Last Hope

"Are you Kazmaria?"

"Did Lina send you?"

The man all nods and holds out his hand for me to grab. His calloused hand is warm and quite larger than my own. "I've got two more outside dealing with your boy and no offence but you're in no condition to be running. I'll have to carry you."

"None taken but do you really think you can carry me all the way downstairs?"

He smiles and easily picks me up, "Does that answer your question?"

"I suppose it does." A very odd feeling fills the pit of my stomach as we walk to the elevator. I don't know what to expect, I never expected them to come after me so soon. I figured it would at least take a few weeks to track us down but I guess I must have underestimated them. Watching the numbers on the screen decrease as we get closer to the ground floor makes my heart beat incline. The man who's name I've yet to learn must have sensed my anxiety because he pulls me closer to his chest.

"Hey, don't stress it. Just close your eyes and trust me, I'll tell you when you can open them again okay?" I nod. I feel foolish for be forced into putting all my hope into a total stranger but at the moment him and the other men he mentioned are all I have. When the doors slide open, I squeeze my eyes shut and hold onto his neck as he takes off running. "Boss! We got her but the others are trying to hold him back!"

"Take her to the car and go!" Even with my eyes closed, I know that voice. I almost open them so I can look at him again but I would rather not risk it. I feel the man start running once more then the feel the cold air hit my face.

"Alright, you can open your eyes now." The man lets me down and I deeply inhale the cold air. It feels nice to be outside again and not trapped in that hotel room anymore. "Ah, that's our ride." I look at the large black van with tinted windows pull up. He opens the door for me and helps me step inside. "Ve a la parte de atrás. Todavía tenemos que conseguir los otros dos." The van speeds to the back of the building and sure enough there are two men waiting. I assume they're the ones he talked about before. They hurry to get into the van and once more, the van speeds away.

"What- Carlos...Where's Carlos? Why wasn't he with the other two?" I can feel a panic attack coming on, where was he? I know I heard him so why wasn't he with the rest?

"The boss wanted to deal with that man by himself. Our exact orders where to get you out of there and leave. I even made it know that there's only one car but he stated that worrying about him was unnecessary."

I sigh. That does sound like something he'd say. "That reminds me, how did you all get here so fast? I only called Lina a few days ago."

"Ah, I had a feeling you'd ask that. Lina and her brothers came to us directly and told us everything. Where to find you, what your name is, what you looked like, everything. She knew where you were way before the boss did. All that was left was us to join the gang and plan out car arrangements ourselves."

"But isn't that a job for his assistant?"

"We thought so too but fortunately, he gave him the week off as an attempt to distract himself."

"He used work as a distraction? From what? Did something happen?" I'm full of questions and I'm sure he's getting annoyed of me asking so many but I don't care. I want to know what's going on.

"I think it's because-"

"Eso es suficiente." The man driving has a nasty scowl on his face as he stares at the empty road in front of him. "No more talking. If you want to know something, ask the boss directly."

"Ah don't mind him. He's just a grump but behind all that he's a big ole softie."

I slide down in the seat and look out of the window. Just what the hell is his deal? I'd usually be up to start an argument over nothing but I have no energy. "It's fine, he's probably right. It'll be better coming from Carlos himself anyway. But I don't think he'll be too mad if I learn your name?"

I feel him shrug next to me. "Well I guess it couldn't hurt. I'm TJ. The two in the back are Eddie and Sammy and the meanie driving is Diego."

"Thank you guys for saving me." I yawn. "Oh and TJ? Will you wake me when we're close?"

"Of course. Go ahead and get some shut-eye, I'm sure you're exhausted."

I put my hand underneath my head and close my eyes, hoping that I can slip away into a deep sleep. As I slowly reach unconsciousness, I see his face. His icy expression along with dead eyes staring back at me while splatters of blood cover his face. But something is off, I look down and see that my stomach is flat. I'm no longer pregnant? What's going on? I look back up at Ricky but he's smiling, it's odd, almost like there's some kind of madness behind it.

"Well, Kaz? Are you happy with your choices?" He runs his bloodied hands through his hair and cackles. "You tried so hard now look at you, right back at my side doing what you've always been best at."

I try to speak but I have no voice. There's no sound coming from my mouth. What is this? Why can't I talk? My eyes sting as tears begin roll down my cheeks.

"Aw c'mon now mami, it's far too late for tears." He wipes away a tear with his thumb, blood getting on my face as he does so. "Venga mami, I'm ready to leave now."