A Player for A Princess

“I’M BEING KIDNAPPED!” I shout as loud as possible while the door is open. “IN THE BLACK SUV! THEY’RE TAKING ME AGAINST MY—”

BAM! Lights explode behind my eyes as Wade’s hand smacks across my face. I fall to the floor of the vehicle, and my mouth fills with the coppery taste of blood.

“SHUT UP!” Wade snarls. “Reginald Winchester is not here to protect you, and I’d advise you to be still and be quiet or I will cut you.”

He hit me so hard, it takes me a moment to regain my bearings. I blink several times before I’m able to see the grey-carpeted floor. Blood is in my mouth, and a towel is shoved over my face quickly. Something else… Moving my lips, I work the hard object around until I pull out…

“A tooth,” I mumble through swollen, slippery lips.

It’s a small tooth. Without a mirror, I can only guess it’s from beside my canines.

“Give it to me.” Wade snatches it away. More blood in my mouth. He shoves the towel harder at me. “Stop that bleeding.”

I take it from him and pull myself onto the back seat again. “Where are you taking me?”

“That is none of your concern.”

We’re moving at a steady clip down the road. I’m injured, but I don’t feel any pain, only adrenaline. Outside the windows I see trees and vegetation on the roadside. My heart beats painfully hard and my cheek pulses in time with my fear. I watch frantically as mile after mile goes by, and I’m taken further from Road Town, further from Cal waiting in the little shopping area.

Cal… it’s a plaintiff cry in my mind and tears heat my eyes. I want Cal…

Gorilla Man is to my left. Another, black-suited man is driving. Wade is in the passenger’s side on his smartphone when the vehicle slows at what looks like a stop sign. Without hesitating, I lunge for the door, gripping the handle and pulling. It could be my only chance.

The door doesn’t budge. The rear door locks are disabled.

“NO!” I scream, jerking it over and over. Tears are slick on my face, and I throw all my weight against the door.

“Deal with her,” Wade orders.

His words echo in the small space, and I’m fumbling with the power window mechanism. It’s also locked.

Movement behind me. I barely have time to glance over my shoulder when Gorilla Man closes the space between us, brow lowered. His bottom jaw juts out, and he looks like a true ape swinging his meaty fist almost faster than I can see it. It slams into my temple, and everything goes black.

10

Regrets

Cal

Samarkand is elaborately designed with striking mosaics in an assortment of turquoise, sea, and royal blues. Pointed arches line the walls, and the jewelry cases are low, square boxes arranged in a maze around the room.

I enter, and a few clusters of obvious tourists are ahead of me looking at the array of Rolex watches and glittering cocktail rings. I stroll to the one filled with diamond engagement rings and pause. A beautiful art-deco style ring with a square setting and what look like tiny angel’s wings flaring on each corner catches my eye. It’s perfect.

A salesman in a white linen coat and pants approaches me smiling. He is clean-shaven and wears a black skullcap.

“May I help you, sir?” He smiles and does a little bow.

“I like this setting.” Pointing in the case, I fish in my pocket and pull out the dull tin ring. “I need it in this size.”

His brow lowers and he squints, taking the piece of tin from my fingers. “You did not get this in our store.”

“No, actually, it came out of a gumball machine,” I say with a smile.

Black eyes dart up to mine. “A… gumball machine?”

I haven’t been addressed with such disgust since my mother saw the photo of me snorting coke off the toned ass of an unidentified supermodel. I can’t help wishing Zelda were here, since she is the one who mentioned Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

“It’s just outside the store,” I happily turn and point to the door, but the man shakes his head and raises his eyebrows as if I’ve offended him.