Chapter 140


    “Well, well, Cami, my love.” The heavy English ent, so like Cami’s,es from the front, a


    male husky tone, as a man in the passenger seat turns to face us. He’s wearing ck shades, a


    stubbled middle-aged face, dark shaggy hair that’s semi groomed and wearing an expensive leather


    jacket. “We’ve been looking for you love.” He smiles at her and it’spletely sinister, a crooked, evil


    smile that does not bid well for either of us. He has an air about him, that he is a guy you do not piss


    off.


    “Tyler. I haven’t been hiding, I’ve been trying to get your money.” Cami’s turned white as a sheet, with


    wobbling voice and clearly terrified. Losing all her poise and mannerisms as her ent gets a little


    shaky, dropping its upper-ss edge and sounding less refined. I stay painfully still, regting my


    breathing so that I don’t fall into a panic attack and try to keep my head. Everything inside of me is


    poised in fear and all I can keep thinking about is how much I need Arry right now.


    “Bull shit, don’t you think we know you’ve been giving us the run around? We’ve been watching the bus


    and train depot for days. Actually, we were on the way there to check early hour departures.” He


    sniggers, as though there’s something funny about that and keeps those shades trained on her. I can


    feel the eyes of the man beside me, watching my every breath, the one holding my throat tight; and


    doing a visual sweep of my legs under my dress. Sickness and fear sweep through me yet I stay


    completely still, knowing that if this goes the wrong way, I may be subjected to my past all over again,


    and I can’t fall to pieces.


    “I need more time, I’m trying to get the money. I’ve had a bad run of luck; I just need more time.”


    Cami’s sobbing, her face bruising where it looks like one of them has pped her and blood pouring


    from her nose still, where I hit her. Complete numbness overtakes me, that old me, climbing into the


    depths of my head, where I know I can endure so much. Scared, terrified, but this weird sense of calm


    hase over me, dampening it all, and I’m already trying to look for ways to get out of here, to


    escape. Eyes skimming every door and person around me for a possible maneuver. I don’t care if they


    keep her, she deserves whatever happens to her, but I will not stay here to be abused or murdered


    because of her.


    “I’ve been patient; it’s been a week since you checked in, a week past payment date and we’ve not


    heard a fucking thing from you. Imagine my surprise to be driving along the street and there you two


    were. Having yourselves a little girl brawl. What’s up, Honey…She holding out on you too?” He looks in


    my direction and I scowl back, inner fire spiking at being goaded and berating myself for a stupid


    reaction.


    “Please, Tyler…I can get it, I swear. I just need a few more days.” Cami continues, more tears, more


    pleading, yet somehow it all sounds like a well-practiced act. I glimpse her way and I can tell they’re


    crocodile tears.


    “Really? Can’t seem to get it in the past weeks, yet suddenly you can get it in two days… From fucking


    where, Cam? It’s fifty grand!” Heughs sardonically, so do the men around us, like this is some sort of


    joke and they cruelly want to drag this out and are deriving pleasure from it. My stomach drops when I


    realize this has be as much as my problem as hers, and I only have a way out if she does too.


    “From me… From my money. That’s where we were going, to get money from my family.” I blurt out,


    heart racing and tears blinding my eyes. Knowing that if there’s any hope then ites from the fact I


    can have them paid off. Fifty grand isn’t an outrageous amount for my family.


    “Really? And you have that kind of cash do you princess?” He looks at me dubiously, sarcasm in his


    tone as he takes in the sneakers, the party dress that’s now dirty from sitting on the road, and the grey


    hoody which belongs to Arry. I guess my face is a mess of tear stained make up and my hair has


    probably seen better days after my hood got tugged down in the struggle. I guess I probably look a little


    homeless, much like Cami’s ‘on the run’ get up, despite this dress being couture and costing more


    than every outfit in here.


    “No, but my family does. I just need to make a call. It’s pocket change to them.” I strain against the


    biting grip on my neck as he regards me silently for a long agonizing moment. Heart pounding in my rib


    cage so hard I can feel the pulse in every part of my body.


