I don’t know how or when I fall asleep after that, but I do. It’s a restless sleep filled with nightmares of the torture I’ve witnessed. All I do know for sure is that Manny and I are alone now. It’s dark in this cold, dreary room. I think Manny is calling my name. Or is it another dream?
“Calla.” I hear it again. “Son of a bitch. Calla!”
I know I’m making sounds. I can hear them. They may be muffled, and more like grunts, but I’m trying. My head is heavy. My body feels warm and tingly, like an ocean wave is flowing over my skin. It leaves and comes right back again. I shouldn’t feel this good. Am I high? No, I can’t be.
I’m right here, Manny. Over here, I keep saying.
Why can’t he hear me? Where is he and why does he sound so strange? He sounds like he’s hurting. He’s in pain.
“Calla.”
I jolt up. I’m shivering with cold. My stomach rolls once again and all I can do is dry heave, gagging and coughing until I feel like I’m crushing my ribs.
“Manny.”
“Oh, thank Christ. You’re alive.”
The agony in his voice mixed with the pain in my shoulder has me bawling. I cannot control it anymore.
“Shh. Calla, listen to me. Please stop crying. I need… I need you to be strong. You have to listen to me.”
“I’m so sorry,” I sniffle.
“Calla. You cannot show weakness. You have to be strong if you want to get out of here alive.” His tone has now turned to misery. “No matter what they say or what they do to you. You do not say a thing. Do you hear me?”
“Yes. Are you okay?” I manage to get out.
“I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“I’m fine. They keep drugging me with heroin, though. I hate it.”
“That’s his drug of choice, always has been, even when we were younger. I’m surprised he hasn’t overdosed on that shit yet.”
I hear him let out a heavy sigh. Oh, how I wish I could see him and make sure he really is all right.
“Listen, they’ll be back here soon. I know they will. He knows Dad won’t give up until he finds him. Royal has crossed the line this time. He’s broken a contract.”
All of a sudden Manny stops talking. All I can hear are his sharp, shallow breaths. I’m worried for him. The excruciating pain he must be in triples the pain I am beginning to feel now that the heroin is wearing off.
“Manny, talk to me. I… I’m so sorry. I can’t do anything to help.”
I wait for what feels like an eternity for him to answer, and when he does, his voice is strained. He’s fighting to try and get out every word he can.
“Royal works for the Russians,” he winces. My heart is breaking for him. “My dad and the Russians have an agreement. You stay out of my way and I stay out of yours. The Russians deal with drugs, prostitution. You name it and they do it.”
Another deep breath escapes him.
“I’m going to tell you the truth. All of it. Unless they find us, he’ll be back to kill me, Calla. You need to prepare yourself. Fuck!” he screams.
“How do you know that?”
“Because this is one of my dad’s warehouses. He wants us to be found. He’s fucking nuts. Just stay calm and keep your mouth shut. I don’t think he wants you dead. He’s going to use you for leverage or some sort of negotiation. No matter what happens to me, you have to promise me you will not fight him.”
“I don’t know if I can promise you that.”
Manny doesn’t say anything after that as once again, bright lights shine down on us.
“You’re both awake. This is great. Now it’s Manny’s turn to watch. You wanted her baby, come and get her. Just remember she cannot die. I need her alive.”
I turn my head just in time to be punched in the face by none other than Emerald herself.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cain