38 Most important person

Date = 12 June
Place = San Francisco (Pier 39)

POV - Aria

Brian: I need to tell you something. Bring Mel. Meet me now on the second floor of the Pier 39 parking lot. It’s urgent.

I reread the message and then look over my phone where Mel is hugging the toilet, puking her guts out. I haven’t told her about the message yet. There’s no way she’s going to be able to accompany me in this condition.

But I’m not going alone. I do a quick recon as to who is currently in San Francisco: Noah is at the hospital with Leyla and Axel are looking after Grimms. Kiara is at the university. Jackson is helping his twin (whom I can’t call) out at Inferno. That leaves Lee.

Mel gets up and washes her face.

“Eh, Mel, I need to quickly go get something for my car,” I lie. “You take a nap here in D-boy’s little room. I’ll take Lee with me and we’ll be back asap, okay?” She nods and walk out the bathroom without a word. Her morning sickness suddenly came back in a rage of fury starting in the mornings and lasting the whole day. She must be feeling poorly ‘cause she doesn’t even protest. Her mouth staying shut for once.

I tug her into the bed of the covert en-suite room Alejandro constructed within his office, in case he needs to sleep at the pub, before running downstairs where Axel and Lee are managing the bar. Fortunately it’s not extremely busy at the moment, so stealing the little guy for a while would not burden Axel too much.

“How is the little pregnant bitch?” Axel asks as soon as he sees me. The fact that they use such denigrate words in such a loving manner still blows my mind … but it’s growing on me. They truly have a unique bond, and I’m happy to be a small part of it.

“Grumpy, but sleeping now.” I look at Lee, “Lee, would you mind coming with me, please? I need to go fetch something from my car and don’t want to go alone.” I use the same excuse as before. I don’t want to lie, I just don’t want them to stop me from going. I need to find out what Brian is up to again. He’s been laying low since he found out that his blackmail about the DNA didn’t work out as planned … so what does he want now all of a sudden.

“Sure.” Lee takes off his apron and hangs it over one of the chairs. I wave awkwardly at Axel before we walk out.

“So, what do you need to get so urgently?” Lee asks, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his baggy jeans. He always dresses like a skater boy, but two sizes to large. In the belief that it will be simpler than explaining everything, I pull out my phone and show him the message. Lee reads it while scowling.

“Do you know what it’s about?” he asks, giving my phone back. I pull up my shoulders.

“I have no idea. I haven’t heard from him for a while.”

“Why do I have a shitty feeling it’s gonna be bad?” he says. That makes two of us, hence me not wanting to go alone. I’m so tense, the nails of my left hand digs into my palm, my right hand squashes my phone.

“Well, I doubt Brian will kill us … or I hope he won’t,” Lee says as we enter the ominous-looking edifice. A chill runs down my spine. Brian is crazy, but he’s not a murderer … is he? I can’t die now … my sister still needs me. I need me.

“What are they doing here?” Lee asks softly when we turn a corner and it’s only then that I spot Brian with Amanda and Chloe. They seem to be arguing about something and haven’t noticed us yet.

“What do you think they’re arguing about?” I ask curiously, but Lee just grunts.

“Fun fact … I don’t care.” He can be such a Jackson sometimes. “Let’s just go hear what they want so we can get out of here. I’m SO not in the mood for toddler-tantrums today. And if I recall … nothing good ever happens in parking garages.”

“What?” Now why would he say that? I was fine about this space … until now. I look around, scanning our surroundings, suddenly seeing every strange shadow lurking around.

“Don’t you watch movies?” He’s right. Dreadful things happen in parking garages. I grab his arm tightly ‘cause suddenly it feels as if the walls are moving in on us and a tightness starts to press on my chest.

“Geez, woman, relax. It’s just three assholes, not the frickin mafia.” I loosen my grip a little and give my excellent judgment credit for bringing him along. Even though I’m taller than him, I know he can handle himself in a fight.

Mid-discussion, the threesome pause when they notice us. They exchange some tense stares between them, and I swear I hear the suspenseful du-dun-du-dun-du-dun-du-dun in my ears – as if something is sneaking up on us. We should not have come here. We’re gonna perish in this parking lot, I’m now sure of that. The pressure on my chest increases and I take a few deep breaths.

“Aria, you came?” Brian speaks first.

“Where’s Mel?” Chloe sounds strained, looking around as if she expects the little blonde to be hiding somewhere, ready to jump-scare them. Well, knowing Mel it’s not an unusual thought actually.

“Eh, she’s sick.” My answer makes her look severely disappointed and distressed. But her mood is the last thing I’m worried about.

