Chapter 7 - Rockabye

Chapter 7 - Rockabye

I bite my lip. Do I wonder where my life would have been if I hadn’t married Antonella? Of course I do. Do I wonder if Larce and I would have gotten married? No.

If you had asked me a month ago, I’d tell you sure. But after spending the last week with my daughter, imagining a life without her in it is a life I don’t want. Aliyah means the word to me. Everything in my life is for her. Staying with Antonella is for her, being nice to her mother is for her. Antonella and I may never love each other, I may even hate her, but one thing we share in common is that we both love Aliyah more than anything.

“No, I don’t. I don’t want to imagine I life without my daughter and wife in it… Larce…” I sigh. “I am sorry for the way things ended between us, but Aliyah is my whole world. My daughter would not be here if it wasn’t for Antonella and I marrying…” I tell her.

Tears in her eyes Larce looks at me before shaking her head. “I always thought you were forced to marry her. That you didn’t love her. The two of you couldn’t be more different.” She chokes back a sob. “Why couldn’t have been me?” she asks.

I sigh. If I had known this is how this conversation was going to go, I would have spoken downstairs or sneaked into the office.

"I’m sorry Larce. I really am. But aren’t you happy now? You have your fiancé and you’re going to be starting a family of your own soon." I try to console her. But I’m nearly a decade out of practice, it’s not like my wife is a crier. Hell, I don’t even know if the woman knows how.

Or if she is, she would never do it in front of me. Antonella would never cry in front of me.

It’s grating on my nerves. Larce was never like this when we were dating. I think at least. I was so busy working my way up the company I barely had any time for her. I was always working late; I was making a name for myself.

She stands and glares at me. “I made him up. I’m not getting married. I just wanted to make you jealous. Make you realize what you’re missing out on. But I see now you don’t love me anymore. Antonella this, Antonella that. What about me!” she shouts.

I stare at her for a second. “Why would you do that? I’ve been married for at least seven years Larce, I’ve moved on. And I thought you did too." I am so fucking confused.

"Really now Allister? Why would I move on when you broke up with me by telling me you’re marrying someone else. You looked so God damn miserable. And I’m supposed to believe it was because you loved her. She couldn’t even give birth to your daughter. Why would you love her?” she’s erratic and I don’t understand her. This is nothing like the Larce I know.

“I looked that way because I hated the idea of hurting you. I honestly didn’t want to shove my happiness in your face Larce. I’m sorry you got the wrong idea, but I have work to do. If you could excuse me, please…” I switch on my monitor.

I was already behind schedule. If I want to get home in time to put Leah to bed. With Antonella being sick, I don’t know if she’ll be alright tonight, and I don’t want her giving Leah the stomach bug.

“God, you changed. You never would have spoken to me this way when we were dating!” she is shouting again.

I ignore her and get to work. I’ve got a long list of things to get done and my assistant isn’t here yet.

"Allister did you ever really love me?" she asks.

I sigh, I have no idea how to get rid of her without it causing a scene, and I have no idea why it’s grating on my last damn nerve, her crying and the shouting. "Could we talk about this another time. I really do have work to do."

She stares at me in horror. “You really have changed, what has she done to you to make you think heartless?” she asks.

I frown. “This has nothing to do with Antonella, Larce I thought we were friends but you’re making our relationship out to be everything it isn’t. We agreed to be friends Larce…” I feel the need to remind her.

She stomps her foot and rushes out of my office. I sigh. I didn’t realize her feelings for me. I thought we were just friends, had I assumed her feelings for have disappeared like mine did.

If I hadn’t married Antonella, would I have married her? Would I have been happier?

My assistant walks into my office. “Sir, do you want to go over today’s schedule?” she asks.

I nod.

She begins to go over my schedule when my phone rings.

I look at my phone, raising a brow when I see Antonella’s name across the screen.

I answer. “Yeah?”

“Hi Allister, uhm I have a favor to ask. Could your parents pick Aliyah from school for me please. I have to leave the country for a couple of days.” She asks.

I frown. “You said you weren’t feeling well just a few hours ago…” I remind her.

She coughs lightly. “Yeah, I know but this needs to be taken care of today. If they can’t I can always ask Lu…”

“I’ll pick her up…” I cut her off.

============

Antonella Cross

POV

My phone rings waking me from my nap. I groan sitting up.

Checking my cell seeing no phone calls.

My blood runs cold. I pull out the drawer of the bedside table and reach under it.

“Hello?” I answer, I surprised myself, I didn’t expect my voice to sound so evil.

