Chapter Sixty Six
Maria felt exhausted, in pain and strained, but after the call she got from Ricky, she didn’t have time to pause and lick her wounds, she needed to get out of here, fast.
“Where are the kids?” She panted out, ignoring the incredulous looks Dave and her parents gave her, “Could someone please answer me, preferably in this century!” She went on impatiently.
“They are upstairs sleeping.” Edna answered, standing up from the couch, “What are you doing out of hospital?”
“I wasn’t going to just lay there and wait for Ricky to come back and try to kill me again.” Maria stared at them, her anger for them mounting higher with each passing second, “How could you lie to me?”
“What are you talking about?” Miguel asked him, he knew it was a stupid question the second it made its way out of his mouth.
Maria stared at him, astound by the man’s persistence, “About Ricky being dead!” She yelled at him, before turning to Dave, “You of all people kept it from me.” Maria pushed her hair back exposing her bruises, “What am I even saying, this has you written all over it.”
“How did you find out?” Dave asked, quietly. “I got a call from the dead man himself.”
“How sure are you it was Ricky?” Dave was reaching, and he knew that, “For all you know it could have been a crank call.”
She cut her eyes at him, and then turned for the stairway. She had wasted enough time already, “I’m taking the kids with me.”
“Where are you going? You are still hurt.” Dave caught up with her and stopped her before she went up.
Maria pulled her arm out of his hold and turned to him, “Hurt or not, I’m taking the kids and getting as far away from here and from him as I possibly can.”
“You don’t have to go anywhere.” Dave began desperately, “We have people looking for him, they will eventually catch him.”
Maria laughed coldly, “Eventually?” she asked, “Before or after he kills the kids?” Her voice flat yet sharp.
“Maria…”
“I’m doing what a mother does, protecting her children.” Maria said, interrupting him, “I’m taking Izzy and you can’t stop me.”
Dave brushed his hand over his tired face, “Running won’t solve anything.”
“You think I don’t know that?” She could feel the tears sting her eyes, but she wasn’t going to cry, not now, “Look at me, that point was driven into me several painful times.”
Edna moved to stand next to her and held her injured arm up for her, “Listen to him, your father and Dave will find a way to end this.”
“Forgive me mama, but my trust in men, especially these two is a little shaky and anyway you told me to run in the first place!”
“He would have killed you if you had stayed then, you know that!”
Maria stepped away and used her good hand to point at the new additions to her body, “His intentions haven’t changed mama, the only difference is that they are more intense.” she turned to face Dave, “He threatened Izzy too, and I’m not about to risk her life just to see who can play hide and seek better.”
Dave knew his threat against his daughter, he’d heard it from the horse’s mouth himself. But he wasn’t going to tell Maria, that would only give her a stronger conviction to leave and Ricky would still find her.
Miguel moved to the door, he opened it, and yelled out in Spanish before he moved to stand next to Maria, “I’ll give you some men to escort you, the rest will track and kill Ricky.” Two men appeared at the door and waited quietly for their next order.
Maria looked at him, and then at his goons. They did look scary, and she was sure they were packing heat under their heavy leather jackets. They could protect them until she knew for sure Ricky was dead, then and only then would she come back.
“Now that’s a plan!” She said, before she ran up the stairs, her mother hot on her heels.
Dave looked at him, frustrated, “You are only making things worse by playing his game.”
“I’m protecting my family the best way I know how.” Maria ran to Michael’s room, “Mama, please get Izzy ready.” she opened the door and walked in, “Michael, wake up we are leaving.” her voice died out when she saw the empty ruffled bed, “Michael! Michael!” She yelled, as she frantically searched the room for him.
Edna went into Michael’s room, “Maria, is Izzy here because she’s not…” she stopped when she saw Maria on her knees checking under the bed, “Please tell me they are both under there.” she asked worriedly, her heart already doing a mile a minute.
Maria sat down against the bed, her hand fisted over her chest, “He took them mama.” she cried, “he said he was very close to Michael I thought he meant he was outside watching the house… I didn’t think…” a sob caught in her throat choking her.
Her mind was already going crazy, thinking of all the torture her children were going through, making her chest tighten in pain and anguish.
Edna knelt down beside her, “Honey, take a deep breath.” she turned her face towards her, “One at a time, slowly.”
Maria hadn’t noticed she was hyperventilating. She did as she was told, her eyes glued on Edna’s as she coached her, rubbing her back gently as she soothed her.
Dave and Miguel walked into the room confused by the state Maria was in, “What’s going on?” Dave asked, moving closer to Maria.
She jumped to her feet and pointed at the empty bed, her eyes shooting daggers at Dave, “There is your eventually!” She yelled at him.
Dave swallowed the lump lodged in his throat. This was going to be a very long night for him. He didn’t want to ask, he already knew the answer, but he couldn’t help, but hope “Izzy?”
Edna stood up, “She’s gone too. I’m so sorry Dave.” “Maybe.” he choked. He paused and took a deep breath before he went on, Maybe Michael tried to go to the hospital, he did say he would.” He knew he was lying to himself as the words came out. Ricky worked fast, faster than he thought.
“No, Michael may be a child, but he is mature enough not to leave without telling me, especially if he was going to take Izzy with him.”
“We’ll find them.” Dave chanted, quietly to himself, “We’ll find them.”