Love Struck Eternal
Chapter 29 - We each have our own.
Sam's POV.
The day consisted of Roslin helping me learn about the remaining families I'd be meeting and I learned a lot thanks to him. He knew a lot and even the things he didn't know he managed to somehow find out in a matter of a few hours. I don't know how he did it, but I wasn't going to complain. After all I didn't know how he did anything he did. I was just grateful he was sticking by my side throughout this.
Now I was getting ready to visit Jari's house again. With the echidna sitting on my bed watching me get dressed, he asked curiously.
"How are you holding up? Are your powers okay?"
Putting on my shirt then grabbing a nearby blue G.U.N jacket I received after training, I tucked my hair and replied to him.
"I'm okay."
"Sam?" He hummed back which got my attention to refocus directly on him.
Very slowly Roslin lifted up his right hand and urged me to come to him by moving his first two fingers up and down. I accepted that command and walked over to where he was to stare him right in the eyes. For a moment he looked right back but soon put his hand on my wrist. He held me still and with an expressionless face on him he asked me.
"You're fearful. I can sense it when I look into your eyes. What aren't you telling me?"
I didn't know what to say exactly to him. It should have come as no shock that he sensed it at all, but I still replied.
"What? I'm fine. I swear."
Roslin instantly smiled and questioned.
"Really?"
I knew I was caught so with a small sigh I replied.
"I'm…..I'm just…? It's my mother."
"What about her?" He proceeded to ask me as I decided to sit down next to him to respond.
"I don't know. I just think that I'm causing her more harm than good right now. I want to be there for her like she wants me to be, but I just can't force myself to get over my emotions. I've done too much already. It's been too long. I don't….I don't know. It just feels like I burned a bridge."
Roslin nodded to show me that he understood. After a few seconds I went on to say.
"I've never been good at keeping my word to anyone. I always find a reason to be weary and despite everything I just fear what they would say if they knew what I was becoming. My dad? I have a feeling when it comes between him and her, he would care the least and that may not be the case, but when I think about her? My mom wants me to be safe. She wants me to have a future. She would kill herself if she knew what kind of shit I was into right now. How do I approach her after all this? The scars? Mocha? Cora and the military? Fuck she would lose it if she knew I was fucking around with a guy half my size."
Roslin again nodded but this time he let go of my hand and just proceeded to put his on my upper leg. I felt the warmth in his touch and that informed me that he was trying to calm me down. I felt the attempt roll over my mind, but still somehow kept my focus on the conversation at hand. Putting my own hand over his, I asked him on top of everything else.
"Is it even worth having them in my life after all this? Part of me thinks I'd be better off just cutting them out completely. Maybe it would even be what's best for them. I don't know."
"I wouldn't do that." He replied as I then asked.
"Why not?"
Keeping his touch on me, he replied while looking me back in my eyes.
"Because it's easy to lose yourself if you give up on everyone that loves you."
Instantly I lowered my gaze.
"I lost everyone back when I was your age. My parents were slaughtered by townsfolk when I was about six. My sister was burned alive while she slept when I was around ten and maybe a year later I found myself hating everyone. I had to run. I had to survive on my own and that kind of position makes a person crazy after a while."
I widened my eyes as he admitted this and without even thinking I asked out loud.
"That was you?"
Looking back at me in confusion he questioned.
"What was me?"
Caught in my own poor choice for words, I released his hand and mumbled in disappointment for not telling him sooner.
"Back when you gave me strength? When I passed out? I told you I had a vivid dream about my father. Well before that I saw something else. A cabin was on fire and there was a large group of people beating this little kid. Beating him like he was an adult. I couldn't do anything to stop it. I just had to watch and part of me thought it was you. I just…..well I just didn't really think it was you. You were so small. So young."
Roslin now broke eye contact with me and proceeded to look down at the floor between his legs. I could tell he had no idea I saw that. Even though he could read me he still had no clue. Now that he did he looked hurt, but it wasn't because I didn't mention this sooner. It had to be the memories. After about ten seconds he mumbled back.
"I was ten like I said. So I was both young and small as you saw it."
"Why did that happen? What did you do to deserve that?" I asked him in absolute loss for words.
He wouldn't answer me. Roslin just looked a little lost for words himself as I proceeded to ask him.
"How did you survive?"
"I don't know." He replied back finally.
Letting out a deep sigh, Roslin took a moment to collect himself. After he was put back together he said to me.
"It's a memory I erased from my mind the moment I found out I could. Along with all the others that burned themselves into my head. I'd prefer not to think about it."
Now I placed my hand on his leg and that got his attention back on me. With a small smile I urged him.
"Then talk. You've always been urging me to do that about shit I'd rather not think about. It's only fair."
The echidna for a moment gave me a pretty funny look back before starting to laugh. I still kept my hand on him as he did. After a moment he asked me.
"Is it really worth getting into?"
Nodding my head I replied.
"You're important to me. So yes it is."