"We have a problem.” Carter announces.

"What happened to Saylor?" I ask.

"Her boyfriend took her and is demanding five mill for her return."

I frown. What? "Why would Chris do that?" I was confused. Chris was the one who contacted me for help. His girlfriend was sexually assaulted by her stepfather and being underage, I was glad to help her. But why the hell would he turn around and do this?

"He thought Saylor was with me, misunderstood our relationship when I went to pick her up, what should I do? Should I send in the team?” he asks.

I bite the inside of my cheek; I didn’t want Chris to get hurt. “Give him the money, then send Saylor to the hotel on fifth. I’ll meet you there.” I tell him getting off the bed and walk over to my closet.

“Okay…” he says before hanging up.

I place the phone on the counter. Taking out a loose dress and pair of flat sandals.

"What have I gotten myself into?” I ask aloud.

I walk back into the room and picked up my phone. I need to call Allister and ask his parents to pick up Leah from school.

After the phone call I take a shower.

Getting dressed in the tiered black dress and gold flat slides.

I feel so tired I could actually fall asleep standing. I grab a purse throwing in the essentials in my purse.

I grab a change of clothes as well. A simple pair of white Jordan sneakers Dean got me for my birthday last year. He’s big into sneakers and would gift Leah and I sneakers all the time.

I then grab a pair of dark blue jeans and a white shirt.

I let out a deep sigh and throw my head back.

Exhaustion rips through me like it does when I’ve overworked myself. Going to work yesterday after my flight was a bad idea. I was having a good day, and I took advantage of that.

I'm not only physically exhausted but I'm mentally exhausted as well.

In my heart I know I won't be able to do this for much longer. My body can only do so much. The pain of not being able to help more people, more children.

Soon getting out of bed will be hard for me to do. I look around my room, I don't want to die here. The last thing I want is for my daughter to see me suffer.

I'll die in a car accident like I've planned with Carter. We've put in the steps for me to fake my death and for me to spend my last moments in Italy... Alone I don’t ever want my daughter to see me suffer. I don’t want my daughter to experience me getting sick. I want my death to be quick and want the doctors to tell her I didn’t suffer.

I sigh before making my way downstairs. I've been in this business for years now and the people who call us doesn't demand Ransoms.

Deep in my gut I feel as if I'm missing something.

I shake those thoughts. But as I precaution, I message Carter to change venues and to switch cars.

I wasn't taking any chances, not with this, nagging feeling deep within my gut.

I get into the car and Reece takes off.

I give him the address of a hotel known for its NDA's and tight-lipped customer service. I knew not even a warrant could get them to show their guest list.

When we arrived, I get out of the car and rush into the hotel.

I get the key from the receptionist and run toward the elevator. I hope Saylor has a good explanation for what her boyfriend has done.

I run my fingers through my hair, tying it up in a messy bun. I need to cut my hair. It’s gotten too long. I normally keep my hair shoulder length, but I’ve been too busy to have it cut.

My phone rings. I pull it out of my purse.

I see Allister’s name across the screen I frown.

“Hey, is something wrong?” I ask.

“No, I was just calling because I wanted to know what Leah’s teacher meant by family sports day. She told me she was looking forward to seeing the both of us there. Why didn’t I know about this?” he asks.

I sigh. “Dean and Lu normally goes with me to her sports days. I didn’t want to bother you at work.”

The elevator dings and the doors open, I step out.

“I’ll be there…” he says before hanging up.

I sigh chucking my phone in my purse. I walk up to the hotel room’s door and open the door.

Carter sits on the sofa and Saylor and Chris sit on the sofa across from him. Carter’s glaring at the two.

I place my bags at the door and close it behind me. I take a seat next to Carter.

“So, tell me what’s going on.” I ask the two.

“These two had a plan.” Carter scoffs.

Saylor flinches at his tone.

I wait.

“They had a plan to ask us for ransom money, then run away together with the money.” Carter informs me.

I sigh dropping my head, I feel a massive headache forming.

I stand. “You could have been killed. What would have happened if Carter didn’t know it was you, Chris? He could have sent out a team to get Saylor taking you out.” I shake my head.

I pace the room. So many things could have gone wrong. Two teenagers could have lost their lives.

I stop when I feel lightheaded. I hold onto the sofa’s back.

“Gianna is everything okay?” Carter asks walking up to me.

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine…” I smile pulling away from him.

He still looks concerned.

“I’m sorry…” I say before everything goes dark.