The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

“Well, well, Camilla, my love.” The heavy English accent, so like Camilla’s, comes from the front, a male husky tone, as a man in the passenger seat turns to face us. He’s wearing black shades, a stubbled middle-aged face, dark shaggy hair that’s semi groomed and wearing an expensive leather jacket. “We’ve been looking for you love.” He smiles at her and it’s completely sinister, a crooked, evil smile that does not bid well for either of us. He has an air about him, that he is a guy you do not piss off.

“Tyler. I haven’t been hiding, I’ve been trying to get your money.” Camilla’s turned white as a sheet, with wobbling voice and clearly terrified. Losing all her poise and mannerisms as her accent gets a little shaky, dropping its upper-class edge and sounding less refined. I stay painfully still, regulating my breathing so that I don’t fall into a panic attack and try to keep my head. Everything inside of me is poised in fear and all I can keep thinking about is how much I need Arry right now.

“Bull shit, don’t you think we know you’ve been giving us the run around? We’ve been watching the bus and train depot for days. Actually, we were on the way there to check early hour departures.” He sniggers, as though there’s something funny about that and keeps those shades trained on her. I can feel the eyes of the man beside me, watching my every breath, the one holding my throat tight; and doing a visual sweep of my legs under my dress. Sickness and fear sweep through me yet I stay completely still, knowing that if this goes the wrong way, I may be subjected to my past all over again, and I can’t fall to pieces.

“I need more time, I’m trying to get the money. I’ve had a bad run of luck; I just need more time.” Camilla’s sobbing, her face bruising where it looks like one of them has slapped her and blood pouring from her nose still, where I hit her. Complete numbness overtakes me, that old me, climbing into the depths of my head, where I know I can endure so much. Scared, terrified, but this weird sense of calm has come over me, dampening it all, and I’m already trying to look for ways to get out of here, to escape. Eyes skimming every door and person around me for a possible maneuver. I don’t care if they keep her, she deserves whatever happens to her, but I will not stay here to be abused or murdered because of her.

“I’ve been patient; it’s been a week since you checked in, a week past payment date and we’ve not heard a fucking thing from you. Imagine my surprise to be driving along the street and there you two were. Having yourselves a little girl brawl. What’s up, Honey…She holding out on you too?” He looks in my direction and I scowl back, inner fire spiking at being goaded and berating myself for a stupid reaction.

“Please, Tyler…I can get it, I swear. I just need a few more days.” Camilla continues, more tears, more pleading, yet somehow it all sounds like a well-practiced act. I glimpse her way and I can tell they’re crocodile tears.

“Really? Can’t seem to get it in the past weeks, yet suddenly you can get it in two days… From fucking where, Cam? It’s fifty grand!” He laughs sardonically, so do the men around us, like this is some sort of joke and they cruelly want to drag this out and are deriving pleasure from it. My stomach drops when I realize this has become as much as my problem as hers, and I only have a way out if she does too.

“From me… From my money. That’s where we were going, to get money from my family.” I blurt out, heart racing and tears blinding my eyes. Knowing that if there’s any hope then it comes from the fact I can have them paid off. Fifty grand isn’t an outrageous amount for my family.

“Really? And you have that kind of cash do you princess?” He looks at me dubiously, sarcasm in his tone as he takes in the sneakers, the party dress that’s now dirty from sitting on the road, and the grey hoody which belongs to Arry. I guess my face is a mess of tear stained make up and my hair has probably seen better days after my hood got tugged down in the struggle. I guess I probably look a little homeless, much like Camilla’s ‘on the run’ get up, despite this dress being couture and costing more than every outfit in here.

“No, but my family does. I just need to make a call. It’s pocket change to them.” I strain against the biting grip on my neck as he regards me silently for a long agonizing moment. Heart pounding in my rib cage so hard I can feel the pulse in every part of my body.

“One call and you can get fifty grand here?” He’s sneering at me and raises eyebrows to the driver who seems to chuckle; so far he has never turned our way, but I see his eyes in the rear-view, trained on me. Camilla whimpers some more, something about Huntsbergers and he strains to hear.

“What did you say?” He barks at her.

“Her family are rich…… Huntsbergers…. They’re billionaires in the Hamptons.” She blurts desperately, her eyes on him pleadingly. I wonder if she knew that before she conveniently met me in the hair salon that day. Made a play for me in every way.

this little sarcastic power trip a little too much. I can barely catch my breath, but I’m keeping my cool, trying to keep my

by the hair and throat, taken out of sight to the rear when the door is shut on us again. Her voice is muffled with a cruel hand and I shudder. Panic spiking so

so much money at these people, that will satisfy them. Head screaming with the doubts that I can even pull this off. I don’t have that much in my own account unless I let my allowance build up. I don’t have time for that. Scared that he won’t be there for me, won’t

don’t hurt her, I’ll get your money. Please, I just need my cell.” The biting grip on my throat tightens and I can barely swallow or breathe. Holding still as a statue in

at the man holding me. Commanding in

and as I go to fish for it but the man yanks it out instead, skimming my stomach as he

who is a bit too quick to call the feds, or else they won’t be finding their sweet little princess intact again.” He warns, his shades focused

get the money, I know he will.” I tremble, rushing out his name with a shaking voice and knowing despite everything tonight, he will come through for me.

you still care? Please, please. Help

takes my phone, swiping at my screen, eyes flicking to the first screen and

need to make before he gets the hint?” He turns the phone to the man beside me, to show him the list of missed calls and texts, Arrick’s face in the background. Both laugh and then he sneers as he turns

the other end. That he’s not asleep or left his phone in the lounge and gone to bed, like he normally does. Every part of me willing him

husky and stressed, and I wonder if it’s because of

him in this moment, overcome with emotion suddenly and aching for him to come get me. I

long after I left. I’m sorry, for what I said, how I was. You just need to…….” He sounds broken, torn and

normal, but my voice is shaking so badly I can’t control it. Ignoring what he’s saying, even though it makes me ache, in a bid to get

suddenly, that hint of concern shining through now that he realizes there’s something more important than making up. He can obviously

you

short breaths as panic sets in, the sudden thought that maybe I’m asking too much, and he can’t do this. I know

taking control and seemingly completely cool. I know him better now, this is Arry trying to disconnect emotionally, so he can handle whatever it is.

off his shades to reveal deep brown eyes and eyerolls, turning the phone to himself, he kills speakerphone and puts it to his ear instead,

to beat around the bush. You sound like a smart guy, and I’m guessing this little bundle of blonde pussy is your woman. She needs fifty grand, here within the next four hours or I start posting pieces of that sweet ass to your address. I suggest you don’t dawdle love and call us back when you have the cash in hand. Don’t think about getting fly and involving the boys in blue, cos I will literally put a bullet in her fucking head.” He smiles at me as I can hear the low mumble of a deep voice at the other end, my heart aching for Arrick to be here. Hating that he’ll be melting down at what dickhead has just said to him. Knowing how this must be affecting and picturing him going into freak out mode as soon

won’t be joining her back there, she’s learning a good lesson. Never fuck over your supplier.” The overly muscular slime ball, gripping me, chuckles in my ear as the brown leather jacket still talks to Arrick. I glare at him, still aware that there’s a lot of noise coming from far behind that sounds like she is getting a going over and even I feel for her in this moment. I try to ignore it, not to picture what it