Shattered (18 page)

I couldn’t help but wonder, as I blindly
prepared myself for that evening, what it was that Anderson had in
mind. He’d formulated some kind of plan, but couldn’t tell me the
details. And though I trusted him implicitly, this was a pretty big
leap of faith he was asking me to take. If it had been anyone else,
I would never have considered going along for the ride. But this
was Anderson, the man I loved, who I knew I could trust with my
life. I’d just have to put my faith in him once again.

As the afternoon shifted to evening, I
decided to do something rather ill advised. I hoped that it
wouldn’t throw a wrench in Anderson’s plan, but I couldn’t keep
myself from taking the risk. With trembling fingers, I picked up
the hotel phone and punched in a very familiar seven digits. The
line rang once, twice, and then clicked.

“Hello?”

I nearly burst into tears as my mother’s
voice wavered across the line.

“Hi Mom,” I said, trying to sound
chipper.

“Kaela!” she exclaimed, surprised to hear me.
“What’s the occasion?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, it’s not a holiday, or anyone’s
birthday...You’re not big on calling, is all.”

“I’m sorry,” I told her, my heart threatening
to crack wide open, “I hope you don’t hate me for it.”

“Hate you?” she laughed, “Don’t be silly,
Honey. I wouldn’t call home either if I lived in an exciting place
like New York City. Is everything OK?”

“Sure,” I said, glancing around the gritty
hotel room, “Everything’s fine.”

“How’s your job?” my mom asked. I’d very
nearly forgotten Joe’s cafe, my mundane workplace that had held me
captive for three years.

“Oh, you know...” I said vaguely, “Same as
ever.”

“I hear you,” she said, “But that’s life!
Can’t expect too much excitement all the time.”

“Right,” I said.

“Anything interesting happening lately?” my
mom asked, “Any new boyfriends?”

“Well...” I started. I wanted to tell my
mother everything. I wanted her to know what an amazing man I’d
found in Anderson Cole, how happy he made me despite everything
happening around us. I wanted her to know that he’d keep me safe,
and happy, and fulfilled. But I didn’t want to risk too many
details. For all I knew, the line was being monitored by
Robert.

“I’ve gone on a couple of dates with this one
guy,” I said finally.

“Tell me everything!” my mom gushed.

“Well,” I said slowly, preparing my fib, “His
name is...Andrew. Andrew Crane.”

“Good name,” my mom said.

“Right,” I said, “He’s, um, a
firefighter.”

“Wow!” my mom exclaimed, “Those men are so
brave. So respected. I’m sure he’s probably a looker, too.”

“That he is,” I said, letting my mind rest
briefly on Anderson’s gorgeously toned physique. “The only problem
is...Well...It’s a pretty dangerous job.”

“That must be hard,” my mom said,
sympathetically.

“It is,” I agreed, “It’s...It’s so
hard...”

“Kaela,” my mom said softly, as I began to
cry into the phone, “Honey, it’s OK.”

“You know how much I love you, right?” I said
through my tears.

“Of course, baby,” my mom said. “Are you sure
everything is OK?”

“Yeah, of course,” I said, “I’ve just been
thinking a lot about you and dad lately. Is he around?”

“He’s in the living room. I’ll get him for
you.”

“I love you so much, Mom,” I sniffed.

“I love you too,” she said. I heard her hand
cover the mouthpiece, and a moment passed before I heard my dad
clear his throat across the line.

“Hello there, baby girl,” he said, “To what
do we owe this pleasure?”

“Hi Dad,” I said, trying like hell to keep my
voice even, “How’s tricks?”

“Oh, you know,” he said, “Same old around
here. Your mother says there’s a new man in your life?”

“She doesn’t waste any time, does she?” I
smiled.

“Never has,” my dad said, “So, who is this
guy? He better be treating you right, Kaela.”

“He is,” I said, “I promise. He’s got my
back.”

“That’s good,” my dad said, “Though you’ve
always been a girl who knew how to take care of yourself. Don’t
start underestimating yourself now, just because you’ve got a man
hanging around. There’s no one who knows what’s best for you better
than you do, Kaela.”

