FanStory.com - Life's Twisted Road - Chapter 26by Begin Again

END OF CHAPTER 25

"Go back to your movie, Ava. Sorry, I bothered you."

"You didn't bother me. Just stop worrying about Nat and her friends so much. I taught her to take care of herself." Ava's exasperated sigh came through the phone line, loud and clear. "Go to bed, but make sure you put the keys under the mat, in case Nat forgot hers. Good night." The call disconnected.

Isabella sipped her wine. Call it intuition or plain old worry, but she knew something wasn't right. She hated to say it, but she'd be happier once her granddaughter was safely back inside her house. She bowed her head and whispered a small prayer, "Dear Lord, please keep Nat and her friends safe from harm. They're young and aren't aware of the dangers that lurk around every corner. Thank you. Amen."

*****

Chapter 26

"Having fun, Becky?" Natasha kissed her friend's cheek, leaving lipstick smudges and a sticky wetness. Having drunk more amaretto stone sours than she intended, her balance was a bit unstable, and she fell against the table, spilling her drink. "Oops! Good thing the drinks are free."

Becky wiped her cheek with a napkin. "Looks like you certainly are enjoying yourself. Who was schooling who about watching what we drank?" Becky couldn't help but laugh as Natasha struggled to appear sober. "It's a lost cause, girlfriend. Let's go get some air."

Becky put her arm around Natasha's waist and steered her toward the open patio door, maneuvering around other couples. Concentrating on her friend, Becky failed to see Juan and another guy making an exchange. Unfortunately, the intoxicated Natasha spotted him.

"Juan —Juan, over here." She waved her arm in the air, smacking a guy who was walking by. She offered a crooked smile. "Oops! Sorry." He rolled his eyes and continued on his way.

Hearing his name, Juan turned in the girls' direction and started to move toward them. A low rumble of muted voices arose from the front of the house, distracting him. Something was going on.

Beads of sweat prickled the brow of Juan's latest customer as he grabbed Juan's arm. Frantically, he growled, "I'm out of here, man." His six-foot-two frame towered over Juan. "When Big Frank arrives, the party's over, at least for me."

Juan's eyes widened. "Big Frank is here, now?" His head twisted as he checked around the room.

"Yeah, man. Guess he got back from Chicago early. He decided to crash the party and who's going to tell him he can't? I gotta go."

"Wait! I've got five bags of the good stuff in my car. It's yours, free, if you get those two girls out of this place fast without Frank seeing them."

"As much as the offer is appealing, how do you suggest I do that? His entire entourage is blocking the front door. And I'm not risking my life."

"Come with me." Juan weaved through the crowd, trying not to draw attention. He hoped the tall guy was following close behind. Natasha squealed as Juan approached. He snapped at the girls, "Party is over! No time to explain, but you've got to get out of this joint now."

"No. We're having fun. We'll stay out of your way."

"Yeah, Juan, what's the deal? We're having a good time."

"Big Frank's the deal, Beck. This guy's going to sneak you out through the patio. Go over the railing and run for your lives."

"Aren't you being a bit dramatic?" Natasha looked at the nervous guy standing beside her. "Is he joking? Go over the railing?"

Instead of answering Natasha's questions, the guy spoke to Juan, "Either they are coming or not, but I'm out of here."

Juan shoved Becky and Natasha toward the door. "Go with him. I'll take my chances with Frank."

A sudden flashback of Juan's beating the other night set Becky in motion. She pushed Natasha toward the patio door. "Do what he says. Go!"

"Ouch! You're hurting me," Natasha whined. "Juan's being a spoilsport, Becky. I'm not leaving."

Becky was determined to stand her ground. Natasha was drunk and didn't understand the urgency of the situation. "Yes, you are, Nat, if you want to wake up tomorrow. Now let's go. Climb up on the railing." The pungent aroma of roses and other flowering bushes surrounded them.

"It's all rose bushes with thorns. You can't expect me to jump down there." Natasha sat on the railing and mournfully scanned her scanty clothing. "I'll get ripped to pieces."

Becky turned to ask Juan's friend for help, but he was nowhere to be seen. Someone inside screamed and she knew it was time to go. No questions asked! Without thinking, she gathered up what power she had and slammed her shoulder against Natasha, sending her off the railing. Startled, Natasha fell with a thump on the ground below, and Becky followed behind her.

The thorny roses tore at their clothes, ripping the cloth and their skin. Scrambling to her feet, Becky tugged on Natasha's arm, tearing her away from the rose bushes. Without another word,

the two girls raced across the pristine lawn, through a flower bed, and to the car.

******

Afraid they were being followed, Becky drove her dad's car around for an hour before stopping at a Love's Truck Depot where they attempted to wash off the blood, mulch, and grime.

"I think we're safe, Becky. Let's get out of this place and go home."

"Yeah, I've had enough fun for tonight." Becky glanced in the bathroom mirror. "We sure don't look like we did when we left home. This outfit is toast."

Both girls were silent on the drive home. As they tiptoed into Isabella's home, Becky checked and double-checked the lock, while Natasha raided the refrigerator and cookie jar.

Isabella whispered a prayer of thanks as the squeaky stairs signaled the girls had returned home. She pulled the covers around her shoulders and fell asleep.

*****

"Oh, I feel so much better after that shower." Becky ruffled the towel over her hair. "That was too much of an adrenaline rush for me tonight."

"Actually, I thought it was a hoot. Like one of those gangster movies. We were the damsels in distress, being rescued from the bad guys." Natasha shoved a chocolate cookie into her mouth before raising her pop can in the air. "To us. The ones that got away!"

"Nat, you are full of it. You were just as scared as I was. Maybe more. You'd probably still be sitting on that railing, whining. Or worse yet, we'd be dead."

"Now you're exaggerating. Nobody was going to kill us. That was Juan being melodramatic after the beating he took."

"Can you blame him?" Becky tossed the towel on the chair. "Any more of those cookies left?"

"They're on the windowsill. Help yourself." Natasha yawned. "You mind shutting the window. It's getting kind of cool in here."

Becky moved the cookies to a nearby table and pushed the curtains aside so she could close the window. A black SUV was parked in front of the house. A man was leaning against the passenger door, smoking a cigarette. The rear window was opened.

Becky's body froze as she gasped, "Nat — Nat, come here, quick."

"I'm tired. What do you want?"

"Big Frank's outside."

"Trying to one-up me, are you? Oh, I'm scared. Well, it's not going to work. We both know Big Frank isn't out there."

"I'm not fooling around. It might not be Big Frank, but I'd know that car and his bodyguard anywhere. He's smoking a cigarette and staring at the house."

"Okay, I'll play your little game so I can go to bed." Natasha climbed off the bed and walked to the window, shoving Becky to the side. "Hello, Big Fra—" The words froze in Nat's throat. Terrified, both girls stared at each other and hit the floor.

Becky stole a quick peek out the window. "Nat, he's walking towards the house. What are we going to do?" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the house. "He's pointing a gun at us."