Naomi:
Yeah, just let me know when and I’ll tell Eddie I’m dipping out. Oh I can’t wait to hear about it when he realizes she’s alive.
Me:
Me too. I hope he shits himself. Lol
Naomi:
?? Same. Just call me and I’ll be there. Anything for you guys to get the upperhand on that fucker.
Locking my phone, I slide it back into my pocket and stand up. I need an energy drink and something to eat. Thank god this hospital actually has decent food. Fuck, it should with it being one of the higher end ones with the better doctors–only the bestfor my angel. I would drain my bank account in a second for someone to bring her back to us. She doesn’t get to leave, ever.
Chapter 11
Luis
I’m tired. Sick and fucking tired of hanging here like a cow that’s been taken to slaughter. Beaten like a fucking animal. If she’s dead, I have no reason to live.I can’t leave my brothers. They’ll need me now more than ever.Fuck.I repeat the same thing over and over. At this point, I’m not sure if I’ve been here for days or even weeks.
Broken. I feel more broken now than I ever have before. The thought of her being dead runs through my mind all day, and I’m trying to hang on for my brothers, I really am. But I’m tired, so fucking tired, and I’m tired of fighting. He can beat me, slice into my skin; it doesn’t matter. I just think about all the shit she endured. Being down here, you can almost see it, even without having actually been here then. I just know the broken girl she used to be is what made her the Raven I know and love today. She took all her demons and darkness and ate it. Gave it the middle finger while she grew into a badass.Fuck, Princess. I love you. But how did this happen? How did he get to you, baby?
I’m pulled from my thoughts when the familiar sound of footsteps echo around the basement.Ugh, this motherfucker. If I ever get the chance, I’m killing him. For her, for me.
“Well, hello there, cupcake,” he says, his raspy voice grating on my nerves. He reeks of body odor and booze, making me want to gag.
“Fuck you. I have nothing to say to you,” I spit, and he rears his hand back, landing a punch to my face. “That all you got? You won’t break me, you fat fuck.” I let out a manic laugh. He lands another blow, and the taste of iron fills my mouth. I can only imagine what my body looks like. Probably bruised and cut to shit; not to mention the lack of food and water in this place is taking its toll.
“You may not have anything to say, boy, but it’s time to move forward with my plan and get your brothers here. So, let me take a nice picture of you, that way when I’m ready I can send it to them. I already took their numbers from your phone while you were out.” He chuckles, stepping back and taking the photo.
“I still don’t understand what they have to do with it. You already have me, so whatever it is, take it out on me!” I groan out, licking the blood from my lips.
“See, Raven has taken most of my empire down. Ring by fucking ring. She’s not here to pay for it, so I’ll take it out on her pretty little boy toys. My father couldn’t do it, he was a weak man, so I’m left to do it,” he says, typing something on his phone while he paces the floor.
“So, you’re daddy’s little bitch?” I taunt, because why not? At this point, I’m over it. Kill me or let me go. I already feel like I’m teetering the line between life and death anyways.
“I’ll show you a bitch. But I wonder, will your brothers come for you? Or leave you to rot? You are replaceable; plus, they all think you got her killed. She was coming to save you after all. Do you think they’d be able to look at you ever again?” He sneers,and for once I’m left speechless.Why would she come for me, alone?
He removes the shackles from my wrists and ankles, only to drag me by the one around my neck.He had to have done this shit while I was out cold.Pulling me to the hook in the wall, he locks the chain to it. I manage to look down and see that all I have is this shitty beat up mattress on the floor and a bucket to piss in.I don’t think any amount of showers will scrub off how dirty I feel.
So many questions are running through my head. My thoughts halt, and my face snaps up to him when his phone pings with a notification. I hope it’s not my brothers. They better not fall for whatever bullshit he’s spewing.
“Ahh, see, maybe they do want you back. The next part of my plan is in motion. My intel comes from a place you’d least expect. We will see if your brothers truly care for you. For now, enjoy the darkness,” he says, chuckling as he walks towards the door, turning the lights back out, and leaving. Hello darkness, my old friend. I should be used to it by now, but when it’s quiet and I’m all alone, the memories rear their ugly head–the good and the bad.
“Come on, Mia, jump on the pegs and you can ride with us,” I yell back at my little sister as she walks back towards the house.
“Are you sure Dad won’t care? I don’t want to be in trouble again,” she hollers back, almost crying.
“C’mon, Baby Sis, you know we won't let you get in trouble. We got you, always,” Alejandro says, trying to reassure her.
“Yeah, your dad will have to go through all three of us, Mia. Just come have fun,” Damien adds in, smiling over at her.
“Okay, fine. Let's go, I wanna have fun. I’m tired of staying home all the time. Locked away like the princesses in those movies is boring.” She chuckles, walking over to my bike.Climbing onto my pegs, she grabs my shoulders and whispers, “Okay, Big Bro, I’m ready. Let’s ride.”
With a smile on my face, we all start pedaling, racing each other down the road. It’s days like these, just being with my brother, sister, and our best friend, that make all the things we go through with Dad worth it. One day, our plan is to race each other on real bikes. Uncle Zeke says we have to wait until we are bigger for that though, and that we better not get caught. Whatever trouble we get into in our life, it’ll be worth it as long as we are together.
Turning to look over my shoulder, I watch as her dark hair whips in the wind, and she giggles, yelling at me to pedal faster. Facing the road again, I work my legs and pedal faster so we win. Giving her one more thing to rub in the guys’ faces. We always beat them, and I’m not sure if they let us win, or if I’m just that quick, but as long as she keeps that smile on her face, that’s all that matters.
Chapter 12
