THOMAS
Thomas meets Richard halfway on his way to his office. They were able to get Richard back a few days ago after ambushing the car transporting him to a safe house.
“Sir, I need you to come with me. There’s something important you need to see.”
“How important?” Thomas asks as he turns the knob on his office door.
“It’s about Melina.”
Thomas’ hand turns white as he tightens his grip on the doorknob. He knows Richard is capable of finding Melina, but he didn’t expect it to be this quick.
“You found her?”
“Not really, but I have a good guess of who took her.”
“Took her?” Thomas knits his brows. Why would Richard say that someone took Melina? She fled. She wasn’t kidnapped or… was she?
“Yes, sir. I don’t think Melina ran away. I have some information that suggests she might have been kidnapped.”
“Are you sure?” Thomas could not believe what Richard was saying. How is that possible? Her sister emptied her bank accounts and quit her job. What other reason could she have done it if it wasn’t to run away with Melina?
“Yes, sir, please come with me. I’ll show you why I believe so.”
“Lead the way,” Thomas says.
Richard leads Thomas to his office. Unlike Thomas’ office, it is smaller and filled with computer screens.
“Please take a seat, sir.” Richard motions for Thomas to take a seat in one of his office chairs.
“I’m okay standing,” Thomas says, crossing his arms across his chest and looking at the screens.
Richard takes a seat and starts typing on his computer. Thomas freezes on the spot as a video starts to play. His heart clenches, seeing Melina tortured, but his pain quickly turns to rage when he sees her torturer. Thomas’ nose flare as the screams of Melina fill the room. Thomas doesn’t blink as he watches the video. He wasn’t even mad at Melina for fleeing anymore. All Thomas wants to do right now is rip James to shreds for hurting his Melina. He tightens his fist as his blood begins to boil. Thomas craves to have James’ blood in his hands. He wants to rip him apart piece by piece until no one can put him back together.
“Oh my goodness, no,” a scream comes from behind Thomas. He turns his head so quickly to the sound of the voice that his bone cracks.
“Mama, what are you doing here?” Thomas walks to his mother by the door, who has tears swimming in her eyes.
“I came looking for you.”
“Do you need something?”
“I do, but that’s irrelevant, my son. I can’t believe this happened to Melina. I can’t even imagine how much pain she must be going through right now.”
“I don’t even want to imagine,” Thomas says as he closes his eyes and massages the bridge of his nose. Opening his eyes, he runs his hand through his hair. How will she cope alone when she awakens from the nightmare he is certain she will have as a result of what has happened? “Fuck!” Thomas is upset that he won’t be there to comfort her. Will James treat her wounds, and why did he do this to her? Thomas feels like something is missing.
“You must be devastated,” Katherine says as she places her palm on Thomas’ cheek. Thomas lets out a deep sigh.
“Losing a child isn’t easy. I’m truly sorry this happened to you, dear.”
“What?” Thomas looks at his mother as if she’s got two heads at the moment. What on earth is she talking about?
“Oh, I forgot you didn’t know.”
“What are you talking about, mama?”
“Do you remember telling me Melina was sick before she went missing?”
“Yes.” Thomas spoke to his mother about Melina’s situation and the changes he noticed. Melina refused to see a doctor, so he discussed her condition with his mother in case she knew what was wrong and could advise him on which drugs to get for Melina.
“I noticed something while the video was playing.”
“What did you notice?”
“I noticed blood flowing between Melina’s legs, and overheard her say something.” Tears roll down Katherine’s face.
“She had blood all over her. What was the big deal about her having blood between her legs?”
“My dear son, I don’t believe Melina was ill. I believe she was pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Thomas, taken aback, inquires. “You think she was pregnant with my child?” he asks, pacing the room as he rubs his palm across his face.
“Yes, she was, and she’s lost it again. I can’t believe this happened.”
“Again?” Thomas is perplexed as to why his mother is speaking as if this is not the first time.
“Yes, this is the second time Melina is losing her baby.” Katherine wraps her arms around herself. “I can’t even imagine how much pain she’s in right now. Losing a child because of the same person has to be the most devastating thing anyone could go through.”
“What do you mean?”
“Thomas, Melina was pregnant for you before now, and she miscarried because of this same James.” Katherine must have heard Melina say his name.
Thomas freezes and just stares at his mother as he tries to make sense of her words. Melina was expecting his child for the second time. He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe he’d created a human being with Melina, not just once but twice, and he’s only finding out now. Now they’re no more; Thomas couldn’t believe it. He lost the chance to be a dad before he knew he was one. Thomas’ heart clenches in his chest. His heart aches for his unborn children.
“There’s something I need to tell you, Tom.” Katherine places her hand on his cheek to jolt him out of his reverie.
“What?”
“Melina said it was pointless to tell you because you wouldn’t believe it, and even if you did, it would only make you sad.”
“What is that?”
“What happened a week before Melina stole your money? I need to explain why she did it.”
“I am listening.”
“Melina was planning to tell you the truth and leave James a few weeks before you had to send the money to James. She was madly in love with you and wanted to spend the rest of her life with you, but she was afraid you wouldn’t forgive her or believe she truly loved you.
But something happened that made her realize she couldn’t put off telling you the truth any longer. A week before you were meant to transfer the money to James’ account, Melina found out she was pregnant with your baby. She was certain it was yours because Melina stopped sleeping with James once you and her started dating. She was ready to leave James and be with you, but James found out and ruined everything.
He found out she was pregnant with your child and wanted to leave him. He beat her in a fit of rage, which led to the loss of the baby. He also threatened to harm you if she didn’t help him in successfully signing the deal with you. So Melina agreed to help James, unaware that you were even more brutal than James.”
“How come Melina didn’t tell me this when I found her?” Thomas says, running his fingers through his hair. He feels like his brain is about to explode. All of this information is overwhelming. He doesn’t even know what to believe right now. His mom is practically saying Melina loved him and never meant to betray him. A substantial part of him is happy to hear that, but how can he fucking believe it?
“Because she believed it wouldn’t change anything. She came to you to seduce and steal your money. She didn’t think you would believe her feelings were true.”
“Fuck!” Thomas slams his fist into the nearest wall.
“I know you’re wondering why I’m telling you this. I’m telling you this because that woman loves you, and she doesn’t deserve what Rafael will do to her if you don’t get her back.”
“What makes you believe Rafael is responsible?”
“I noticed his gang symbol on James’ arm.”
“Show me, Richard,” Thomas says as he walks back to the computer. He must have missed it because all he saw while watching the video was red. Richard plays the footage and zooms in on the symbol on James’ arm.
“Fucking bastard.” Thomas finally understood why James tortured Melina and sent him a video. Rafael must have taken him into his cartel. Thomas wouldn’t be surprised if Rafael took him in because he wants to infuriate him. Thomas had promised a large sum of money to anyone in their industry who found James, so Rafael knows he has a score to settle with him.
Thomas is perplexed as to how they knew Melina was the best person to exploit and hurt him. He hasn’t even admitted that he still loves Melina, so how did they know?
“Don’t worry, mama; I’ll do everything in my power to make those bastards pay, and I’ll bring Melina home,” Thomas vows before his mother. She lost her baby twice because of James, and there’s no way Thomas isn’t going to make him pay for that for the rest of his life.