Chapter 19
BEASTY
"How do you like working at Snatched?" I asked Desiree as we walked to the office.
She was on her break, and I needed a breather from being around so many people. I glanced down at my blouse just to make sure it was fitted right.
The afternoon's...fun, had been just what we needed. I had no idea the Feral Room could be like that. My heart had pounded so much during the chase, it seemed to take hours for my body to calm down.
Yet, I'd never felt so alive. Or satisfied.
It was freeing.
It was also a good thing that Kim had brought several changes of outfits to the office just in case. Although, I wasn't sure if this was the reason he thought we'd need them.
I turned my head so Desiree wouldn't see my smile.
"It's really good." Her words were quiet as I scanned us into the hallway to the office.
"Yeah?" I tapped my card on the sensor. Opening the door, I peeked inside, then stood back for Desiree to precede me.
"Yes." There was still a haunted look about her.
Her undereyes seemed to be a little hollow as if she needed sleep, but who wouldn't in her position. From the few bits and pieces of conversation we'd had, it seemed like she spent years living in fear and suffering abuse. The only thing holding her together had been Rocco, and she’d lost him.
Desiree was grieving.
But there was a little light in her eyes. Like it was good for her to stay busy.
"I didn't have any time to think about...any of those cunts." The last word was spewed with so much hatred, I blinked.
"Sorry.” She ducked her head. “I don't mean that directed at you."
"It's okay, I get it." I raised one shoulder as I grabbed a water from our minifridge. "Want one?"
She nodded, and I tossed her the one in my hand and grabbed another.
"Most of the girls are nice. There are a couple who remind me of the whores the Pescis kept around. They weren't the wives. But you know, the bitches who thought they'd eventually be a wife, not understanding their place in the Pesci pecking order."
She said all this like I'd know exactly what she was talking about. "Where was that?"
Desiree stopped. "You don't...I'm sorry, I just assumed since you're here that you—"
I patted her hand resting on the table.
A year ago, I'd never touch someone so easily.
But after taking it for myself, understanding affection was a basic need that had been starving my whole life, I figured.
..well, I figured maybe she could use a bit of human touch too.
And if she didn't, I hoped she’d tell me, or show some kind of sign that it wasn't okay.
I was good at that—reading body language. And everything Desiree broadcast was that she needed the comfort as much as I had.
"Assume I know nothing. I just joined the guys not that long ago. And they're not into the crime life how the Pescis are."
Desiree nodded, plucking at the bottle label.
"You're right. So, um," she started. "The whores, as the guys refer to the girls, are the women that get all dolled up every night and hang out at the different clubs and restaurants the Pescis own.
They'll fuck any of the men who want them, and they think they'll get wife status one day by paying their dues.
And they act like it's already theirs from how they talk to each other and backstab whoever just to get time with a man higher in the organization. "
I was shocked, but I wasn't. What she described was just human nature.
"These women wouldn't ever become wives?"
Desiree pulled a sneer as her gaze cut to the side. "No. The Pescis and their men will only wife up women who haven't slept with any of their friends."
I had a question on the tip of my tongue, but I didn't ask it. It wasn't any of my business, and I didn't want to make her upset. She'd been through enough.
"You're curious?"
Maybe Desiree was more astute than I'd given her credit for. Before I could answer, she told me exactly what I'd wanted to know.
"I wasn't a wife. Donnie fucked me the most, because he has a thing for petite girls, but so did his top men. Danny even took his turn once." She licked her lips before baring her teeth in an angry imitation of a smile. "I guess you could say I was above a whore, but still a whore all the same."
What. The. Fuck.
"You're not a whore. You were a victim. That says everything about the monsters they are and nothing about you."
"Yeah? Well, I didn't say no."
"Because you wanted it or because you didn't have a choice?" I snapped. Then took in a breath.
Her eyes widened. "The first time," she said, then gulped. "I didn't know who they were and Donnie was charming enough. Then they blackmailed Rocco, and we learned really quickly who and what they were. I tried to say no once..." She turned her head.
"And?" I asked gently, remembering the trauma book I'd been reading to help Kim. I wouldn't push, just let her know she was safe to talk to me if that was what she wanted.
