Page 61 of Edging Obsession

There’s a screeching of tires and more shots. Hendrick’s yelling for me to stay put.

“Forget running to Hendrick.” I turn her away from the street and point down the walkway. “Run down this walkway and don’t stop. Don’t look back. It will take you to a park. Keep running, and I’ll catch up to you.”

She grabs my coat. “What are you going to do?”

“Run, Jules. Now!”

I push her toward the walkway. She stumbles, glances behind her, and I urge her to go, so she picks up speed and takes off. Crouching down, I retrieve my gun and knife, heading out to find Hendrick. My head whips around, looking for him. A metallic and sulfur stench is in the air.

From my peripheral, I see a car turn the corner, and Hendrick shouts, “They’re headed the other way.”

Fuck! Jules!

My arms and legs start pumping fast down the walkway. I’m shouting for Jules to come back, but she can’t hear me. I’m zipping by garbage. The car pulls up to the curb and two guys jump out.

“Jules! Run!”

I point the gun in their direction, shooting a couple of shots while still running, except it doesn’t deter one of them. Jules screams when the guy catches her. Aiming my gun at the other one, I shoot him in the head, and he goes down. The guy is dragging my Schatzi. I don’t have a good shot because he keeps Jules at his side. Hendrick is next to me, and we’re running at high speed, blood gushing through my ears. My veins. Jules’ eyes lock on mine, begging for help. The guy falls backwards into the backseat with Jules protecting his front, and the car squeals away from the curb.

“No! No! Jules!”

Hendrick and I shoot at the wheels, but the car is too far ahead.

Fuck!

All that remains are Jules’ haunting eyes.

31

The guy who pulled me into the car throws me in a windowless room. Its sole companion is a chair, sitting in the middle of the room, and nothing else. A bare bulb hangs from a wire in the corner, and from what I can tell, there are markings on the ground. I imagine it’s blood. In Miles’ line of work, it wouldn’t be too far from the truth.

I attempt to dash out the door, except he blocks my way. He’s on the skinny side, darker skin, and a frayed beard. Without warning, he smacks me in the face, knocking me to the side, and rambles on in a foreign language. Another man comes from behind, similar in appearance, and tosses a water bottle at me, laughing as it hits me in the head. The door closes, leaving me in these confines. The body odor of the men lingers, and I back away toward the farthest wall.

Never in a million years would I think I’d be kidnapped and held in a dingy room, unaware of my future. A future I had planned with Miles.

Miles.

When I close my eyes, I see the horror on his face as he tried to catch up to me. He pulled out a gun and shot at the men like something from an action-packed thriller movie. His screams to run are disturbing to remember, because I did as he said, yet they caught me anyways. The harsh reality of his Mafia life and my predicament has finally seeped in. My mother’s words come to the forefront.Is this the kind of life you want, Jules? Violence everywhere?

It isn’t the life I’ve wanted, but if I chose differently, I’d lose Miles. My glorious rockstar. A man I fell head over heels for in the blink of an eye. He always feels safe. Until now.

My body slides down the wall, hugging my middle. There’s yelling in a nearby room, but it’s in German, and not knowing what’s said has me rocking back and forth.

My eyes close and I sing the lyrics toButterfly Winds.You’re like a butterfly, colorful and free, my soul weeps from loss / I venture from place to place, without a trace / but in my heart, I know the wind will sweep you in my direction / and we will remain forever / spreading our wings and diving into life’s abyss.

It’s like the song was written for Miles and me. I release a small whimper that echoes in this dingy room.

Will Miles find me?

Are they planning to kill me?

I bend my legs against my torso, resting my head on my knees, and fall asleep.

I’m woken again by shouting from another room. This time, I hear a man respond in English.Bastian was reckless. I’ll find someone to get his body from the park. Who’s the girl?A man responds, but it’s difficult to understand his thick accent, and then I hear the English one laugh and speak.I told him he’ll let his guard down, and I’ll catch his lamb. Let him know we have her, and if he doesn’t back off, she’ll come back to him in pieces.

Theyaregoing to kill me. My body trembles uncontrollably, praying Miles comes for me. The light switches off and I gasp as I’m sent into pitch blackness. I hear footsteps retreat and then disappear. Assuming I’m alone in the building, I withdraw inside, singing songs and whisperingI love youto Miles and my parents.

The corner light flickers on, my eyes blinking to adjust to it. There’s movement outside the door, followed by arguing. Again, it’s in German, so I can’t decipher what they’re saying. The hard rambling of the language pricks at my nerves.

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