Page 14 of The Sicilian Bastard
Araceli
It was the quiet that woke me up. Ruby was bustling around the apartment, or worse, bouncing on my bed for attention. The soft tick of a clock on the wall. Something I know I didn't have in my room.
Screams. The sounds of gunshots.
A throbbing pulse behind my eyes.
"No, señor," a woman was begging for her life on her knees.
I shook my head, trying to clear it.
Another gunshot. Coughing. Dust everywhere.
I groaned and massaged my temples.
"Lo siento," she kept begging.
The throbbing intensified.
"Por favor." She had a rosary wrapped in her hands and was crawling on the floor with her head ducked.
I clawed at my neck, trying to breathe.
I turned to face the man in a haze. His face was shrouded in shadows, but his eyes were what drew me in.
I turned to my side and vomited bile all over the bed.
"Diablo," I whimpered and turned to run before he caught me.
I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar room. I must've partied too hard with Ruby after we finished our shift. That was the only explanation I could come up with. I sat up, noting the bile on the bed. My head was fuzzy and I couldn't plan a consistent thought.
I reached over to the nightstand looking for my phone, but it was empty. I opened the drawer and saw there was nothing but dust bunnies in it. I staggered off the bed to my feet. The entire room tilted, and I stumbled, collapsing to my hands and knees while I dry heaved. That must've been some party. I crawled towards the first door I saw, praying it was a bathroom.
I was in luck. It was a bathroom with cool tiling on the floor. I almost lay down and put my face on it. Almost. But I couldn't. Not until I found Ruby and figured out what happened last night.
I dragged myself up the sink and stared at my reflection. My makeup had cracked up on my face. Mascara had dripped. Maybe from dancing, maybe from crying. I couldn't tell. My foundation had flaked off some, so there were patches of skin not covered up. I was pale. There were bruises on my neck. The longer I looked, the more I couldn't shake that something terrible happened yesterday. I couldn't remember it.
I washed my hands and face and stumbled back into the room. There was nothing. I opened the closet and it was empty. I pulled out all the drawers in the dressers and nightstands and there was nothing but dust. The room was empty, void of any personality and any personal effects leading me to figure out what happened and where I was. I went to the door. I sure as fuck didn't care I had no clothes. I had bigger fish to fry. I was going to find Ruby and blow this joint, clothes or not.
I turned the knob, but it didn't budge. I pulled on the door, but there was no give. Frustrated, I kicked it, but only ended up hurting my toes. I went to the window. The first thing I noticed was green grass. I knew I wasn't back home in Vegas. The desert didn't have grass that green. The window opened and I peered out. It was a good fifty-foot drop from the ledge. Men were walking around the perimeter with guns. One was below the window.
"Hey," I whisper-yelled.
He ignored me like he was a part of the Queen's Guard or something.
"Hey, you, I'm talking to you." I leaned out of the window, tits flying in the wind.
He locked eyes on me but got very distracted by my naked breasts. The door flew open, and I screeched, almost toppling out the window in panic. Two strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist and dragged me back into the bedroom. The window slammed shut and I peered into the most furious pair of ice-blue eyes I had ever seen. They seemed familiar. The brute's jaw clenched tight. I realized he crouched down next to me on the floor, but he was huge in comparison to my tiny frame. He could crush me without a problem.
"Who are you?" I squeaked.
Then I immediately wanted to throw my head back against the wall. I needed to show I wasn't afraid of anything.
"Your worst nightmare." The brute chuckled.
It was harsh and grated on my ears. There was a wildness underneath the fury blazing in his eyes.
"Fuck off. You couldn't tolerate my nightmares, teddy bear." I snorted out my nose, wondering if this cad was for real.