“So what did you want to tell me?” I look at Brian, he looks away. Something does not feel right. What is going on? I turn my head to look at Lee, he looks back, a what-the-fuck expression in his golden eyes.

“I’m sorry Aria, I’m sorry I am such a jerk. I never wanted anyone to get hurt.” He looks at Amanda, but she looks away. Chloe has anger written all over her face … you know that look an aggravated toddler gets right before she kicks you on the shin. I should know having a little sister with severe anger issues.

“Aria, I thought you … I just wanted … " he stutters but gets cut off when a black SUV suddenly screeches to a halt next to us. I yelp and Amanda squeals. Brian grabs her against his body.

“What now?” I’m not sure if Lee sounds agitated or bored. What I am sure of is that he doesn’t look scared. Maybe wary, but not scared. Not like I am. I’m fucking terrified. And I’m glad I’m still gripping his arm or else my legs might just give way.

A couple of men in suits emerge, guns in there hands. I cover my mouth with my hand to keep me from screaming, saying something dumb, or vomiting … my gut telling me that whoever these people are, they’re not going to tolerate small talk and insults.

Another man steps out, straightening his suit jacket carefully. He’s probably in his forties with olive skin, a black goatee and dark eyes. He has a long scar on his left cheek. My immediate thought is that this is exactly how a murderer looks like.

“Great,” Lee sighs softly, “how did HE find me?” Thank goodness he seems to know these men. Could they be friends? Oh, I hope they’re friends … good friends … best friends. Lee gives a step forward, leaving me behind.

“T-Bone,” his voice irritated, not the way you would great a buddy, “what are you doing here? In San Francisco … when you should be in New York.” Initially, the other man appears perplexed, his eyes scanning over Lee before recognition hits him and a ginormous grin spreads over his face.

“Ah, little Lee, it’s really you.” He moves closer to Lee, his gaze still moving up and down his body, now almost in a perverted manner. “Can’t say I dig the new look. I liked it more when you wore skimpy clothes.” I swallow some spit down my now dry throat. Could they’ve been lovers?

“I wondered where you were hiding, sweetness.” He sweeps his thumb over Lee’s cheek. Lee’s look is not at all friendly, so scratch the BFF thought. This man must be gay and he looks like he’s gonna rape Lee right here right now. Then his brutes are gonna rape me after which they’re gonna kill us. Yep, we’re going to die.

Lee grabs the dude’s thumb and twist it back into what must be a painful position. The man named after a piece of meat grumbles and one of the gunmen steps forward in a threatening manner. Lee let’s go and pushes T-Bone back.

“What do you want? I’m paying your money. We have a deal.” Lee hisses, pissed. But the T-Bone man just laughs. What the heck is he talking about? What money? What deal? Is he in trouble or something?

“Chill, sweetness. Believe it or not, this is just a coincidence. I’m not here for you. Actually, I’m not sure what to do with you now.” He looks at me and my legs wobble.

“What money?” Jackson must be standing right behind me. I didn’t even hear him coming. What is he doing here? T-Bone’s brows unite as his eyes pull into a line.

Lee jolts around with huge eyes focused on Jackson. He also didn’t hear him. But I must admit I’m rather glad he’s here, remembering that Mel said having Jackson on your side in a fight is always a good thing.

“Ah, Jackson, you’re h.e.r.e t.o.o.” Dragging his words out, T-bone doesn’t look happy about it though. He turns with a what-the-fuck-is-this stare at Chloe … who still looks as if she lost her special toy.

“Seems that there’s a lot of uninvited guests showing up.” His eyes bore into Mel’s biggest rival in the world. She pulls a screw face but don’t say a word. He now looks angry. That’s not good.

“Where’s the blonde girl? The sister?” T-bone asks Chloe with tight lips. For a moment my mind is blank. What blonde girl?

“She’s sick.” Chloe answers and my mind catches up. “So we need a new plan. She’s the one we need. Maybe they can call her to come.” Mel. They’re looking for Mel. But why?

“Sick … she’s very sick. Can’t call her,” I mumble.

“Aaaarrrrrgggg!” T-bone throws his head back, having a tiny little fit. He scratches the back of his head with both hands, messing up his neatly combed hair. Then he knots his brows again, this time looking at Jackson who has a strange glow in his eyes.

The crazy twin grabs Lee’s arm and forces him back, so Lee is sheltered behind his body. Lee sticks out his tongue and rolls his eyes behind Jackson’s back. If it were different circumstances I would have found it funny. But right now my laugh is stuck in the constricted feeling in my chest.

T-Bone frowns even more and tilts his head to the side, his eyes still on Jackson, as if he’s surveying something, calculating. Is he thinking about how he’s going to get rid of our bodies? I know I’m overthinking again … but I can’t help myself. I’m not build for this. I’m made for make-up and fashion and other girly stuff … not facing gunfights in a parking garage.

