Broken Pieces

Untitled Episode 14

Eva, are we almost there yet? "Reiley, if you don’t stop asking me that, I will toss your butt out on the freeway," Eva said. We all laugh, so you are ready to relax and enjoy some time away from everything Ava said. Yes, I’m excited to talk it out with my girls. There is nothing I can do either way honestly. I’m just scared half to death of the results because I don’t like letting new people in. I understand they would want to build a relationship. But I’m struggling with why not sooner. Yes, given the name change and adoption. They could have used a PI sooner, like they do now to find the information. It just feels like Pandora's Box has opened. You have been thinking too much about everything, Reiley. "No one expects you to rush through all the changes and information being tossed at you," said Eva. You have always been one to lock up the most important stuff from us. I mean you tell us what you feel comfortable with. We have known you for a while now, and we still don’t know everything about you. Wow Ava, that makes me sound like a horrible person. "No, not a horrible person, just someone with a guarded heart, and you like to protect yourself," Eva said.

We pulled up to the beach house around 5 o’clock with me feeling lighter after the talk on the drive here. Now it’s time to relax with my girls and lock everything away. We unloaded the truck and put everything away. Now we are sitting on the back porch looking out at the ocean with a glass of wine. So, I have to tell you both something. You remember the twins I asked you to go on a double date with. "Yes, I do, Ava. "We are officially dating and Eva is dating his twin brother, said Ava. She continues to tell me; he owns a beach house close to here, and he invited us over for dinner. That’s wonderful Ava, but I’m going to stay here and enjoy the quiet. Take Eva and enjoy your dinner with your boyfriends. I’m going to walk the beach for a while. We don’t want to leave you behind, Reiley, you should come with us. Eva, it is OK. I need some quiet time walking the beach for peace. When you get back, we can sit around the fire and girls talk about everything. Sounds perfect Reiley now help us get ready for dinner," Ava said. I helped the girls get ready to leave for their date. I grab a blanket and phone, shut the door and walk my way to the beach.

Found the perfect spot to sit and watch the sun set over the beautiful water. The weather is perfect tonight. It’s almost springtime. I toss my blanket down and sit down staring out at the ocean. Watching the waves crash against the shore, I drift off to thinking about the last few weeks of my life. I have dark secrets I hide from my friends and family. Before college started, I spent the summer traveling to get ready for my next stage of life. I met a woman named Raven who helped me with the anger I had inside. She helped me express it by learning how to fight and use guns. She taught me a lot about myself over the last 6 years. How I crave to help people when they have no one to help. I help with getting vengeance on people that hurt the innocent people who seek my help.

Flashback

I remember the feeling from the first time I helped a girl who was in over her head. Raven and I were at a hole in the wall bar. We were sitting at the bar when a young girl came in with her 2 friends. You could tell by the look of her she felt safe with her friends and wasn’t aware of the danger lurking around her. They sat at a table and one of her friends came to the bar for drinks. After 2 hours, the young girl's friend disappeared and left her alone. I looked at Raven, she was in danger. Those random men just sat down at her table and her friends were gone. Let’s watch Reiley before we do anything to help. It was 10 minutes and 3 shots later when we noticed one man helping the girl up and pointing to the door for his friends to follow. When they walked past us, the girl was saying she was waiting for her friends to come back so she could leave with them. The man said," I’m taking you to your friends. I looked at Raven, we have to help her and not let them hurt her. OK Reiley, you take the lead and I have your back. I followed them out of the bar, I yelled and got their attention. I walked up to the man with the girl. She said she didn’t want to leave with you and I didn’t see her friends with her. The man looks at me and says, you shouldn’t be sticking your nose in our business. She coming home with us for a good time. Now, if you want to join in on the fun, then stay, if not get lost b***h. I punched the man in the nose. It looks like you found the wrong b***h tonight, and you are not leaving with that girl. The next thing I know is the guy's friend tackled me to the ground, throwing punches. I block the punches to my face and use my legs to flip the man off of me and start punching his face and ribs. The one a hit in the face grabs me off his friend and I slam my head back on his nose. I hear a crack in his nose because of how hard I hit him, and he lets go of me. I backed away, looking at both men ready for a 2 on one fight. I glanced over to see Raven had knocked out the other friend and had the girl safely next to her. I looked at the men standing in front of me. Do you 2 really want to die tonight? One of the men laughs, you really think you could kill us. I will end your life with no regrets, I say. I pulled my blade out and tucked it behind my wrist. I am ready to end this asshole. The man takes a few steps toward me, when gunshots go off. The man drops to the ground to take cover. I look to see where the shots came from. Raven walks over and kicks the man. She tells them to leave and that the shots were a warning. They all load up in their truck and take off. Looking at Raven, I asked" Why did you stop me? She says it's because the bar has cameras and I will end up in prison for murder. She looks at me and says there is more for you to learn. We took the girl to her house and left. The feeling I got from saving that girl was something that made my soul happy. The first time I felt like I had a purpose in life. That is how my secret life started. I have lost count of the deaths on my hands over the last 6 years.