The look in his eyes changed. It changed drastically. To the point where I questioned what I just said to him. Yet he didn't look mad or anything. He looked at a loss. Did I say something important just now with that response I gave him? I wondered as he answered my question for me by stating.
"My sister used to say that exact phrase to me. She…...well she said I was important. God knows after all this time what that really meant. Even after all these years I still ask myself what she meant."
Scratching his leg softly I replied.
"It means exactly what you think it means. You're important. You mean something to us. Something we care about deeply."
"You barely know me." He mumbled back as I quickly shook my head to reply.
"I don't have to know everything about you to care."
He nodded to himself and with it I decided to express that by now taking his hand. Wrapping my fingers between his own, I lifted up our arms and used my eyes to urge him to look at our hands. He did and after a moment I informed him.
"No one in this world is without faults. We both have our reasons to hate life, but ever since I found you I've somehow managed to turn it around. Sure I don't know what the fuck I'm doing, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up yet. You shouldn't either. After all, don't you have your own reasons for being here with me through this?"
"I do, but like I said before to you, those reasons don't matter. I just want you to develop yourself."
"I am developing myself." I said back to him as I lowered our combined hands to admit.
"And I can't tell you where it's all going to lead me, but right now I know that I'm happy to have you in my life. Even if you feel otherwise…..?"
"Samantha…..I….. I don't feel…..hmmmm?" Roslin struggled to form sentences. He didn't know what to say. Yet I took my chance and pressed on by saying to his delicate face.
"I care about you. I care about what you have to say. I want to be everything you hope that I can be. Killing Cora? I loved it. The execution of it. The money. The sheer thrill of it makes me happy. And happiness isn't something I have a lot of right now with all I'm going through. Even right now I'm asking myself what I want to do about the others. The other families? I could kill them all. They will all be in the same room with me. And what you said to me back when we went out to eat? Well it kinda stuck. I would be set for life. I'd make a statement. People would know I did it and a big part of me really loves the idea of being feared. You know what I'm saying?" I asked him as I felt my venom kicking in all the sudden.
Roslin's POV.
Sam's eyes went red. For a second I felt confused and even somewhat concerned with what was happening to her, but then it all came back to me. I knew what she was this whole fucking time. She was just like me. A monster.
She still held my one hand with hers and with time starting to feel slow after her question, I replied.
"I do."
"What should I do? Is it worth it?" She asked me as I gently decided to examine her hand. Her eyes looked at it as I felt her sharp claws. Her hands were starting to feel less smooth which told me she was developing like I wanted. My fingers ran down her palm and after more silence came from me; the wolf decided to take her claws and place them on my lower arm now. I looked back into her eyes as she was just showing signs of care. She began to slowly scratch me, but not in a painful way. It got me to smile again and once she saw that she asked another question. One I now had an answer to.
"What do you want me to do?"
Without even blinking I replied.
"I want you to do what's right."
"Which is what?"
Not flinching, I ordered her back.
"Kill them. All of them. Make this world a little more peaceful and at the same time; take what's yours. Do you understand me?"
"Yes sir." She replied as I proceeded to wonder.
"Do you want a little advice though?"
"Of course." She replied as I asked.
"Verno is the only one who has something to live for outside of his business. The others? They can all burn gladly in hell where they belong, but Verno…...he has a daughter right?"
"Yeah." Sam said back as I felt her scratching stop for a brief moment.
Reaching over to feel her leg once more, I begged.
"Don't take any chances with that. We both have our reasons behind what we've done with our lives up till now, but that's only because we were allowed to live. Don't give that girl a chance to fuck this up. Please. Don't take a risk Samantha."
With her eyes still burning red, Sam looked back at mine to smile. I sensed where her mind was at and where her venom took her and so I wasn't shocked when she replied to me with certainty in her voice.
"I won't."
"Good girl." I whispered as I gently patted her leg. She chuckled happily and that made me wonder if she was ready for more. The wolf wanted to play. I could see that clearly in her face. So with the same gentle touch, I reached up for her neck. She gladly allowed me access once more to her body and in seconds I could apply the pressure needed to test her mental fortitude. This time she didn't even grunt or flinch from the embrace. Instead her burning red eyes showed me who she was becoming….and I liked it.
After a moment, I lowered my grip on her neck and proceeded to feel her face with my one hand caressing her chin.
"Do this right and I'll be very happy with you. Enough so that I might give you more of what you seek. That fear you want? It'll become reality. Do you want that Sam?"
"Yes." She groaned as I sensed she was starting to become nothing more than puddy in my hands and something about that flicked a switch in my head.
Keeping my hand on her chin and applying some heat, I watched as she shut her eyes. It was then that I moved forward an inch to kiss her on the lips. Her whole body went numb and just as fast as I did it, I pulled back and watched as she reopened her eyes to stare right into my very soul. What I saw showed me that she accepted what just happened. It even showed me that she wanted more, but I couldn't risk this right now. So slowly I released my grip on her being and urged her while standing back up from the bed.
"Do what you do best and once you're done call upon me when you're ready for the next step to becoming feared. I'll be close by, as always."