"And the next day, Rocco had a broken arm and a missing canine."
Fury boiled under my skin. I hadn't felt this level of rage since I realized what that monster Gates had been doing to the boys, then when Lucas had kidnapped them while I’d been helpless and searching, not knowing if I'd ever see them again.
My skin prickled with how tight it seemed to shrink over my body.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. It wasn't your fault.
You decide what life you're going to live, and you're strong, Desiree.
Don't let their actions dictate your identity, you can do whatever you want to do.
Anything is possible." I believed that now more than ever, even when it was difficult.
Actually, I should be standing in a mirror.
She pulled her shoulders up and shut her eyes. I placed my hand on hers again, and whispered, "Breathe."
Sucking in a big inhale, she shook herself. "You're right. It's just fucking hard. Rocco was the only family I had left." Her voice was thick.
This girl was two seconds away from crying.
While I didn’t know about losing blood family, not like this, I knew how I’d feel if the boys were ever truly taken from me. I would be devastated and on a rampage, but I’d almost lived that once already.
"What can I do to help?"
Her eyes snapped open and where seconds ago they'd been filled with despair, now they were chock full of quiet rage, the kind that never went away and never broke.
She'd be okay. I could tell, she was a survivor just like we were.
"What do you think the guys are going to do about the Pescis?" She changed the subject and my brain had to think for a second.
"They're going to make sure the Pescis can't hurt anyone ever again." There was so much vehemence in my voice, I wanted her to know just how true it was. They wouldn't hurt us, and they damn sure wouldn't be able to hurt her again.
"That's what I want but..." she hesitated, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. "I want to be the one to kill Donnie. If there's a choice." Desiree raised her eyes to mine, fear and hope warring within them.
Wow. I was surprised, but at the same time, I understood completely.
Grabbing her hands, I squeezed. "If there's a way we can do it, I'll tell the guys. If that's what you need for closure, I want you to have it."
Her nostrils flared as she worked to control her breathing.
I glanced at the clock. "Let's eat. Then it's time to get back to work."
At the end of the night, Desiree was already waiting at the door, ready to head to the garage. The boys and I met in the office. It was our ritual, and just that simple routine made me feel more at home here than should be possible.
"Ready?" I smiled at her as Kim swung our joined hands. Atlas held my other one as though he was protecting it from air.
"I'm ready."
We piled in the SUV, and started our way home.
Desiree yawned as Joaquin sat in the passenger seat flipping his cards in some elaborate shuffling.
Since we pulled him to the Gold Room that night, I hadn't seen him drink, and I was so proud of him, but I was afraid to breathe a word about it. Just in case I jinxed it.
Leaning my head on Kim's shoulder, I almost let myself nod off. Until Lake pushed the pedal to the floor. I jolted as the car accelerated.
"What's going on?" Atlas asked, curling around me like he was some kind of armor. Kim and Joaquin snapped toward the back as light flashed over Lake's face.
He glared. "Someone is following us."
I twisted in my seat. Desiree looked too.
Sure enough, the bright lights blinded me as their engine rumbled so loud, it eclipsed ours. It accelerated, tapping the back of our SUV.
"Fuck!" Lake floored the gas.
Desiree cried out, lying down in the seat as I flipped back around. The last thing I needed was a neck injury.
What could we do? We were in the middle of nowhere between the club and our house.
"We're going to lose this motherfucker." Lake took a sharp left turn at the next intersection, speeding down an old deserted road. We gained a few seconds lead for the time it took the car to whip around to follow us.
When they almost caught up to us, Lake pulled a U-turn, skidding the tires across the asphalt and fishtailing until we straightened out and tore down the road in the opposite direction.
We had an even bigger lead. But it didn't last long.
Gripping Atlas and Kim's hands, I turned to check where the other car was. It was a ways back, but the lights were getting bigger, brighter, as they gained on us.
"Fuck!" Lake yelled.
"They must have a turbo engine," Joaquin said as he furiously typed. "Guy has a team on the way. Take this asshole past the Coal intersection. It's far enough out of town that no one will be out that way."
