"I swear he's lost it. One minute he says he wants to make me hurt then the next he's calling me his baby and telling me how much he's missed me."
"Oh my god! Why didn't you call me sooner Kaz?! I would have came and gotten you!"
"He just showed up at my apartment one night and kidnapped me. I don't know where I am or how I can get back but I miss you Lina. I just want to come home."
She starts to cry on the other side of the phone and my heart breaks. "Aw please don't cry Kazzie baby, I'll get you back and far away from him. Until then I need you to stay on his good side no matter what. He's clearly not in his right mind and the only thing that matters is getting you home safely."
"Right, I'll try."
"I love you Kazzie. Stay safe okay? I promise that I'll get you back home soon."
"I love you too Lina. I've gotta go now, he's coming back." The line disconnects and my heart drops to my stomach. I thought she was doing fine on her own. I should have known better than to leave her alone and pregnant! I'm so stupid.
"What the hell do I do know?" I ask myself.
"What's wrong?" Steff stops by my room and pokes his head through the door.
I lie back on my bed and he walks in. The side of my mattress lowers as he sits down next to me. "It's Ricky. Apparently he found Kaz, took her to god knows where and is threatening her." I roll over and hold my chin up with my hands. "I need to get her away from that psycho but I need help."
"Mhm, you mean you want me to do all the work while you swoop in last minute to save her?"
"Ah, you know me so well. But seriously, she's about to pop. She's pretty far along in her pregnancy and the last thing she needs is all this stress." I pat his shoulders, "So big brother, will you convince the other two to help me?"
He rolls his eyes at me and groans, "Te juro Catalina, me debes una por esto."
(I swear Catalina, you owe me one for this.)
"Ah, you're the best Stefano!" I give him a quick squeeze and he pushes me off.
"Let go you little insect!"
I laugh and hug him harder. "You love me you ass wipe!" After a few seconds of messing with him, I let him go and shove him off my bed. "Now hurry up and go ask! I have to brainstorm and see if I can get some extra help."
"Shut up, pest! This is a one time favor so don't get used to it."
***
"You what?!" I hold the phone from my ear.
"Will you stop yelling?" I look up to make sure no is staring at me. "It was a last minute adjustment so I need another house prepared for when I get back. Also, make sure that it's distant from the mansion. I don't want any run-ins and I want at least three maids, a butler, a chief and a nurse for her. Oh and before I forget, prepare an extra car and park it in the off campus garage. Am I understood?"
"Absolutely sir, I'll see to it right away but-"
"Yes. Whatever you're about to ask me is a yes. Just tell me how much you need and I'll send the money. Now get to it, I'll be there soon." I hang up and sigh, I might be in over my head with this one. The last thing I need is anymore distractions. Just then, my phone rings again and I huff. "Christ Nando didn't I tell you that I'd send the money?"
"Whoa, you sound stressed Carlos. Maybe you need a vacation?"
"Lina? What- Why are you calling me? Is everything okay?" I speak quietly into the phone again but this time I'm on edge. I try to rack my brain for any reason to why she would have called me so suddenly.
"Relax dude, I'm calling about Kaz."
"What about her?" I start to get anxious the longer she takes to respond. "Well?"
"She called me. She said that your little boyfriend got ahold of her and refuses to let her leave. She doesn't know where she is but she wants to come home. I need your help getting her back."
"Boyfriend? You mean Ricky? I- Okay...I need you to start making your way to my place. We can talk there."
"Hm, sounds like a plan."
"Oh wait," I catch her just before she hangs up. "How did she sound? Was she okay? Is she hurt? Did she say anything about..." I lower my head and whisper into the phone. "About the baby?"
"Are you with someone right now? God of course you are." She sighs, "I'll talk to you later. Bye."
I slide the phone back in my pocket and hold my hands over my face. This is just too much for me to handle right now.
"Hey, you good?" Dee puts her hand on my shoulder and gives me a concerned look.
"Not really Butterfly. Not really. But we'll discuss things when we get her settled in and we're back at the house. Yoyo?"
"Huh what?" He rubs his eyes and wipes the drool from his mouth.
"You cool to stay a little late tonight?"
He shrugs, "You cool to pay for some drinks?"
I shake my head. "Alright folks, we're making a quick stop then we'll be on our way. Is everyone okay with that? Because if not I don't care. I'm the fuckin' boss."
***
"Llévala a ella y a las otras dos a la casa de la que Nando te habló."
(Take her and the other two to the house Nando told you about.)
I hand over the keys to my car and get inside the other one. "Back home boss?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." I dig around in my pocket and pull out my phone and dial her number. "Hey, I'm about ten minutes away. Are you with Nando right now? I know that you guys were planning the meeting?"
"Nah but I'm assuming that you want me to text him and tell him to be there as well?"
I can't help but grin. I hate to admit it but I've kinda missed her snarky attitude. "Supongo que los veré a los dos cuando llegue, Lina."
(I guess I'll see you both when I get here, Lina.)
"Yeah, I guess you will, Carlos."