Chapter Seven
MONIQUE
––––––––
Horrified, Monique stared at the building Trevor just dragged her out of. She flinched when a window shattered, sending glass flying and allowing smoke to billow out. Her friends were going to die if she didn't do something.
Monique glanced over at Trevor. He was backing out of the parking space, preparing to take her to an unknown location where Raz's father awaited them. She couldn't let that happen. She needed to get the keys and free herself.
Then, she needed to save her friends from the inferno before it was too late. Monique's heart raced, adrenaline surging through her veins as she took a deep breath and leaned to the side in her seat. Trevor's eyes flicked over to her, his brows furrowing.
"What are you doing?" he asked, gaze drifting from her to the road, then back to her. "What..."
Before he could finish the sentence, she lifted her legs and kicked at him, slamming the heel of her foot into his side repeatedly. He swiped his hand at her, but she continued kicking, screaming as she did so.
All the anger and rage she'd been feeling since the divorce bubbled up inside her. All the hurt, the nights crying, the weight- shaming, all of that came rushing to the forefront of her mind. Then, her thoughts returned to the present.
This bastard had wanted to have her killed for his own gain. Her life had never meant shit to him. Fuck him loving her as a wife. He didn’t even have the human decency to care for her as a person.
The only people who'd been by her side through it all were Meka and Toya. They'd go to war for her at the drop of a dime. And she'd do the same for them. Still kicking at him, her foot connected with the side of his head.
"Stop!" Trevor yelled, swiping at her legs while also trying to steer the car.
But she wouldn't back down, not now. With one final kick, her foot slammed into the side of his head, sending it crashing against the window. His roar of pain gave her hope. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she continued kicking at him with all her might. She needed to get to her friends now. No one else could save them.
"Damn you!" he roared, pain and anger twisting his features.
A cry ripped from her lips when, in a swift motion, Trevor brought his elbow down on her knee. Not once. Not twice. But three times. For a moment, it felt like her entire leg had caved in. The pain was unlike anything she'd ever experienced.
It traveled up her thigh and hip. Even her stomach ached. Nausea rolled over her. She heaved, about to be sick. Swallowing the rising bile, she tried to lift her leg again, but her entire side felt like it was on fire.
"Stupid bitch," Trevor yelled as he put the car in park.
He shoved Monique's legs away from him, causing her to scream in agony. Heart pounding, she tried to control her breathing, but the pain was overwhelming. Trevor grabbed his gun and brought the barrel down hard on her knee.
Monique couldn't hold back the vomit that surged up her throat. She threw up in her mouth and swallowed it down, choking on the taste. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks: her knee had to be shattered.
"Please," she whispered through clenched teeth.
"Shut up," Trevor snarled, his eyes dark and cold as blood trailed down the side of his face.
Monique could see the twisted satisfaction in his eyes, and she knew she couldn't reason with him. This man was dangerous and beyond redemption. Trembling from the pain, all Monique could do was watch as the butt of Trevor's gun raced toward her face.
She braced herself for impact, her thoughts racing a mile a minute. If she could dodge the blow, she would. But the pain held her immobile. Even breathing hurt her beyond belief. The impact of his gun against her face was more forceful than she'd thought it would be.
Pain sliced through her face as blood poured from her nose. Her head throbbed in time with her heartbeat, making her feel dizzy. The ringing in her ears drowned out the sound of him cursing.
He hit her again. Blood dripped into her eyes, blurring her vision. Darkness surrounded her, threatening to swallow her whole. Monique's last thoughts before she passed out were filled with regret.
She'd failed her friends. She should've been stronger, a better fighter. If she survived this ordeal, she vowed to become stronger, to never be this weak again. No one would ever be able to hurt her or those she loved this way again.
But that was in the future. In the present, she was a complete failure. And Meka and Toya were about to pay the ultimate price for her weakness. As darkness pulled her under, hope faded into the abyss....
And so did she.
***
––––––––
ORAZIO
––––––––
Orazio and Rome arrived at the location where Trevor was supposed to meet up with his father's team in case of an emergency. A dirt road led to the abandoned factory that was located on the back bay.
