Page 50 of Mr. Kelly

He looks just as corrupt as he did the first time I saw him. Unlike Mario, Surly can’t hide the fact that he’s rotten. It’s soaked into his DNA.

I frown at his words; he’s not making any sense. “I brought you the money you requested.”

He laughs like I’m stupid. “Oh, you don’t get it. You were always the payment. That idiot was supposed to seduce you, then leave you for me to collect.” His grip tightens on my jaw. “But you ran to the washed-up bouncer of the mob prince!”

It’s sickening that he marked me to be trafficked. It’s worse that I fell for Mario’s easy smile and artificial niceness. The urge to hurl returns, but I know it’ll cost me more trouble.

“Andrea told you to leave me alone, Surly,” I warn, hoping he’ll come to his senses.

I flinch when his nails dig into my jaw as he squeezes. “No one tells me what to do! We’re going to send you where they can’t find you until Mario’s baby comes out, then you’ll go to the man who bought you. He’s been patiently waiting. Lucky for you, he has a milk kink.”

My lip trembles with the effort to hold back my tears. The idea that my baby will be taken away from me is worse than me having to breastfed some kinky rich man. Surly’s face is full of delight because he wants me to crumble. He wants me to beg, but I have to put my faith in Teddy and Andrea

“Please reconsider,” I begin, but he cuts me off with a laugh.

“Don’t bother begging. The deal is done.”

“Not for me. For y’all. They’ll kill you.”

Surly’s eyes flash with indignation as his hand wraps around my neck. He squeezes until I have to work to breathe.

“Pop the trunk.”

Luciano chuckles as he opens the trunk to a different car a few feet away. “Are you going to make her ride with her bestie?”

“Yes,” Surly answers Luciano as she pulls me towards the trunk.

My first sob breaks once we’re close. Luca’s bloody body lies contorted to fit inside. Surly starts pushing me on top of him, but I resist the desire to fight back; I must protect my son. He’s bouncing around in my stomach, kicking and pushing so much that I’m sure he feels my distress.

I drop a protective hand on my belly as I sink into the trunk, Luca’s blood wetting my back. The cries start once the trunk is closed. I was so close to bliss and my past mistake is trying to take that away. Poor Luca was just doing his job and may not get a proper burial. Teddy is in another state, but I call out to him anyway, hoping he’ll somehow save me. The car roars to life, somehow enhancing the metal stench of blood. My sobs break harder. It’s obvious how much plotting went into this.

Each small bump the car hits brings another set of tears. Every minute that passes is the farther I get away from the future I’ve been dreaming of lately. I hold on to the fantasy of Teddy and me being happily married while loving our child.

Luca’s hand startles me in the dark, making me scream in despair and rage. It can't be how it’s supposed to go. Ignoring the stench of blood and gas, I take a deep breath and say a silent prayer.

“Teddy, Andrea, whoever is listening, please find me soon.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

THEODORE

I breathe in deep,then release a slow inhale, dropping myself into a state I call quiet fury. I’m seething internally, but an outsider would see a calm yet stoic mask. There isn’t anything I can do until I land. It pisses me off, but I know the flight time isn’t something I can manipulate, no matter how much I need to be on the ground.

I was mid-flight when I saw her text. My insides clenched in equal parts of fear and anger. I knew Luciano wasn’t supposed to be around her, and I knew Andrea had gotten rid of him, but I failed to relay that message. If she had known, she wouldn’t have gone with him.

My need to get to her and my guilt for forgetting to tell her about Luciano twists my gut. I can’t lose her or our son. I had to move through Tai Chi poses to calm my body and mind until I’m on the ground. My phone buzzes, pulling a worried sigh out of me before I pick it up. I need good news.

Andrea: Found the car. Looks like they got into another but my trail is cold right now.

The sick feeling that I hate swirls in my stomach. I just promised her parents not even an hour ago that I’d always takecare of her. My brain screams, but I squash it. It’s important now more than ever to think clearly.

Me: And the part you’re not telling me?

I feel it in my bones. I know Andrea will shield me from the truth since I can’t teleport, but I can’t have any surprises waiting for me. I have to know everything.

Andrea: The side of the car is shot up but there aren’t any traces of blood.

I drop my head into my hands, hating that she has to experience this kind of fear once again. Each second makes things worse for Luciano and his accomplices.

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