I woke up in my bed with just a sheet on. I don’t know how I got here. I tried to sit up, but a heavy arm held me down. I noticed Maximo’s watch. I didn’t remember him having it on in the shower, but I wasn’t paying attention either. He pulled me close to his body. Shoving his nose in my neck. “I love the way you smell, mi amore.” He said against my neck. My body was sore. I’m sure I was bruised up.
“I’m thirsty.” He let go of me and got up, walking into the kitchen. He returned a few moments later with a bottle of water and an apple.
“Eat.” He threw me the water and the apple. He walked into the bathroom and pulled a bottle of Tylenol out of the cabinet. “Take these.” He put 2 pills in my hand. He laid back down and checked his phone. “Fuck.” He said under his breath, hoping out of bed. He pulled his pants, shirt, and shoes on before running out of the door. I heard the elevator door open and close and then the flat was silent.
I crawled out of bed. Agh! My muscles ached. I walked into the bathroom to assess myself in the mirror. I had a small bruise over my right cheek where Maximo struck me. I had abrasions over my feet and legs from being drug to the bedroom. I had a small bruise on my right hip where the guard threw me on the floor and finger-shaped bruises around my wrists and upper arms where the guard and Maximo grabbed me. My throat was sore from the chlorine water and my eyes were puffy from crying. I have never looked like this before in my life. I was ashamed to look at myself.
I opened the door slowly and peeked down the hallway. The lights were off and the flat was silent. I tip-toed down the hall to the patio to see if James was still there. He was not. The patio had been cleaned because all the blood was gone. I walked down the hallway and looked into the 3 spares rooms, which were all empty. Where was James? I ran into the bedroom to find my phone.
I had 3 missed calls from Ali, 30 missed text messages from numerous people, and a missed call from James that had come in an hour ago. I peeked at the clock. It was 4am. I called James back, “Hello?” A painful voice answered.
“James! Where are you?” I cried.
“I’m in the hospital. Maximo’s men brought me here. I had to have stitches in my eye and have a ruptured blood vessel in my left eye. They’ve been giving me pain meds and steroids for the swelling.” He almost sounded amused. “Are you okay?” He asked after I didn’t say anything.
I began crying uncontrollably. “No.” I answered between sobs. “You have no idea what he did to me. I told you to stop and look what happened.” I was angry with him. I was happy to know he was alive, but deep down I blamed him for this.
“What did he do to you?” James asked angrily.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m only glad you’re not dead.” I stated before making an excuse to get off the phone. I threw my phone on the bed. I finished my apple and water and laid back down. I had no idea where Maximo went, but I also didn’t care. Before I fell asleep, I turned my phone off, hoping for a peaceful nap.
I woke up to Maximo shaking me awake. He looked terrified. “Why the fuck wouldn’t you answer your phone?”
“I didn’t realize you cared when you left without saying anything.” I snorted. He pressed his lips into a thin line. “Where did you even go?”
“I had business to take care of. It’s none of your business.” He retorted. Looking away from me. I rolled over pulling the sheet up over my shoulder. “We had to dispose of the body. That bitch from the club. There was an issue with the police we had to workout.” He said coolly. “They drive a hard bargain up here in the States to look the other way.” He sounded pleased with himself. “Pack your things, we leave in 2 hours.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I said through gritted teeth. He looked me deep in the eyes.
“You don’t have a choice.” He threw the blanket off of me, pulling up out of bed and throwing me over his shoulder. He walked me into the kitchen and put me on the counter. “Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere.” He ordered his guards. They stepped around me. I was naked, sitting on the counter. They wouldn’t make eye contact with me or even look at me. I sat up and moved to the edge of the counter.
“Just let me go.” I pleaded, looking the bigger one in the eye. He looked at me, looked down me, then smirked and looked away again. “Please.” I begged. He ignored me.
Maximo didn’t take long to pack his things. He reopened the bed safe and removed the remaining amount of Wink. He grabbed the engagement ring off the table and arranged for James to be taken back to Missouri. He walked out of the room and threw me a dress and heels.
“Get dressed.” He wouldn’t even look at me. I quickly got dressed, pulling the white sundress over my bruised body. I finally pulled on the beige heels and the guard eased me to the floor. “Let’s go.” Maximo said as he was already waiting for the elevator. “We have to get back to Mexico.”