Someone was following Selena. Someone other than Nate, Andrew’s guard. She watched her nephew coo over his toys as they swung from the stroller bar in the gentle breeze.
Eric tried to grab the fuzzy duck and missed. He laughed.
If life were only that simple again, she thought.
The laughter of children reached her. Eric grew silent, his eyes big with wonder as he saw the children running and playing.
Selena leaned over and lifted him into her arms. She smelled his hair, nuzzled his nose with an Eskimo kiss before sitting down on the bench. She enjoyed watching the kids play. Most children were lucky to be oblivious and out of reach of danger’s way. There were some who came into the world understanding evil way before their time.
The bench jiggled. Her escort sat next to her. Some mothers had tried to include her in their play dates, but when her escorts glared at them, they kept their distance.
She faced Eric and watched the kids play kickball. “Kiddo, this is as normal as it gets for you and me right now. Soak it in,” she whispered. She closed her eyes, wishing she could cry for what could’ve been but forced the tears back. Someday when they weren’t in the thick of danger, she promised silently, more to her sister than Eric, he would know what it was to be safe and loved.
“The ball! Get the ball! He’s making it to home,” children screamed to a young boy in the outfield. The kicker was already flying to second.
Selena looked up in time to see a kickball flying through the air, landing a few feet away. The outfielder, a small boy, hung back when he saw where it landed. An older boy saw him hesitate and searched for the location of the ball. He glanced at Nate’s unsmiling demeanor and the fear in his teammate. The older boy twisted his baseball cap around and headed their way. The kids watched from the field, their faces solemn and filled with wonder at the older boy’s guts in retrieving their ball.
Each step closer, she noticed he was a young adult rather than a boy. The young man stood in front of the ball.
Nate didn’t touch the ball or make an offer to. It was as if he dared him to be a man. The kid squared his shoulders, his eyes hard. Unspoken words between kid and man were loud and clear. It was a warning. Plain and simple.
Nate gave a curt nod. The kid did the same.
Eric laughed, breaking the ice for a moment, drawing attention to him. Nate and the kid turned and smiled at Eric’s antics. Just as quickly, they lost their smiles. The kid picked up the ball. Deliberately, he took his time, showing, he didn’t give a damn who Nate was or who he worked for.
The young outfielder waited eagerly for the ball. His hero whispered something into his ear and ruffled his hair.
Selena knew she wasn’t the only one taking this all in. Other mothers watched the scene unfold. She didn’t have to look in their eyes. She saw it everyday she came to the park. She heard their whispers, saw the nods and pointing to the bulge under Nate’s jacket. The Donovans were well-known in this area.
And even though Eric was an innocent babe, they wanted nothing to do with this family.
Nate didn’t look at her. “I’m not an ogre. But the kid wouldn’t have allowed me to give it to him. He knows I’m bad news. My luck he’ll go into a profession which could cause downsizing in my job.”
Nate’s eyes were unreadable. It was as if he wished he were anywhere but here. “The kid has guts. A few years older and he could command big money in my field. In the old days, Don would’ve forced a kid like that to work for him, using any means necessary. Real or trumped up. He made sure he had the resources available to follow through. I’ve seen it.”
She caressed Eric’s hair as Nate spoke. She kind of felt sorry for Nate, but not enough to forget he was paid by the Donovans. He was in for life. Eric was the one who suffered. Eric didn’t have his mother’s arms around him at this moment.
She sensed rather than saw him.
Drake was here.
For how long, though?
She didn’t dare case the area, even casually. Her normal routine always focused on the baby. It had always been her alone time without cameras, family, and danger lurking around. Here it was minimized. If she went against her routine, Nate would sense something was up and inform Andrew.
The sooner she got through to Drake that he would jeopardize her position, the safer Eric would be.
“Nate, would you hold Eric while I run to the ladies’ room? I think it’s that time of the month.” She didn’t give him a chance to deny her request or care that a hard man like Nate would be embarrassed. She placed Eric in his arms, a bottle in his hands, and hurried towards the ladies’ room.
If Drake had followed her here, he would know where she was going. She didn’t know if she should feel irritation at such a close eye on her activities or pleasure for his offer of help.
Two women came out as she entered the bathroom. The stalls were empty. No voices outside the entrance. She gripped both sides of the white enamel sink, aged with rust and lack of care, and studied the rings under her eyes.
“I can make those disappear,” Drake said, his voice smooth as silk.
