Exhaustion spreads through my body.
Fifteen hours of labor, but agonizing pain would be a better way to describe the events of today. A screaming sister. Lots of breathing techniques. Massages for her shoulders and back. Bone crushing vice grips on my hand. More screaming. The pushing… Fuck… No words to describe that one… My body is ragged from just attending to her. Any woman that gives birth is impressive in my eyes now. What an ordeal it takes on your body. The partner included… My mother and father intermittently came to relieve me of my duty with my sister. Being only able to call Isla once, my body is ready to be lying next to her suppleness soon.
The labor progressed too slowly for Sarah. Fuck. The strain on her body and the pain she endured, I wanted to take it from her. Yet, she managed and after hours of intense agony, because she refused the drugs, of course, a healthy and beautiful baby girl was born. The day after my Sweetness’s.
The nurse places the cleaned up bouncing baby girl in her mother’s arms. Tears flow from us both. Instant love for my niece catches me off guard. Tears spring to my eyes.
“You’ve done good, sis. She’s beautiful.” Sniffling, trying to compose myself, I take a tissue to dry my nose.
“Isn’t she perfect? Her blue eyes remind me of her father’s.” Her voice can be hardly heard.
My hand slips to her covered leg and I gently pat it. “It’s all going to be fine. You’re going to be the best mother. We will all spoil her. Probably too much, that you will get sick of us.”
“Never. Can you ever be too spoilt?” Connecting her eyes with mine, she adds, “Let me rephrase that, you were more spoilt than me, so I guess you can be.” Her lightened laugh makes me laugh too. We both know who the spoiled one of the family was, and it was me. Mother’s baby boy. Father’s firstborn boy. Last child in the family. I always got away with everything. But we both know our parents idolize both of us equally. I could just manipulate them easier. Although, she still has father wrapped around her little finger.
“You know the truth, sis. Let’s just leave it at that…”
Reaching toward me, Sarah offers me a hold of the sound asleep princess. Her petite body is placed in my arms. I will do everything I can to protect this bundle of joy.
Sarah’s in-laws and my parents both knock on the door.
“Come in.” Considering Sarah has been in labor for so long, she’s very upbeat. “Meet your new granddaughter.” Happiness flows through the private room. Ohh’s and arrr’s and a gentle quietness encompasses us all. Amongst the joy an underlying sadness can be felt. This little precious baby will never know her father’s touch. But we all vow that she will know all about him throughout her life.
“Have you thought of a name?” My mother stands back while the other grandparents join in the pleasure of holding this precious little girl.
Fuck… How did I forget to ask Sarah this? Talk about me being a total dope. Or an uncle out of his league.
“Darcy and I had discussed names. We didn’t have one set in stone, but he was stuck on Alice.” Wiping her eyes, she continues, “So I have decided on Alice Darcie. After her father.”
Gulping a shudder back down, I reach out to my sister, who is still lying legs stretched out in her hospital bed and hug her tight. It’s so pretty and meaningful. “He would be so proud of you.” Kissing her head, I sit next to her small frame and hold her while the other members of the family ponder the name given to my niece.
“Alice Darcie… So exquisite. Like my granddaughter.” My father is the first to come over again and congratulate Sarah in this hard decision.
The clock on the table beside the bed reads two am. Crap… I need to get back to the farmhouse. I have a naked woman ready for me.
“I’m going to get going. My hard work here is done.”
Pushing my arm playfully, Sarah tries to put on her angry face. “Umm, I think I did the hard work… As usual…”
“This time, I won’t argue with you. I am in awe of what you did today. Congratulations again. I’ll be back tomorrow to visit.” Kissing her one last time, then placing a brief kiss on Alice’s cheek, “It may not be ‘til later though. I may need sleep, my body is exhausted.”
A pillow swiftly is thrown at my head. Oh, she’s fiery.
Blowing her a kiss, I exit the room. My phone is on silent. The screen indicates there’s no calls. But I did say I would call her when I left the hospital.
Dialing the house number, I don’t expect an answer. Isla should be sound asleep, hopefully naked in the bed. Getting some much-needed rest while she can. The ringing tone stops after about ten rings. No one answers.
I’ll let her sleep. For now. Exhausted as I am, I will still be devouring her delectable body in less than an hour. Showing her how crazy she makes me for her. Pounding into her pussy, claiming her all over again. Aiming for a frenzied, sizzling tryst, my body assaulting hers with fervor and passion until we are a hot, sweaty mess is my plan. Compelling her to cry out my name in ecstasy, over and over. Giving her a birthday present like no other. One she will never forget.
Jaw tight. Fists balled. My heart bangs against my rib cage.
I’m ready to combust.
Frustration, anger, and hostility surge through me.
I’m so fed up with people thinking they can manhandle me. Taking me against my wishes and deciding that they are going to map out my future.
Well, fuck that… It ends now…
A show down with Dimitri was inevitable… He just didn’t know it would come from me.
Not giving in without a tussle, I fought the big man all the way to his hidden dark blue sedan. Flinging my body parts at him, elbows and feet included, I unleashed everything I had to make him drop me. I even tried a backward head butt. The only thing it achieved is me with a growing lump on the back of my head.
