The mission

Emme.

<< No, but what an idea to call me while I'm on leave! >>

I put on my boots and my overcoat. I have an appointment with Nicolas, my brother and my boss. The one who helped me get out of the water four years ago now. I had fallen in love with a rich and handsome Italian who was visiting New York. Lucas Dos Santos. We had a perfect romance, trips, cruises, gifts, I had everything a woman could dream of. I was the happiest woman in the world, all envied Lucas, all envied me. We got married quite quickly, I was only twenty years old and we went to live in Sicily, Italy. The house was located by the sea. It was beautiful, there were vineyards, lots of workers, because Lucas was a great wine maker. I remember that I loved walking in the fields, talking with the workers and picking the grapes directly from the plants and eating them. It was divine! Little did I know that all this beauty was actually there to hide the darkness in Lucas' heart. He started by making little remarks about how I talked too much with the workers, I thought it was cute to have a jealous husband. One day, Luna, the wife of Vicente, Lucas's all-around man, lost her bones when we were in town, so I took her to the hospital. I stayed with her the whole time, until the delivery because her husband unfortunately couldn't make it, I came home very late that day, and Lucas knew that I was with Luna in the hospital. The whole hacienda was talking about it. When I got home, I went straight to our room to change.

<< Where were you? >> I breathed a sigh of relief because I was really scared.

<< Oh my love you scared me! You know I was at the hospital with Luna. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Vicente must be proud and besides, why didn't you come to the hospital? >>

I don't know when my husband got up, but I felt a huge burn on my cheek.

<< I already told you not to be friends with those workers and the next time you disobey me you will see. >>

I put my hand on my cheek and looked at him with total incomprehension, then I got up and went to take a shower. When I came back, Lucas was waiting for me sitting on the bed, he walked up to me and asked me to forgive him.

<< Forgive me my love. I don't know what came over me. I'm an idiot, please forgive me. >>

He picked up an ointment from the table and rubbed it on my cheek.

<< Forgive me, I promise you this will never happen again. >>

<< Of course I forgive you. I love you so much. >> Lucas smiled at me, a warm smile. I was so happy, I had Lucas back, my Lucas.

I didn't know that this fake smile was a ticket to my descent into hell. I was brought back to the present by the driver who didn't stop honking behind me.

<< No but are you dreaming or what? Move on with your fucking car! >>

I don't answer him anything and I just drive a little faster. I have changed a lot, physically and emotionally. The fragile little caterpillar that used to whine at the slightest opportunity has turned into a butterfly that can fly on its own. I am no longer a poor, fragile and defenseless thing, today I know how to give back with my fists when words are not enough. I park my car in the street, I get out and I walk along the street. The building in front of me is the one that houses the Body Guards Agency. The bodyguard company I work for.

I was recruited here two years ago. Thanks to Nicolas, my older brother, after coming back to New York, not after fleeing Italy, he took me in, helped me. He had just opened this private company that takes care of personalities and rich people who need protection. I was trained in combat, by Nicolas himself, my brother is a former military man who gave up everything to open this close protection company. I learned to shoot, to hit, my body has changed a lot since I joined this company and I am quite proud of it. If you had seen me two years ago you would understand why. I have been beaten so badly that my body is covered with scars, if they were only physical they would be okay but they are also moral, psychological. These are the ones that refuse to heal. I cross the hall and I smile at Ingride, my brother's secretary and wife. A beautiful blonde he met while in Paris. She is as beautiful as she is funny, I love her.

They have a beautiful daughter, Cindy, she is four years old and I adore her. Unfortunately I couldn't attend her birth because Lucas wouldn't let me in, so I make up for all the parties I missed all the important events for her by giving her tons of gifts.

<< How are you doing? she asks me. >>

<< I'm okay, but not as good as you. >> I say as I go to place two sound kisses on her cheeks.

<< You've lost weight again! >> She scolds me gently.

<< Really? >> I say, pretending I haven't noticed.

<< Yes really! We'll have to talk. >> I run in the direction of the elevator which is opening.

<< Not now I hope Nicolas is waiting for me. >>

<< You won't be able to duck out forever, she yells at me through the closed walls of the elevator. >>

I breathe a sigh of relief. I love Ingrid, but she has this tendency to invade my living space a little too much. What I need right now is certainly not a strap-on. I know I've been neglecting myself a lot lately, but at the same time why would I pay attention to myself? It's not like I'm trying to please anyone, is it? In the elevator, there's jerk one and jerk two. Great! A nice pair of assholes who don't know how to do anything but annoy me.

<< Hey but look who's here! It's miss black. >>

I got this ridiculous nickname because I only dress in black, maybe to match the darkness of my soul who knows? The truth is that I stopped paying attention to myself, since I came back to New York. I stopped dressing up, I stopped doing all those fancy hairstyles, basically I just stopped doing everything to please. And it's even harder when you're one of the few women working in a company that's typically made for men.

<< Hey but these are my two favorite jerks! I said, pretending to smile happily. >>

<< Oh but what do I see here? Is that color? Did you watch the weather this morning Fred? They said something about a storm? He said, bursting into laughter. Ha ha! Very funny Ben. >>

<< Doesn't your ass hurt when you laugh? You know, getting fucked by Fred must hurt a lot. >>

Ben immediately loses his smile. The elevator opens and I get out. I hear Ben screaming at me.

<< I'm not getting my ass fucked by anyone. >> I smile victoriously. There is a rumor going around the agency that Ben and Fred are dating. Not that I'm homophobic by any means, but when on days like this one of them chooses to piss me off I have to defend myself especially since I know he hates it. I push open the door to Nicolas' office and enter with a victorious smile on my lips.

<< Who's that they're getting their asses kicked by? I raise a questioning eyebrow. >>

<< Do you really want to know? >>

<< No you're right keep it to yourself. I don't want to know. >>

I sit down across from him and put my feet up on the table. After a glare from him, I take them right off and look at him.

<< Well, can I ask why you called me after giving me a vacation yourself two days ago? >>

<< You know I never would have done it if it wasn't urgent. >>

<< Yeah well go ahead and deliver. >>

My brother puts the pen he has in his hands on the table and looks at me with a serious expression. I hate it when he does that. It intimidates me, and God only knows that for a while now not many things scare me. He looks at me like that for five minutes, I finally break down and tell him.

<< Well are you going to decide to talk to me yes? >>

<< Sorry, it's just that I'm really hesitant to put you on this mission actually. >>

<< What's this about? >>

<< A friend of mine contacted me, he's been receiving threatening letters recently and is afraid for his life, he needs a bodyguard. >>