Orazio could smell the water as they neared the building. Rome drove around the building with the security team following behind him. They all parked at the back of the facility, where Trevor wouldn't be able to see them.
"This used to be a factory where they cleaned and boxed fresh seafood to send to restaurants. Our aunt was over it," Rome told Raz. "As the business grew, she moved the company to a larger warehouse. I guess dad has been using this building in her absence."
Rome and Orazio climbed out of the car. The members of the security team approached him.
To the security team, Raz said, "I want four of you to guard the perimeter. Two of you are to come inside and guard the front door and back door. Do you have earpieces?"
"They do," Rome told him, pulling his from his pocket. "I can reach them at all times."
Raz nodded. "No matter what, do not put Monique at risk. Her friends, either. There should be three black women with Trevor. They are not to be harmed. As for her father, he'll be an older black man. Try not to kill him. But if you maim him, I'm okay with that. As for Trevor, he's all mine. If there's anyone else with them, kill them, as long as Monique doesn't get hurt."
"Yes, sir," the security team said in unison.
Raz and Rome headed into the factory. The place stunk of rotten fish. It was a scent that clung to the walls. He was pretty sure it would take a lot of scrubbing to get the stench off him once they left there. Next to him, Rome coughed.
"Cover your mouth and nose," Raz told him.
Rome placed his arm over his mouth. "There must still be fish in here from years ago. No one cleaned this place out."
"Dad couldn't have done business here," Raz said, trying to turn the light switch on.
Flick. No light. There was no way his father had used this place. It must've been a setup. If an emergency had arisen, his father would've sent Trevor here to meet his death. If Trevor had called his father and been told to meet here, by the time Trevor arrived, killers would've been waiting for him.
If Trevor tried calling his father now, Leo would answer. And killers would still be waiting for him. Mouth covered with his arm, Raz strode to the front of the building and peered out the glass window that was covered in a brown film.
He could barely see out. He found a spot that wasn't so dirty and stared out. From this spot, he had a good view of the dirt road that led to the front of the building.
"Security team," Rome said into his earpiece as he approached Raz. "Are you in place?" When Rome reached his side, he told him, "They're all in place and ready."
Raz looked down at the tracking device that he was still clutching as if it was a lifeline to Monique. The blinking dot had stopped moving for a few minutes on the drive there. But it had started back and was moving at a quick rate.
"They're almost here," Raz muttered.
"How do you feel?" Rome asked.
"Fine."
"I'm serious. How does your body feel?"
"Fine."
Rome punched him in his side, causing Raz to double over in pain.
"What the fuck, Rome?"
"You're not fine. You can't afford to do that when Trevor is here, especially if you're determined to fight him on your own. I have something you can take."
Clutching his side, Raz glared at his brother. "What is it?"
"It's called Hypoesthenon."
"What the hell is that?"
"I... created it for Cas."
"You made a drug?"
"I didn't study pharmaceutical science for no reason."
"When did you even study that?" They’d all been forced to study Business.
"In my free time."
Raz didn't have time to process that right now. "Why would you create a drug like that for Cas?"
"A few months ago, he called me while I was in Italy and told me he didn't want to feel anymore."
Cas hadn’t wanted to feel anymore? What the fuck did that even mean?
Raz inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "I can't do this right now. We'll talk about this after I get Monique back. Understood?"
Rome nodded.
"How does this drug work, and is it safe?"
"Yes, I tested it on myself."
"Rome!" Raz yelled.
"I couldn't give it to my brother if I wasn't willing to test it on myself. It works. It leaves you feeling numb. It took me a few tries to get it right. More than a few, actually. My first attempts made me sluggish, unable to move any part of my body. But, in Italy, Don Deluca let me use one of his facilities, and I was able to create a proper drug, one that takes away the pain and anxiety but leaves your mind clear, able to focus, and doesn't affect your motor functions."
"What's the side effects? You wouldn't be looking at me like that if there weren't side effects."
