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Chapter 37 (Ricardo)
I press ignore when I receive a text from Jackson cursing me out because the address I gave him was fake.
I check my watch. I have about another 5 minutes or so before Travine shows up.
I roll my shoulders back and position myself in front of the door to the main entrance.
I feel my phone buzz in my pocket again and I take it out.
Jackson: I'm on my way to the fight club. Be there in 5.
I kick the wall and curse, I honestly didn't expect Jackson to figure it out. Or rather, I expected him to, but I pla
Ricardo: How did you figure it out?
Jackson: I made Google maps my bitch.
I press the button to respond but he sends me another text right after that one.
Jackson: Also it's the only place you don't lose.
I go to put my phone back in my pocket, but think the better of it.
I haven't done my hourly check in with the bodyguards yet and given Jackson's definitely not with them now, it's more important than ever.
My stomach twists when they don't pick up and I try again.
It's bad reception. Maybe they're in a tu
When they don't pick up for a third time, I feel myself start to panic.
Since Lou-Lou doesn't have a cell phone, I call Alyssa.
It rings once and goes to voicemail.
I call the driver next and when he doesn't pick up...I know without a doubt something's wrong.
I dial Jackson's number and that's when the door to the fight club opens.
And in walks John Travine.
I don't think, I just act on instinct and raise my gun.
I'm about to pull the trigger, but I hear someone screaming behind him.
It's a scream I recognize.
It all happens so fast, I don't even have time to react when I see Marlene enter...holding a gun up to Alyssa's head.
I charge forward, but then Marlene shouts, “Get the fuck in here now, crazy. Or I'll kill her and the baby.”
When Lou-Lou walks in next, the entire world shifts on its axis.
Her eyes are closed and her fists are clenched. She's shaking and trembling, but she's fighting it.
She apologizes to a sobbing Alyssa right before she opens her eyes and looks down, refusing to look at him.
That's right, Lou-Lou. He doesn't exist. Pretend he's not here. Don't let him scare you.
When I see him reach out and grab her hair, I cock my gun.
“No!” Lou-Lou screams as he holds a gun up to her head and forces her to stand in front of him. “Please, Ricardo don't do it. They'll kill Alyssa and the baby. Please, I'm begging you not to shoot him.”
It's a horrible thought to have, one that makes me a monster, but for a moment...I don't care.
When I hear the door to the back entrance open next, I can't even feel relieved...because what Jackson's about to walk into will undoubtedly be his worst nightmare.
The motherfucker in front of me knows this and smiles from ear to ear.
On the surface, like most politicians...he seems personable.
Hell, maybe even friendly looking. His hair is perfect and his teeth are straight and white. Even his fake tan seems real.
He's tall but not too tall, maybe just over 6 feet and he has a medium build. Nothing too threatening, nothing that would make a person stay away.
But hands down, the worst part of his appearance has to be that smile.
The man has a really nice smile...a familiar smile.
It makes him handsome. It makes him approachable. It makes him trustworthy.
It's a smile that hides the monster he is on the inside.
It's the reason Lou-Lou probably doesn't smile much, or rather, tends to give everyone a fuck-you smile instead of showing her real one.
Lou-Lou and her father look nothing alike...except for that fucking smile.
It's damn near identical. Only further proving how much joy he's sucked out of her life.
I hear Jackson's footsteps and see the color drain from his face when he sees Alyssa.
He charges forward but I stop him because he needs to be smart right now, and the girls need to live. “They'll kill our girls.”
“How the fuck did this happen?”
“I fucked up.” I look at Marlene and sneer, “I trusted someone I shouldn't have.”
There are numerous reasons why Marlene did what she did, I can think of at least five just off the top of my head, but none of that matters right now.
Because the only thing that matters is Lou-Lou.
“What do you want?” I'm looking at Travine now. “If you didn't want something from me they would already be dead. So spare me the song and dance, I know I've got something you want, what is it?”
He starts walking backwards with Lou-Lou and I see Jackson move toward Marlene and Alyssa with his gun drawn.
“Jackson,” I say, refusing to take my eyes off Lou-Lou. “Be smart. Don't let your anger get the best of you. She's alive and you need to make sure she stays that way. That's the important thing.”
I have no clue what Travine has pla
Travine smiles that fucking smile and continues tugging Lou-Lou backwards until he's up against the side of the cage. “What I want is right here. What I want is what your father took from me. Everything he took from me.”
There's really no reasoning with a man as sick as he is, but I have no choice but to try, because what he wants he can't have.
Not unless it's over my dead body.
“The council is helping you become mayor—”
“Were,” he interjects. “Kind of hard to do that when they're all burnt to a crisp, now isn't it?”
Lou-Lou finally looks up at me then, surprise more than evident across her beautiful face.
I mentally curse myself out for every time I had a chance to kill that traitorous cunt Marlene and didn't. I guess it finally makes sense now why she didn't leave me. She was keeping tabs on me for the council...and I guess once the council became toast she figured she'd join Travine's team. She knew she'd never have a shot at controlling the DeLuca's...but a man like Travine?
Yeah, she'd have no problem sinking her hooks into someone like him.
It's sickening what an aphrodisiac money, control, and power can be to people.
But not nearly as sickening as the way he presses the gun into Lou-Lou's head and cocks it right before his free hand starts traveling south.
Lou-Lou struggles and I'm so fucking proud of her. I'm so proud of her for standing her ground and fighting...but unfortunately that's what's going to get her killed.
He digs the gun into her temple harder. “Stop fighting me, Lucia
“Do it,” she screams, attempting to headbutt him.
I see his eyes flash and my heart free falls.
Because I know that look.
This monster will do it...he'll do it just because he can. Just because he's not getting what he wants from her...he'll do it just to claim every bit of power and control right now.
“Lou-Lou,” I bark and she freezes at the sound of my voice.
I swallow hard right before I tell her the worst statement I've ever had to utter. “Stop fighting.” When she opens her mouth to argue I whisper, “For me, Lou-Lou.”