A storm is coming.
1462 Words
Manuel took me to a small town on the island and gave me his credit card.
He held his hand out to me.
" Go shop to your hearts delight." He smiled at me, I could see he was trying very hard to trust me.
I walked into the first shop and browsed. I noticed the woman staring intently at me.
" Do you have this in a blue color?" I asked in Spanish.
She nodded and went to the back room.
When she returned she was holding a poster in her hands, she held it out to me.
" You are the girl that is missing?" She asked me.
I studied the poster. A million dollar reward for information leading to the return of Josephine Brennan.
There was a picture of me, the old me. I had changed.
The woman smiled. "You?"
I froze. I couldn't say yes or I would cause a huge commotion. Yet I couldn't deny it either.
I smiled and left the shop, quickly returning to Manuel.
I showed him the poster.
He took me under his arm and shielded me from others.
My hat fell off, I turned back to get it. The woman from the store was on her phone.
I was discovered.
Manuel stopped and held me to his heart.
" You had a chance to go home just now Phina. Why didn't you?" He asked very surprised.
" I can't see them all again. I've changed. I...I think I'm too embarrassed to see the shock on their faces at what I've been through.
Who I've been forced to become. I am not deserving of them anymore. They will believe I'm just trash now."
He stopped me and put his hand over my mouth. "No Phina, no, don't say this."
" You are my wife, not trash. I don't see you like this. Phina, you are a princess to me."
I knew the truth. I could never return damage goods now.
We quickly left back to our room to pack, before the authorities arrived.
Manuel drove us to the airport where we took his private jet back to the compound.
______________
Manuel released me from all bonds while in his home. I was free to do as I pleased. He knew I had a chance to flee and did not go.
I went out into a boat, by myself and went fishing.
Then I planned a trip to town. Manuel insisted I go with a body guard. He assigned Arturo to the task.
I agreed because I wanted to talk to Arturo about the beating he gave me.
He was about 300 pounds of muscle and to be honest, fat.
I knew that Manuel gave him instructions to protect me with his life while I was shopping in the market.
In the car I asked him a question.
" Did you get any joy in whipping me?"
" No ma'am, I am a soldier. I do as I am commanded." He assured me.
" You believed he would ask you to murder me, didn't you?"
He nodded. " I would have killed you, yes."
" I see, so now you are to protect me. But if I need to be killed off, you're the guy then?"
" Best to ask your husband about these things, not me." He ended the conversation.
I got out of the car and entered the market place.
It was amazing. I bought so many vegetables and fresh bread and homemade tortillas. It was heavenly.
I spent 3 hours there in pure bliss.
" Ready Mrs. Ortega?" Arturo asked me as I came back to the car, bags full.
" I bought you something." I handed him a large box of expensive sweet Mexican chocolates.
" For me?" He took the box and smiled.
I decided I would kill him with kindness and turn him to my side.
He seemed dumb as a brick, but I sensed he was really very sensitive deep down.
He opened the box and offered me one.
I took a piece of candy and placed it in my mouth. It was delicious.
We sat in the car eating the sugary snack before we returned home.
" Thank you, no one ever bought me candy before." He grinned at me.
I shrugged," No problema."
" I am sorry I hurt you that day. It wasn't easy for me to make you suffer like that. Don't tell anyone, I will deny it."
I touched his hand.
" I forgive you Arturo. I'm not one to hold a grudge. I will always have those scars you gave me, we will always be connected for better or worse."
" I guess that's true, it makes me feel pretty shitty." He admitted.
I sat back and buckled my seat belt.
The wind started to kick up then.
There was a storm coming.
A hurricane was eminent.
When we arrived home, men were screwing large boards over all the windows.
Manuel smiled seeing me.
" How was your day love? You got home just in time."
He looked at Arturo as if to ask if I had behaved. Arturo nodded.
I smiled and showed Guapo my groceries.
" Storm is coming. We are preparing the house for the hurricane. You can place those in the car.
We will be leaving in a few moments to go inland to one of my homes there. Phina, my children and their mothers are there too. Are you okay with that?"
" I think so, will they hate me for being your new wife?"
" I think so, I'm sorry. Maybe we can get a hotel room nearby." He suggested.
" I want to meet your children. I'm curious." I smiled at him.
He asked me to go to the lower level room to get his coat for him.
I went down to the basement and saw a beautiful bouquet of roses and a gift on the bed.
I sat down and smelled the flowers first.
I opened the gift. It was a beautiful bracelet in turquoise and silver.
He was standing in the doorway, smiling.
" Also, I have this for you my love."
He got down on one knee and held out a diamond and gold ring to me.
" Josephine Brennan will you marry me, a real wedding. One you choose." He grinned as he watched me put the bracelet down.
I walked over to him and hugged him. "Guapo? Does this mean...I'm no longer your prisoner?"
" It means that I am now your prisoner. I promise you, I will make you very happy." He placed an expensive looking diamond ring on my finger. It fit perfectly.
My eyes were full of tears. I couldn't leave him now. I was falling in love with my captor.
____________
Ian came and knocked on the door. He saw me embracing Manuel and became angry, knowing I was in love. He saw it all over my face.
Everyone left the compound, we were the last ones to go.
Ian slammed the door and barricaded it from the outside, locking us inside. He knew I would tell Manuel about him.
I looked at Manuel who was very confused.
" He's not your new security guy. He's CIA. I've known since the first day he arrived.
I couldn't tell you because... I hated you then. I'm sorry.
He wants to prevent his cover from being blown. He's taking the s*x traffickers down once and for all.
Manuel, he's the one that bought me from Lana Hill, my ex...well we were never really lovers. Charles Hudson is his name, Lana is his fiance. They are probably wed by now.
Daniel sold me to the tall man. He said he had no choice. If he didn't do that, it would have ruined 5 years of undercover work."
" I can't speak, I'm so angry with you, both of you." He was standing in front of me, fists tight by his side.
So we were back to mistrust again.
" You were planning to take me down?" He cried, feeling the sting of my betrayal.
" I fell in love with you. Yes, I wanted to ruin you at first. To kill you at one time." I admitted everything to him.
He tried to break down the door.
He kicked it violently and yelled to Daniel to come back.
" f**k! The storm will kill us both Phina. This house has flooded before during a hurricane. If we can't get out of this basement, we will drown."
I went to him, hugging him from behind, he pushed me away in anger.
" I never should have trusted you, you b***h. You will pay a hefty price for this betrayal!"
- Writer
