The Mafia’s Wanted Desires

ASHLEY

I stayed in my room all day and when it was evening, I decided to go for a swim in the hotel’s pool. A shower or soaking myself in the bathtub wouldn’t do it for me. I just wanted to be in the water and relax, allowing it to soothe my nerves. So, I changed out of my clothes into a blue two-piece bikini. I picked up my sunscreen and my phone and went out of my room. I got into the elevator and suddenly felt my nervousness building up and I knew why. I embarrassed myself in front of Thalia the other day and I didn’t know if I had it in me to face her after what went down. She would probably think I was mentally unstable.

God, I hate him so much.

I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the elevator, my eyes straying to the reception, where Thalia was already staring at me. My eyes widened and I cleared my throat, quickening my pace and wanting to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Ms. Miller!” She called, sharply, and I groaned. I didn’t move from where I stood, I merely waved awkwardly at her and skipped off before she could say anything else. I walked through the sliding doors and headed straight for the pool area. I was so relieved when I found out it was void of a single soul. I giggled and pranced forward, setting my phone and towel on a sun lounger. I took off my bunny slides and walked to the edge of the pool, then slowly, I sunk my leg into it and shivered at the cold contact of the water on my skin.

I let the edge go and allowed the water to carry my legs, wherever it sees fit. I moved my hands in a half-circulation on the surface of the water, basking in the comfort it had to offer while making a whip kick with my legs in the water. I didn’t get to swim for more than five minutes when my phone chimed lightly and I rolled my eyes. So, Mom decided to text me back after the numerous texts I had sent her. I pouted when I realized that I had to get out of the pool to get my phone. I sighed and swam to the edge of the pool, holding onto the rails and getting out.

I picked up the towel and dried my body, then took my phone and unlocked it. I furrowed my brows, seeing it was a video. I clicked on it and what I saw shattered my heart and mind into a gazillion pieces. My parents were locked up in a cell, yelling for help and screaming for something to let them out. Their horrified screams, especially my mom’s, filled my ears, rendering me immobilized. I barely had the chance to process what I had just seen, when a text popped up, right underneath the video.

Playtime is over Peach.

I’m giving you 48hrs.

You either say yes or I send

their heads to you as a souvenir.

What the fuck!!!

I let out an ear-shattering scream, my heart feeling as though it had just been ripped out of me and smashed into pieces. My skin felt as though I was on fire, my vision blurred with so many tears I didn’t even know I had in me.

What have I done? What did I get myself into? What did I get my parents into? As though taking my job and home from me wasn’t enough, he just had to kidnap my parents. The bastard hit me where I hadn’t expected and it hurts like a bitch! If anything happened to them, it was going to be on me. Their blood was going to be on my hands. It was all my fault all this was happening to them. They weren’t part of the whole thing in the first place, but I had managed to drag them into the crossfire with my stupidity and recklessness.

I dropped to the floor, picking up my phone that had fallen from my hands, breathing heavily. I went to my log and dialed Ivana’s number. It didn’t ring for long before she picked it up.

“Hey, Ash!” She chirped into the phone and I let out a shuddered breathing.

“Ash?” She spoke into the phone again.

“Ash, what’s going on? Are you…are you crying?! Ashley, speak to me!” She exclaimed, her voice thick with worry. I choked out a sob, digging my fingers into my wet hair and pushing it back.

“He took my parents, Ivana,” I whispered and she gasped.

“What do you___ oh my God!” She yelled into the phone.

“He took your parents?! No, no, Ashley. You have to go to the police to report this! You have to go to the police! He can’t get away with this! It’s not fair!”

“Fuck!”

“You know what? I’m taking the next flight. I will inform Dawn. We are coming home.” She spoke firmly, her tone giving no room for argument.

