Page 36 of Encircled in Darkness
Arriving at her house, she stayed in the car until I checked the ‘couple of cameras’ she knew I had installed on the outside of the house. Amaya still wasn’t aware I had every inch of the inside covered, and I hoped to show her the tapes of us together soon. She admitted she enjoyed porn and I wondered how she would feel knowing I had every intimate moment captured for our enjoyment.
Not finding anything out of the ordinary, I helped her from her car and unlocked the house. She went to take a shower and I sent a message to Devlin and Skid when I heard the water turn on.
James: Has the system found anything yet?
Last week, we had caught a partial view of a car we think he was driving. I set the computers to run the car, the color, the partial plate, and used the facial recognition software to tap into ATM’s and city cameras. I informed the police we were looking for a dangerous fugitive and they were all too happy to let us do the hard work.
Devlin: So far nothing but I put the word out that I want Cole found and his location reported back to me.
My brother had a reputation of kill first, ask questions later, and for years I was right by his side. I wasn’t known to many people, I was just the computer geek that hid behind the scenes, when in truth, I had more bodies in the boneyard than my brother.
Skid: I have a few brothers in town for a meeting and I’ll ask them to keep an eye out.
Skid’sbrotherswere the DeathHounds MC and they had been a valuable asset to Devlin and me over the years. We had just taken control of Marco’s empire almost a dozen years ago when Devlin came across a young kid who was looking down the barrel of a gun. He walked up behind the man, slit his throat, and he walked away without a second glance.
We thought nothing of it until the following week when two dozen chromed out motorcycles pulled into our compound and demanded a meeting. Turns out Devlin had saved the youngest brother of the MC’s Sergeant at Arms. That day, Skid pledged a life debt to Devlin, and he began working for us on minor matters.
Through the years, the MC had let him be away more and more, but lately, he had been hanging out at the clubhouse in his free time. It was only a matter of time before he regained their ranks, and we both knew that’s what would make him the happiest. Devlin never wanted the debt, but obliged, knowing it was better to have the deadliest MC East of the Mississippi as an ally and not an enemy.
I heard the water shut off and I pulled out the bag of weed I had picked up for Amaya and rolled her a joint. She wasn’t a walking zombie like some smokers and if it helped her sleep without twitching and moaning all night, I would buy her a ton to keep her happy. Besides, our state just went legal, so fuck anyone who looked down on her.Hypocritical pill-popping alcoholics.
She walked into the small living room wearing a thin cami top and a small pair of shorts. Her ass cheeks hung out of them and she knew they drove me crazy. She smirked as she walked through the dining room, her hips swaying as she opened the refrigerator. Pulling out two bottles of water, she turned around not realizing I was standing in her personal space.
She let out a screech, dropped the bottles on the floor, and clutched her chest. Laughing, I picked her up and encouraged her to wrap her legs around my waist as carried her to the back porch. Depositing her on the chair, I lit the joint and handed it to her while I retrieved our waters. I came to find Nova, the cock blocking cat, sitting on her lap as she leaned back in the chair and blew the acrid smoke into the air.
“Asshole cat. He took my idea.”
She looked over her shoulder at me and laughed deep from her belly. To see her so happy, so relaxed, knowing she was mine, made the monster crawl into the dark recess of my mind. I could finally exhale the breath that felt like it had been stuck in my chest for years.
Amaya
James and I climbed into bed, our naked bodies entwined as I fell into a peaceful slumber. I had grown used to having his body wrapped around mine and it gave me calm from the darkness as I slept pressed against him. When I would have an unpleasant dream, when the demons nipped at my heels, James would pull me tighter against him and hold me until the anxiety passed.
Natalia and I were walking along the sandy beach, our first ever visit to the ocean. We had always wanted to see the Atlantic but couldn’t afford the trip or the missed work. Her long black hair was waving in the breeze and her blue eyes lit up with delight as the chilly water rushed over her feet.
“It’s cold. I didn’t think the water would be this cold.”
I looked over at her and smiled. She was always so beautiful, and I was envious of her flawless perfection. The sun was beating down on us as we strolled down the beach, completely alone. I had never seen so much water, the power of the waves more than I could have expected. Natalia was walking along the edge of the water and when I tried to reach out to her, she would always be just past my reach. Turning, she spoke to me, her angelic voice rolling around me.
“It’s time to let me go, Amaya. You’ve sacrificed enough for me and you deserve to live your life the way you want.” She grinned and I remembered how she always smiled at me growing up, reminding me that we had each other and that it was enough.
“I can’t let you go. You’re the only family I have left. You’re my best friend. I love you, Natty. I can’t survive without you.” The tears fell from my eyes and I tried to reach for her again, only to come up short.
“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You were always stronger than I was.”
“I’m not strong. I’m not.” I wiped the tears from my cheeks and croaked. “I’m afraid to be alone.”
“He loves you, you know that, right? That man loves you more than any person has loved another in the history of the world. He’ll take care of you and protect you until the end of eternity.”
“Why do you want to leave me?” My tears distorted her beauty and the sound of the ocean slowed as she tilted her head.
She stepped to me and I could feel her soft hand caress my cheek. Natalia had been more of a parent to me than the ones who created me, and the thought of losing her was ripping my heart open.
“You’ve done more than anyone could ask for, but it’s time. There’s so much more waiting for me and one day, you’ll see me again. I promise, Amaya. Be strong, my beautiful sister. And live.” She kissed my cheek and disappeared into the breeze.
I ran, looking for her, screaming her name, but I was alone. So alone.
Feeling someone watching me, I spun in a circle, only to find the beach empty. I wrapped my arms around my stomach and fell to my knees in the sand as I screamed her name into the air.
