Part 8

It's 5:07 pm, when the door swungs open and Michael walks in wearing a pair of coveralls and his face is covered in patches of grime.

"Hi!" He greets me in passing and disappears into the bath.

I can hear him in the shower. A few minutes later he comes back to the living room wearing only his boxers. I have to choke back a gasp and look away. "You could have warned me at least." I try to sound disgusted.

"What for? Seems to me that you like what you see!"

Damn it. I'm too obvious.

"You wish!"

He gets dressed and comes over to me. Finally, he unties me and I´m free! Well, not really free, but at least I can walk around.

First, I have to pee. I run to the bathroom.

Second, I do some exercises in the living room.

"What're you doing?"

"I'm trying to loosen my muscles, jackass."

"Get back on the couch," he orders.

"I was on that couch all day," I shout.

"The others are gonna be here in a few minutes," he explains.

I´m terrified. "When you said the others, did that include..." My voice trails off into nothing.

"Kyle? Sure!"

"Oh!" I whisper.

He seems to notice my panic. "He won´t touch you."

I face him doubtfully.

"I promise," Michael affirms in a softer voice.

One hour later...

I'm tied up again!

Michael believes it would be better to act as if I'm tied up even when he's home, while the other Bandits are at his place. They sit around the bar in the kitchen and talk about their plans for this evening.

"I don´t think the Hurricanes have even noticed that one of their own is missing," Max says.

"Idiots!" Lonnie mutters.

"Losers!" Michael agrees.

"Well, I wouldn´t give a shit about that bitch, either," Kyle hisses and moves in my direction.

"Don´t even think about it, Kyle!" Michael tells him and holds on to his shoulder.

"What are you? Her bodyguard?" Kyle snaps back, pissed.

"I'm just saving you from prison," Michael hisses.

"Stop it!" Max intervenes. "Let's go to the basketball court and cool down!"

It's almost 8 o´clock in the evening when Michael comes back alone. I´m pissed, no, I´m very pissed, because I've sat here for the last three hours... alone... tied...bored...

"Hey," He greets me quietly.

"Whatever," I mutter.

"Are you hungry?"

"Fuck you!"

He looks at me and has the nerve to look puzzled. "Bitchy again?"

"Shut up! You left me alone again. I was alone the entire day and I can´t even move. I´m bored shitless."

He sits down on the table in front of me. "DeLuca, listen carefully! You're kidnapped, okay? You have nothing to complain about! Actually you could be a little more grateful, because I brought you to my place instead of leaving you at Kyle's like it was planned. You could've watched TV the whole day and slept on the couch. I let you walk around when I´m home and you can shower if you want. Have you ever heard of a hostage having the freedoms I've offered you? I don´t think Billy would be so generous with someone from our gang, what do you think?"

"No," I answer grudgingly.

"Good girl!" he says with a grin.

I roll my eyes but stay quiet. He pulls the key out of his pants pocket and opens the handcuffs. The moment he sits up again, I spot a blue bruise on his left cheek. I take his chin in my hand and turn his head slightly until I have a better view of the swelling.

OMG! What am I doing? I´m touching him!

My heartbeat increases with the realization. "What happened?"

Michael gently removes my hand from his face. His fingers touch my skin a moment longer than necessary.

"We met your gang at the park and Max antagonized Billy. He asked him some questions about you and hinted about your abduction."

"So, now they know that you kidnaped me?"

He shrugs. "Not for sure. But if he's not totally brainless he knows how the story goes."

"... and he hit you, not Max?"

Michael scratches his eyebrow. "Well, I said something he didn´t like."

"What was it?"

"Never mind. So again, are you hungry?"

"Sure!" As if by command, my stomach starts to growl and he goes into the kitchen, leaving me puzzled. What did he say to Billy?

"I brought some Chinese food."

"Yummy."

"Do you want the roasted noodles with chicken or duck?"

"That's a tough call! Well, umm...!"

He sighs. "DeLuca, you're insane! Let´s change halfway through, okay?"

"Yes!" I squeak with delight, clapping.

An hour later...

We sit on the couch watching TV, but the movie isn´t very interesting. I catch myself watching Michael instead of the tube. I don´t want to, but I can´t help myself.

His cheek is getting bluer and bluer. It has to hurt like hell although it seems like he doesn't care.

"Do you have some ice cubes?"

"Yeah, why?"

I don´t answer him, but stand up and walk into the kitchen. I take some ice cubes out of the freezer and wrap them in a kitchen towel. Then I return to the couch, sit down next to Michael and softly press the cold fabric against his cheek.

He closes his eyes and furrows his brow.

"What're you doin'?" he asks quietly.

"Cooling your cheek – it's swollen."

"It's not that bad."

"Believe me, it is!"

"If you say so. I'll take it from here." He slowly takes the towel from me. "Take care after you´re free, okay?" he implores after a moment of silence. "Maria, look at me. I´m serious, you have to get away from him."

"You can't get out of a gang easily. What am I supposed to say to him? Oh sorry, but I don´t want to hang around with you anymore. It doesn't work like that and you know it!"

He groans. "You have to at least try, okay?"

I nod. "I will."

"Well," he scratches his eyebrow again, "I think I´m gonna sleep now."

"So you're gonna handcuff me again, right?"

"You wouldn´t sleep very well – tied on the couch I mean, huh?" He looks at me pensively.

"Maybe not."

"You wanna sleep in the bed with me? It's big enough."

My gaze slides to his bed. "But you can´t 'cuff me there."

He shrugs, "I'll 'cuff us together."

"WHAT?"

"You prefer this?" He motions to the sofa.

"NO," I answer way too quickly.

He grins knowingly. "I thought so."

Some minutes later...

We are lying in his bed now – cuffed together, but I feel comfortable. The mattress is smooth and cushy. It's so much better than the couch... or my bed at home.

"Do you have enough room?" Michael asks.

"More than enough. Thank you." I can´t help myself; the whole situation is really kind of weird.

Think about it! I'm lying in bed... with HIM – my supposed-to-be enemy, but I´m not scared or pissed or uncomfortable. What the hell is going on?

"How can you afford this flat? And all the other things here?" I ask Michael.

"DeLuca!" he mutters. "I want to sleep now."

"But I'm not tired. I didn´t do anything today."

He breathes out. "I'm working, okay? I earn money so I can pay the rent."

"But this apartment has to be expensive."

"Connections!"

"Illegal?"

"What? No. Stop talking now."

"What's your job?"

He gives me a warning glare.

"It´s the last question, okay?"

"I'm working at an auto shop as a mechanic."

"So you can steal cars?"

"I don't steal cars."

"But you could."

"Shut up now or I'll kick you out of my bed!"