Wanting Her Back

Chapter Four

MARIA

I take in my surroundings as I reluctantly walk into the house, accompanied by the heavily built man who looks like he can split a brick into two with just a strike of the hand. The house is pristine and preppy with white and black paintings, furniture, and fixtures. It looks squeaky clean. Cleaner than me. At this thought, I remember that I had put some clothes in the washing machine earlier today, and no one is around to get the clothes out before they start to stink as a result of the heat. I suddenly become self-conscious as I stand in the middle of the living room and feel so out of place. I hug myself as I stand and wait for my escort to lead the way.

"Senora?" The hefty man calls out to me and gestures towards the long spiral staircase covered in a black and white plush rug." This way please". I turn and follow the man up the seemingly never-ending stairs until we get to the fourth floor, and I find myself standing in a long hallway with doors on both sides. I open my mouth in amazement at how big and magnificent the house is, and I suddenly feel like "Alice in Wonderland." I reflect on when Carlos and I were dating, and I used to live with him in a 2 bedroom apartment in North Dakota. He got so broke that he had to rent out the other room, making us live in just one room; before he started to buy me expensive gifts and got a change of wardrobe for himself and me, before giving our tenant a notice to quit so we would have the whole place to ourselves. It was then that I jokingly asked him if he had started working for the Russian mob because he seemed to be earning a lot of money out of the blues. His features hardened when I said that and he then confessed that he was indeed into some shady business that could earn him affluence and wealth and that he did it all for me, so that we may live a super comfortable life.

You hijo de puta, you finally got that super comfortable life you wanted

"Pardon?" The hefty guard says, snapping me out of my reverie.

I quickly slap my hand over my mouth. "I- I'm sorry. Did I say that out loud?"

He simply nods once and goes to open one of the doors, giving a slight bow while saying; "This is your room, Senora. Your bath is ready, just as you like it. " Then he scampers away, down the stairs and out of my line of sight.

I tentatively step inside the room, shutting the door behind me and turning the lock because I expect that Carlos could barge in on me and the last thing I want is to have to come face to face with Carlos right now.

The room walls are painted gray and there is a door leading to an adjoining room which contains rows and rows of expensive clothes that I admire through the windows of expensive boutiques, knowing I will never be able to afford them. After running my fingers over the fine materials of the dresses in the closet, I head for the bathroom, slipping out of my jeans and top and stepping into the bathtub. The water is hot, just the way I like it, and I feel a buzzing in my stomach at the thought that Carlos remembered how I like my bathwater. Reaching for the body wash, soap, and scrub at the side of the tub and mixing them in my water, I let my mind wander to Carlos. I think of how the events of the day panned out, thanks to Carlos! I remember how terrified I felt when I was carried into the car and how my mouth went dry, my heart tightening painfully in my chest, my teeth grinding with irritation at the realization that Carlos sent his goons to abduct me.

I reminisce on how his perfect lips curved into a smile, putting his one-sided dimple and his fascinatingly white set of teeth on full display as I studied the tattoo on his neck peeking out of his shirt and his clean shaven jaw accentuating his black hair as the sun gleamed down on his glistening bronze skin causing my heart to do somersaults as I felt a pang of want and unquenchable desire. I had to prove stubborn so he would not think I was so easy to get.

I wonder what he wants from me and why he brought me here. And did he really have to kidnap me?

I get out of the bathtub, dripping water all over the tiles as I grab a towel and use it to dry my body and pad into the bedroom. I stop abruptly as I see someone sitting on my bed, in expensive looking tuxedos, one leg crossed over the other.

"Did you have a nice bath, Mi cariño?". Carlos asks, smirking. I just stand there, dumbfounded because I remember locking the door, and now I'm wondering how he got in.

I shake my head profusely, my arms folded across my chest. "How did you get in? I locked the door. "

He flashes me a smile as he jingles a bunch of keys. " I have a spare. This is my house, remember? I have access to any room anytime and every time. "

I roll my eyes as I grip the towel tied around my chest, pulling it tight so it doesn't fall off, giving Carlos the satisfaction of seeing my naked body.

He gets up from the bed and walks to where I'm standing, placing a hand on my shoulder and running the other hand across my lips as he bends down and plants a kiss on my lips. I can't resist the rush of pleasure that shoots through my body and in between my legs. He smells like cinnamon and strawberries, and I'm intoxicated by his mere touch and presence as he plants another kiss on my lips, gripping my waist and pulling me closer to him and deepening the kiss.

I eventually realize what is happening, and I shove him away from me and step back, away from him. He moves closer, his eyebrows furrowed with a look of concern on his face, placing his hand on my chin. " Mi cariño. Be mine. Come back to me. Te amo". He pushes into my space, tracing his fingers along the "infinity" tattoo on my neck as his spicy, sweet scent fills my airways, rich and warm like spice cake. I fight the urge to breathe him in, his scent alone like a balm for my aching soul. Instead, I force shallow breaths that leave my chest in small shaky exhales.

I shake myself out of his grip and back away.

"No, Carlos. You can not just waltz in and ask me to be your girlfriend again. If you waltzed in, it would have been so much better, but you abducted me. Why did you have to f*****g do that? You just want to show off power and tell the world that you can get any woman with just a snap of your fingers. No. I'm not interested. Tomorrow, I leave". My voice has risen an octave and it only takes a knock on the door to keep me from spitting more words in Carlos' face.

"What do f**k do you want?" Carlos barks in the direction of the door.

" Capo Nito, Jefe". Capo Nito, boss

I shuffle towards the door and open the door, my mouth hanging open and dry at the sight of the person at the other side of the door.

Can today get any worse because standing on the other side of the door is Juanito.