End of flashback.

I hide this side of my life from my family and friends, because I’m scared of how they will react when they find out how much of a monster I truly am. With the news of finding out I might have a new family, it scares me because I have to keep my secret life hidden. Now I have a new set of people wanting to be a part of my life that I have to hide my secrets from too. I can see their side of wanting to have a relationship with me. I honestly don’t understand everything but the arranged marriage. Why on earth will I have to marry a man I don’t know? The few times we have spent together the last few weeks have been hot and cold. Yes, I find him very attractive and irritating. The small flirting and straightforward talk as me shaken up inside. The feeling I get when he is around scares me, it feels like my calm to the storm. The first night at my parents’ house, when I met him, and he sat next to me like that is where he belongs. Then he put his hand on my leg to calm me away. The way he shows up lets me know he is there and doesn’t fight with me. He just flirts with me instead. Do I let this man into my life? When I do have feelings towards him, it is the big question I need to figure out. Because I have never been the greatest person when dating. I always doubt myself and self-sabotage to protect myself from getting hurt. My last boyfriend used me. After that, I never cared to try again. So, how am I going to just marry a man I don’t know? He makes me want to try again. I’m open to getting to know them if I’m their family. I believe I need to try my hardest to do that. It will help heal that past trauma of feeling abandoned. The nine years my birth mother had me was complete hell. We never had a place to call home, and she would be strung out and let men do whatever they wanted to. As long as she got, her drugs and a place to sleep. Still to this day, I live with the scars of what was done to me. I have trust issues; I haven’t told anyone the whole truth of what I happen to her.

I get pulled out of my thoughts when a dog runs up to me and licks my face. Who do you belong to, I say while petting the furry dog. I looked around to see the owner of the dog and no one was around. Looking to see if there is a collar. Well, guess no collar. Did you run away dog or did you lose your owner? Laughing at myself, yeah, asking a dog question is not going to get me anywhere. The dog lies next to me, so I sit there looking out at the ocean. Hopefully the owner will come looking for their dog before I head back to the house. I picked up my phone to check the time. It's 7:45 pm. I have a text from Eva.

Eva: it is getting dark. Let me know if you're still on the beach

I ignored Eva’s message and I sent my phone down, shaking my head. This girl needs to relax. I’m perfectly fine chilling on my blanket watching the waves hit the shore. Now I have a dog sleeping next to me. I lay down to look at the stars, one of my favorite things to do. I drifted off to sleep watching the stars and cuddling with the lost dog.

I woke up growling and yelling, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. I looked out at 4 men and my 2 best friends yelling my name. I reach over and pet the dog's tail; it comes back and lays down next to me. Ava and Eva stop yelling for the love of God. Reiley, where the f**k did you get Cujo from? Said Eva. The 4 men standing bust out laughing. She just came up to me and didn’t want to leave, so I made a new friend that wanted to eat you for dinner. Not funny Reiley Ava screamed at me. Sorry, what are you guys doing here? How did you find me? We have been calling you for the last few hours. We got back to the house, and you were not there. So, I called Luca to help me find my missing friend. "We have spent the last hour walking the beach calling your phone to find you, said Ava. I picked up my phone that was buried next to me. Dam it's almost 1 am. Sorry girls, I got lost in my thoughts and passed out, I guess. Wait, who is your boyfriend, I ask as I’m standing up. Reiley, this is Luca Masion and his twin brother Nico, Ava said. Great this is a very small world I live in. I picked up the blanket and started walking back to the beach house with my new best friend following me. Looking down at the dog, I’m going to find your owner.