“I don’t know Dad,” I said, “Lately that
doesn’t feel very true.”

“Trust me,” he said, “I watched you learn how
to look after yourself. You think I would have let you go off into
the world if I didn’t believe you were ready? I’m so proud of you,
Kaela. I never worry about you, you know. You’ll figure everything
out in your time.”

“Thanks dad,” I said, “I love you.”

“I love you too, Hun,” he said.

We chatted for a few more minutes, my mom
picking up the spare line. They filled me in on the goings-on of
the small town I’d come from. They pressed me for more details
about my fictional firefighter, asked a dozen times if I wanted to
come home for Christmas. I tried not to think about the fact that
I’d probably never be able to speak to them again, at least not for
a very long time.

I didn’t know what Anderson’s plan was,
exactly, but I was fairly certain that it involved pissing off some
very powerful men. He was going to strike back against Robert, I
could guess that much. I didn’t know what that retaliation would
look like, but it would surely be embarrassing for the crime lord.
We would have to flee, wait out the fallout. It might never be safe
for us to come back to America again, let alone New York. The
thought of leaving behind my country, my home, scared me senseless.
But if it was either get out of town or submit to Robert’s tyranny,
the answer was pretty clear.

My parents and I finally said our goodbyes,
and the line went dead. I stared at the receiver in my hand for a
long, sad moment. I knew they would be out of their minds with
worry once I’d disappeared. Probably, they wouldn’t discover that I
was missing for a long time. It was rare that I called, that much
was true, and even rarer that they expected a visit. By the time
they started to get suspicious, I’d be long gone. I tried not to
imagine them frantically calling the police, begging for someone to
find their lost daughter.

I couldn’t think about any of that now. I
needed a clear head for the night to come. I resumed my
preparations, feeling an odd sense of closure. I was truly stepping
away from the life I’d always known. I was casting my lot in with
Anderson’s, though I doubted there had ever been a less traditional
union. Our troubles, our victories, our fears and joys were as one,
now. It wasn’t a very conventional relationship I’d stumbled into,
but I still wouldn’t have traded it for the world.

What would have become of me, if Anderson
hadn’t come along? I probably would have kept slogging through my
twenties as a victim of gang rape, slinging coffee and barely
making rent. Probably, some guy would have come along that fell
into the category of “good enough”. I probably would have settled
down with him in some New Jersey suburb, had a kid or two, and
slinked out a meek existence surviving on his middle class salary.
It would have been a very safe, a very normal life. And I would
have been miserable for every moment of it.

I would rather life a full throttle life with
Anderson, even if it was only for a short while, than be stuck in a
lackluster existence forever.

When I felt that I was properly and
thoroughly disguised, I stepped back and took a look at myself in
the mirror. The transformation was remarkable. The changes that
Anderson made were striking enough on their own. I couldn’t get
over the rich shade my skin had taken on. With my hair chopped off,
my long neck was on full display. I never realized how graceful it
really was. I’d padded my breasts and ass as best I could,
emphasizing and heightening my curves. With carefully applied
makeup, I’d made my lips plumper, my cheekbones higher, and my
brows thicker. I could scarcely recognize myself.

I practiced carrying myself differently,
changing my gait to accommodate my transformed figure. The foxy
woman strutting across the hotel room was a far cry from my ratty,
Midwestern self that had once been a lowly barista. If I could just
keep my speaking to a minimum at the fight, I didn’t think that
anyone would be the wiser. But then, Robert was not a stupid man.
If he were to spot me, the mysterious newcomer, he might ask too
many questions. I was no actress—I wouldn’t be able to hold up
under close scrutiny. I just had to hope that he wouldn’t notice
me.

Finally, after what felt like an eon, it was
time to make my way downtown. I straightened up the room, feeling a
little thrill pass through me as I eyed the spot where Anderson had
made love to me up against the wall. What few possessions were left
in the room, I packed up and tossed down the garbage incinerator.
Better to not leave any traces, I imagined. I made my way down into
the lobby and earned myself a strange look from clerk as I made my
way out into the city.