"That's five fucking minutes away." Lake grunted as the car rammed into us from behind. It wasn't hard enough to drive us off the road. It was more like this asshole was playing with us.
Lake tapped the brakes. The car hit us again. Then Lake shot off.
The ride along the winding road was the longest five minutes of my life.
"It's just up ahead!" Joaquin pointed, giving us hope.
My heart lodged in my throat as I sent up a prayer to anyone listening.
Let Guy already be there. Let us escape this alive. Let us fucking have a break.
The car rammed us and this time, metal groaned.
"Guy says floor it."
"I am fucking flooring it!" Lake gripped the steering wheel, and I swore it creak.
As if of one mind, Atlas and Kim wrapped themselves around me, burying their heads in my neck. Their hot breaths both comforting and freaking me the fuck out.
What did they think was going to happen?
Somehow, Lake picked up just enough speed that the car couldn't get us again. He blew through the intersection, and we jolted over the gravel road.
The crash hit behind us before I had time to process it. Twisting, I gasped as an SUV shoved the car sideways. It didn’t stop pushing with such force, until the car slammed against a tree.
Fuck.
Their horn blared as the bright headlights cut through the night fog.
Lake slammed the brakes and threw us into park. Grabbing his gun, he clicked off the safety and opened his door. "Stay here."
What the hell? I—What the fuck? I couldn't stay here.
Joaquin had his cards put away and his own gun in hand as he jumped out to follow Lake.
I tried to crawl over Atlas but he gripped my body, pinning my arms. "No."
"No!" I shrieked.
"Beasty, calm down." Kim panted like he was miles away from hysterical, and he had the audacity to tell me to calm down.
"They could be attacking them!"
Two shots fired. Shouting echoed through the trees.
We froze.
I couldn’t do this. I needed to see Lake and Joaquin weren’t in trouble with my own eyes. Wrestling against Atlas, I screamed, "Let me out!"
"It's all clear!" Guy shouted.
Atlas grunted, dropping his hands and opening his door. Kim got out on his side as Atlas helped me out. I almost took off at a run but Desiree made a noise.
I pulled the backseat up, and she hopped out. Without waiting for anyone, I sprinted to the crash.
Guy and his people had four men lined up on the ground, off to the side of the headlights. Two of them groaning, and two…dead.
"Who are they?" I inched closer, but Joaquin placed a hand on my stomach.
"Danny Pesci was the driver." His voice was gruff, almost unsure.
Guy shone a flashlight over their bodies, and I sucked in a deep breath.
Danny Pesci, or who I thought was Danny from his resemblance to Donnie, was mangled up. There was so much blood on his body, he couldn't have much left inside it.
"He's dead?" I asked, trembling.
Lake glanced at us, his lips pressed into a firm line. "Yes. And so is the man who was sitting right behind him."
Desiree stormed over, swinging her arms and stretching her stride. Big movements from such a small body. "He's dead? This monster is actually dead?"
She didn't stop until she stood over him, half of her face in light, half in shadow. What I could see was twisted up in so much anger, so much grief, I looked away.
Then she bellowed, a pain-filled scream, and started kicking him. He didn't twitch when she caught him in the neck. The next hit was a stomp to the face. That must be her favorite because she did it again. Again.
And again.
The boys stood back just watching, like they understood that kind of rage. Guy gauged the guys’ reaction before carefully approaching her as if she were a wild animal.
In this moment, she was.
"He's dead, sweetheart." I'd never heard him speak so gently.
His words penetrated because with the next stomp, Desiree said, "He hasn't hurt enough!"
"Who are the other two?" I asked softly as Kim placed a hand on my hip. Not restraining me, just touching, as if he needed reassurance that I was there.
"More of their goons, I'm sure," Guy answered without taking his eyes off of a still raging Desiree.
"Take them to the Gray Room." Lake walked to us, apparently done with this scene.
"What about the bodies?" Guy asked.
Lake’s steps faltered like he was thinking hard about it. "Fuck. Stuff them in the Gray Room too until we figure out what to do with them."
"You got it."
Together, the five of us stood there, waiting for Desiree to finish getting this man out of her system.
Just like that, one of the threats was dead, yet it seemed like the game was more dangerous than ever.