Sam's POV.
He vanished right before my eyes and for a long moment I was lost in the bliss of being this man's demi. He made me feel so good and even without his powers he somehow knew just what to say.
I was thirsting for more and I knew what I had to do to get it. Everything I wanted would pay off after this meeting, but what mattered to me the most right now was making sure Roslin was happy and despite my venom taking over before that moment I knew that was all that mattered to me. I knew I could do anything I put my mind towards and even if it meant killing a kid I'd see my path to the end. I had no conscience towards evil. I was evil.
Jari's POV.
I pulled up outside the hotel and texted Sam that I was here waiting. She took a minute to respond, but in seconds I found the wolf making her way to the car from the entrance to the hotel. She looked beyond beautiful once more, but I couldn't tell if that was really the case or if that was just my mind always thinking she was the best thing on earth to look at. Regardless once she found herself next to me in the car I asked her.
"How was your day?"
"Good. You?" She replied as I noticed for a moment when I was driving that she had her hand under her neck. She was grabbing herself. Yet I ignored it and replied to her question.
"Busy, but productive. I got a lot done that I needed for school and had a good dinner. Oh and that reminds me, but my dad wanted me to ask you something."
"What?" She wondered as I made a right in the car to reply.
"He needs some help picking up a painting my mom had ordered. It's apparently twice my size so he can't expect me to get it into the car. Do you mind?"
"No, of course not. I got him. Are we meeting him at the house?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"Nope. He should be at the store already waiting for it to be finished. We're almost there. It's just around the corner."
Sam nodded and once I made the last turn we found the studio on our right. I pulled over and for a moment went to my phone to text my dad that we were here. Nothing came back though from his end so I decided to ask Sam who was looking out the window.
"You want to head inside? He's probably caught up talking to someone."
"Yeah." Sam's voice trailed off a little. She seemed concerned. Once we got out of the car she took the lead inside the building and waiting for us was the clerk who asked.
"What can I do for you?"
In confusion I asked the human male.
"Ahhh I think my dad was just here. Black rabbit? Twice my size? Kinda nervous looking?"
Sam chuckled as the human quickly replied.
"Oh him! Yes I told him there was a small delay in the painting he ordered. I have a few people in the back working on it."
"What's wrong?" Sam asked as I wanted to ask where my dad went before anything else. Giving Sam a smile he replied.
"Just an issue with the frame he had ordered for it. It's getting fit to size right now and should be ready in the next five or so minutes."
"Do you know where he went?" Now looking at me the clerk replied.
"I think he went outside for some fresh air. He looked absolutely flushed."
"Okay. Well we'll be back soon. Thank you again." I said as I looked at Sam to urge her to come back out with me. She followed and in confusion I questioned.
"If he went outside then he shouldn't be far. Where is he?"
A moment later I heard Sam begin to sniff. In confusion I looked at her to ask.
"What are you doing?"
"Finding his trail."
"You can do that?" I questioned in disbelief as she began to look down the street to our east.
With her voice a little lower, she replied while taking her first few steps in that direction.
"It's a gift. He went this way. Come on."
I followed calmly behind her and we went all the way down the street till we approached an alley with a black sedan parked in it that was facing out towards the road. I thought nothing of it but was immediately caught off guard when Sam pushed me out of view. Pinning me to the corner, I asked in confusion why she did that and a second later she replied.
"Shush. Let me listen."
My small frame managed to sneak a peek into the alley and widening my eyes I found my dad talking to two men about halfway down the alley. I couldn't hear a word of what they were saying so I asked Sam as she had her ears at work.
"Who is he talking to?"
She didn't answer. Instead she just watched as my dad looked cornered.
Mario's POV.
"I told you I'd get the money. Please just give me another day or two." I begged as I knew I was about to be hurt by these two goons.
Both men were dreadfully familiar with me and my situation and being that they were hedgehogs they were a little bigger than me as well. One of the men I knew by first name and that was Justin. He was more or less the enforcer of his group but none of them I'd dare mess with. I wasn't a violent person. Even if it was about to cost me an arm and a leg.
Giving me a pissed off glare, Justin questioned.
"Another day or two? You fucking serious Mario?"
"I'm begging you." I replied back which got him clearly more mad at me. Putting his arm on my shoulder and pinning me to the wall even harder, Justin asked.
"Beg all you want, but that doesn't pay the bills you owe us. You claim not to have the money every time we come knocking and when we find you today your out buying fucking art? Whose money is that if that isn't yours?"
"Justin please….?!"
Before I knew what hit me, Justin punched me square in my face. I took it in full and would have fallen over if he wasn't already holding me up. Blood left my mouth and I swear to god he might have cracked my chin. Yet he didn't care so he leveled me once more to shout into my face.
"Your a fucking scandal! Are you gonna keep dodging the facts that you owe us a fortune?! Because if you are, I'm just going to kill you here and now! So speak up while you still have a tongue!"
"I'll get….?!"
I wasn't allowed time to defend myself with words. Instead I got another punch but this time to my stomach. Instantly I coughed up that blood I had in my mouth and used all my remaining energy to beg.
"Please stop!"
"Just kill him Justin. We need to get going." His cohort stated as I saw Justin's hand go behind his back for a pocket knife. Widening my eyes I screamed.
"No! Please don't! I'll…..I swear to you that I'll….?"
Leveling the blade with my stomach; I thought I was about to die when out of nowhere Jari's friend Samantha came barreling into our small group to punch Justin square in the side of his head; knocking him down like a sack of hammers.
Before I could say anything the wolf had Justin's friend by the arm. With such grace she tucked and twisted it behind his back and kicked him square in the neck once he fell to his knees. I was in shock. Justin tried to get back at her, but it was so quick. It all happened in a matter of moments.
Sam disarmed the knife by grabbing the wrist that held it. She then sent her elbow downward which physically broke Justin's wrist in two.
"Aghhhh!" He screamed as you saw the hand itself break off the bone and go limp.
With no hesitation, Samantha punched him twice in the face. Once in his mouth and the other in his right eye. Justin was then tripped and slammed by his neck into the ground. My eyes made the decision to look at the other guy, but after that first attack he was struggling to get up on his own two legs. This left Sam the chance to order Justin with a deadly growl.
"Don't you ever fucking touch him! You hear?!"
Justin was outmatched by a longshot. He couldn't even form words as Sam informed him bluntly.
"I'm giving you one chance to walk away now. I catch you or any of your people harassing him again; I'll make sure you get put in the ground. Now fucking run!"
Using her strength, Sam picked the hedgehog up with one hand and sent him scrambling back to his car. From there both men got ready to leave. Justin however wasn't leaving this alley without saying one more threat to me.
"You're fucking lucky Mario! This won't be the end of this! Same goes to you bitch! Next time we meet I'll fucking put you down!"
"Get the fuck out of here!" Sam shouted back as I watched them return to the road leaving both of us in peace.
I didn't know the first thing to say to her. She saved my life.
"Dad?!" Widening my eyes, I looked back at the front of the alley to find Jari running towards me. With a smile on my face I bent down to hug him with my embrace. During our hug he asked me.
"What the hell? Who were those guys?"
"Jari?" I mumbled in disappointment for myself. Before another word could be said I felt Samantha grab me gently by the shoulder. My whole body turned to face her as she asked me while investigating my mouth.
"Are you okay?"
Nodding my head, I replied confidently.
"I'm good. A little shaken up to be honest but I'm okay. Thanks to you."
She didn't seem at all interested in my comment about her saving my life. Instead she seemed more concerned with me. Very slowly she took the sleeve of her jacket and rubbed it over my lower lip to wipe off the blood. I just stood here motionless as my son asked her.
"Are you hurt Sam?"
"No." She replied as her tone seemed angry. I had a feeling on why that was the case, but instead she proceeded to ask me.
"Can you walk? We need to get out of here."
"I can, yes." I replied back as she gently took my hand and guided me forward so I would get walking. Jari quickly stood alongside me once she let go and at which point he asked me.
"What the hell are you into dad? Those guys were going to kill you."
"I know." I mumbled back sadly as Sam ordered us both from behind after retrieving something from the alleyway.
"Get back to the studio. Hurry up."
Jari and I were not arguing. We picked up our pace to a near jog and soon found ourselves back inside the studio. Sam stayed at the door the whole time keeping watch. Once it was ready she carried the painting outside and to my car. Jari at the moment asked.
"Do you want to drive back with us dad?"
Shaking her head Sam ordered.
"That's not a question. Jari? Drive back alone. Your dad and I are gonna follow you. I'm not taking any chances with these guys. Okay?" Her concern was going towards me and without hesitation I replied to her.
"Of course. Go Jari. We'll be right behind you."
"Okay." He replied as he ran to his car. Left with Samantha, I walked with her to my side of the car and took her help as she got my door open for me. Once I was in and starting the engine, she got in the passenger seat next to me and took another look at my face before asking me again.
"Jari isn't here; so don't lie to me. Are you sure you're okay? You took a nasty hit to your stomach. You rabbits aren't known for standing up straight after something like that."
Nodding my head, I quickly informed her back so as not to seem worried.
"I'm okay. I've been hit once or twice already by those guys. I just need to lay down for a bit once we get back home."
"What the hell aren't you telling me? I know Jari isn't gonna let this shit slide once we get you home. So just be honest with me. I heard you the other night talking to someone about money. Are these the same guys who almost killed you back there?"
She had me. I wasn't ever going to hide something like this from her. She was clearly more self aware than me and in her approach towards this situation she was much more in control. So without wanting to disrespect that I replied.
"Yes. Justin, who's wrist you broke is just one of many goons belonging to a fellow I owe some money to."
"Money for what? Your family looks well established from the outside looking in. Why are you going to some loan sharks?"
Shaking my head, I quickly informed her back.
"My wife is well established. She's making all the money. This painting? She paid for it. I can barely afford a drink."
"Why? You're a doctor aren't you?" She questioned.
"I am, but all the money I'm making is going to these guys. Do you know how much medical school is? Before I met Janice I came from a very poor family. All I ever wanted to do was become a doctor. I wanted to save lives. My family could never afford that. Even with my grades in school excelling most."
Sam went silent for a moment to think about what I just said to her. Wanting her to understand I added.
"Janice knows my passion. She knows I'd go to any length to see my dreams come true."
"Does she know about this?" Sam wondered as I unfortunately nodded my head. Sam just sighed as I tried to defend myself.
"This was never supposed to escalate to this point. I've just been behind on my payments."
"How much do you pay?"
"Ten thousand a month."
Widening her eyes the wolf instantly questioned.
"How much money do you fucking owe?"
Stopping at a light I muttered in disappointment.
"In total? I attended medical school for about ten years to earn my masters degree. I wanted my doctorate, but I was already so far in the hole I couldn't keep it up confidently."
"How much?" Sam asked again as I just came out with the number.
"About three hundred and twenty thousand."
Somehow Samantha didn't seem shocked. She just seemed stressed about the whole thing. After a moment or so she asked me.
"Why did they come after you now? Did you miss a payment?"
"More like three." I informed her bluntly which got her to state.
"You're lucky to be alive. Jesus Christ."
"I'm sorry. I never wanted any of you to get involved in this. Especially you Samantha. You just met us. I feel horrible about it."
"It's fine." She said back to me as we neared my house. Pulling up to the driveway where Jari waited with his mother, I pulled up to a stop at the curb and shut off the engine to my car. With the wife on her way over to my door, I turned to say to the wolf.
"It's not fine. I'm sorry. You saved my life Sam. I owe you everything."
"You owe me nothing." My eyes widened as she smiled and urged me while stepping out of the car.
"Come on."
My wife got the door and the moment I became visible she asked me.
"Are you guys okay? Jari told me what happened. Why didn't you listen to me Mario?"
"Janice I….?" Cutting me off once she saw my swollen lip, my wife pushed me in the direction of the house while ordering.
"Get inside. Samantha? Please hun, don't be upset with us. My husband…?"
"Your husband is fine. Lucky maybe that Jari and I found him in time before something worse could happen to him, but he's fine."
"You saved his life Sam." Janice informed her bluntly as she quickly urged us.
"And I'm glad I did, but you guys need to get inside and stay home for the rest of the night. Men like that are gonna be looking for another chance to hurt you."
"Please come inside with us Sam. I can make us something to eat. You deserve that at the least. It'll give him time to lay down and we can talk about it."
"I'm not gonna lay down while you defend my problems hun." I informed Janice as I turned to look back at them. With her eyes resting on me Janice fired back.
"Your problems involve the family now Mario. You could have died!"
I knew when not to argue with her. I just went silent as she looked back at Sam to beg.
"Please?"
Sam nodded her head and together Janice walked her through the front door behind Jari and I. Together we made our way to the living room upstairs where Jari sat me down and asked.
"Do you want an ice pack dad?"
I nodded as Samantha and Janice took a seat on the couch side by side. Looking at her sleeve to see some blood she asked.
"Are you hurt hun?"
"I'm fine. It was from him." She informed my wife who asked me back instantly.
"What are you going to do now? I told you I'd help you pay this. Now you go and miss another payment and this happens? You're going to get killed Mario."
"I know." I mumbled back sadly.
Sam's POV.
I knew this was going to happen. Fucking loan sharks. At least they don't seem like they work with Verno. I could handle this so long as…?
"Mom!" My ears shot up when Jari's sister Lola came sprinting into the room with tears in her eyes and blood on her face. I stood right up alongside her mother who questioned in shock.
"Oh my god baby! What happened!? Where is your brother?!"
Lola must have taken a beating. Her right eye was swollen shut and she had a few gashes across her face. She was also holding her ribs and to me she was about to hyperventilate if she kept breathing as fast as she was going. Yet despite my examination the whole family sunk into a panic as she replied to her parents.
"Somebody stole him!"
"What?!" Mario questioned as I was stuck questioning my next move.
With Janice running her into the kitchen, the rest of us followed. On the short run there Lola explained the situation with tears in her eyes.
"I took him to the park down the street to play on the swings when two guys came out of nowhere to grab him! I tried to stop him but the other guy started beating me! No one helped!"
"Did you call the police?!" Jari asked her as she quickly shook her head to reply.
"They told me if I did they'd kill him!"
Looking back at her husband Janice yelled.
"Are you happy now!? These motherfuckers have my baby! He's not even a year old!"
Mario was unable to say a word. He was so scared and I could tell a mile away he was going to start crying. After seeing that for herself she ordered her daughter.
"Call them!"
"No!" Mario shouted back at his wife as he went on to state.
"We aren't going to take any chances! I know these guys Janice! They'll kill Jake!"
"Then what are you going to do about it Mario!? You know what they want and we both know we can't afford to pay them! I don't have that kind of cash just sitting around!"