Keeping alert, he wrangled me in the back of the car, while the driver took off in the darkness. Staying still for a minute or two to regain some more strength, no one speaks. These guys don’t look like the type of men Dimitri had around his house. They had worn suits and dressed as though they were going out for dinner. This man was rugged, smelled bad, and would blend perfectly with the majority of everyday people living here in Sydney. His casual dress providing a perfect disguise to perform an abduction. He must have recruited someone to get the job done. No doubt offering the highest amount of payment to the lucky ones who stole me back.
Motherfucker…
The Isla from one day ago is gone. Fed up with this shit, it’s now time to take charge and go for what I deserve and more than definitely want.
Hitching my leg up fast, without hesitation I slam my heel down toward the burly man’s crotch. Crap… He catches my leg, then rubs it up and down with his rough hand. A sneer overtakes his scowl. My flimsy summer dress not providing me with any protection.
Reefing my leg from his catch, he laughs and stares straight ahead.
“Aren’t you going to tell me where you’re taking me?” I’m cranky and my voice sounds harsher than it ever has.
The idiot sits there looking forward without saying a word. He doesn’t even look in my direction.
“Really? You’re gonna give me nothing?” Slapping my palms on the leather interior, I exhale loudly. “Don’t I have the right to know?” My voice is sounding more venomous by the second. “You spineless coward, tell me!” I yell. Hearing myself, it sounds like I’m having a hissy fit. Why aren’t they speaking to me?
Not a muscle flinches at my words, only a smug look forms on this bastard’s face. My breathing is ragged from my exertions. Folding my arms around me, I concentrate on my breathing, giving me time to contemplate what my move should be when I’m faced with Dimitri. I know one thing, I won’t be pretending anymore. He’ll notice straight away the ring he placed on my finger is gone, just like I will be.
Resting my head back on the head rest, I close my eyes. These two aren’t going to give me anything. It’s time for me to think…
Am I really contemplating going after Dimitri?
Yes… I fucking am…
How am I going to make him listen to me and let me go?
I won’t and he won’t…
Can I outrun him and his men?
Nope… Tried that and failed.
Will I be able to get a weapon and render him useless?
Probably not with my lack of skills and lack of muscles.
Will I let him use my friends and family against me?
Not anymore… I’m done with the psychological blackmailing… Of course, though, he has the means to kill us all and no one would even know we were dead.
Don’t care…
I have to try a different approach.
I have to be as ruthless as him. But what is so important to him, that he would leave me alone?
That’s what I have to figure out…
Money…
Drug connections, prostitution rooms, business clients…
Family? I don’t think he has anyone.
Friends he would die to protect?
Don’t know of any…
Questions, questions, and more questions. But I will figure it out.
No more scared, timid Isla.
The ‘yes’ girl is gone.
Fingers prod the side of my leg. Opening my eyes, I see blazing bright lights, the Harbour Bridge and the dizzying heights of The Park Hyatt. What have I honestly done to deserve to be back in the city, away from Alex?
The car takes a turn down, and we are in the basement of the most decadent and expensive hotel in Sydney. My fiancé must have relocated for the night. To kill me with kindness before he actually does the deed. Choking on the air going into my lungs, I splutter at the thought.
The driver stops near the elevator. No one is around and it’s not an elevator the public would use by the look of it. I’m too anxious and weary to care. I just have to find out what’s in store for me and work it from there, I guess.
Mr. Mute unlatches his door and advances to my side, opening the door for me.
I scowl, “I didn’t picture you as the gentlemanly type.”
“You’d be surprised what I am, miss.” An accent penetrates my ears.
“Finally, you speak.”
Taking my hand, he helps me out of the car, then places his other hand on my lower back and ushers me forward to the elevator. A key comes out from his pocket, of which he sticks in the appropriate lock, opening the elevator doors.
My hands flop to my sides. It’s late… The anger has zapped me… I still haven’t got a weapon or know how to blackmail the best blackmailer in the business…
I’m barely breathing. Only enough to keep me standing. The calloused hand is still resting on my back. We fly up, sending my stomach to my toes. It has to be one of the worse feelings in the world. I hate it… But, sighing aloud again, I guess I do have bigger problems at the moment.
There’s no flashy numbers in this elevator. We are going up and up and then up some more.
The Penthouse will be where Dimitri is waiting to take me back. Or kill me. Or make me watch him kill my loved ones… Scrunching up my face, the elevator door pings.
My legs are stuck… Deja vu hits me. Reminding me of a month back when I couldn’t get out of the elevator in Las Vegas. When he had found me.
Dimitri may have found me again, but a day has changed me.
I’m ready to walk into the lion’s den and face him head on this time.
Ungluing my feet, swallowing a deep breath, I march with Mr. Mute to the furthest point the polished marbled corridor will take us. His hand knocks decisively on the enormous cream colored wooden door. He takes the room key from his pocket, placing it in the slot until the small dot goes green. Pulling the door handle down, he swings the door back, using some of his strength. He holds the heavy door open for me.
Reaching for my body, he latches his other arm around my waist and pushes me in the door frame. “Goodbye, Miss Winters.”
Letting the door go, it bangs shut, making me jump forward.
He’s on the outside and I’m left standing on the inside…
Dear Lord, you are going to have help me tonight… Cause Alex can’t.