CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE
ISABELLA
"So?" Sarah presses. "Are we doing this or not?"
I hesitate because this is insane, unnecessary, immature, tempting. Very tempting.
"I can't believe I'm considering doing it."
"I can't believe you've been letting her torment you and you didn't say anything."
I sigh and hold up my phone. "If this goes wrong, I’m blaming you."
"It’ll go exactly how it needs to."
I shake my head, already dialing CeCe. She picks up on the second ring and I put it on speaker.
"Well, this is a surprise," she says smoothly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Come over," I simply say.
There's silence on the other end before she laughs. "Why would I want to come to your house? The person I want to see left you and he hasn't been back."
I bite my cheeks to stop me from saying anything. I look at Sarah who shakes her head at me not to respond. I am going to thoroughly enjoy the beating Sarah will give her.
"Come over or don't." I say and hang up immediately.
"Relax, she won't have a mouth to run when I'm done with her."

Thirty minutes later, the gate calls and tells me that CeCe is here.
"She actually came."
"Of course she did. She's likes to torment you and you've let her. Do you want to do this here?" Sarah asks.
I look around the room. It's spacious but there's a loot of antique things that I don't want breaking.
"Let's do it in the foyer. I don't want her in here."
She nods and carries Carina and we leave the room. Rocco comes out of the kitchen as we come out of the room.
"Please tell the gate to let CeCe in and put a chair out here, a big one. I want a bowl of popcorn too."
He looks at me in confusion. "What do I address first? CeCe is coming here? Why are we giving her popcorn?"
"The popcorn is for me. Sarah is going to beat her ass."
He turns to Sarah and nods in approval. "It's about damn time."
He turns to the guard standing there. "You heard the boss. Let her in."
The guard nods and talks into his radio while Rocco goes off to bring a chair. He brings the chair and sets it for me to sit on.
"The chef is working really hard to make sure the popcorn is delicious and ready in time so stall for as long as you can. I'll hold the baby and we can watch from the side."
Rocco takes Carina from Sarah and stands to the side just as the front door opens. I hear her voice before I see her.
"I didn’t think you’d miss me this much."
Her smile falters when she sees Sarah.
"Well," she says slowly. "This is interesting. Are you even allowed in this country?"
Sarah doesn't respond. She just looks at her with so much annoyance.
"Why did you invite me here?" CeCe asks.
The kitchen door opens before I can respond and the chef comes out with a big bowl of popcorn. CeCe eyes the popcorn with suspicion. She tries to back out but the guard at the door stops her.
I smile at her as Sarah advances towards her. "You're here because you've been a pain in my ass and Sarah here wants to take care of it for me."
She shifts uncomfortably. "My father won't be happy if anything happens to me."
"I'm pretty sure MY husband will like you pestering me less."
It happens fast. One second, Sarah is turning back to smile at me, the next she's in CeCe's face and her fist connects cleanly with CeCe’s jaw. The sound is sharp and satisfying.
CeCe stumbles back, completely caught off guard. "What the fuck?"
She lunges at Sarah who grabs her arm and spins CeCe. Sarah twists CeCe's arm behind her and pushes her to the ground.
I lean back on my seat and start eating my popcorn as Sarah starts pounding into CeCe. Something change in the three months Sarah was away. I won't push for now, but I'll make sure she tells me. But right this minute, I'll enjoy her using CeCe as an outlet for her frustration.

MELO
Everything burns. It's hot, like there's hot coal burning inside me.
"Stay with me." Rogue’s voice cuts through the haze.
I blink slowly, trying to focus. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," I mutter.
My voice sounds wrong to my ears. Too weak.
"Yeah? Could’ve fooled me," Travis says from somewhere at my right.
I try to turn my head toward him and regret it instantly. The world tilts violently, and I suck in a sharp breath.
"Easy, don't try to move." Rogue says quickly.
I close my eyes, remembering the events that brought me here. Tears drop from the side of my eyes at the thought of never seeing Isabella and Carina again.
"Isabella is going to be so angry that I died." I say.
"Don't fucking say that. I brought you out here, I don't want that shit on me."
I laugh and almost lose consciousness. I know it's important I keep talking. If I lose consciousness in a hostile forest in Russia, I'm done for.
"Make sure you see my little girl at least once a month." I say to both of them.
"Don't fucking say that to me." Rogue says. "Die if you want to but not on a mission I brought you out for."
"It would suck for you. Isabella would never forgive you. She's scary when she's angry."
Travis and I smile. This isn't a bad way to go in my books. Everything starts getting heavier, darker.
"Hey, no!," Rogue says sharply. "Eyes open."
I blink slowly. Focus, I remind myself.
"Talk to me. Keep talking about how you're going to die, if you must." he presses.
"I’m tired."
"I don’t care. Talk."
I swallow hard. "We had a fight that night." I say softly. "It's not why I left with you but I should've gone back home and kissed her properly."
"You'll get your chance." Travis says.
"Next time I'm going on a mission to infiltrate a rebellion, I'll make sure to let you kiss your wife goodbye." Rogue says dryly.
"Yeah, see that you do."
I hear it. Faint at first. So faint I think I imagined it. I frown slightly. "You hear that?"
Both of them go still. Then Travis turns his head sharply. "Wait."
The sound comes again. Louder this time. Rotors. Helicopter Rotors.
Rogue exhales like he’s been holding his breath for hours. "That’s them."
Travis lets out a shaky laugh. "Took them long enough."
I close my eyes for a second, relief washing through me. I'm not going to die here.
"Let me just say that I didn't think they were going to come. We are criminals the government wouldn't mind getting rid off. I was going crazy thinking about how to make sure you make it out alive." Rogue says, tears dropping from his eyes.
He starts laughing and Travis joins in and soon the three of us are laughing.