The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

The driver remains silent but his whole body seems stiffer, eyeing us and remaining impassive as he can. The men outside are all on cell phones and murmuring among one another and I wonder why they aren’t letting us go.

“If they are so afraid of Alexi, then why aren’t they opening the door and letting us walk away?” I stare at her in complete angst, so wanting to be done with this now and anxiety rising that this goes so much deeper than I thought it would. If Alexi finds out, then all the Carreros will become involved, and I have no idea how this will play out. The family is huge. I’m in so much shit from them after this; Giovanni will literally spank me for getting caught in this kind of danger.

“You’re kidding right? They called your boyfriend and made threats, made it clear they have you. They know how fucked they are, and the only way to make it right is to deal with this face on. I bet they have Alexi on the phone right now… groveling like bitches and trying to retract anything they said to your boyfriend.” Camilla is finding leverage in this situation, and despite the mess of her face, she is trying to sort her clothes and hair. Swelling eyes and clearly worse for the wear, yet her inner fire is still there. She has found her way out and the realization has her brimming with confidence.

“So, they just keep us? Until when?” My head is racing on how crazy Arry will be going, how panicked and scared he must be, thinking that something awful is happening to me. The thought of him knowing I’m here is keeping me calm, knowing he’s probably on the phone to Giovanni, and Jake right now, probably Alexi too… Trying everything in his power to get me back. I know he’ll make sure I’m okay, whether he wants to be with me anymore or not.

He will always take care of me. I know he will.

“They will have to arrange a proper handover… Take whatever punishment they have coming. If they dump us and run, then they will be hunted down like dogs. There’s a code you don’t break, and I think they’ve just broken it.” Camilla slides down in the seat and holds her ribs, laying her head back to try and breathe and sniffing through her bloodied swollen nose. I watch at her for a moment then sit back too and try to reign in the craziness of my head, try not to count the minutes. We all fall into silence as I watch the panicked scrambling of the men outside. Not sure what else to do but sit here and wait. A part of me knows I am no longer in danger, that his name alone is enough to protect me when he’s not here.

I jump when the car door is opened, and another suited man gets in, sitting in front and doesn’t even look this way. Another suited thug with a skin head and a whole neck of tattoos peeking out of a tailored black suit. Hugely intimidating and adding another layer of fear to my already thin nerves and shaking hands.

“We’ve to go to the club with them, and wait for further instruction.” He mumbles to the driver and I glance at Camilla in sheer panic, somehow knowing we are being moved, taken elsewhere seems to set my fear back on edge. Heart racing, blood running cold and the unknown looming ahead of us.

I was starting to calm down, becoming sure in the fact that the name alone was going to keep me safe, yet somehow, knowing they intend to take us somewhere else, for God knows how long, it terrifies me. I thought this would be over by now and yet, it feels like it’s only beginning. Moving us, taking us somewhere else, it seems far more sinister and real suddenly and I can’t contain the nerves hitting my gut with force.

Camilla looks completely useless; no fit state to do anything except lay very still and gaze at me with large eyes. The blood has drained from her face and I can tell she is in a lot of pain, her breathing has been getting more and more labored the longer we sit here, and I wonder if she has broken ribs or worse. I’m really starting to feel concerned about the depths of her injuries.

I want to ask them questions, yet something inside of me tells me to be quiet and do as we are told. To trust that he will get us out of this and pray we don’t get touched.

When the car starts, I grip Camilla’s hand tightly, looking for comfort in the oddest of places and she squeezes right back. All bravado and confidence, a mask and she is clearly as scared as I am. I’d never clung to another person when I was young, enduring what I did, but somehow, knowing we both share so many hideous scars; we may need each other to get through this if everything goes wrong.

The rumble of the car as we pull off lulls us into tense silence; the men in front don’t say anything more, and we edge away from the men loitering in the alley. I catch sight of Tyler and realize he still has something that belongs to me.

“Wait. My cell?” I snap impulsively and the man in front holds it up in plain sight over the top of his head. I go to reach for it, but he yanks it away fast with a ‘tut tut’, and chuckles.

to Camilla and watch the New York streets start to slide by as we hit early morning traffic. Sick with anxiety and trying to keep picturing Arry in my mind’s eye

to gauge where we are, as they seemed to take us down a route of back alleys and short cuts that messed up all sense of direction. I

another

the street without touch. Camilla looks like she tries to follow, but whimpers and moans under her breath. It’s clear she can’t get

and twist in his grip, but it only tightens,

me any hassle, girly. I’m not one of Tyler’s men and it will do you well to behave.” That cold look and no shit tone has me recoil within myself and I immediately simmer down to allow him to guide me into the building. There’s something about him that intimidates me crazily and I realize that I’m in still as much danger as I was.

revealing a seedy strip bar that is surprisingly already open. A half-naked woman gyrating on a pole that is sat up on a huge box in the middle of the bar, with men

no idea about what I should even be doing. Silent and obedient, hoping that it will all be over soon and that I must trust that my Carrero men will

Please come for me.

me through the bar, past the dancer and straggling men and through a dark door to the side. It opens into an office that’s crowded and cluttered. A huge desk in the middle of an overly packed room of furniture, cabinets and overflowing files and I’m forced down into a seat by the wall that faces into the room. He keeps walking to the desk and sits down awkwardly in the large leather seat, looking completely out of place and I get the distinct impression this is not his office at all. He looks too pulled together

dragged in and dumped on the couch opposite me by two men, her face white as milk, tears in her eyes as she muffles cries under her breath from pain and they leave her there to wallow. Nodding at the man who brought us in and depart quickly, pulling the door behind them. I glance at

her over.” I look to him imploringly, appealing to the gentler

off.” He leans back in the chair, creaking as it goes and sticks two expensive, polished

stay here?” I watch him nervously, trying to keep my cool, trying to not fall to pieces even though I really

busy man and he’s coming here from elsewhere. Last thing he needed to deal with today was problematic little girls getting themselves in all sorts of trouble.” He sneers again, and I get the distinct impression that he isn’t on Tyler’s pay roll at all; he

he deals with, but his lack of care that I mean something is astonishing. Considering the fear Tyler

rub shoulders. I’m here as a favor. Keeping you cozy until he gets here. Safe from Tyler’s handy men.” He slides his feet back down and

the stomach and sends her into a yelping recoil, curling up and clutching her ribs before it slides to the floor with a dull thud and I glare at him in disgust. I have no idea who he is, but I hate him. He has no compassion and his treatment of a wounded woman has me thinking murderous thoughts. I hope Alexi beats him half to death

look that passes between them. He says nothing, a nod and then he walks towards the door and leaves, closing it behind him without a second glance as though we are of no importance at all. I get the impression he isn’t happy about babysitting

could have been in a

floor and start trying to help her to sit, pushing cushions behind her head in

breaths, and yet I

her, so I can lift her head, unscrew the cap and help her drink the neat vodka

shallowly, closing her eyes tight in pain and I want to cry for her. I once had two broken ribs and know how painful it can be. I hate that we’re stuck here like this, that I’m helpless to do anything