8. Zombie #2
I hesitated for a second then flipped it open.
Confusion took over when I saw my ex-girlfriend Cassie walking down the street pushing a stroller, and then another photo of her holding what looked to be a two-year-old girl.
The wheels began to churn in my head as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing.
“So.” Sarah’s voice took me out of my trance and tore my attention away from the photos. “Do you remember, oh I don’t know, about three years ago, when you started dating a girl named Cassie Rodrigo?”
I was so confused. What did Cassie have to do with Ricci? Why was she being used as an incentive? We’d broken up amicably and I had nothing but platonic thoughts and feelings for her.
“What does Cassie have to do with this? We are no longer together and clearly, she’s had a child since the breakup,” I bit out.
When Cassie and I ended, we’d made an agreement that we would stay friends and keep in touch.
But when I had reached out, she never responded.
In fact, I hadn’t heard from her since a week or two after the breakup.
I figured that she had changed her mind and just didn’t want me in her life and I wanted to respect that.
But now seeing her photos, alarm bells were starting to ring in my head.
Sarah let out a dry laugh. “Oh, you fool!”
I narrowed my eyes at her trying to figure out what I’d said that was wrong.
“Did you ever consider that maybe she got pregnant and didn’t tell you?”
I looked back down at the photos. The resemblance between the child and me was uncanny. Dirty-blonde hair, blue eyes that were shaped like mine, and a facial structure like my own. My heart sunk into my stomach. She had a baby? She had our baby?
“How do I know this child is actually mine?”
Sarah pursed her lips before moving some of the pictures to a DNA completion sheet. “Thought you may ask that and that’s why before Daddy died, we did a DNA test with his blood and her blood and it was confirmed that he is the paternal grandfather. She is the one listed as Ryann Rodrigo.”
I looked at the evidence before me and wanted to punch something, kick something, anything to get this rage out. She was telling the truth. In front of me was evidence that Ryann Rodrigo was a relative match to Anthony Ricci. Confirming that she was also related to me.
“Now I can see the gears turning in your mind. Ever wonder why you couldn’t ever get in touch with her ever again?”
Anger surged in me. “What did you do to her?” I gritted out. My feelings for Cassie hadn’t changed from platonic, but I certainly didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. Especially not by the hands of these psychopaths. And now there was also a child involved. My child.
The reality sat heavy in my gut. I’d never envisioned myself having children due to the nature of my job and my abandonment issues with my father. But here I was, a father, and just as if she’d been placed in my arms when she was born, I felt responsible. I felt paternal.
Sarah let out another menacing chuckle before reaching into her back pocket and taking out her phone, showing me a picture. I was going to kill this bitch. The photo was of Cassie and our daughter in a cell holding each other tightly. I stayed silent and continued to see red.
“I made sure that you would never tell a soul about the operation. Call it insurance.”
I lunged across the table.
Sarah just laughed and pulled away, clicking her tongue. “Tsk, tsk. Now Dante, keep a level head. If you want to ensure that Cassie and little Ryann are not harmed and placed for sale, you will not tell a soul about this operation. Do you understand the deal?”
I nodded and let her continue while I seethed. “How do I know you will uphold your end of the bargain?”
Sarah gave me another smile while she climbed onto the exam table with a wince.
From a medical standpoint, I couldn’t imagine how much pain she must be in, but the darker side of me, and the side of me that wanted to rage out that she had the mother of my child and my child, didn’t feel one scrap of remorse for her.
“You’re going to have to take my word for it. Defy me and find out what happens.”
My jaw clenched, I was so over this conversation and wanted nothing more than to help Cassie and Ryann. But in order to do that, I had to play along with Sarah’s sick games.
When I didn’t respond, Sarah continued. “Well, that’s settled. Now for the operations information and then you are going to prove yourself worthy.”
“And if I don’t prove myself?” I countered.
“Oh, Dante, such stupid questions for such an intelligent man.” She paused, no doubt for emphasis. “Anyways, before Daddy died, he had been working on a deal with the Sinaloa Cartel to help with moving more shipments.”
Of humans, I thought sadly.
“He was supposed to have a huge shipment sent by the end of this month, and that is where I need your help. He wanted you to take over the relationship with the Cartel and then once you proved yourself, move onto being in charge of the entire operation. Now the question is, are you willing to help me or do I need to kill you?” Her cold eyes met mine, and I knew at that moment that she was a monster as well.
She was talking about selling humans as if we were shipping boxes.
I went off of my basic survival instincts and knew in that moment that I needed to play along with this game. Regardless of how deep in the trenches I needed to go. It was the only way to protect my loved ones and ensure the safety of Cassie and Ryann.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked, working hard to keep a steady voice.