Then he gestures over his shoulder to his men.

“I don’t trust them, tie them up.” One of them approaches Jackson, gathers his arms together at the front and tie them with some cable ties. Jackson, unbelievably, cooperates silently with a grin on his face, as if he knows something we don’t. Lee reaches from behind his roommate, grabbing the goon’s sleeve, twisting his arm painfully behind his back, forcing him to his knees.

But T-Bone swings his index finger from side to side. One man cocks his gun and aims it straight at Lee.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he clicks his tongue in disapproval. “Now, we don’t want a pretty thing like you to get hurt, do we?”

“Fuck, Lee!” Jackson loses his cool, “Stop being a fucking hero.” He stares at Lee with angry eyes. Lee looks hurt and let’s the guy go. Then he points a finger at Jackson’s nose.

“At least I’m doing something, dick!” he hisses.

“Well, fucking don’t, shrimp” Jackson bites back. Lee turns around and holds his hands together.

They tie him up, and then it’s my turn. I feel the plastic cutting into the skin of my wrists. But I’m for sure as hell not gonna complain.

Chloe walks up to T-Bone and grabs his lapels. “We need to get Mel here asap.” She sounds desperate. T-Bone slowly takes her hands and removes them, pushing her back harshly. He takes his phone from his jacket pocket and makes a call.

“Sir, there’s a little problem. The blonde sister didn’t show up, but there’s someone interesting in her place. If my gut is right, this could be the person we’re looking for. Should I make sure?” He must be talking to his boss.

“That was not the deal!” Chloe shouts but T-Bone holds up his finger instructing her to keep quiet.

“What about the others?” “Okay, I understand, sir.” A moment of silence. “Right.” He puts his phone back into his pocket.

Lee’s emotionless face, with a crooked grin, puzzles me and I wonder how he can be so composed. It appears as if he’s even slightly enjoying himself. Jackson is sporting an identical look. Perhaps it’s an ice-hockey-player thing. Or they’re both just completely bonkers. What a perfect pair they make. Well, I’m normal and I’m shit-ass frickin scared. What’s gonna happen to us?

T-Bone pulls out his gun and turns to Brian. I hold my breath.

“Now for you. Boss says you’re a lose end.” He fires. Amanda screams. She falls onto her knees next to Brian and grabs his arm. She screams again and the scream turns into heart wrenching sobs. Chloe looks unperturbed, just standing there. Brian falls to the ground, blood oozing from somewhere in his chest. I don’t want to, but I can not look away. The look on his face is going to stay with me for a very long time. The breath I was holding escapes as a tremble.

T-Bone points the gun at Amanda, the dread clearly visible on her face, her eyes pleading. My heart stops. Even if I don’t like the bitch, I don’t want her to die. And she’s pregnant. With the baby of the man I love.

“You’re lucky the boss still needs you, bitch.” T-bone suddenly smiles at her, lowering his gun. Amanda falls a frozen state of probable shock. Brian’s head falls limp to one side. I think he’s dead. He sure looks dead. They seem to all work together. But why? Why are they doing this?

A strange gurgle burbs from Brian’s throat, forcing me back to reality. He’s not dead yet. I can’t just let him die like this. Even after everything he’s done. I take a deep breath, keeping my eyes on Brian, I rush to him, hoping not to get shot because of this stupidity. Nothing happens, so I quickly look around, finding everybody just staring at me. Thank goodness. I put my still tied hands on his wound, putting pressure on it, trying to stop the bleeding as best I can, but I don’t think I’m doing a very good job. Brian moans in pain, even in his blacked out state.

Then as if nothing has happened, Lee wants to know: “Soooo, I know you’re working for the Old Man, but what is the purpose of all this?” I concur. Something strange is going on. Something more strange than a man just bleeding out through my fingers.

According to the guy at the bar, the Old Man is retired and not even on this continent. Therefor, either this man is lying about his boss, or the patron at the pub got it all wrong, or The Old man became bored with retirement. But if you ask me, I’m leaning towards the first option.

“Well, actually, if you keep paying your dues on time, we have no beef with you,” T-Bone says and then he looks at me, “or her. You just made friends with the wrong crowd.” This time he looks at Jackson.

“And?” Lee growls and T-Bone rolls his eyes amused. He moves to stand right in front of the little guy.

