Page 86 of Paco
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chelsea stood atthe edge of the lake, watching the water flow over the frozen chunks. She picked up a rock and threw it onto a thin piece of ice, watching it crack before sinking down into the cold water. She crossed her arms tighter around her as the chilly wind kicked up. Chelsea loved looking at the lake, watching the constant movement of the water. Standing at the bank had always given her comfort since she’d been a child. That day, she needed its movement, its strength, and its mesmerizing effects. Her emotions were scattered, skipping and bouncing like a kite in a windstorm.
I feel like a fish out of water around here. I don’t fit in anymore. Mom, Kate, Aunt Sandy, Uncle Dave, and all the others are trying so hard, but I can see the unasked questions and the impatience behind their eyes. The only one who makes me feel comfortable and who sees me for who I am is Paco, and he’s leaving.
Whenever she thought about him going and her staying, it was like her heart snapped in two.
“Chelsea, come here for a minute.”
She spun around and saw her aunt Sandy holding the back-door’s screen wide open.
“Coming.” With a quick look at the water, she headed back to the house. Her mother was terrified to leave her alone, so Linda had called Aunt Sandy to come over while she went to her doctor’s appointment.
A rush of heat enveloped her when she entered the mudroom. She latched the back door and went into the family room. Her uncle sat on the couch, watching her as she came in.
“I didn’t know you were coming over. Do you have the day off?” she asked.
He nodded and motioned for her to sit down. She sank into the couch and glanced at the fire spitting in the brick fireplace. “What did you want?” she asked her aunt.
Sandy cleared her throat. “Your friend stopped by to see you.”
A surge of joy zinged through her. “Paco?” She tore her gaze away from the fireplace and craned her neck, trying to locate him.
“No. His name is Victor.”
Her blood turned to icicles, her ears pounded, and her heart beat so wildly that she thought it would tear through her chest cavity.Victor? No!
She leapt up from the couch. “He’s not my friend. He’s a trafficker. He’s the one who bought me. Call the police!” She rushed to the kitchen phone and picked it up.
Firm fingers gripped her shoulder painfully and she froze.
“Put the phone down.”
It’s him. It’s his voice.
Taking the phone from her, he put it back in its cradle. “That’s a good girl.” His mouth was right next to her ear. The tension in her stomach congealed into a frozen ball of fear. “You’ve been such a naughty girl, making me come to this freezing fuckin’ town just to bring you back. Your punishment will be sweet, fucktoy.”
She broke away and ran into the family room. Rushing to her aunt, she threw herself into Sandy’s arms. “You’ve got to call the police. He’s going to hurt all of us. He’s evil.”
“Stop acting like a brat,” Sandy snapped, pushing her away. She fell backward and Dave caught her.
“What are you saying?” Chelsea asked.
Dave grabbed her arms and pulled them behind her.What’s going on here?Something cool wrapped around her wrists and he yanked hard until the plastic dug into her tender flesh.
“What are you doing?” She looked over her shoulder and met her uncle’s cold, flat eyes. “No. This can’t be happening.”
“It’s nothing personal, Chelsea. It’s just business,” Sandy said.
Her mind whirled as she tried to comprehend what was going on. It was like she’d stumbled into a bad B-rated movie.This can’t be happening. Aunt Sandy and Uncle Dave can’t be doing this to me.
“We needed the money, and when Bobby called and told me you’d run away, he wanted us to pay him what you stole from him.” Sandy clucked her tongue. “You should’ve just accepted your life. You put us in a bad way.”
“You know Bobby? What the fuck are you talking about?”
Dave came over and shoved her toward the couch. “We sold you to Erik, who sold you to Bobby.”
“You? I thought it was Mr. Tarleton.”