    “One call and you can get fifty grand here?” He’s sneering at me and raises eyebrows to the driver who


    seems to chuckle; so far he has never turned our way, but I see his eyes in the rear-view, trained on


    me. Cami whimpers some more, something about Huntsbergers and he strains to hear.


    “What did you say?” He barks at her.


    “Her family are rich…… Huntsbergers…. They’re billionaires in the Hamptons.” She blurts desperately,


    her eyes on him pleadingly. I wonder if she knew that before she conveniently met me in the hair salon


    that day. Made a y for me in every way.


    “Why didn’t you say so sweetheart? Didn’t realize we were sitting with a little pot of gold here.


    Hampton’s royalty!” Heughs dryly, again his nking men and the driver chuckle too, enjoying this


    little sarcastic power trip a little too much. I can barely catch my breath, but I’m keeping my cool, trying


    to keep my head together. Body tingling with adrenalin, now the initial shock has worn off and I’m


    thinking through all the possible ways we can get out of this. Who I should call if he lets me, but my


    heart already knows.


    “Take her out to y while I talk to blondie here, don’t mess her up too much, she might be of use after


    we get paid.” He nods again, and Cami begins screaming as she is dragged backwards out of the


    car by the hair and throat, taken out of sight to the rear when the door is shut on us again. Her voice is


    muffled with a cruel hand and I shudder. Panic spiking so I grip my hands together to curb it.


    It’s almost like a reminder that this is not going to end well if I can’t get one of them to transfer or throw


    so much money at these people, that will satisfy them. Head screaming with the doubts that I can even


    pull this off. I don’t have that much in my own ount unless I let my allowance build up. I don’t have


    time for that. Scared that he won’t be there for me, won’t do this for me; so many doubts about what I


    even still mean to him.


    “Please, don’t hurt her, I’ll get your money. Please, I just need my cell.” The biting grip on my throat


    tightens and I can barely swallow or breathe. Holding still as a statue in fear and knowing it’s not wise


    to make this worse.


    “Phone?” He barks at the man holding me. Commanding in an icy cold.


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “In my front pocket.” My hands have been motionless by my side and as I go to fish for it but the man


    yanks it out instead, skimming my stomach as he does so with careless hands that make me recoil. My


    body shudders at the touch. Coiled and afraid, tense.


    “So, who are we calling darlin? Better not be someone who is a bit too quick to call the feds, or else


    they won’t be finding their sweet little princess intact again.” He warns, his shades focused on me so


    that I can see my own reflection in their darkness. Seeing myself, my own reflection and I look awful.


    “Arry, he’s listed as Arry. He’ll get the money, I know he will.” I tremble, rushing out his name with a


    shaking voice and knowing despite everything tonight, he wille through for me. He has too. When I


    truly need him, he never lets me down and he has ess to billions of dors if he needs them.


    If you still care? Please, please. Help me.


    He takes my phone, swiping at my screen, eyes flicking to the first screen and grins.


    “Oooh, you had a little lovers tiff, seems like he’s been trying to get hold of you for a little while. How


    many calls does a guy need to make before he gets the hint?” He turns the phone to the man beside


    me, to show him the list of missed calls and texts, Arrick’s face in the background. Bothugh and then


    he sneers as he turns it back to hit call, putting it to his ear a moment to listen to it ring before he pulls it


    away. He holds it out to me, the hand around my throat loosens, but doesn’t move away and I keep my


    eyes trained on the shades, motionless as they point at my face.


    “Any talk of police and your sweet little neck will be slit, Honey. Make sure you remember that.” He


    turns on speakerphone and holds it in front of my mouth. I nod calmly, as it rings and pray he’s there,


    pray to God that he will be on the other end. That he’s not asleep or left his phone in the lounge and


    gone to bed, like he normally does. Every part of me willing him to know that I am not okay right now.


    My heart is in my mouth and nausea sweeps through me as cold fear drifts up my legs.