“You truly are a fierce wild cougar, and I really REALLY would love to tame you by fucking you so hard, little Lee, that you will scream my name over and over in ecstasy.” I gulp. Maybe Lee should just shut up. I’m also curious as to why we’re here … but like they said … curiosity killed the cat. And right now, we are those kitties. Jackson slides into the small space between Lee and T-Bone, his eyes spelling danger, a vein seriously pounding in his neck.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll pass. Small dick grandpas are just not my type,” Lee spits while trying to get out from behind Jackson, but his roomie is not letting him. The smile on T-Bone’s face whimpers. Yeah, Lee definitely needs to put a sock in it, but he doesn’t. Why am I not surprised? “So shove that limp penis of yours into some other hole.”

“You’re pushing my boundaries, sweetness,” T-Bone grunts. I pray really hard for Lee to zip it. Lee holds up his tied hands.

“Oh, just cut these ties and we’ll see who’s pushing what, jerk.” I don’t like the glow in those hazel eyes. They are actually amazing eyes … a true rare color. But what they’re rendering right now is not good. Not in the situation we are.

Surprisingly, T-Bone cracks into a full blown hoot of laughter, but he’s laughing alone.

“You still haven’t answered my question. Why is your boss mad?” It seems than nothing rattles this little guy. He doesn’t have the body, but he for sure has the heart.

T-Bone titters down with one last giggle, holding his index finger up. “You’re hilarious, sweetness.” He mocks, a grin plastered on his face. “Anyway … long story short, it’s about revenge.” He eyeballs Jackson. They’re almost standing chest to chest.

“So are you going to kill us now?” I finally found my voice … although it’s shaky.

“Nope, not today, darling … maybe not tomorrow either, but definitely some day soon. In our line of business you learn to be patient. And you also learn how to afflict the most torment. See, killing someone makes him just dead … there’s no torture … no lingering pain … no suffering.” His voice is soft but the underlying threat in it scares me. “BUT if you find and torture someone’s most important person … well, that’s like putting that someone straight into hell.” He’s still ogling at Jackson, as if every word is aimed at him.

“The difficult part is to figure out just exactly who that most important person is.” Does he think we are those important people? Me, I’m really not that important.

“I can assure you we are not the right people. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” I try to make him see the biased side of this plan. How is killing us going to help him get revenge? The only ones that would be tortured by my death is my siblings. And I can’t let him do that to Leyla … not now that she’s going to have the transplant. I won’t let him do that to her. But it’s as if he hasn’t even heard me.

“Say for instance,” he says, still intently looking at Jackson, face to face, as if making an evaluation or choice, “what if, as payment for the money owed by that little golden-eyed friend of yours, I stuff that pretty face into one of our brothels.” Do you get places like that, where men pay to have sex with men? I never thought about that. Or is it just one big place where any gender can pay to have sex with any gender? Ug, even saying it is confusing. But that’s not important right now.

Jackson doesn’t move, but the tight fists of his tied hands clearly indicates that he’s not as calm as he appears to be. That and the stormy look in his eyes.

“Someone like that would be very popular … guys would go crazy to fuck that piece of ass over and over again …” T-Bone pauses as if waiting for something to happen, then continues his taunting when nothing does, “Who do you think would suffer the most in this instance?” His cocky face mocking Jackson. “Your friend? Or maybe you?”

Jackson’s head moves forward so fast, I almost missed it. T-Bone staggers back, wiping his nose carefully, then staring at the blood on his fingers. He obstructs his goon from attacking Jackson by holding him back with his arm. A unexpected wide smile forms on his bloody face.

“I don’t care who your boss is,” Jackson’s voice are low and husky with a satanic hint that matches his demonic face, “but I swear if you so much as touch my roommate, or my family, I will slash you all into pieces and bury your asses where not even Lucifer himself will be able to find you. Got me?” Is it just me or is Jackson a bit overprotective over Lee. Is he only feeling responsible for his roommate. Or could Jackson be secretly gay? No way. He’s the worst player of them all, screwing girls left and right. Can he be bi? He doesn’t look … ug. It doesn’t matter. T-Bone nods slowly, with a winning grin on his face.

“Load and clear.” He wipes the blood from his face with the back of his hand again. He gestures to his men. “We can go.”

“See you later, sweetness.” T-Bone winks at Lee and laughs deeply. It sends shivers down my spine. I don’t think I like his laugh. Now Enrique … that boy has an awesome laugh. He gets back into the SUV along with his boys. A still sulking Chloe goes with them.

“Stop calling me that!” Lee shouts in a shrill voice, “Shit!” We watch the car drive off. Jackson moves quickly to where I’m sitting next to Brian, my hands warm with blood.

“Call an ambulance,” he shouts and Lee struggles to get out his phone with his still tied hands. Jackson closes his eyes and gags a few times. I look at Amanda. She has Brian’s arm in a fierce grim, but she seems to be in some state of catatonic shock. I want to shake her, ask her why? WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS?