Chapter 18

12 PM

I had no idea what time it was, but it couldn't have been more than a few hours that had past. I was lying on the couch, my hair sprawled out to the side, but I wasn't tied up or anything. That was good. I could still try to make a run for it.

Luca, who was standing alone by the curtained window, turned around and noticed I was awake.

"Why did you make me have to do that to you, Dani?" He asked.

I still didn't speak. I couldn't speak. My head throbbed as I finally sat up and began to look around. This was still happening. It wasn't a dream like I had hoped once my eyes began to flutter open. I brought my feet to the edge of the couch and stood up slowly.

What did Luca want from me anyway? Revenge? That all seemed too simple. He wasn't just some guy I ratted on. He used to be my boyfriend... and now he had me trapped in my own house. My heart was pounding like a hammer against a nail and it was all because of him.

"It's dark in here," Luca noted like I wasn't just waking up from a hit to the back of the head he gave me a few hours before.

He sighed. "Let's get some sunlight in here since I'll be staying with you for a while."

Staying with me? Was it too late for me to be still hoping that Tommy would come back? I'd do anything to have him back here right now.

Tess' POV

I walked back into Tommy's apartment to see him sitting on the couch in the same spot he was in the first time I came in. I headed toward the kitchen with my bag of his groceries.

Brendan and I had stopped at the store on the way over and picked up some stuff for Tommy. I was glad the Brendan was spending time with his brother after all these years. Plus Tommy was over the house so much that I no longer cared if I had to run around the house in a bra and panty in front of him. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Hey, Tommy..." I began. "Where's Dani?" I asked as I placed a bag on the table. If he wasn't going to help Brendan and I, he would at least have a conversation with me.

Tommy stopped looking at the TV for a moment, and turned to me. There was a slight pause, then he said,"Home, I assume," with slight bitterness. He continued to blindly ahead at the TV, but I could tell he wasn't all that engrossed in any of it.

"Oh, well did you two talk?" I know my questions were starting to get personal, but I didn't care. After all the fuss Dani was making about being more open with Tommy, I wanted to know.

"Yea we did," he answered, still not really looking at me.

"Hmm." I said. Well at least I tried. He didn't really seem in the mood to talk. Understandable. The anniversary of his mother's death was coming up. I could see why he might be feeling a little bummed out.

"Well good," I added. It wasn't really the response I was hoping for, but at least I had filled the quota for the required "daily Tommy talk".

I turned to the front door to see Brendan coming in with the last bag. I let out a sigh of relief. With Brendan here at least it wasn't awkward anymore.

When Brendan put his bag down, he came over to me. "You ready to go?" He whispered.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Hey, Tommy, we're talking off." Brendan announced.

"Oh, yea?" Tommy said, getting up from he couch. "Thanks for the stuff," He had his hands in his pockets, but had a huge grin on his face as rubbed his hands through his hair. A lot different than how he was earlier when we came in.

"Yeah yeah, no problem." Brendan replied.

"Alright, see you soon, Tommy," I called out as I walked to the door. I waited for Brendan, but he hadn't moved yet. He put his hand up telling me to wait, then turned to Tommy.

"Before I go, can I talk to you for a quick second Tommy?"

I could see them muttering about something in the living room, but I couldn't hear what.I waited out in the hall.

A few moments later, Brendan stepped out and shut the door.

"Is he upset about your mom?" I asked.

"What?" Brendan looked at me confused. "Oh, um yeah." He began. "Well not upset. Just in a mood."

"What are you guys planning on doing for that? Anything at all?" I asked.

"I have no idea. I never did anything before."

"I know, but he may want to." I said, shrugging.

"Sorry, Tess." Brendan shook his head telling me that didn't feel like talking about this right now.

...

Once we got through the front door, we both went straight into the kitchen. We still had a few more hours until the girls got home from school.

"So I'm thinking of going to see Dani." I announced once inside.

"Why?" Brendan asked, turning around.

"I want to know how it went. Tommy won't tell me anything obviously. And I haven't been able to get Dani on her cell since yesterday."

"Maybe she's not home," Brendan said, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Yeah..." I agreed. I knew Danielle obviously had her own life outside Tommy and us so why would I be surprised if she was out living it. Maybe I was just desperate for a girlfriend who didn't want to talk about school bake sales and PTA meetings.

"Just stay with me," he said, pulling me close to him.

"Brendan..." I mumbled into his chest.

"Why are you so involved in their love life anyway," he asked, leaning back so there was a space between us.

"I don't know...I'm a mother who spends her free time making arts and crafts and fishing Barbies out of the bathtub."

"Right. Boring." He stated.

"Yeah, ya think?," I agreed with a laugh.

"What about me?"

"What about you?" I smirked.

"Am I not interesting enough for you?" Brendan tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"You, sir.." I said jabbing my finger into his chest. "... got beat up on national television for me. I think that makes you plenty interesting," I told him.

"Uh huh, so how about I take you upstairs then." Brendan began to run his hand up my shirt and along my abdomen.

I laughed. "You would like that wouldn't you?"

He chuckled as well. "Yeah... and Dani will be fine if you postpone your girl time for later." He insisted.

Danielle's POV

I followed Luca over to the back kitchen door as he threw open the curtain. He stood there looking out like he was admiring the view of my backyard.

