27. Twenty-seven

I"ve come in and out of consciousness several times. I have no recollection of time. Every now and then I"m being kicked awake and getting food shoved in my mouth, or sprayed down by water. Sometimes I"m taken to a toilet, but most of the time they let me lay in my own piss. They let me keep the gag off for a while until I started screaming lyrics to random songs. I think "I"m A Barbie Girl" is what finally got the last guy.

There is loud panting and shifting happening nearby, telling me someone is in here watching me. They know better than to touch me. The last guy who tried got his hand cut off by Santiago. No one will even breathe near me now if they can help it.

I shift on the floor to get more comfortable, but nothing about the cold, hard concrete is pleasing to my skin. My hips ache and my throat is raw and dry. I"m not even sure when the last time was that they offered me water. I don"t bother opening my eyes because I"ll be met by the same black cloth. I wouldn"t stop screaming against the gag, so they took my blanket away as punishment.

The door creaks open and there"s some low mumbling. Clearly things are being said that I"m not supposed to hear. "Well, isn"t that a nice surprise? It"s a good thing we don"t need him anymore then. Most of the forms have already been signed. Once the wedding is over, I can sign the last one and everything will be mine soon, including Mateo. She and I have an agreement after all."

"She."Santiago is working with someone else. I know my aunt felt cheated when my father cut her from the business after my grandfather died, but we hadn"t seen her in years. She disappeared and my father always counted on her coming back to cause trouble. Maybe she has finally decided to make an appearance. Footsteps move my way and I recognize Santiago"s cologne and the tangy orange Tic Tacs I always hoped he would choke on someday. I"ve never been that lucky though.

"Seems like no one will be coming for you now, my precious pet. Not your father and not Gabriel. It"s impossible to do with them being dead and all."

There"s a loud ringing in my ears and my heart sinks. He"s lying, he has to be. He lifts the blindfold off my face and his eyes grow dark. His smile is wicked. "Looks like the big bad wolf finally got beaten at his own game. I hear it wasn"t pretty either."

My eyes grow wet and tears leak down my face. "Ah, don"t worry, mi amor. I"ll be here to take care of you now. Looks like you get to live after all, and I can"t stop thinking about all the fun we"re going to have."

He pulls down my gag to press his cold, hard lips to mine. I grit my teeth until it"s over. "I have to go now, mi amor. Be good for me and make sure not to fight too much. I"d hate for you to use all your energy before the big day."

Before I can say anything he shoves the gag back in my mouth. And right when he"s about to cover my eyes with the blindfold again, he is interrupted by one of his men. "Boss, I have a gift for you delivered by a friend."

He hands Santiago a white box. He smiles when he lifts the lid and pulls on the contents. "Ahh, a few special pre-wedding gifts for you, mi amor."He tosses a severed finger to the floor. It has my father"s ring on it. I remember our last conversation before I left his office, and how that same red stone appeared bright against the gold liquid in his glass. I gasp, staring at a piece of my father sitting on the floor in disbelief. "Oh, I"m not done. I"m feeling quite generous today, actually."

He holds out a familiar gold chain covered in blood. "I think I may keep this one for myself."

A cross hangs from it, the exact same one I"ve seen Gabriel wear every time we"ve seen each other. My heart beats faster and knots form in my stomach. It can"t be true.

"Still don"t believe me? What do you want me to show you next? Their heads?" He laughs, picking up the items off the floor and I"m glad when they disappear back into the box.

"Looks like everyone was wrong. He isn"t untouchable after all and neither are you. I"d hate for you to share the same fate. So, do us both a favor and don"t cause me any more problems. You no longer have Daddy or Gabriel to save you." He slides the blindfold over my eyes. "Pleasant dreams, Mateo."

I never thought I could hate the man more than I already did. I was truly in my own form of hell now and only I could get myself out. After a while, I start to doze back off and kick my feet in an attempt to stay awake. Unable to fight anymore, I let sleep slowly take me, hoping when I open my eyes again the last events will be nothing more than a nightmare.

Waking up to the same black cloth and feeling the hard, cold floor beneath me tells me everything I remember happening recently was very real. There are quick, heavy moving footsteps dancing around me and one of the men talks with panic in his voice. The only words I can make out from the distance I"m at are that two men got shot outside the warehouse. "What do we do with him?" One of them asks while closing in on me. "Leave him. He"s probably the reason they"re here to begin with. I say we go out the back way and try to sneak up on whoever it is."

"You don"t think it"s…"

"You crazy? The man is dead. You heard the boss and you saw the box."

The other guy grows quiet for a moment. "You don"t think we need to worry about Mateo getting free?"

"Nah, I slipped something in his dinner right after his shower. I didn"t want his whining to keep me up tonight."

Their shoes squeak behind me and a door opens and closes. Shouting and loud explosions sound from outside. The door opens again, and someone is breathing heavily above me, peppermint permeating the air. My mind has to be playing tricks on me. "It"s time for us to go, Mateo. Or else they"ll be putting on two funerals for me in the same month." I smile at the sound of the strong, deep, soothing voice and everything fades to black as I"m lifted in the air.