I’m sitting by the firepit while the rest of them get back to the beach house. Reiley, do you know how dangerous it is to fall asleep on the beach? Ava, I know you were worried, but I’m OK and would have made my way back here safe. Now let’s talk about your boyfriend and how you guys met. "I have already told you how we met and tried to get you to double-date with me," said Ava. You had things happen and Eva was the better choice to double-date with Nico. I agree with you about picking Eva over me, because I would not to double-date with someone who may turn out to be my cousin Ava. "I’m going to shower and bed to see you girls in the morning. "Come on dog, you can stay in my room, so they don’t try to run you off. "Reiley, you are not taking that dog into the house, and we are not talking about getting your ass back here," Ava said. I’m on the first step upstairs. Ava don't tell me what to do and had a good night. I flipped her off as I climbed the stairs to my room. Opening my door, I let the dog in, and I shut the door behind me. I folded the blanket from the beach and put it on the floor by the bed for my dog to sleep on. Dog, I’m going to have to find your owner to return you tomorrow. For now, you can stay here and sleep. After my shower, I will go get you some food from the kitchen. Pulled out my pajamas and headed for the shower.

I walked downstairs to find a dog and some food. The girls are still outside with the guys. Glad they haven’t noticed me because I’m not in the mood to get bitched at for falling asleep on the beach. I’m digging through the fridge when I hear someone clear their throat. I stand up with lunch meat and hot dogs in my hand, I turn around to see who is behind me. My eyes go huge. What are you doing here? I got a phone call from your cousin about how you went missing, and your friends were in full panic mode. Lorenzo, I was not missing just enjoying the beach and drifting asleep, and I wasn’t in any danger. I saw that, got a picture of you passed out next to a dog. So where is your new guard dog at? She is upstairs. I’m getting her some food till I can find her owners. Later today I will go buy actual dog food, but for now it's lunch, meat and hot dogs. Lorenzo, why are you really here? If you got a photo of me safe. Reiley, I’m here because I had to see for myself you were safe. Now I can meet your new dog. I have some treats for her. I shook my head and walked around the counter, come on Lorenzo. We walked upstairs to my room. You really bought treats for a dog on your way here. "Yes, Reiley, I did stop on my way here to get treats and a small bag of food for your lifesaver," said Lorenzo. How sweet of you, I opened the door to the dog on my bed. She looks up at us and rolls over. Lorenzo started laughing. I looked at him. This is not funny, that dog is in my bed with sand all over the place now.

Lorenzo shakes the dog food bag and the dog jumps off my bed. I stomped over the bed and started shaking off the comforter. He walks over to the blanket on the floor and pours out some dog from the small bag he had. He looks at me," Did you get the sand off the bed? Yes, I did get it off, I say, sitting up against the headboard. So, tell me how you have been since I last saw you said Lorenzo. Lorenzo, it’s been a week since I last saw you and I have been working from home to progress everything. I took the DNA test and waited for the results. Thursday will be 7 business days, so you being here breaks your promise. He sits next to me; you expect me not to break a promise if you could be in danger. He smiled at me. "I will break it every time to make sure you are safe," said Lorenzo. "I will take you being mad at me as long as I know you are not hurt," said Lorenzo. How can you say that when you only met me a few months ago? You don’t know me, yet you say things and do things like your care. You know why I was on the beach in the first place? I was trying to figure all this out in my head. It’s so exhausting trying to figure you out and what you want from me. There is no way it all comes down to a promise you gave a man on his deathbed. You have to get something else from this to be willing to marry a woman you don’t know. I understand Mrs. Masino points on this. I could be her granddaughter, and she wants to build a relationship because we could be family. But you are not family, and what do you get out of this? Lorenzo rubs his hand down his face, he stands up and walks to the door. Reiley, I understand your concerns and shut the door. I looked at the shut door. Did he really just leave and not answer my questions? Time for bed.