"What are you talking about?" Lola asked them as it was clear she was the only one left out of the loop.
Despite wanting to listen to the rest of this I had to ask myself what I wanted to do. I couldn't just let this happen. And I warned them. My first idea was going to that park to track them down. I knew my nose could do that, but what good would come of it if I just got that baby killed?
"You owe how much!?" Lola asked her dad in disbelief as I struggled to come up with a solid plan. Jari noticed my concern and came to my side to ask.
"You shouldn't have to be here for this. I'm sorry. Let me take you back to the hotel. We'll call the police and they'll….?"
"No." I bluntly told him mid sentence as I focused on one option once it came to mind. In confusion he questioned.
"What do you mean no?"
Pulling out my phone to call Minky, I ordered Jari.
"Just let me make a call."
"To who?" He asked back in loss as I soon had the cat on the line wondering.
"Sam? What's up?"
Pressing myself between Mario and Janice I replied.
"I need to ask you a favor. Can you wait a minute while I get this right?"
"Sure." He replied as I refocused on Mario to ask again.
"How much do you owe them?"
In confusion he replied while stumbling over his mix of loss and depression.
"Three hundred and twenty thousand."
"What?!" Lola and Jari shouted again in shock as I quickly asked Minky.
"I need some money withdrawn. How soon could you get it to me?"
"Is it urgent?" He wondered as I nodded to myself to state while walking back to the living room.
"Very. It's an emergency."
About as loyal and as reliable as I expected him to be, Minky replied.
"I can make it happen. How much do you need?"
Jari was on my tail as his father and mother both looked at me as if I had two heads. With Mario following in suit. Janice focused on her daughter to get her cleaned up. Halfway to the couch I said to Minky.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand."
"Easy. Send me the address and I'll text you when I'm on my way over. Shouldn't take me more than a half hour tops."
"Thank you. I owe you for this, but I gotta go now."
"See you soon." He replied back as I hung up the line to hear from Jari who clawed at my side.
"Who was that on the phone? What are you doing?"
Trying to keep calm as his dad came to stand in front of me as I sat on the couch, I said to them as carefully as I could.
"The men who took your brother aren't going to accept a partial payment after what I did to their men back in that alley."
"What are you talking about?" Jari muttered back in confusion as his dad replied.
"I know, but I don't have that kind of money. So what can I do?"
Keeping myself together, I informed them back bluntly while also trying to hide some of my personal dealings.
"I'm calling in a favor. I'm gonna get them the money and then I'm gonna get your son back. Do you know where they are?"
Stunned, Mario replied.
"Yes. I believe it's an old hotel up north from here. It's not far. Maybe a twenty minute drive?"
Nodding my head I urged Mario.
"I assume you have a means to contact them? Do that and tell them you'll be bringing the money to them within the hour. As soon as my friend gets here I'll have him take me there and back. For now just try to calm down and no matter what happens you don't call the police. Do you understand me?"
Mario was breaking down yet agreed to my orders. A moment later Jari asked me.
"You can't be serious. Do you have that kind of money?"
I nodded and urged him.
"Don't worry about the money. Just go help your mom and Lola and tell them I'll handle this for them."
"Okay." He replied as he ran back to the kitchen leaving me with Mario who questioned.
"You can't be telling the truth Sam. You expect me to believe you have that kind of cash and you're gonna waste it on my mistakes?"
"It's not a mistake. This is about Jake. Your baby. And I don't care about whose problem it is. What matters to me is making sure he gets back here safe and unharmed and making sure you never have to worry about this again."
He instantly began to tear up as I finished my statement on a personal note.
"I admire your family. I wish I had met you all years ago. My life might have been different if that happened. Yet regardless you let me into your home and showed me care and love. You all barely know me, but that means the world. I'm going to do everything in my power to pay that back while I have the chance."
In a broken state, Mario sat down next to me. In a second he hugged me and cried into my jacket.
"Thank you!"
Smiling, I replied.
"You're welcome."
We hugged for a few more seconds, but soon he pulled back to ask me in concern.
"These men are dangerous Samantha. Do you know what you're getting into? They'll kill you if this goes wrong."
"It's not going to. They just want money. They'll leave it once they have enough and if they don't I'll handle it. Okay? I'm trained to handle a few thugs."
Mario was still very worried. Yet it was clear he trusted my confidence and once that happened we decided to wait and do our best to calm down. After about twenty minutes we heard the doorbell ring and with two wide eyes at the sound the family came together. Janice was the one to ask first.
"Who's here?"
"It's for me." I informed her back as I ran downstairs with Jari to open the door.
Minky stood there with a small smile and a leather bag in hand. Handing it over; I said to him gratefully.
"Thank you so much for coming on such short notice."
"You said it was an emergency."
Taking the bag from him, I proceeded to ask him next.
"Do you mind taking a ride with me for a few minutes? I have business I need help with. It won't take long."
The cat nodded and questioned.
"Where are we going?"