    “Sophs?” He answers in only two rings, relief sweeping through me at the sound of the only voice that


    matters to me. He soundspletely wide awake too, considering its still before six am; husky and


    stressed, and I wonder if it’s because of me. Tears hit me as soon as I hear him and I just want him


    here so badly, to be with me, to protect me, to save me.


    “Arry.” I sniff, so d to talk to him in this moment, ovee with emotion suddenly and aching for him


    toe get me. I don’t want this to be thest time I ever hear that voice again.


    “Where are you? I’ve been looking for you, for hours…I’m at your apartment Sophs. Baby,e home,


    I’m here. I came back for you not long after I left. I’m sorry, for what I said, how I was. You just need


    to…….” He sounds broken, torn and ravaged, much like the version who dragged me to his mother’s


    garden at Le’s party and my heart crumbles. Picturing him emotional and upset and I want to hold


    him. I love him still, even when he makes me hate him.


    “Arry, I need your help.” I cut him off, trying hard to sound normal, but my voice is shaking so badly I


    can’t control it. Ignoring what he’s saying, even though it makes me ache, in a bid to get him to listen to


    me as eyes bore into me. Aware of the faces trained on me and what I need to do.


    “What do you mean? Where are you? What’s wrong?” His tone is alert suddenly, that hint of concern


    shining through now that he realizes there’s something more important than making up. He can


    obviously hear my fear, knows that something isn’t right.


    I love you so much.


    “Arry please, listen. You need to listen to me.” Taking short breaths as panic sets in, the sudden


    thought that maybe I’m asking too much, and he can’t do this. I know it isn’t easy to get hands on that


    amount of money at short notice. It’s not even daytime, I have no idea how he’s going to do this.


    “I’m listening baby. Talk to me, tell me what you need.” He sounds calm suddenly, the fighter in him


    taking control and seeminglypletely cool. I know him better now, this is Arry trying to disconnect


    emotionally, so he can handle whatever it is. He does that. When he can’t deal with stuff, he cuts off


    and handles it with the part of his head that doesn’t feel as much.


    “I’m in trouble and I need money.” I blurt out, but the sleazy boss slides off his shades to reveal deep


    brown eyes and eyerolls, turning the phone to himself, he kills speakerphone and puts it to his ear


    instead, winking at me nastily. Obviously too impatient.


    “Listen buddy, as sweet as all that was getting, I haven’t got time to beat around the bush. You sound


    like a smart guy, and I’m guessing this little bundle of blonde pussy is your woman. She needs fifty


    grand, here within the next four hours or I start posting pieces of that sweet ass to your address. I


    suggest you don’t dawdle love and call us back when you have the cash in hand. Don’t think about


    getting fly and involving the boys in blue, cos I will literally put a bullet in her fucking head.” He smiles at


    me as I can hear the low mumble of a deep voice at the other end, my heart aching for Arrick to be


    here. Hating that he’ll be melting down at what dickhead has just said to him. Knowing how this must


    be affecting and picturing him going into freak out mode as soon as he hangs up.


    “Don’t worry love, if your boyfriendes through with the cash you won’t be joining her back there,


    she’s learning a good lesson. Never fuck over your supplier.” The overly muscr slime ball, gripping


    me, chuckles in my ear as the brown leather jacket still talks to Arrick. I re at him, still aware that


    there’s a lot of noiseing from far behind that sounds like she is getting a going over and even I feel


    for her in this moment. I try to ignore it, not to picture what it feels like, and hope she’s as tough as she


    seems.


    “Fine by me, Mr. Arry, we shall rendezvous as soon as it’s in your hands.” Slime ball sounds cheerful,


    smug even. I zone back into what smarmy prick is saying to my boy and frown at his over familiar use


    of a name he isn’t allowed to utter.


    “Carrero.” I correct impulsively, no idea why I even feel the need; it’s ridiculous, given the


    circumstances and see the immediate change in his face. Like a little tiny flicker of the penny dropping.


