to lose you yet. Or ever.” She whispers.” I will, and I will never be ready to lose you either. Your more than just my friend. Your family.” I say and walk out of the room, wishing I didn’t have to leave.

I wonder what Viktor is doing right now. But I don’t have a phone anymore, and I don’t even think he does. He would tell me what he’s doing. Just said he had to get something ready for us. The walk back to the apartment is long. Honestly, it feels good. To walk again in my city. To go home. To be home. Something I was sure I ever would get to see or feel again for a pierid of time. It's not summer here. The weather beautiful, but the air is a bit dry. I stop finally and look up our building. Peering up to the top. I wonder if you can get on the roof? The would-be cool. Laura and I could camp up there one night. I shake out of my thoughts and head to my apartment.

The closer I get, the more dread sits in my stomach. I can’t seem to figure out why. I stop in front of my door with my hand on the handle. Hesitant. But what other choice do I have? I need to clean the place before Laura gets home, and I need to sleep. I need to invest in a gun. Maybe I’m just paranoid. I twist the handle and peer into the room but see nothing. Slowly I step in and look around, but I see nothing, so I shut my door. Figuring I really am just being paranoid, I strip some of my clothing off and start to clean up the. I grab a beer out of the fridge, not caring what time it is and take a swig. Trash is everywhere; a few things are broken. My case files are scattered across the kitchen and living room. Guilt pangs my heart for what Laura must have gone through, thinking I was dead. I walk to my bedroom. My bare feet padding on the hardwood floor. I open My door and scream, running for the kitchen for a knife.
"What the hell are you doing in my home?” I yell at him. My sword pointed in the face. It does not faze him, though. He stands there with his smirk on his face. “I heard you killed your father; my little birdies tell me you shot him in the head,” he says, ignoring my question. “again, why are you here. It doesn’t matter who killed him; he’s dead.” I yell in anger. “Leave, now!” But all he does is roll his eyes at me and sit on my couch, pulling out papers. I lower my knife, confused.” When you killed your father, were you aware that made you the new boss over your father's territory?” he asks, still as calm can be.

My heart thuds wildly in my chest. No. No, this cant is happening. I don’t want this.” Mr. Chang, please explain,” I ask with a forced calm that I don’t even feel close to. He raises his eyebrows at me.” I take it you didn’t know then.” He says, pausing for a moment. “What if I told you I could make this all disappear. After today you will never see or hear from the mafia again.” I walk to the opposite side and sit on the love seat.” I’m listening,” I say.” It's simple. I have a contract, and all you need to do is sign it. All of your territories will go to me.” He moves the paper and pen in front of me on the coffee table. I scan his face looking for anything that may tell me that he is lying. I pick up the packet, surprised its so light. Are these things usually heavy or big? I shrug my shoulders a bit to myself.

I stand up with the packet and walk to the kitchen, putting on coffee while I read it. Once the coffees did, I move back to the living room, setting his cup and mine down. I look over to him. His gaze is intense on me. I blush when I relies on, he is staring because I’m in my panties. I had forgotten I did this when I got home, not being able to clean so dressed. I clear my throat before speaking.” I have a few conditions I would like for you to add to this, and then I would be happy to sign it.” I say, looking for his approval before I continue.” Of course,” he gives me a dip of his head. “Okay. I want protection. Not just for me but for Laura, Heath, Viktor, and our future child. For anyone in my life.” But I don’t want to see you. Don’t ever want to hear from you again unless it’s Important. Also, I want anything that may be on Viktor’s records to be wiped cleaned. I want him to have a clean slate. And finally, I want this to stay in the family. This contract between our family to go on for generations.”

“you ask a lot.” He states. I raise my eyebrows at him. “Am I really, though? I mean, I’m giving you something that will last forever. Stay in your family. In the mob. You will always own both territory’s, and I’m assuming this means you will also come out on top. Above anybody. Correct?” I say, daring him to deny me. His smile is big as he nods, sitting forward. “Are you sure you don’t want in on this business. We could be partners?” he asks, and I get the feeling he means more than just friends. But I also know he knows I won’t accept his offer. This is the whole reason he is here in the first place, right? Because he knows I want nothing to do with this life. With my father’s life. “you already know the answer to this. Is this a deal?” he stands up, and so do I. We shake hands.” I will have the new contract sent to your email sign it and keep a copy of them send it back to me.

“Okay. Sounds good.” I say, walking him to the door.” Have a good life, and congratulations on the baby,” he says with a nod of his head to my stomach. I smile because he generally sounds happy for me. But that could just be that he just struck himself a good deal. Not that I had much choice in the matter, and we both know that. I would have died If I had said no. “I may not have been born in this life, but I know enough not to be stupid now. To know how things

Once he is gone, I don’t bother finishing the house, deciding to do it later. I finish stripping and take a long hot shower. I don’t know how long I stay in under the water, but it starts to run cold, and I’m trying into a prune, so I dry off and hop in bed, falling asleep. My dreams make me sweat, pant, and whimper but not in a good way. My father’s eyes so much like my own stare back at me asking me why, why but I don’t know what’s he asking why for. The dream changes and pulls me into the past. I’m standing behind my mother, watching her hands expertly paint colors on a white canvas. She whispers something, so I move closer to hear. Once my face is next to hers, she jerks to face me.” Help me. Help me.” My mother says. Her head is covered in blood. Glass in her hair, and she’s an odd bluish color. Dead I think before the dream changes again.

I’m back in the basement of my father’s estate. The darkness I felt so deeply consumes me. I feel it all over again, but this time Is darker more intense. The dream changes again, and I’m standing next to my father. My gun raised with a smile pointing to Viktor.” Do it,” my father whispers in my ear. My smile gets bigger, as if I just won the lottery. “With pleasure, daddy,” I say, pressing the trigger.

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S.M Irene