"Dani, come here," he beckoned to me. "Stand by me."

I came to his side and said nothing. I still didn't have it in me to speak. Luca walked up behind me and rested his head on my shoulder and grabbed me by my waist.

"I want you to call Tommy and you tell him that you're with me now," he said into my ear. "And then I'm going to take you away."

He finally let up so I could stand up straight. I glanced out the window with dead eyes, not really looking at anything. I don't know what I was thinking. The immense fear I had earlier was turning into a sort of numb feeling... like I was in a trance. My head still hurt.

"But not before I teach you a lesson first." He stated. What did he mean teach me a lesson?

"And if Tommy Riordan ever comes around here," Luca added. "I'll kill him."

And that's when the fear came back. I took a deep breath as I started to shake. It didn't even bother me as much when I was threatened, but my heart went into overdrive at the mention of Tommy's name. I would die if Tommy ever got hurt, especially because of me.

"You can't get rid of me. Why can't you understand that?" He tucked a stray hair behind my ear and began kissing me along my collarbone. My body tensed at his touch. I didn't want him anywhere near me.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the door. We both froze in place.

"Dani, you in there?" It was Anna. Luca forcefully put his hand over my mouth and held my shoulder.

"Goddamn Dani, open up, I can see your car...Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. Please let me in."

I started crying now.

My sister was here and I could hear her voice. it sounded like music to my ears. She was so close. She had to come get me. Something's wrong, Anna. Just open the door, I thought...but I never gave her a key. Not yet anyway, while my place was so new. Shit. Anna was here because of our fight over Tommy at dinner. Granted, she was about a week late, but I I had never been so happy to have gotten into a fight with someone ever in my life.

"Anna", I called out through gagged lips, but it sounded more like muffled screaming. I doubt she heard.

"Stop it," Luca whispered. He uncovered my mouth, but grabbed my face. "You're going to tell her you're coming and then you're going to get rid of her."

"And if you decide to run or talk too much, just remember..."He began. He lifted up his shirt to reveal a pistol in his waistband underneath. "277 Mahogany Drive - you want to remind me whose address that is again?" It was Anna's.

"Or is it 1303 Atlantic Ave?" Brendan and Tess, I thought as I glared back at him. At least maybe he didn't know where Tommy lived.

I was breathing heavily as he shoved me forward. Slightly off balance, I stumbled toward the door. Luca was behind me somewhere. In the shadows.

"Be smart," he added, but I could no longer see him.

"Danielle!?" Anna shouted again.

"I'm coming!" I called out. I took a deep breath and opened the door a crack.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound cheerful.

Anna's POV

"Hey," Dani greeted me with a smile. She was being much more gracious than I deserved.

I wasn't over here because my feelings about Tommy had changed. They hadn't. I still didn't like him. I was over here because my relationship with my sister trumped everything else and I wanted to get on her good side, even if that meant lying.

"Hey, are you alone?" I asked, trying to peer inside. She stopped me by closing the door a bit more.

"Yeah." She answered.

"Um, I have Beth in the car, should I drop her at mom's so we can talk? I'm sorry about how we ended things after dinner last week." I told her. She just looked at me. God, was she still mad? I didn't know what to say.

"So...can I come in?" I asked.

"No, I'm kind of busy. Can you come back later?" Dani replied abruptly. She was clearly still upset.

"Why don't you open the door?" I pushed my foot forward to nudge the door, and it opened a crack more.

"Anna..." She whispered as she shook her head slowly.

"Oh, is Tommy in there...well he can hear this too, I guess." I added.

"No he isn't. Now is not a good time." She reached my arm through the door and began squeezing my hand. It freaking hurt.

"Just go," She told me, her hazel eyes boring into mine.

"Are you still mad?" I asked. "I just want to talk and then you can be mad after, I promise."

She let go of my hand.

"I told you not now," she insisted.

"What about a phone call at least. Can you call me in a few days to meet up?" I asked.

"Uh, sure," She answered finally with a sigh.

"Alright, I'll see you then." I smiled at her.

"Bye Anna," she said dismissively"

"OK then...bye." I turned around to leave and Dani immediately shut the door behind. She was mad, but at least she spoke to me. I honestly expected worse.

Danielle's POV

I shut the door and turned around. "Are you happy?" I asked, trying to sound annoyed, but my voice came out strained. I observed Luca who was standing in the living room entryway.

"Sit down so we can talk." He gestured toward the kitchen. He began to walk, but I stood where I was.

"What is there to talk about?" I asked him, still unsure of his plan.

"Whatever you want, doll." He replied, casually.

"What do you want with me?" I asked, giving up the charade. He wasn't my friend, so there was no way I was just going to sit down and chat with him.

Luca began to chuckle."What do you mean what do I want with you?" he asked annoyed. "What do you think you deserve... And also is that before or after I make you suffer." He stepped closer, getting into my face.

"Let's get one thing straight, OK. You're not leaving here unless I say you can." He barked. "And I'm going to keep you here and make you wish that you never left me in the first place."

"I'm not scared of you." I paused, trying to gather what little courage I had. Though I didn't really believe the words coming out of my mouth. "Not anymore." I added.

"Oh yeah, Dani?" He mused, edging closer. "You look pretty scared to me."

A/N:

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