"Is this where you're taking me?" Brynne questions as I park my car on the side of the road.
"No, this is just a detour."
"Stay in here. I'll be right back," I shut the door and lock my car twice. Trying my best to make this quick, I rush towards the building.
I look back towards my black car to make sure that Brynne is okay. This is not the safest area, so I have to double-check. I enter the large building and walk towards the security guards, Dante and Luigi.
"Afternoon Mr. Wright," They both say at the same time.
"Keep an eye on my car outside. It has precious cargo."
They both nod and tighten their grips on the rifles. The whole building has been on high alert ever since our cocaine mishap. Continuing towards the elevator, I silently greet all of the cadets on my way.
Our base has four levels. The top two are a distraction from the two underground floors. They serve as a hub for meetings and other minor events. When we go into a lockdown, the top two floors are shut down, and everyone is evacuated underground. Our underground levels are for cadet training and ammunition. We also keep most of our drug supply down there.
I press the button for floor number one, remembering that I have a quick meeting with our heroin supplier. I check my watch and notice that it's one-thirty in the afternoon. The meeting starts at one-thirty-five.
I sigh.
I wouldn't have even come if it wasn't for my imbecile assistant Antonio. Sometimes, I feel like I pay him to sit on his ass.
The elevator dings and the doors open to a long black carpeted corridor. As I walk, I look out of the black tinted windows for my car. I spot it and see Brynne sitting in the passenger seat. She seems to be mouthing the words to some song on the radio.
I tried my best to stay away from her, I really did, but she's pushing my limits. I don't know how much longer I can hang out with her without making some move.
Everything about her is perfect.
That's why after I do this favor for her, I must stop talking to her. It's for her own good. If she stays in my life, there's no telling what kind of consequences she may face. I'm trying everything I can to keep her out of harm's way.
I just hope that I won't be tempted to get her back after we split ways.
It hurts, but it's my only choice. I finally reach the room and fix my hair before I enter. I don't feel bad about wearing sweatpants because this meeting is informal anyway.
I turn the door handle and pull it towards me, only to reveal that this is not a quick meeting with our heroin supplier. There are men in black suits standing all around the table. At the end of it, Mathias Garcia is seated with a mischievous grin.
That's my fucking seat. Nobody sits in my seat.
I walk into the room immediately feeling underdressed.
"Garcia," I say, "What the hell are you doing here on this fine day."
He gives one of his men a small signal with his eyes. I don't think anyone, but I noticed. My men are standing around the room against the wall. Positioned directly behind Mathias' guards. At least these idiots learned something in cadet training.
Always keep your back secure. You never know who may sneak behind you and catch you off guard.
"I could ask you the same question," He snarls, "Shouldn't you be out looking for your missing father? I think I saw him running around here somewhere."
His group starts to laugh. I'm going to kill him. Despite my seething anger, I keep a calm face.
"By the way, I forgot to give you my condolences," I begin to walk towards him, "I hope your father's death was a slow and painful one."
His eyes glaze over with pure evil. I know he blames me for his father's death.
"You have two options," I begin, "You can tell me whatever the hell it is you want and then get out of my sight. Or I can have you and your seven dwarfs physically removed from this building."
All of those Disney movies that I watched with Brynne paid off. He gives me a sly smirk and repositions himself in my chair. I'm going to throw away that chair. Such a shame since it's authentic Italian leather.
"I was hoping we could have a chat," He replies,
"Alone."
I take a look at my men and give them a nod. They all exit the room, and Mathias' guards follow. Until we are left alone sitting on either end of the long table.
"If this is about your cocaine, we didn't set the ship on fire."
I grab a pen off the table and start to weave it in between my fingers.
"I think I have some information you may be interested in."
My interest is peaked. But knowing Mathias, everything comes with a catch. I have to be careful, or else he may think I'm too desperate and take advantage of my curiosity.
"What are we talking about," I ask uninterestedly.
"First, I want something from you," He replies with a snappy tone.
I get up from my chair and advance towards him.
"And what would that be, Garcia?"
He shifts uncomfortably as I get closer.
"Hmm, what could you possibly want from me? I thought you have everything you need," I taunt him.
He snarls and stands up in front of me. Even though Mexican people tend to be shorter, Mathias has defied those odds and grown to be an astonishing six feet. I'm not intimidated by him in the slightest. All he is, is a scared little boy who doesn't know how to run a Mafia without his daddy.
Jokes on him, I've been doing it for ten years.
I know more things than he thinks I do.
I probably know more about him than he knows about himself. I know his social security number, and I keep track of all his assets on a daily. I know every encounter he has had in the past three years. I also know exactly where his mother is at this very second.
He doesn't stand a fucking chance.
"I want you to admit to killing my father," He sneers.
I know it may look like I am responsible, but I did not kill Andrew Garcia. I had one of my assassins do it for me. I would never risk my life to kill a lowlife like the Spanish Mafia leader.
"Well, sorry to break it to you, but you came all of this way for nothing."
"I did not kill your father."
I can say that with full honesty. He grabs his pocket and reveals that he has a gun. I noticed that as soon as I walked into the room. What he doesn't know is that I've got twenty guys aiming right at him in the building across from us.
