9. Stella
STELLA
I’m so tired but something in my head or body is telling me to wake up.
Since my early days in training for Homeland Security my instincts, which include listening to what my body says, have me struggling between consciousness and unconsciousness.
As my body seems to sluggishly come to life it’s hard to breathe, and I feel like I have an elephant on my chest. When I realize there are hands on my breasts and legs, trying to pull them apart, my eyes pop open as I jerk my entire body, bouncing the hands off my boobs.
What the ever-lovin’ fuck? is my only damn thought as my training kicks in.
One hand lifts slowly and my quick thought is the drugs they are injecting me with is the reason my reactions are slow.
When my hand comes in contact with the side of someone’s head, I hear the bellow right before my body is literally smooshed by the asshole on me, putting all his weight on me, trying to keep me still and trapped.
Dumb asshole is my thought as I lean up and bite whatever my mouth and teeth touch.
I feel wet and know that I penetrated his skin.
When he starts swearing in Italian I just smile with what, I guess, is a bloody mouth.
A hand comes up and grabs the front of my neck, bearing down.
Son of a bitch, he’s going to strangle me.
Images of Cullen and Isabella come to my mind and that gives me the energy to fight back.
My hands move out after a struggle, and I start punching the asshole’s lower back where his kidneys are.
Punches to that organ hurt, but better yet, can cause some major damage internally.
I can hear his breathing catch when I raise my right hand and punch where his lungs and ribs are.
After consistent punching I feel a rib let go, and that forces him to roll because he can’t breathe.
If I’m lucky that rib bone might penetrate his lung and collapse it.
Rolling, I manage to twirl my ass to the floor and instantly get up on all fours and start crawling.
That’s when I’m blinded immediately by the bright lights of the room and I think a Mag light.
I hear Gino’s voice filled with rage and something I can’t even explain, but I knew this jerk was going to be put to ground, as the brothers at the club used to say.
My eyes are swollen probably from being choked and I can feel parts of my body starting to feel really bad.
Holy shit, thank God I forced myself to wake up.
Someone approaches me and I start to crawl, only to come up against a wall.
Slowly, looking up, I see it’s one of Gino’s lieutenants who’s leaned over and is gently helping me to my feet.
His hands are around my upper arms and his eyes never leave mine.
As I try to balance on my own, I suddenly realize my robe is wide open with no tie on it.
Trying to get this guy to release me I lift a knee, which he avoids, and places me in front of him.
Then to my utter surprise he reaches down and opens his belt, pulling it off and handing it to me.
When my eyes meet his I see nothing there that would usually alarm me.
How the hell did Gino find a man with manners and a conscience?
I wrap the belt around me and then the guy gently grabs my arm and we walk a few steps to the bed, where I gasp.
The bed is covered in blood and the asshole who was planning on raping me is lying there looking like he is about to bleed out.
His eyes are on Gino, his mouth moving but nothing is coming out.
When he sees movement his eyes shift; the hatred and something evil takes over his eyes.
I hear him call me a puttana. Gino first swears to himself in Italian then reaches over, placing his hands around the asshole’s neck.
At first his legs kick and arms swing, but after a very short time his limbs fall to the bed.
I see his chest slow and then stop moving up and down.
Holy Christ, I just witnessed the mob boss, Gino, kill a human being with his own hands.
My heart starts to hurt instantly because there will be no way in hell Gino will ever let me go, as I just watched him literally murder someone while he used his own hands.
Knowing I’m going into shock, the guy holding me up tightens his hold on me for a second.
When my legs give out he lifts me into his arms, carrying me out of the room and down the hall.
I hear someone running behind us and a younger man passes us and opens a door on the left.
He walks in and goes directly to the bed, placing me in it gently.
When I glance at his face first then his eyes, all I see is kindness and worry.
It’s what he says when he leans closer that has me gasping.
“Stella, show no emotion. I am a friend of Incubus and when I am able to, will reach out for help. Everyone is being watched though and since I have a family, can’t take any unnecessary chances.
Oh, I’m Geovani or Van, which is what my family and friends call me.
I’ll try to keep an eye over you, but please do me a favor, don’t show any emotion or sign that we’ve talked. If you got it, just blink twice.”
I do exactly what Van asks me to do and with that he stands.
He starts to walk toward the door, when Gino comes rushing in, gun in his hand.
When he sees Van he pushes the barrel of the gun onto his forehead, which has Van stopping immediately.
Before I know what I’m doing, I scream from the bed, needing to get the mob boss’s attention and shift the moment as quickly as possible.
So I do something I’m so against. I play the weak woman who was physically attacked.
Such a goddamn joke, but got to work with what I have.
“Gino, what the hell is going on? Why is everyone fighting? I can’t take it any longer and who was that man who tried to rape me?
Oh my God, was I raped? Or did I wake up interrupting that animal who almost raped me?
Holy shit, I think I’m going to be sick.
Gino, help me. I’m losing my mind, what have you done to me? ”
I watch as Gino instantly drops his gun and places it in his holster on his side.
Now that I’m looking at him, he’s still in his street clothes while I’m in bed sleeping.
Something isn’t right but before I can even analyze it, he’s on the bed, pulling me up to a sitting position, his arms around me.
This was my doing because I have absolutely no doubt he was about to blow Van’s head off for no reason at all.
My eyes meet Van’s and the look he gives me, shit, never have I seen a man so grateful.