I urged him to come inside and once we were back in the living room with the rest of the family, I informed them all calmly.
"This is a friend of mine. We're gonna go get Jake back. Stay here and don't call anyone. Lock the doors and stay calm. We'll be back soon."
Janice wanted to question my plan because she hadn't heard it, but before I knew it Mario asked me.
"Is that it?"
I nodded and put the bag on his lap. Slowly he opened it to find some of my money filling it's contents. Shocked and brought back to tears, I took the bag back and again urged them.
"We'll be back. Everyone just keep calm. Everything is gonna be okay. Let's go."
Minky stuck to my side as I turned back to begin leaving the room. Jari followed and begged me.
"Sam no! This is too dangerous!"
"I'll be fine, Jari. Just please trust me. We'll be back soon."
He didn't know what else to really say. Instead Minky and I got our chance to leave. Once we were on the road and away from the house he asked me.
"What's going on with you?"
Letting out a sigh I replied.
"Lots of things. One of which I need to talk to you about when this is over."
"Okay." Minky was an expert at keeping himself together. He didn't seem bothered one bit. Hell he wasn't even pushing the subject. Instead he took me exactly where I needed to go without any questions. Once we were parked up at the spot he asked me out of curiosity.
"What's the plan?"
With the bag in hand, I replied while opening my door.
"I'm gonna walk in there and get that baby back."
"They might try to do you over Sam. You want me to tag along?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"No. I don't want you getting hurt if this goes south. Just keep the engine running and if I'm not back out within ten minutes you just get out of here. Okay?"
Nodding he went on to ask.
"Are you packing?"
Going behind my back, I pulled out my Luger and replied.
"Yeah." The cat was happy to say the least, but before I could go he went behind his own back to pull out a gun of his own. Handing it over to me; he stated with a small grin.
"I'd use this if you get into trouble while you're there. Use your own if you absolutely need to. Police tend to get attracted fast by open gunfire."
My eyes took over an M9 which had a slim black suppressor attached to its end. Calmly and carefully I put the M9 behind my back and handed him my Luger. Slightly confused by my offering, I informed him confidently.
"I don't plan to miss my shots. Just in case."
The cat chuckled and took my gun. Once it was on his lap I decided it was time to do this. With the bag of cash in hand, I walked right inside and up to the front desk. This hotel was so shit. Run down and manned by a creepy looking old human dude who had to be in his late fifties. Dressed in some dirty blue jeans and a dark red plaid shirt. The second he saw me he sat up from behind the desk to question.
"What do you want girly?"
"Your boss. Let me see him. We have business to handle."
"I think you have the wrong place. I'd be careful too. Pretty little thing like you might….?"
Slamming the bag down in front of him, I popped the top to expose the money. Instantly his eyes lit up as I proceeded to again urge him.
"I don't have time for this shit. Now are you gonna let me see him or should I just go door to door? Because I don't have time for your games."
This man looked insulted that a girl like me had this much money to be flaunting around. Somewhat disgusted by it even. It pissed me off. Yet seeing that I meant business, he grunted back at me a moment later.
"Third floor. Room eight. Knock twice so he knows I sent you."
"Thanks." I replied as I collected my money and proceeded to make my way towards the stairs. Halfway there I heard the old man say to me from behind the safety of his desk.
"Watch your tone when you see him bitch. You step out of line and you won't live to see…..?"
I couldn't take it. It felt like something in my head snapped the second I heard his voice disrespect me again. With my right hand going behind my back, I pulled out Minky's gun and fired one round hitting him right in the throat. Blood hit the wall behind him that almost matched the wallpaper. There wasn't any hesitation when it came to deciding that action either. I just did it without thought and it felt good.
Stumbling a foot back with his hands going to his neck; the man locked eyes with me in shock that he just fucked with the wrong person with his smartass remarks and threats. I stood perfectly still with a small smile on my face as blood squeezed out from between his hands a few seconds later.
Lowering my gun and putting it away behind my back, I continued to watch as he hit the wall and managed to knock over his chair. Right then and there I asked him.
"What were you saying?"
A moment later he toppled over and hit the floor. The desk hid his corpse and with that fucker dead I continued my walk up to the third floor and the second I reached it I saw an echidna twice my size guarding room eight from outside the door. He had a gun tucked in his pants and the second he saw me coming he approached me while asking.
"What's your business?"
Raising the bag I replied.
"My business is about a baby you and your friends had the balls to kidnap from his sister. Let me in. I have his money here."
"Let me see that." He said back as he took my bag to check the facts and once he saw that I wasn't lying he handed it back to me and urged.
"Knock twice."
Walking with him to the door, I replied.
"Fucking creep downstairs told me the same thing."
The echidna just laughed as I did just that. A second later the door opened with the same hedgehog whose wrist I broke behind it from earlier. The moment we locked eyes he said to me in anger.
"What the fuck are you doing here bitch? I told you if I ever saw you….?"
Pushing him with my right hand as hard as I could; I shouted back.
"And I told you if you ever fucked with Mario again I'd kill you!"
