TAINTED LOVE

DesperateEscape

BELLA’S POV

I couldn't bring myself to accept the fact that my mother was gone. I kept thinking that maybe she had just run away, or maybe she had been kidnapped. It was easier to believe in these fantasies than to face the truth. The funeral was a blur. It all felt like a terrible dream, and I kept waiting for someone to wake me up. But as I watched my mother's casket being lowered into the ground, I knew that this was real. I felt like I was shattering into a million pieces, and I didn't know how to put myself back together. I sank to my knees and the tears came in waves. The world seemed to be spinning around me, I knew that I would never be the same again.

My father's arms were around me, and he held me as if he were afraid that I might crumble into dust. He said nothing, but his presence was a comfort, I felt exhausted. As the funeral attendees began to leave, I felt a profound sense of isolation. I didn't want to talk to anyone, and I didn't want anyone to talk to me. I just wanted to go home and be left alone. I tugged at my father's sleeve, and he looked down at me, his face etched with sadness. "Please, Dad," I whispered.

"Can we just go home?" He nodded, and we made our way to the car in silence.

I rushed up the stairs to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I could hear my father calling me but I didn't want to talk to him. I just wanted to shut out the world, to escape into my head. I threw myself onto my bed, burying my face in my pillow, trying to shut out the grief and pain. But it was still there, like a shadow that I couldn't escape. My 20th birthday was just around the corner and I had been looking forward to it for so long, how could I celebrate without my mother by my side?

I woke and realized that I had slept off while crying. I heard muffled voices coming from my father's study, and I tiptoed over to the door. I pressed my ear against the wood, straining to hear what was being said.

"I can't believe you would do this," my father said, he sounded angry and hurt.

"You know what the mafia is capable of. You put our family in danger!" There was a long pause, and then my uncle's voice came through the door.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do," he said, sounding defeated.

"I was desperate."

My father let out a long sigh, and then his voice softened.

"You took out a loan from the wrong people, and now they're demanding payment, Noah!" I froze, my mind racing. My uncle had always been a bit of a gambler, but I never imagined that he would get involved with the mafia. I listened intently as my father continued.

My father's disappointment and anger were clear in his voice. He had always trusted his brother, and now he was faced with the reality that his brother had made a terrible mistake.

"I don't understand how you could be so careless," he said.

"What were you thinking?"

My uncle's response was uncaring.

"That's your problem to figure out," he said, dismissively.

"I can't help you, you put us all in danger," my father said, sounding frustrated.

"You need to take responsibility for your actions."

My uncle's reply was curt.

"You're on your own, brother," he said,

“What’s done is done. You just have to think of a way to get out of this, from what I’ve heard he’s not someone you’ll want to mess with, he is a very dangerous man. I haven’t met him, but I heard from some people that he’ll do anything to get his money back, it’s too bad the investment I had in mind failed, I had big plans for us. We were going to make a lot of money, pay him back, and enjoy the rest.” Uncle Noah told Dad calmly.

“Stop lying, Noah!, just shut the f**k up! I know you better than anyone and you’re only here because you lost all that money even if the investment had gone through you wouldn’t have come back here.”

“I just lost Hannah for goodness sake how do I get fifty thousand dollars in less than a month? I told you I needed five thousand dollars which I had already repaid and I specifically told you to go to the bank.”

“Were you looking for a death wish or something? You better find a way to fix this mess without involving my family, or else you’ll have me to contend with, now leave my house!” I heard Dad say.

I felt sick to my stomach, and I snuck back to my bedroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and I barely recognized the person staring back at me. My eyes were red and puffy, and my skin was pale. I looked like a shell of my former self. I sank onto my bed, I had no idea how to go on without my mother. I took my bath and was about to leave my room before the door opened and my dad came in.

“Hi Dad,” I said softly, like I hadn’t been eavesdropping on his conversation.

“Hi Bella, how are you feeling?” he asked hugging me.

“I’m fine,” I answered with my face on his chest.