"It lasts for about seventeen hours if you take just one pill. Two days if you take two. During those seventeen hours, you won't be able to feel anything. If you're hit, you won't feel it. If you're burned, you won't feel it. If Monique kisses you, you won't feel it."
"Damn. Anything else?"
"You also won't be able to taste anything. Or use the bathroom."
"Shit!"
"No. No shitting for seventeen hours."
Raz and Rome chuckled. "Give it to me," Raz said.
Rome lowered his bag to the floor and searched through it. He pulled out a white bottle with a red H on it.
"I'm still refining the formula," Rome told him as he shook one pill into Raz's hand. "In the future, I hope to get rid of those side effects. But it'll take some time."
"I'll still be able to fight, right?"
Rome nodded. Raz stared at the pill for a few seconds. He trusted his brother. Plus, though he was trying to hide it, he was in a lot of pain. If this pill could help with that, he'd take it. Raz tossed the pill into his mouth and swallowed.
Rome touched his hand to his earpiece. "Copy that," he said before facing Raz. "Get ready. A car is approaching. The pill should kick in in about nine minutes. No later than fifteen minutes. Will you be alright until then?"
Raz nodded. He would be fine. It was Trevor who had to worry. Raz stared back out the window in time to see a vehicle approaching. His heart began to race. He tightened his hand around the tracking device, wishing it was Trevor's throat.
Dirt was kicked up as the vehicle approached the front of the building. Raz started toward the door, but Rome grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving.
"Wait," Rome told him. "Make sure Monique is fine first."
Raz paused. His brother was right. Before he stormed out there, ready to kill, he needed visual confirmation that Monique was alive and well. Raz quickly returned to the window to observe Trevor.
The vehicle stopped near the door. Seconds ticked by, causing Raz to grow even more impatient. What the fuck was Trevor doing? Raz couldn't see into the vehicle. Finally, the driver's side door opened, and Trevor got out.
Raz's fists clenched when his eyes landed on that bitch. A bitch he should've killed months ago. He watched him walk around to the passenger door and open it. Raz held his breath as he waited for Monique to step from the car.
But Monique never stepped from the vehicle. Instead, Trevor pulled Monique's limp body from the car, her legs dragging against the dirt road as Trevor pulled her toward the building's entrance.
Though the window was covered in grime, he could tell that her face was bloody and swollen. And she wasn't moving. Raz saw red.
"Fuck this," Raz growled, rushing to the door.
"Raz, wait. He's holding a gun. Her life is still in danger."
Raz was in kill mode. There would be no more waiting. Raz raced to the door and pulled it open. With blood coating the side of his face and a red bruise on his cheek, Trevor looked over his shoulder. He froze when his gaze connected with Raz's.
"You?" Trevor whispered, eyes wide. "W-why is it you? Where's the don?"
"You're looking at him." Raz raced outside.
Trevor dropped Monique. Her arm flailed, knocking the gun from his hand. Trevor looked down at it but decided against picking it up. Instead, the bitch took off running. Too far away to catch Monique, Raz watched her body hit the ground.
He stopped at her side and placed his finger under her nose. She was still breathing. Good . But his woman's eyes and face were swollen. Trevor had dared to put his hands on her. Clenching his fist, Raz glanced up to see Trevor running down the dirt road, leaving his car behind. He couldn't let Trevor get away. Fuck .
"Rome," Raz called out. "Get Monique inside. And call a medical team. Hurry."
Raz didn't wait to see if his brother was doing his bidding. He tore after Trevor. It was time for this shit to end. It was time for this bitch to die. Trevor could run, but he couldn't hide. A shot was fired.
The bullet hit the ground, kicking up dirt in front of Trevor, prompting the man to skid to a halt, his gaze looking in both directions, searching for the shooter. Raz stopped running and started walking toward his prey.
Trevor spun around to face Raz. Raz smiled as he approached Trevor. He'd been waiting for this moment for far too long. He was going to take his time with this bitch before taking this bitch's life.
He was going to make him feel all the pain he'd made Monique feel, not just today, but during their farce of a marriage. When he was done with Trevor, he would regret hurting the woman that Raz would give his life for.