Looking past her image in the mirror, she found him watching her from the end of the stalls, wearing black shades and a three-day growth.
“Shouldn’t you take care of your own first?” she asked.
“I tried, but she wouldn’t let me. This time she won’t have a choice.”
“A woman can take care of herself, you know.”
He gave a dry laugh and smiled. “Jumping from love and respect to this? Try again, honey.”
Until he found his way into her bedroom, she’d been able to suppress her emotions. There was no turning back. She’d made her decision and needed complete control for however long this took.
“I’m a very strong, resourceful woman, Drake.”
“Apparently.”
It didn’t matter his tone was anything but complimentary. She knew it was the pain hidden behind the shades. “There’s something about my life I haven’t told you.”
“That’s obvious.”
Hands on hips, she faced him, her smile humorless. “What’s obvious is you have a few things you haven’t let out of the bag yourself.”
He came out of the shadows, stopping when he was close enough to touch, but didn’t. “We’ll have time for a game of questions and answers soon,” he whispered.
A faint scraping on the concrete brought her to her senses.
She turned, but Drake stalled her, holding her by the arm. “Now,” he commanded.
She tried getting in stance to ward off whatever he had planned.
She felt a tiny prick on her arm. It was too late. Whatever had been injected was working fast. Light-headed and woozy, it was all she could do to stand.
A man’s hands circled around her waist.
“Don’t touch her.”
The hands left and another took their place. Gentle and caring. Drake’s.
She had no choice but lean on Drake. Laying her head on his shoulder, she whispered, “You don’t understand. The baby needs me.”
His arms were no longer soft and yielding. “The Donovans take care of their own.”
• • •
Selena rubbed her eyes. Her tongue felt pasty and her head ached. It was way past Eric’s waking time. She needed to get moving. She sat up on the edge of the bed, feeling every muscle, every bone in her body protest at the movement. It was then she remembered the park and Drake.
“Dammit, Drake. You don’t know what you’ve done,” she whispered. “If you only knew.”
Someone knocked on the door. She didn’t bother responding. They would come in anyway.
The door opened. The man entered, looked her over with a quick glance. “Drake will be back shortly. Are you hungry?”
Her stomach lurched at the thought of food. “Where are we?”
“Hotel.” He surveyed the hallway before closing the door and bolting it.
“I don’t know who you are or what your place is in all of this, but you shouldn’t have taken me. Who are you?”
“Does it matter?”
“Not particularly, but wouldn’t you prefer to give me a name instead of letting me make one up?”
The man gave a short laugh. “Barry.”
Selena needed to stretch her legs and stood up.
“Why shouldn’t we have taken you? What Drake wants, Drake gets.”
“I need this job.”
“You weren’t happy with your previous lifestyle?”
“Ahh … that’s right. A friend of Drake’s. I’m glad he has friends like you. To answer your question, yes, I was happy. There’s someone who needs me more.”
She walked to the window and peeked through the curtain. Barry moved her away and closed it, but not before she caught a glimpse of a Donovan car patrolling the parking lot. Apparently, they hadn’t gone too far. If she could convince Barry to let her go without giving away her position … She didn’t have to look at Barry to know he would be as unyielding as Drake.
If Larry hadn’t told anyone she was back in, and Drake was oblivious to her past, then Barry was in the dark as well. His gun was holstered and he had placed himself back at the door.
She rubbed the center of her forehead with her fingertips and closed her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little woozy.”
She took another step. Her feet faltered and she swayed.
“You need to sit down and rest.”
She swayed some more and crumpled. Barry was by her side instantly. He gathered her into his arms and placed her on bed. She drew her knees to her chest and moaned. He felt her forehead.
Taking both legs, she kicked at his chest and grabbed his gun. Selena was on top of him the moment he hit the ground. He opened his eyes and found his own gun staring at him.
The hammer clicked back.
“I want your clothes on the bed now,” she ordered. “I’m not screwing around. Now.”
She gathered the clothes and motioned Barry to the bathroom. She aimed her gun at the tub. “Get in, face down.”
“Drake won’t stop,” Barry said, complying.
She hesitated at the door. “I know that better than anyone.” And closed the door.
She aimed a few kicks at the doorknob. The knob fell to the floor. She checked his clothing, found his cell phone and an extra clip. Hoping the window wasn’t painted shut, she pushed. The window slid open. As she climbed onto the fire escape and threw the clothes over the side, the black sedan turned the corner.