"Is that supposed to scare me?"
"Hai paura di una piccola rissa? - Are you scared of a little fight?"
Italian?
He probably learned that before he came and has been waiting for the right moment to say it. Luckily, I took Spanish in the seventh grade.
"Que no vale la pena. No gastaría mi aliento contigo. - It's not worth it. I wouldn't waste my breath on you."
He stares at me straight in the eyes and looks flustered. I've finally got him. I contemplate pushing the button in my pocket that signals my men to take fire. But, at this moment, he poses no threat to me.
I decide to let the mascalzone live.
"Get the hell out of here before I blow you to pieces," I say to him.
I raise my head and look over the imbecile. He needs to leave before I get my hands on him. As he walks towards the door, he whispers something in my ear;
"You should pay more attention to the chicks you keep in your car. That one is pretty, and she'd go for thousands on the market."
I grab his neck and pin him against the wall.
"What did you say?"
He struggles to breathe and starts to kick me. I do not flinch. I take my fist and send it through the right side of his face. He will definitely feel that tomorrow morning. Before I leave the room and let my men dispose of him, I say one last thing,
"If you ever come near me or her again, I will end you like I did your father."
The shock on his face is uncanny to my reaction after finding out my dad had died. Serves him right. I know he has my father hidden somewhere, and I will go to the ends of the earth to find out where.
But right now, I have to see if Brynne is okay.
I rush down the hallway.
"Throw him in the alley!" I yell to Christian, one of the cadet trainers.
I press the button on the elevator, but it takes too long, so I decide to use the stairs.
I hope she's okay.
I swear to God, if Dante or Luigi let them take her, I would kill them both. When I get to the lobby, I see them standing in the same spot I left them.
"Where the hell is she?"
"What do you mean, sir?"
"The girl in my car, you morons," I scold.
"We weren't aware of any girl," Luigi remarks.
I run out of the lobby and straight to my parked car.
My heart skips a beat when I don't see Brynne's head in the passenger seat.
They fucking took her.
I'm going to kill that motherfucker, Garcia.
Then out of nowhere, she lifts the seat and smiles at me.
Thank God.
My sweat stops running, and I take a deep breath.
She looks confused when I tell her to unlock the car.
"Where are your keys?"
"In my pocket," I admit, "I'm too lazy to get them out."
She grins and shakes her head while unlocking the car. Before I get in, she points to a note that's on the windshield.
"Someone put this here right before you came back," She explains, "I thought it was a parking ticket, but when I tried to ask them, they just ignored me and walked away."
I grab the note and read it;
She's safe this time cagna. Hope you give her the night of her life because it will be her last one.
-Garcia
He's going to rot in hell. I need to get Brynne out of here.
I look into her big, green eyes.
I got her into this mess, now I have to get her out.
I knew this going to happen.
She doesn't deserve any of this.
God. I wish I never bumped into her at school. I thought it would be a funny joke to break the tension between our two families. I didn't know it would lead to her becoming a target of the Spanish Mafia. And the worst part is, she doesn't even know. She doesn't know that she may be shot at any given moment. She doesn't know that I am a horrible person, and probably don't deserve her. And as much as I hate to admit it, she doesn't know that I am beginning to fall in love with her.
I get inside the car and close all the windows. I turn to face her.
She is beautiful.
The way her hair rests on her shoulders. The lines she has on her cheeks from smiling too much. The few freckles she has on her nose. The way the sun glistens onto her eyes and makes her look irresistible. The way she sits with her legs crossed on the seat. The way she fiddles with her fingers when she's nervous.
Everything about her is perfect.
I wish I could touch her. I wish that I could tell her how beautiful she is every day.
But, I can't.
It would be selfish for me to become attached. I would put her in so much danger. She doesn't deserve to live a life where she's wondering whether she may or may not survive the day.
"What?" She breaks my thought.
Her rosy cheeks glisten.
"Nothing, I'm just thinking about where I'm going to take you."
"How about you tell me what your 'One Perfect Day' looks like."
She chuckles and pulls out her phone.
"Well... Number one is skydiving." She explains.
I've always wanted to skydive. It sounds like a perfect way to get her out of this city and somewhere safe.
"I know the perfect place."
"Yay! Okay, we're doing this!" She exclaims.
She's so cute when she's excited.
"Yep. How many things do you have planned for a perfect day?"
She smirks and starts to fiddle with her fingers.
"I dunno, I guess you'll have to find out," She giggles.
God, I love her laugh.
"Hmm, should I be worried?"
"Nope, leave the list to me. I will tell you where to go, and you drive there," She explains.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Okay perfect, you're going to have the time of your life."
I look over at Brynne and see nothing but pure happiness. This is what she deserves to feel every day. I wish I could be the one to give it to her. But for now, my only job is to keep her away from Mathias. To keep her safe.
"We'll see about that," I reply.
She lays her head on the passenger window and starts to fall asleep. She must be tired after sleeping on that bruise all night.
I keep my hand on the steering wheel and speed down the country roads.
Knowing Mathias Garcia, he will go to the ends of the earth until I suffer for his pain.
He better not take Brynne down with me, or he will feel the wrath of Blake Wright.