“Ivana__”

“I don’t want to hear it! Just go!” She shouted and hung up on me. My lips quivered, my breath coming out in short pants. I managed to rise to my feet, wobbling like a zombie. I didn’t bother to pick up my towel. I just rushed out of the pool area to change into dry clothes. I changed into dry clothes and picked up my purse and phone, leaving my room. I ran downstairs and flagged down a cab that took me straight to the station.

I didn’t count the money that I dumped in the hands of the cabman. I just paid him and alighted from the car, dashing into the station like a psychotic person.

“Good day, ma’am,” said the man seated by a cubicle.

“You have to help me!” I cried.

“You have to help me!”

“Ma’am, just breathe and tell us what the problem is,” The man spoke calmly and I nodded my head, taking a deep breath and swallowing the spit that was starting to build up in my mouth. I closed my eyes tightly and they fluttered open again, meeting the worried gaze of the officer.

“Please, sit,” he said calmly.

I took my seat in front of him and tried to steady the quivering of my lips, my tears dropping on the table.

“My parents have been kidnapped by a man who has been threatening me for a very long time. He got me fired at my workplace, sent out of my home and now, he took my parents,” I explained, sniffing.

“How long has this been going on? I mean, how long has he been threatening you?” The officer asked and I took a deep breath.

“A few weeks now,” I mumbled, tears pooling in my eyes.

“Ma’am___” He proceeded to address me but his speech got shortened by the appearance of another officer, who gave me a cursory glance before leaning to whisper something in his ears. I watched the first officer who had been attending to me intently and then, the warmth and assurance that clouded his eyes earlier slowly dissipated into dread. I furrowed my brows as he nodded his head and waved the officer off.

“Ma’am…” He trailed off, sighing.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I am sorry, we can’t help you.” He dropped the bombshell and I froze, my brain freezing up and shutting itself down. I let out a shaky breath, wheezing lightly as a sudden rush of negative emotions hit me all at once, giving me no room to breathe. The rage I had been trying to suppress, slowly built up again and this time, I could feel my face getting flushed and my jaws overly clenched.

“What. Did. You. Say?” I spat out my words, staring at one of the men in the force, who had sworn to protect the citizens of their country, no matter how hard it might be. No matter the circumstances, who had pledged loyalty? Telling me flat out to my face that they couldn’t help me!

What nerve?

I was so shocked by his audacity.

“We can’t help you, ma’am. I am sorry,” He sighed, and that was all it took for me to lose it. My fists met the smooth surface of the table, banging against it loudly. An action that had him flinching backwards.

“Oh, you don’t get to be fucking scared!” I screeched, getting up from my seat.

“You don’t get to be scared when you just look me right in the eye and tell me that you can’t help me. After I explained to you that someone was after my life! A man kidnapped my parents, who hadn’t wronged him in any way, just to get back at me! And you are telling me you can’t help me!”

“Are you kidding?!”

‘Ma’am, I am going to have to ask you to leave,” His voice was soft, convincing even. But I didn’t care! I was mad with rage! I was angry and I felt cheated!

“Fuck you!” I screamed at him.

“Fuck you for giving me hope in the first place and taking it away from me!”

“He asked you not to help me, didn’t he?!” I shouted in his face, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.

“Ma’am___”

“Answer me, Goddamnit!” I shot at him, pushing away the stack of papers and the computer he had on his desk, fury flashing in my eyes and my breath quickening.

“Someone get this woman out of here!” He shouted at the top of his voice and some officers sauntered into the reception.

“Ma’am, you need to leave. You wouldn’t want us to get violent with you by carrying you out.” A female officer spoke to me and I scoffed.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll leave.” I chuckled mirthlessly before turning to the first officer and sending him a cold smile.

“Thank you,” I whispered, teary-eyed, my voice thick with sarcasm. I picked up my purse that had fallen off in the middle of the ruckus, walking out of the station with no destination in mind.

I couldn’t cry, I couldn’t breathe. I just kept on walking, clutching the straps of my purse in my hands, utterly numb.