She tucked the gun and clip under her shirt, before jumping to the pavement. The car stopped as she ran. The passenger door opened. She slid in next to Tony.
Tony gave her cursory glance. “What happened to your shoulder?”
She looked. Her shoulder was bleeding. Probably gouged it on the fire escape. “I’ll be fine.”
She checked the side mirror. No Barry or Drake in sight.
“This isn’t setting well with Mr. Donovan.”
Andrew and his father were suspicious types. Even though she’d flagged Tony down, they’d still see it as a betrayal. As would Drake. But all she could focus on right now was Eric.
The house was quiet as Selena entered the side door. Mary’s eyes were scrunched as if worried. When she saw Selena, she mumbled something and hurried into the kitchen.
Senior and Junior had to be on the warpath. Old Man Donovan ranting and raving of betrayal unlike Andrew, who kept it to himself. She preferred senior Donovan’s style over Andrew’s. One never knew what to expect from the quiet ones.
She turned the shower to the hottest setting. Steam filled the room. Once her clothes were off, she tossed them in the trash can. A thick, over-sized towel heated on the bar behind her. She pulled it off and wrapped it around her. The heat provided the comfort she needed to maintain. And ready herself for whatever the Donovans directed her way.
She closed the door behind her as she left the bathroom, preventing the therapeutic steam from escaping. Gathering the essentials she needed, she headed back. The nursery door was open. Normally, she kept it closed. As she pulled it, she saw Andrew.
He was staring outside, hands in his pockets. He didn’t acknowledge her, choosing the outside view. “I wish it hadn’t happened. Just as I wish this isn’t happening.” This time he faced her. “You look beautiful, by the way. I promise they’ll be discreet where it’ll be placed,” Andrew said as he strode past her, stopping long enough to glide his fingers over her shoulder.
What he meant by that would be known soon enough.
The door opened behind her. She heard him talking. Thinking he had more to say this time, she turned.
Six of Andrew’s men were planted in her room.
Her towel slipped. She grabbed it before it revealed too much. It was all she could not to go into shock.
“Keep her dignity. And hide it. It’s her first one. Hopefully, her last. Remember I detest screaming. Unless …” She knew he what he was about say: I’m inside her.
She wouldn’t beg or plead her case. It didn’t matter if she was innocent of betraying him. It was his way of saying, “Should they try again … keep your mouth shut.”
Three of the goons advanced. There was no place to run or hide. They circled around her and motioned towards the bed.
She couldn’t move. She’d seen what damage the soldering gun could do.
Two men positioned around the bed. One at the side. The other at the foot of the bed. It was the man on the other side she couldn’t stop staring at. He was holding the small gun in his hand as though it was nothing.
Every instinct within her screamed. Fight took over where flight couldn’t. As the three men hauled her over to the bed, she began kicking and screaming, not caring her towel had dropped. One leg connected with a chest, another to a softer area.
“Don’t hit her. Andrew will kill you.”
They tossed her on the bed, the men, who had positioned around the bed, grabbed her arms and legs, flipped her over and held her down. She thrashed from side to side until someone sat on her legs and shoved her shoulders down, holding her from further movement.
Something warm touched her buttock.
She screamed over and over as the man continued the slow motion on her skin. She tried bucking her captor off and pushed at the others, but they were stronger.
A phone rang.
Someone answered it. Then someone placed a hand over her mouth. Unable to withstand the pain, she passed out.
• • •
Selena sat up and fell back down when a hot searing pain from her buttocks raged loud and strong. She bit back a cry.
Soft clucking came from beside her. Fingers soothed her forehead while another hand pushed her gently back. Mary now sat on the bed, checking her over.
Mary shook her head.
“Why are you — ” Selena began, but was interrupted by a shake Mary’s head, her finger at her lips as she stared pointedly at the lamp.
Selena followed Mary’s eyes. Mary glanced from Selena to the lamp again, shaking her head.
Mary signed, “Are you okay?”
“The pain is killing me,” Selena signed back, emphasizing the amount of pain by using facial expressions. “Where’s Eric?”
“Sleeping.”
“You need to get as far away as you can,” Mary signed.
“What about Eric? You?”
“Eric is safer here. I can’t leave.”
“Eric has a contract out on him.”
Mary jerked back but managed to veil it quickly. Her facial expression mirrored the face of a seasoned poker player. “Who are you?”
“The same as you. A marked woman.”
Mary pulled her hair back, revealing a vertical scar.