He mouths, “Thanks,” turns, and walks out leaving the door wide open.
Need to talk to Cobalt and Incubus about helping that guy out, not sure how, but there has to be something they can do.
I can only pray Van is able to reach out to the club so they can get their asses here and save me before it’s too late.
Hearing Gino mumbling while his hands move gently over my back, I know what I have to do, even though it turns my stomach to even think about it. I lean back and put on my grateful face.
“Gino, oh my God, thank you so much for checking on me when you did. I never saw that guard before, and for some reason I was so tired and fell into a deep sleep. I woke up to him on top of me, his hands…oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I can’t even think about where they were.
I feel so violated because I have no idea what all he actually did.
Did he rape me or maybe I woke up before he got that far? Can you beat it out of him, Gino?”
“Tesoro, unfortunately, he is unable to provide us with any answers as I sent his soul straight to hell. I don’t think it got that far, but you do have red marks on your neck, bite marks on you throat and breasts that I can see.
When you can, we will get you up and you can search the rest of your body.
I see a bruise starting on the left side of your face and your lip is swollen.
Wait, yeah, I think he bit your lower lip multiple times. ”
Even though I’ve mentioned it before knowing this is the perfect time to bring it up, I do.
“Gino, how did I sleep through all of that as I’m a very light sleeper.
Do you think he drugged me so I was unable to protect myself?
Please tell me, Gino, that you’ve not been giving me some kind of narcotic to make me bend to your will.
Hey, tell me the truth. Have you been drugging me?
Because now that I think about it, I sure am sleepy at night.
Wait, thinking about it after I drink some of my bottled water, which the guards always open for me, I get all disoriented and then extremely sleepy.
Or is the bottle open and they act like they are cracking the seal?
Son of a bitch, Gino, are you drugging me? Tell me the truth, I deserve it.”
His head drops, which tells me everything I need to know, but I can’t let on so I fake trembling in his arms and blink a lot until my eyes fill up.
When he lifts his head and looks at me I can tell he’s feeling guilty, which is good.
The bastard should feel goddamn guilty, the son of a bitch.
Now I’m curious to see if this mob boss will tell the truth.
“Stella, Tessoro, please understand. I can’t have you fighting each and every guard.
We both know you are very well trained, and I can’t keep bringing in new men as we are supposed to be hiding out.
Don’t look at me like you’re so hurt. Let’s face it, Stella, neither of us trusts the other, we are on opposite sides and at war, so what did you expect?
I need something to bring Incubus to heel, and if shooting you up with a small amount of drugs will accomplish that, then I’ll do it every single fucking day, woman.
I need his skills and I will do anything to get them.
Remember that. Now my man over there, Giovani, fuck, wait a minute, I have a few with that name so we are calling this one Van, shit, my mind wanders too much stuff going on.
He will be bringing you some new pajamas and a robe, along with some hot chocolate with marshmallows.
That is your favorite when you are sad or needing some comfort, am I correct?
Also, do I need to call in my doctor to check you out? ”
My head shoots up and I look at Gino with new eyes. Son of a bitch, this jagoff has researched me thoroughly. He’s watching me closely, so I put my head down and lift a hand to wipe away a fake tear before slowly lifting my head, trying to look submissive. From the flare in his eyes, it worked.
“Thank you, Gino, for taking care of me. I don’t think that I’m in need of a doctor. Maybe some Tylenol or Advil for my headache and a heating pad for my back. Otherwise, I think it will end up being a lot of bruises and the healing of them along with the bites. Thank you again for asking, sir.”
Adding that I already know it will give me points, and damn, am I right. He leans up, shoulders back, head held high. And his eyes are literally glowing, which tells me this asshole likes to try and play in the BDSM world. Good to know.
“Sleep, Tesoro, after your hot chocolate. I’ll have Van bring something for your head and before you ask, no, not any drugs tonight. You’ve been through enough. If you should need me just let any one of my men know. There will be two lieutenants at your door. We will talk more tomorrow.”
He leans down, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead before standing then turning and walking to and out the door, which is left open.
I take in a deep breath, congratulating myself on a job well done, though no expression is on my face or body because, not sure if this room has cameras.
Suddenly, I’m so tired. I close my eyes, hoping Van makes the hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows.
As I start to process what’s happened my tiredness disappears and I start planning my next move.
I can’t depend on Van to reach out to Incubus, though it gives me some peace of mind knowing someone here is on my side.
Also have to remember to not acknowledge Van when he’s around, don’t want to blow either his cover or my intentions.
As far as Gino knows I’m the victim, clinging to him, which he seems to thoroughly enjoy.
I’ll fake a horrific nightmare here and there so it feeds his need to take care of the little woman.
This will also stop him from making moves on me, because now I can use my attack as a reason not to let him put his grimy filthy hands on me.
I’ll apologize and everything to make him think I have a form of Stockholm syndrome.
Maybe, I’ll even try to physically act out like I want to participate in a sexual moment but just can’t.
This should buy me some time is what I’m thinking as I fall asleep with so much shit on my mind.
Before I am out, my last thought is I need Cullen/Incubus to come save me.
That thought makes me happy and mad because I’ve never played the damsel in distress.
Well, except earlier, but that was to save Van’s life.
And at this point I’ll play anything to get out of this goddamn mess.
I need to get back to my life, my husband, and most importantly my baby girl.