“But she is, Professor. She’s ‘everything,’ isn’t she? Tell me I’m wrong.” I don’t know what to say. The silence grows bigger and bigger. “Professor? Are you still with me? Perhaps we need some motivation here.”
What does he mean?
“ARRRRGHH!” I can hear Carter screaming in the background.
“Motherfucker!”
“Oh, there you are. So energetic, as usual.”
“Stop it, Asad. just give me the address and a fucking time.”
“Wonderful attitude. I’ll start getting everything ready for our party. Please, try not to disappoint me; otherwise, our mutual friend here will be very sad, to say the least.”
“ARRRRGHH!” Carter screams again.
“Stop it! I’ll go—"
“That sounded awfully singular, Professor.”
“We’ll… go.”
“Perfect. I’ll reach out with the details within the hour. Just the two of you are welcome. If I see as much as a squirrel with you, I’ll slit his throat… on camera.”
“I got it, just the two of us.”
“Bye-bye now.” We both hang up.
“Asshole.” I can feel the fury rising inside. I need to vent. I look back at Sarah; she can clearly see through me. She takes my hand before I can smash my cell against the wall.
“What happened?”
“That was Leon. He, uh… he has Carter.” She lets go of my hand and covers her mouth.
“How did this happen?” I can’t look at her. I’m ashamed that I let this happen.
“I don’t know, and we don’t have time to discuss this. He wants both of us to go there, and I have to come up with a plan, so he doesn’t notice you’re not there.”
“What if he finds out?”
“He said he will kill Carter on camera.”
“Then, we’re going.” Her words echo through my entire body.
Did I hear that right? She said, ‘Then we’re going.’ How can she say that so lightly? After all I put her through. I can’t stop fucking things up. I’ve let her downtime after time and yet, she’s still here. I promised her protection and I’ve only managed to put her in harm’s way every single time.
My cell rings with Carter’s custom tone. That’s probably Asad with the meeting details.
I look back at Sarah. I’m contemplating her beauty, not only on the outside— she has inner beauty as well, kindness and goodwill. I don’t think she understands how bad this situation is, for me, for her and for Carter. If I take her with me, she dies. It’s that simple. And I won’t be able to stand it. But if I don’t, Carter dies… I… I can’t lose my family again… After what happened to my brother, I swore I’d never lose anybody again…
“Bruno!” She screams in my face. “Wake the fuck up!”
“Taking you there is the same as murdering you myself. Do you fucking understand that? Might as well just kill you here and save you the trip. I’ve got a little more than three hours to come up with a plan. So, leave me the fuck alone, Sarah.”
“No way. I’m not sitting this one out. It’s Carter, for Christ’s sake! They’re going to kill him!” She walks towards me.
“I said NO!” I yell at her. She looks at me, eyes wide open, eyebrows up, she’s scared of me… again. Seeing her looking at me like that feels like hell.
I should carve my own heart out.
