Page 68 of From My Past
I ripped the vent grate out unceremoniously and pulled the small clear bag containing a cell phone out. It was dreadful, freaky and scary all at the same time. A fog of suspense filled the air as I unwrapped the phone from the clear plastic, seeing the words ‘Unknown Number’ flashing on the screen. It was an older phone; wouldn’t have internet, was made only for calling and sending out the occasional text, and it wasstillringing.
So many questions went through my mind. Should I answer it? How did the phone get in the vent? Who hid it within my apartment? But ultimately,should I answer it?
I took a deep breath and realized I would answer it regardless, I was too nosy. I needed to know who was on the other end. I pressed the green ‘talk’ button and slowly brought it to my ear.
“Hello?” I said strongly, hoping my voice sounded stronger than I felt.
“About goddamn time, you whore.”
Luca’s voice filled my ear and my body immediately went into protection mode. I curled into myself; my shoulders scrunching up higher, my arms wrapping around my torso and my feet slid up, bending at the knees to protect myself. It was so fucking stupid, just the sound of his voice sent me into this fearful state.
Not again. Never again.
“What do you want?” I sneered, forcing myself to relax and reminding myself that he wasn’t in the room, he couldn’t hurt me.
“I wanted to let you know, show you, just how inadequate you’re protected with the Irish. I wanted to show you I could’ve killed you. I could’ve done so much fucking worse than kill you. You aren’t safe. Not from me, not from my men.”
“That’s funny, Luca. It just seems like you weren’t man enough to kill me. You never have been. Just a weak, pathetic excuse of a man who thinks hitting and raping women is okay.”
I knew I was playing with fire but fuck, it felt amazing to finally tell him off. Finally show him he has no hold on me. I felt more powerful with the safety of the phone.
“I’ll remember that.” Luca said. I could tell he was livid by his accent thickening; in my mind’s eye he was most likely grinding his teeth and his nostrils were flaring.
“You should, motherfucker.”
“You’re being awfully cocky for being such a whiny cunt.”
“I finally have a partner who supports and cherishes me, not uses me as their emotional and physical punching bag.”
Luca scoffed through the phone. “For now. He’ll get tired of you like I did and kick you to the curb. Then you’ll have no one to hide behind,darling. You’re going to pay for what you’ve done, the war you’ve started and the inconvenience you’ve put me through for this. Just know this, you are going to get what is coming to you. What you deserve.”
Before I even took a breath to respond to the vitriol, he was spewing my way, Luca hung up and I was met with a dial tone. One thing was for sure, he wasn’t letting me go. What Kieron had said about Luca’s ego being bruised and how he wanted to punish me for it, was completely true.
Luca wasn’t going to stop.
I hope I could stop him before he hurt anyone I loved. I couldn’t let that happen. Even at cost of my own life.
I walked out into the living room, sitting down next to the go-bag with the phone in my hand. It was scary that Luca had somehow gotten into my apartment and stashed a phone. It was terrifying that he had been here when I was sleeping and vulnerable without Kieron there for protection. Without anyone or anything for protection.
Wherever Kieron was taking me, wherever this safehouse was, I was going to have him teach me to fight. Maybe even have him train me on how to use a gun. I would not be left vulnerable like that ever again.
I tossed the phone across the room. Not hard enough to break it, but I needed some space. I needed to think and calm down before Kieron got back.
The view from this high up was incredible and I hadn’t really given it the proper appreciation it deserves. With nothing else to do but wait, I figured no time like the present. Pulling back the gossamer curtain, it was like I could finally take a deep breath. We are so high above the fog up here, above the sounds of the city. The sun was brightly shining, illuminating the world in the best possible way regardless of any darkness or ugliness that was tainting my life.
I put my hand up against the warming glass, noticing for the first time just how thick it is. As I take a deep breath and then rest my head against the glass, I hear a zipping sound, like one of those fireworks on the Fourth Of July that zips around obnoxiously before disintegrating in noise and being.
Looking around me, I can’t find anything in the apartment that was making any noise, let alone one as annoying as that. But then, I slowly look back to the window as I realize the noise isn’t coming from inside. It’s coming from the outside.
Through the air is whizzing some kind of pointed object, propelled like a rocket and headed straight for me. It hits the window and explodes with a deafening boom. I turn and dive for the floor with my hands over my head, bracing myself for impact and injury, but it never comes.
The glass is still standing, spider-webbed and cracked, but standing. A barrier between me and whatever bad thing was coming for me.
“What?” I whisper, lifting my head slowly and hoping that nothing else comes at me.
“Talia!” Kieron’s voice roars from the hallway. “Talia!”
I climb to my feet, shaking slightly, I stand tall and strong, not willing to let Luca take anything more from me. He had beaten me, he had hurt me and abused me, but I’m not fucking there anymore. I’m strong and him trying to kill mereallypissed me off.
