Page 30 of Loving the Enemy
Chapter 12
Zaira
I have no idea how long I have been suspended in this room. It feels like days, but by the darkness in the room, it’s probably only been a few hours. The last thing I remember is the guy named Romeo sending Michael pictures of me. He must be frantic with worry. I know Michael will want to give them whatever they want, but I have a sneaking suspicion that once they get it, they will renege on their agreement. They don’t seem honorable to me. I will just become a loose end. And growing up in this world, I know what happens to loose ends.
I still find it difficult to understand how Darius could do this. What could they have offered him to betray Michael and me? I thought he was my friend. I trusted him. Michael trusted him.
I’m exhausted, I’m thirsty, and I have to pee. I’m completely fatigued being tied this way. Time seems to drag on as I hang here.Michael, where are you?
More time passes, and I hear the click on the door and someone entering the room. I can’t see who it is, but I can feel their presence.
“So, Mrs. Vitali, how are you feeling?”
Really? He wants to know how I am feeling?Asshole.I recognize his voice. It’s Romeo.
I hesitate before I answer him because I realize I need to say the right thing in the right way if I am ever going to get him to untie me. “I’m really thirsty, and I would like to use the bathroom if that would be okay?”
“If I untie you, you will have to promise to be a good girl. Can you do that?”
“I promise,” I reply, hopeful.
“You will also have a twenty-four-hour guard in this room with you. I can’t have you in here alone planning an escape. It’ll most likely will go bad for you, and I don’t need that.”
“I understand.” At this point, I will agree to anything to be able to move and sit normally.
He opens the door and yells, “Darius, Hector, come in here.” They enter the room, and Romeo continues. “Let’s give our guest a break. Untie her. Both of you will stand guard in here with her. She is allowed to use the restroom, and she is allowed to have some water. She will eat in the morning.”
Once he leaves the room, Darius and Hector work at the knots to free me from my restraints. I keep looking at Darius accusingly, but he refuses to look me in the eye.Bastard.I feel no sympathy toward him when I think about his fate once Michael gets his hands on him. If I get out of this alive, I plan to be there to cast judgment on him. In either case, he will pay for what he’s done.
Once I’m free, I find it’s difficult to stand up straight. Stretching out my body, I move toward the en suite bathroom. “If you’ll excuse me,” I say and walk into the bathroom.
Darius follows behind me.
I give him an incredulous look. “I’d like some privacy, please.”
“Sorry, Z. Ain’t gonna happen, darling,” Darius replies. How dare he call me Z? He lost that privilege when he helped have me kidnapped.
“Fine, then. Watch, you sick bastard. And the name is Mrs. Vitali.” I lift my dress with purpose, showing my garters and stockings, pull down my thong, and sit my ass on the toilet.
Darius stares, and it makes me uncomfortable, but it will be a cold day in hell before he knows it. When I’m finished, I right myself and walk to the sink. I wash the cum out of my hair and the stickiness off my body as best I can. Feeling somewhat normal, I stomp out of the bathroom, snubbing my nose at him as I pass by.You are so dead, asshole.
“Zaira, let me explain,” he calls after me.
I turn to face him, holding up my hand. “No, I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Do your job, Darius, and leave me the fuck alone.” I start to walk back to the bed and realize he has no right to be so informal with me. I turn back toward him, pointing my finger at his chest, “And don’t you fucking call me Z or Zaira. You’ve lost the privilege.” I walk to the bed, lie in a fetal position, and try to get some sleep.
I wake to the bright sun shining through the windows. Darius and Hector are still in my room sitting in the chairs across from the bed. I’m hungry.
“Good morning,” Darius says.
I don’t even acknowledge him. I’m so done with him. I turn toward Hector. “May I have something to eat?”
Hector stands from his chair and walks to the table. He grabs a McDonald’s bag and basically throws it at me. “Here, it got cold waiting for you to wake up. It’s all you’re gonna get until later, so you better eat it.”
Whatever. I dig into the bag. There is an egg McMuffin and a hash brown. I take a bite of the potatoes. Yep, they’re cold, but I’m famished so I eat them anyway, including the sandwich.
I get up from the bed and walk back to the bathroom. Darius, of course, follows me in there. After another repeat of last night, I splash water on my face and return to the bedroom.
Several minutes pass before Darius pulls out his cell phone, dials, and holds the phone to his ear. “Hey, Stace, it’s me.” He listens. “Yeah, just wanted to check in. I’m on a job, and I’ll be home in a few days.”Does Darius have a girlfriend?He listens more and says, “Nope, not going to Italy. There’s been a change of plans.”
Stace talks longer this time, and Darius rubs his face in frustration, then paces the room. “Hey, sis, I’m sorry. I should have stocked the fridge for you.”
So it’s his sister.I make sure I take in as much as the conversation as I can. Michael will need this information if he doesn’t already know that Darius is the rat. I smirk at my thoughts. I was raised in this life but never embraced it. And now, without even thinking it comes so naturally.
He looks at his watch. “Yeah, I should be able to break away for a bit sometime this afternoon. I’ll pick up some things for you and bring them by.” He pauses. “Yeah, I know you don’t have a car or any money.” He rakes his hand through his hair, and I can see by the expression on his face that he’s pissed off. He then yells, “I’ll take care of it!” He disconnects the line.
After the phone call, we all just sit and stare at each other. So now, I guess we play the waiting game.
