Tampa
Zorah eventually fell back to sleep and when she woke next, her eyes were scratchy from all the tears she’d cried following the call she’d eavesdropped on. Her throat ached and she felt parched. However, she also noticed her hands were free, the IV removed from her and as she moved her legs, she realized the catheter was gone as well. She was surprised she’d slept through the removal. Then, as she blinked in surprise, she realized she was no longer in the plane.
She was in a bedroom, in a big comfortable bed, with soft sheets over her. She looked around curiously wondering how she’d slept through the rest of the flight and then transportation to wherever she was.
“Good morning,” a voice called out to her.
She knew it was the same man from the plane, and she turned to face him. He was sitting in a chair, beside patio doors which were open. He was attractive with dark hair and brown eyes, and she guessed he was in his late thirties. He stared at her curiously. She pulled the blankets higher up her chest nervously.
“How did I get here?”
“You fell asleep on the flight but then you started screaming in your sleep. We sedated you, against our original plans because you were so distraught. The level of your anxiety response is quite something else.”
“You should have brought me home.”
“I did,” he rose from the chair. “This is your home.”
“Where are we?”
“First, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Orlando Mangano. At one time in my life, I was an American Navy Seal. I served our country for fifteen years. I now operate a small group of men who rescue women who have been trafficked for a private organization.”
“I wasn’t trafficked,” she sat up in the bed, her back against the upholstered headboard. “I married Icaro of my own free will.”
“True. My best friend is someone who once saved my life. He asked me to get you away from Lucchesi and to bring you to him. I employed my team to do so.”
“Why? Who is he?”
“I will let him explain the whys of what has transpired. However, I can tell you, we are in Tampa, Florida.”
“Tampa?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It’s a good place for my base of operations.”
“And the guy who paid you to take me?”
“I wasn’t paid, Zorah. I did this for free. My friend has been wanting to take you from your mother and uncle for a long time.” He moved to look out the windows, “he and his sister have been quite worried about you for some time.”
“I don’t know anyone from Florida. You should have left me alone. I didn’t ask for this.”
“Tell me Zorah. You mentioned Ippocrate Giannone touched you inappropriately,” he changed the topic. “Did your mother know?”
She shook her head once and looked away, “she was present more than once when he flogged me with the flogger on my back, but I would be in a camisole and covered. I told her recently about him putting me over his knee and she acted like she didn’t know. I don’t know if I believe her or not. He never did it when she was around so perhaps, she didn’t. However, she knew he beat me because she did it too.”
“How did they hide this so well?”
“They all lie for each other,” she shrugged. “Father Giannone has dirt on everyone in the church. He listens to their confessions after all. It’s not like anyone would say something and the odd person who would inevitably was no longer part of the parish.”
“A nun about seven years ago made a complaint about seeing your mother beat you. It got back to us. We’ve been trying for years to get the proof so we could remove you. Then you moved out and we encountered more difficulty getting details, especially with Lucchesi’s men watching you. We weren’t impressed at how often he broke into your apartment and watched you sleep. It was a violation of your privacy and stalker behavior.”
“You watched him watching me. Who was stalking who?”
“We were there to protect, Zorah, not to take from you.”
“I didn’t need your protection. I want to go home. Please take me back to Icaro.”
“Once you meet with my friend and his sister, you will be able to make a decision of your own as to whether you wish to stay or go back.” He stared at her, his hands jammed deep in his pockets.
“Let me guess, he’s someone else who wants me to choose him over Icaro.”
“No. There is no choice there. He is the one thing you’ve always wanted Zorah.”
“You don’t know anything about what I’ve always wanted.” She grumbled as she folded her arms over her chest and looked away angrily.
“I know far more than you will ever comprehend.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-eight.”
“And your friend?”
“He is also thirty-eight. His sister is older. Forty-two.” He paused, “she’s actually his stepsister. Her mother divorced when Shay was a small child, and she remarried the father of my friend. All of this they will explain to you.”
“I don’t understand any of this. Why all this subterfuge and doing things in such a clandestine manner? Why can’t people just be up front and tell me what the hell is going on?” she gripped the blankets angrily.
A throat being cleared made Zorah turn her head to look in the direction of the door. A woman stepped into the room, “Orlando, welcome home, love.”
Zorah knew this woman somehow but could not figure out from where. Yet the affection she was displaying with the wide smile at Orlando had Zorah’s mind racing. “Are you a couple?” Zorah asked curiously.
“No!” the woman gave a laugh. “Not in a million years. He has been a second little brother to me since he and my stepbrother were in the navy together as young men. Now, they are not so young.”
“You are older than we are,” Orlando moved to kiss her cheek.
“Cheeky man,” the woman tapped his nose. “My brother is anxious to come upstairs. Please go reassure him Zorah is no longer under the effects of the sedatives.”
“I will.” He gave a nod at Zorah pausing for a moment, “Zorah, keep your mind open. There is so much to learn here.”
For Zorah, the words felt foreboding as he gave her one last lingering look and then walked out, leaving her with the unknown woman.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