"I want us to leave and go somewhere far away," he said, and I looked at him confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"We can't stay here, it's not safe." He didn't elaborate, and I felt even more confused. I could tell that he was holding something back, but I didn't know what it was.

"But why?" I pressed.

"I just think it's for the best," he said, avoiding my gaze.

I nodded, even though I still had a million questions running through my mind. I could tell that he was stressed, and I didn't want to make things harder for him.

“Okay," I said quietly.

"I trust you." I could see the relief on his face, and he pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thank you," he said.

I woke up the next morning with a strange feeling of sadness that I couldn't shake off. I looked around my room, my eyes falling on the familiar objects that I had known my whole life. I would miss this place, even though it was the site of so much pain. I got out of bed and made my way down the hall to my father's study. I heard the murmur of his voice on the phone, and I hesitated in the doorway, not wanting to eavesdrop again. But then my stomach growled, and I remembered that I hadn't eaten breakfast. I went to the kitchen to make myself something to eat. As I scrambled some eggs, I couldn't help but think about what the future would hold.

I took my breakfast to my room and sat at my desk, eating slowly, but it was hard to focus on the food. Suddenly, I heard raised voices, and I knew that my father was arguing with someone.

I tiptoed down the stairs, trying to be as quiet as possible. I peered around the corner and saw my father in the living room with a group of men I had never seen before. They were all tall and muscular. My father was talking to them in a low voice, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me. Who were these men, and what did they want?

As I looked at the group of men more closely, I noticed that one of them had a tattoo of a snake on his arm, and another had a menacing-looking scar across his face. I felt a chill run down my spine as I noticed that one of the men was holding a gun. I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. I had to know what was going on, and I had to do it without being detected. I noticed another man in the group who was strikingly handsome, with chiseled features and dark hair. But there was something about him that gave me the creeps. He was lounging on the couch like he owned the place, a self-assured smirk on his face. I felt uneasy. I didn't know what was happening, but I knew that something was very wrong.

"This is my house," my father said, his voice shaking with anger.

“And you are not welcome here. I want you to leave, now!" The men looked at each other amused.

"I don't think you understand the situation you’re in," the man with the scar said, his voice sounding dangerous.

“You are in no position to make demands." I suddenly began to panic as the situation began to escalate.

The man who had been sitting down, finally stood up and walked over to my father, his eyes cold and calculating.

"You owe us money," he said in a low and threatening voice.

"And we're going to collect, one way or another." My father stiffened, clenching his jaw.

“I don't know what you're talking about," he said, trying to keep his voice even.

“You must be mistaken." But I could tell that he was terrified.

"If you don't behave, we'll take your daughter and make you watch," the man said, his eyes fixed on my father. My heart leaped into my throat. I had been caught eavesdropping, and now I was in danger. I was frozen in fear, unable to move. My father's eyes met mine, and I could see the fear in them. He knew what was at stake. I took a step back, trying to make myself as small as possible. I didn't want to be noticed, I just wanted to disappear. But then I heard one of the men say something that made my blood run cold. "I think the boss will like her." I felt sick to the stomach.

“Our boss hates blondes," another man said, his eyes never leaving me.

“She's useless to us." I felt a wave of relief wash over me. At least I wasn't what they were looking for. But I was still in danger. I looked around, trying to find an escape route. But the men were blocking the only exit.

"No, please," my father pleaded desperately.

“Don't take her." But the men ignored him, advancing towards me. I was frozen with fear, unable to move. My heart was pounding, and I could barely breathe. I was trapped, and there was no way out.

“She's coming with us," the man said, grabbing my arm. I tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron. My father tried to intervene, but it was no use.

"No!" my father yelled, trying to stop the men from taking me. The man with the striking handsome man backhanded my father, sending him sprawling to the ground. My father tried to get up, but the man kicked him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. I felt sick as I watched the scene unfold. My father was defenseless, and I was powerless to help him. I felt like I was going to be sick.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my neck and I felt a wave of dizziness, the world started to spin. I tried to stay upright, but I felt my legs give out. The last thing I saw before everything went black was my father's face, his eyes filled with sadness. Then the darkness claimed me.