Page 82 of Welcome to the Table
2 DAYS AGO
“Have my clothes out when I get to your house because I can’t be out late,” I told my best friend since pre-kindergarten over the phone.
I hated my life. I always did what my father told me to do. I was twenty-two years old and had just graduated with my master’s in social work, and that still ain’t enough. I knew Fanucci had shit going on because everywhere I went, someone was always watching. One of his men was always on my tail, but that would change tonight. I knew shit was strange a few days ago when he brought a man into the house, saying that it was my uncle, but I knew different. I knew my father exported drugs from India to Africa, and I overheard his conversation about moving his product in the United States.
My mother, Luciana, didn’t say shit. She just went with the flow of things. I hated her for that because we were the complete opposite. I always told my father how I felt, but she never backed me up, and that caused a rift between us. I rarelyever talked to her unless it was pleasantries, or we were all eating breakfast. I had asked my father if I could go out to celebrate, but he said no because education was a requirement that didn’t need celebrating. He had me fucked up. I was going out and not with his army, but with my best friend Bianca. She had everything I needed; I just had to get to her house without his men looking for me or watching my every move.
I took my diamond bracelet off that held the tracking device. They thought I didn’t know about it, but I figured it out months ago. For once, I wanted to be free and have genuine fun without looking over my shoulder. I knew they switched shifts at 10:00 p.m., and now was my chance. I opened my window, and seeing that the coast was clear. I hopped out the window quietly, making sure no one could hear me. I slid down the panel until I was on the end and jumped to the ground. I looked around, and everyone was in a huddle, talking and laughing, not paying me any attention. That was my chance to run to the fence. I hopped over and walked down the street to hop in the car with my friend. She zoomed off from the house and went straight to hers.
“Girl, you will turn heads tonight. You better be ready,” she said once we were in her house and safe.
She gave me a tight ass red dress that wrapped around my breasts and hugged every curve I had. I didn’t wear heels, so I opted to wear diamond encrusted sandals that wrapped around my thick calves. My curly hair was in a messy bun with strings of hair dangling from it, and diamonds were in my ears.
“What club are we going to?” I had to know because I didn’t want to bump into anyone who knew my family. Everybody knew of the Colombia Point Dawgs, and I hated it. Not too many people knew who I was, but they would know if theylooked in my eyes because that was the one thing that I shared with my father.
“Don’t trip. We going to Lola’s Club Colombia,” Bianca told me.
I was down because I had never heard of it. We got dressed and left for a night of fun.
After gaining entrance to the club, we went straight to the bar. I was ready for my shots and to hit the dance floor. We ordered four shots of tequila and chased them with some type of beer, then hit the dance floor. We danced together, having fun, until I had to use the restroom. I told her to save my place on the dance floor until I came back. She argued, saying that I shouldn’t go by myself, but I felt too free. The bracelet was gone, so no one knew who I was. I found my way to the bathroom and walked into the stall. After handling my business, I washed my hands and walked out toward the full-length mirror. I reached inside my purse to refresh my red lipstick and make sure my face was okay. Then, I heard the door open, and two men walked in with masks on.
“You can’t be…” was all I remember before my face was covered, and I passed out.
I woke up inside a room in a warehouse. I didn’t know how long I was out, but I heard voices. It was a lot of different voices, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I knew I wasn’t home, and I said a silent prayer that I was just dreaming, and this would be over soon. That wasn’t the case. The door swung open, and a fine man with dreads pulled me out and dragged me to the table surrounded by men, one being my brother. How the fuck had they found me?
“Aaahhhhh!” I screamed as my head hit the side of the door.
I opened my eyes and realized this shit wasn’t a dream, and I was not in Colombia. Then, everything started coming back to me. Thiago’s head on the table. A contract. A man sayin’ I waspart of the contract. The younger, mean looking man thought it was funny and brought me to the table and handed me over to his brother like I was a piece of meat, but I did know what was going on.
When my brother and his gang left, I didn’t know what the fuck would happen to me. His eyes turned from the beautiful color to black. The fine man with the light cognac eyes lifted me up and took me to his car when the sun went down.
“Didn’t I tell you not to make a sound?” his voice thundered through the car.
I jumped in fear, and he laughed. The smell and humidity that permeated the air had me gasping. The climate was different. The wind was wet. I could see the big lights and tall buildings surrounding us.
“There is no need to be scared, Bluey, because I think you are in good hands with me. It just depends on how you act.” He laughed and continued to drive.
I looked around and noticed that we were turning down a dirt road with trees that looked like a forest. I panicked.
“Please don’t kill me. Whatever you want, my father can give you. I don’t want to fucking die like my brother. Please take me back home!” I yelled because I was scared shitless.
“You are far away from home, Bluey. I mean countries away from home, and stop that fucking yelling,” he said before he swerved and stopped the car. He got out of the front seat and came to the back seat, where I was sitting. He opened the door, and the first thing I saw was a syringe with clear liquid. I moved to the other side of the back seat. He bent and grabbed my ankle, and I kicked and screamed, but he caught it anyway.
“Screaming will do you no good this way. Look the fuck around. But I got something that will shut yo’ ass up.” He took the needle and stuck it in my toe, then everything faded to black.
I jumped out of my sleep, thinking this was just another dream, but quickly realized it wasn’t. I didn’t know where the fuck I was. I jumped from the soft bed and looked around me. I quickly got up but fell back down because I was dizzy. I lay there for a few minutes, then got up slowly and walked around the area.
Clink clink
My face hit a hard ass glass, making me stumble back. I went to the other corners and realized I was in a fucking box. A glass homemade box. I looked around, but all I could see was darkness. The only light was where I was. There was a bed, a toilet, and a sink, and the floor was carpeted. I only had on a long T-shirt with nothing underneath. Had he taken advantage of me, and I didn’t feel it? Did he fuck me before he put me in this human cage? My nerves got the best of me, and I started banging on the glass until my hands were bruised. Tears fell down my cheeks as I started to scream.
“Let me out of here! I can’t be in here! I am claustrophobic! I can’t breathe! Please, whatever you want, you can have, I promise!” I screamed repeatedly as I sobbed. I sat on the floor Indian style and rocked back and forth, praying this was a dream. I heard a door creak open and hard footsteps coming downstairs that I couldn’t see.
“I want you in this moment, and that’s what it will be until I let you out. You are breathing, Bluey, or you wouldn’t be able to talk to me. Use your head.” I heard his voice, but I didn’t know his name, and I couldn’t see him.
“Calm down. I won’t hurt you unless you do some stupid shit and make me.” I heard his voice again and shivered. The tears dried up.
His voice made me calm, and I couldn’t understand it. My body stopped rocking, but I didn’t get up.