I used barely any of my strength and the guy fell down like a brick. Now inside the room sat and stood maybe six other goons. Two more hedgehogs, a lab, a snake, and two wolves. Five of which had guns as the sixth just laughed by a shoddy looking couch at how I treated Justin just now. Justin in fact seemed scared as I looked at each and every one of them with fearless intent.
"Kill this bitch!" Justin shouted out in anger. Yet despite his command; no one dared to fire a shot at me. A second more one of the wolves who just got done laughing said back to him.
"Absolutely not you weasel. Lower the guns boys. We have a guest and she's got some spunk to her. I like that."
My eyes went to him since I just assumed he was the guy I was looking for. A six foot tall male wolf with dark red fur covering his body. Two blue eyes and wearing sweats and a hoodie. Both of which were black. When he stood up and his men lowered their weapons, he asked me.
"What's your name?"
"Doesn't matter." I replied to him as I pointed at Justin to announce.
"You try anything and I'll kill you before any of your friends can help. You hear me?"
The hedgehog scrambled behind the snake and the other wolf who were standing now by a small wooden table near the back of the room. The wolf in charge again just laughed out loud and informed me.
"You have some fucking balls on you girl! I heard from Justin there that you're the one who broke his wrist. I thought he was making a joke when he claimed you were crazy for jumping in on our business. Now I can see why he feels that way. I assume you're here to deal with Mario's little financial problem we have going on. After all, he did call me a few minutes before you got here. Is that my money?"
Nodding my head as he came within two feet of me, I replied while offering him the bag.
"All of it. Everything he owes you."
The wolf seemed impressed by the statement, but of course he didn't believe me until he looked inside. Once he did he whistled and asked me.
"How much?"
"Three hundred and fifty thousand."
Slightly lost, he asked me.
"Fifty?"
Nodding, I replied.
"Thirty thousand extra for you. But you leave that man and his family alone. No more problems. No more kidnapping."
With a happy face, he replied to me.
"The kid was just insurance. People tend to hide their fortunes until something serious comes up and up until now it seemed like that guy was holding out these last three months. So you can see why I did what I did."
I kept quiet and just focused my glare on the man as he handed the money off to one of his people. During the transaction he ordered someone else.
"Get the kid. Now."
The snake who was hiding Justin made his way into another room as I was left with the wolf again who turned back to me to state.
"Consider our business ties cut with the rabbit. I'd like to thank you for having more sense than most."
"It's not about sense." I growled as I saw from the corner of my eye the snake bring out Jake who he had resting on his shoulder.
"Maybe not, but you got the money and that's what matters at the end of the day. Take him."
With the snake stopping between us, I refocused and took the baby rabbit from his arms. Jake instantly began to yank at my hat and hair as I looked back at the wolf to ask.
"What about him?"
The room turned to look at Justin who was clearly still feeling a type of way about my presence. With some interest in him; the wolf asked him.
"Well I don't know. What about you Justin? You wanna try your hand at this lass? Fuck with the people she must deeply care about?"
Justin was considering his options and judging from his body language I assumed he also had a weapon on him. Yet going into my pocket anyway; I pulled out his knife I took from the alleyway before we left and tossed it back at him. Catching it while also being caught off guard, I urged him.
"You get one chance. You better think about how you wanna play it."
I saw Justin's eyes glance at his boss who urged him.
"By all means do what you want to do. My business is settled now that we got the money and I'd recommend you feel the same way about the situation Justin. I'd hate to have to waste time wrapping you up if you get laid out."
Giving it a few final seconds, Justin decided to try and come at me while I held Jake. It was the last thing he did; because before he took his first step I already had my gun out and a round place in his head. The room and all the people in it barely flinched as I killed him. The wolf next to me just shook his head and looked back at me to say.
"I tried to warn him. The people I hire aren't known for being smart. Nice touch by the way. He said, referring to the suppressor.
Putting my gun away, I kept my eyes locked on the body up until I was told by the wolf.
"Well I'd get going if I were you. Not a good place for a baby to be. Clearly."
Sensing he was just trying to make a joke, I replied while turning around.
"Pleasure doing business with you. Maybe spend that on smarter help."
He just chuckled as I was let out by the echidna. With nothing else being said, I walked back downstairs with Jake in my arms and with my hat being pulled nearly off my head by him at every turn. I just allowed it to happen though as I passed the front desk with the body I left behind it. Once I got outside, I found Minky still sitting in the car with the engine on. He sat up however once I got in and asked me as I put Jake in my lap.
"How'd it go?"
Handing him back his gun, I replied while also fighting to get my hat back from the small rabbit.
"It's done with."
"What was that other thing you wanted to discuss now?"
With Jake proceeding to reach up for my mouth once I got my hat back, I locked my eyes back on Minky as I felt the baby tug on one of my fangs. Giving off a slight laugh towards the act, I wondered back.
"Later?"
Chuckling with me, the cat replied while getting me back on the way to Jari's house.
"Sure. Heheh."
mT Shadow.