I stepped out into the bustling foot traffic,
feeling like some kind of spy in an action movie. I felt curious,
lusty eyes lingering on my new form as I stood and breathed in the
evening air. These people passing me on the sidewalk had no idea
what my story was. I wondered if any of them would believe me if I
told them. Who would believe that I was headed to the championship
match of an underground fighting league to cheer on the love of my
life, who also happened to be an undefeated champion fighter? And
who would believe that we were up against a powerful mob boss who
was single-handedly responsible for the deaths of my love’s closest
and dearest relations? Who would believe that Anderson had not only
saved my life the night we met, but picked me above everyone else
on the planet to be his?

Smiling, I shook my head. If a less likely
couple had ever existed, I would be interested to know about it.
Despite the extreme danger we were in, I was still grateful that
Anderson had found me. We were in this thing together, no matter
what happened next.

I decided to walk down to the club, savoring
every last moment that I had to spend with New York City. The town
had once seemed so one dimensional to me. In all the years I lived
there, I had only known one aspect of what it had to offer. I was
broke, after all, ordinary and unremarkable. I had no idea of the
intrigue and mystery that lay just beneath the surface. I wondered
what other incredible secrets the city had to offer—what other
heroes and heroines that would never be talked about in the news.
It was staggering to think of.

The eyes of men and women lingered on me as I
passed. I was flattered and baffled at the same time. I wasn’t
myself, and yet who was I other than a new and improved version of
what I had once been? It was strange to try and claim my new
identity, hard to reconcile what I had been with what I’d become.
The only thing that had remained the same in these two weeks was my
love for Anderson.

I said silent goodbyes to different parts of
the city as I made my way from Midtown to the Lower East Side. I
passed parks where I often sat and reflected upon my average life,
restaurants and bars that I frequented with friends and past
lovers. Sites of triumphs and traumas, all of which seemed to
belong to someone else. I was leaving it all behind for whatever
was to come next—whether that was death or a brand new life.

The red door was soon within sight. My feet
halted beneath me as I took in the portal that would lead me back
through the dreaded darkness. I felt my knees begin to tremble at
the prospect of being back there, and told myself that there was
still time to get out. But I knew that I’d never abandon Anderson.
I had only one option, and that was to walk through the red door
with the silver number eight and see what brilliant plan he had
cooked up. I took a deep breath and forced one foot in front of the
other.

I drew up before the red door and stopped. I
looked around the street at oblivious passers-by and raised a
shaking fist. I rapped on the door three times, and tamped down my
panic as the portal cracked open before me.

“S-serendipity,” I stuttered into the slice
of darkness.

Wordlessly, the person beyond the door swung
open the portal for me. With one last look at the world as I knew
it, I closed my eyes and took a big step over the threshold.
Darkness swallowed me up as the door slammed shut behind me.

My heart pounded in my chest like a
jackhammer as I took my first step along the pitch black hallway.
With every move I made, I imagined that I heard someone shuffling
beside me in the shadows. I couldn’t forget the terror that had
shot through me when Robert’s crony snatched me out of the darkness
a few days back. I had felt, in that moment, that I was surely
going to die. The icy cold caress of the blade against my throat
had been emblazoned in my memory for all time. It was hard to
simply stand up straight, to keep walking forward when every
sensible cell in my body was begging to me to go back. But Anderson
was ahead, somewhere beyond the fighting pit, preparing for the
fight of his life. I would be there for him, no matter what. There
was no turning back, now.

I forced my feet to carry me through the
eerie darkness, my hands clenched into tight fists. The floor
gently away beneath me, and finally I felt the looming of another
doorway in the darkness. I drew to a halt and heard someone unlatch
the door to the arena and pull it open.

The chaos of the underground coliseum never
ceased to be overwhelming. I blinked into the bright lights and
braced myself against the tide of noise that threatened to sweep me
away. I had to play it cool, and pretend that I’d seen it all
before. I straightened the hem of my micro mini skirt and sauntered
across the threshold, playing at being a sexy, confident woman
without a care in the world. I swung my padded hips from side to
side as I walked, doing my best to make it look as though I was
walking on air.