    “Carrero?” He pauses; that smirking sleazy tone dropping with the phone still attached to his ear, and


    the flicker of eyes to the man sitting close to me as though questioning him for confirmation. I can make


    out Arrick’s tone on the other end, he must be confirming his name, as the blood visibly drains from


    boss man’s face. He motions for the man holding me to let go suddenly, waving his hand anxiously and


    not so smug anymore. I don’t understand; as soon as he releases me, my own hand automatically


    goes to my throat to rub away the traces of his fingers at where they have been, and I pull my arms


    around myself protectively.


    Boss sleaze turns and gets out of the car, clicking his fingers and the asshole that had been holding


    me, follows. Leaving me here alone with only the driver and I watch as they stalk off to the side and


    huddle with another man in a suit. Still holding my phone to his ear. Looking from man to man and then


    motions towards the back of the car.


    Momentster, Cami is tossed in beside me, her face more of a bloody mess andpletely


    disheveled. She has taken a beating and I immediately try and help her clean the blood off her face,


    but she pushes me away. Obviously like me, she abhors touch when she’s in that defensive mode


    inside her head, and I leave her be, understanding her in that moment. Feeling sympathy for what they


    have done to her, but yet, knowing weakness is not going to do either of us any good.


    I turn and watch the men outside instead and realize somethings changed. None of them seem so


    smug anymore and my phone has been handed off to someone else while brown jacket is on his own


    cell pacing like a maniac. I watch the man talking to Arry and see him finally hang up, looking sheepish


    and he nods at the other man. He hands my cell to brown jacket and then looks at the other men


    gathering around with a worried expression. Huddling together and looking so desperate.


    “Somethings wrong.” I say impulsively, and Cami looks up, following my gaze and staring at them


    outside. The driver shifts in his seat and I immediately home in on him


    “Why does the name Carrero suddenly change everything? I blink at him innocently and catch the


    narrowed gaze back at me in the mirror. The frown and then re and yet he remains silent.


    “Carrero? As in Alexi Carrero?” Cami turns my way with a gulp, pulling my arm and attention to her.


    Her face ashen as though I’ve said something awful. I’mpletely confused.


    “Arrick’s cousin? What has Lex got to do with any of this? How do you even know who he is?” I feel


    surreal, not sure what is happening, like I’m in the twilight zone. Losing all sense of anything else while


    confusion reigns dominant. Alexi is someone I have known as long as Arry, nothing sinister or terrifying.


    I don’t get the connection at all.


    “Wait, you’re rted to the Carreros?” Cami seems equally shocked and I shake my head. Watching


    herpletely awed expression and trying to get my head around why this even matters.


    “Arrick Carrero is my boyfriend, I grew up across the road from Jake and Arrick. I’m part of their family


    and Jake Carrero is my godfather. What has any of this, or Alexi, got to do with anything?” I frown at


    her, turning my body to her. Eyes now on her for answers as she seems to know more than I do.


    “Alexi Carrero is like the king pin of New York… These goons are small fishpared to him and his


    family. They are known by everyone. If you’re a Carrero or mean something to them, then Tyler majorly


    fucked up. You’re talking about small time crooks pissing off the mafia.” Cami wipes her face,


    straightens herself a little and leans forward to the driver with an air of menace, narrowing her swollen


    eyes at him in his mirror. “Isn’t that right? You are all fucked when Alexi finds out you manhandled


    Arrick Carrero’s girlfriend and threatened her.” She has her sassy tone back, obviously finding


    something to be smug about, despite our predicament, and I can’t even get my head around this.


    I mean I always knew there were rumors that some of Arry’s family were into organized crime, and


    there has always been some dodgy evasion from Arry about his dad, whenever the topic is raised. I


    never for a minute thought Alexi would be involved in this kind of shit. He is so normal and loving and


    I’ve spent a million family dinners and barbecues with him. He’s like the rest of them. Charming, suave,


    okay maybe more of a loner and a bit stand offish and coolpared to his cousins, but with a lot of


    good genes and a wild yboy side. I know him well enough to see that underneath he has a good


    heart.


    Or so I always thought.