Vanished in Chicago (Vanished)

“Yeah. He called. Same bullshit. Different day.”

“So, what is the plan?”

“I don’t fucking know, Zef. I just know I can’t do what he wants me to do. I can’t give her up.” I am beyond acting like she is of no consequence. In such a short time she has become more than consequential to me. She is fucking vital, and I haven’t even sampled the pussy yet.

“Hey, listen, I am never going to question you, Jak. You have always kept me and mom safe and provided for us even when the sperm that made us didn’t. I trust you.” My eyes close and I take a deep breath, reminding myself that the confidence and loyalty from the two people who have never left me, is the fuel I need to keep going.

“Thanks, little bro.”

“Don’t mention it. Have you heard from momma?”

“No. Last I heard, her security told me she was going to dinner with the ladies and then home, so I am assuming she is over there watching the Real Housewives of something or another.” She is obsessed with those damn shows. My phone buzzes in my pocket and the tension returns. Checking, I see my Dziadek is calling. His call I would never ignore. “Pan.” I address him as Sir in his native language as I have always done.

“Jakub. Have you heard from your father?”

“Tak jest.”

“Did he tell you of Jedrzej?” He is asking me about my father’s cousin that he sent to NY to scout out the lay of the land. Word has it his assignment was to try to turn the soldiers of the slain DeSantis into our soldiers that could help us turn the tide in NYC.

“Tak. Yes, he told me he sent him there.”

“He is dead.” Like I give a fuck.

“How did it happen?” I ask anyway.

“He was beheaded and left in the polish village.”

“Shit. Who is giving the orders? I thought they were done?”

“So did we, Jakub. We need to find out who it is. Can you send Zef in?” Fuck. My instinct is to say no. The protector in me who has always looked out for my brother does not want to send him into enemy territory where we obviously don’t have all of the information on the moving parts, but I can’t say no.

“I will look at what we have going on, Dziadek and I will get back to you.”

“Bardzo dobrze.” When he says very well, he is really telling me to make sure it is done. “What are you going to do about the girl, Jakub? She needs to be dealt with.”

“NO!” I growl into the phone, rage filling me instantaneously. The mere mention of someone trying to take her from me or suggesting she be somehow ‘dealt’ with sends me blind with murderous intent. “She is mine!” I tell him in no uncertain terms.

“Such strong words. Are you willing to betray your family for her Jakub? Kill for her?”

“Tak.”

“Even your own father?”

“Especially him.” He is nothing to me and my grandfather knows it. I have always taken my orders from my grandfather and nothing about that has changed.

“So much like him.” He says it so low I almost miss it. It stings hearing him say it because my life has been spent trying to be nothing like him. “Whatever you choose to do, fix it, so you don’t look weak. Do widzenia.” He hangs up and I am left standing there, head hanging wondering how the hell I am going to come from under this clusterfuck. I have to figure out a plan, a way for her to be safe with me, but I also need to know what I don’t know. Something is going on in NY and all of us are in the dark. It is then my mind remembers her comment when she was holding me at gunpoint about wishing for death when her family finds us. Yeah. Everyone is in the dark but her. “What don’t I know little Tink?” I whisper to myself. Maybe I should go upstairs and find out.

SIX

CHIARA

Crap. I have totally underestimated him and the effect he has on me. I don’t know how I miscalculated this, but I have. Those weeks he would bump into me, and we would spend time talking and flirting with one another, I allowed my guard to be down. You know in my mind I knew something was off. I mean seriously we ‘accidentally’ bumped into one another multiple times a week and even though I knew it couldn't be a coincidence, I let it slide. Secretly, I liked the idea that a guy… no screw it… a man as hard and dark as him was so into me he sought me out. So, I ignored it and just went with it. I have no defense against him. No way of guarding myself against the way every touch from him makes me feel and how much of my mind is connected to that feeling. Shit. I need to get in touch with my sister. I keep looking around the room trying to find something, anything that can help me get out of here, but nothing. I glance out of the window and curse at how dark it is. I am about to walk away when I see a woman walking through the gardens. Oh my God. Yes.