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16: Beatrice
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I woke to a sharp pain in my side, the red hot fingers of fire stretched through my chest and grabbed hold of whatever pieces of flesh they could find.
The pain was debilitating. I had never felt anything like it before. In a burst of self-preservation, I desperately hoped I never felt anything like it again.
There was something incredibly disorienting about waking up in extreme pain with no recollection of how I got that way. Slowly the memory returned and the panic started to fill my chest. I had been shot. The reality set in of what that meant. I had been shot and now I was somewhere strange with a gunshot wound. The throbbing pain in my side? That was the gunshot wound.
But I was alive. That felt like a small win.
I could hear murmurs down the hall, and I took
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Caught in the Crossfire 17: Beatrice
"Do you have any cash, Trey?" My voice was wobbling as the taxi sped off into traffic, swerving as if we were mid-chase and we were trying to lose a tail. "Cash? No. Well, maybe," his voice sounded unsure. "Maybe like a hundred bucks. What do you need cash for? You're loaded," Trey said as he glanced nervously out the rearview window as we sped through traffic toward our destination. "I only have my phone, which means I'll have to use my e-wallet. We need cash for the hotel," I gasped out as I groaned from the pain the last half an hour of effort had brought. The pain meds that my last cab driver had gotten for me had kicked in and it had taken the edge off, but the dull ache was ever present, reminding me that I had been shot. "Why do we need to use cash for the hotel?" Trey asked, completely oblivious to
Caught in the Crossfire 18: Beatrice
I accepted the news that someone was trying to actively kill me with a great deal of grace. I only screamed in the shower twice. Granted, that was an hour after Alessio told me that I had been the target of the shooting, and the shouts were two minutes apart, but it was still only twice. I feel that under normal circumstances there would have been a lot more shouting involved.There was a small reward in withholding the third well of emotion that rose in my chest. It felt like an anvil was pressing on my chest, crushing me from within. Each day it pushed harder and harder. I knew eventually I would give up; I would reach a point when I had too much, and I would succumb to the pressure.Luckily, that was not today. Two shouts and I had achieved the release I needed.The water of the shower coursed over my
Caught in the Crossfire 19: David
I stood in Tommas’ office and watched as he paced back and forth behind his desk, his words permeating the air. The entire floor could hear him, probably the entire building. Michael stood next to me, and we listened with stoic faces. “SHE WAS FUCKING SHOT! DO YOU KNOW WHAT A FUCKING MESS THIS IS GOING TO BE?” My blood was boiling but I kept my retort inside. He was worried about what a mess it was, and I was worried about keeping Beatrice alive. I knew logically that he cared about her, but he was focusing on the wrong thing. I nodded, words weren’t necessary, all three of us knew what would happen now. One of us would have to do something illegal to keep her alive and none of us were too keen to be the one to do it. “I’M GOING TO HAVE TO TELL THE FAMILY
Caught in the Crossfire 20: Beatrice
I pressed submit and leaned back in my chair. One case down, two to go. I was less than 48 hours post gunshot wound and I had already bargained a plea for Alessio's sister and organized the rest of the evidence from Alessio's case into a timeline. I was sitting at a long table in Alessio's second (or maybe third? who knew) home in the DC Metro area where we were due to file a motion this morning. Alessio had naturally brought me back to his home. After listening to my complaints about being in New York when his case was still being brought before a judge in DC, he finally relented and flew us all back to DC late last night. My threats to take the train were what finally did him in. As soon as he heard my plans to ride the train back to the city, a look of horror crossed his face and he called his pilot to get the plane ready within the hour. Apparently the train was for us peasants and he couldn't h
Caught in the Crossfire 21: Beatrice
A few minutes later we were sitting in the back of an Escalade, driving toward the courthouse, the four of us each lost in our own thoughts as Alessio found a place to park and we piled out of the vehicle, Trey once again helping me walk as we made our way toward the building. "Go sit down," Trey said as he gestured toward the bench near the courtroom doors. I nodded and walked slowly toward the bench, Alessio coming up to my side and grasping my hand in support. Trey was walking purposefully toward a coffee cart, a wad of cash in his hand. "You don't need to help me," I said as I tried to walk on my own. One cringe and a sigh of frustration later and I had grasped Alessio's arm as if I was falling off a cliff and he was the only one able to pull me to safety. "I think I do," he said with a soft bark of laughter.
Caught in the Crossfire 22: Beatrice
I could hear the murmur of Devon whispering in my ear as I sat with effort. He reached out to support my arm which I subtly pulled away and tucked against my abdomen, out of his grasp. I leaned heavily on Trey's arm, angled away from Devon as Trey helped me sit. I had a feeling, deep in my gut, that Trey knew exactly who he was directing me toward. As I settled down on the bench, I stomped on Trey's foot and sent him a glare. He tried to look innocent, but I knew his games. He looked away guiltily and I sat stiff on the wooden bench, my abdomen screaming in pain. "Not even a bullet can keep the mighty Beatrice Welsh down," Devon whispered with a slight smile as I studiously ignored him. The judge was coming into the room, and we stood, with some effort, as she entered and sat. Our case was next, so we sat l
Caught in the Crossfire 23: Beatrice
"Defendant would like to file a Motion to Dismiss," I say, my voice resounding in the courtroom. I knew our case would be closely watched and now it appeared that the entire courtroom was hanging on my every word. I could hear murmurs in the back of the courtroom, some of shock, others of disgust. "That's absurd, on what grounds?" Andrew asked, interrupting my speech with his angry outburst. "Counselor, wait your turn," Judge Martinson spoke to Andrew before she turned to me. "Permission to approach, Your Honor," I asked. The judge nodded her head and Alessio helped me stand. I took the motion from Callie's hands, and she stood to offer a copy to Andrew. I slowly made my way toward the judge's stand, brushing Alessio's hand off and murmuring for him to stay put
Caught in the Crossfire 24: Beatrice
The painkillers I had taken were wearing off. Or, it could be that the pain I felt when I realized I had forgotten that this was the anniversary of Leah's death was overwhelming me. I didn't know which it was and it really didn't matter. One year ago, a part of my soul died. Alessio kept his arm around me as he steered me through the courtroom, out the doors, and toward the waiting Escalade out front. There were cameras flashing and I thought absently that this was the first time I would see photos on the news where the defendant was protecting the lawyer instead of the other way around. "Your friend," Alessio started and I felt a lump rise in my throat. "You were close?" I nodded, unable to say anything. "What was her name?" Alessio asked, his eyes gentl
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Caught in the Crossfire 34: Alessio
“I told you that was a bad fucking idea,” I said, watching Beatrice, Trey and Callie drive away from my house. “Why did you tell her the Bianchi’s were trying to kill her?” David asked, turning to look at Devon. “Because that’s as close to the truth as we have and explaining all the shit going on right now to her would very likely break her,” he replied. I agreed but it felt dangerously like we were still lying to her. “The last year very nearly broke her, I don’t think finding out that there’s a mole in the Bianchi family and he’s trying to kill her but we don't know who it is, would do her in just yet,” I replied. My words rang in the room but no one was listening any longer. I felt Michael and Rachel leaving, heading toward the kitchen. I knew we’d find them there but we had other business first. Important business. I stopped and stared at David. I could feel Devon’s gaze on me too but I couldn't take my eyes away from David. “It’s been so fucking long,” my voice rasped as I
Caught in the Crossfire 33: Beatrice
“What is it like, then?” I asked. Then, without waiting for him to reply I went on a tirade. “I asked them for help dealing with your family. I went to them for help after they brutally massacred my heart last year but I sucked it up because I was sure I was going to get assassinated by your fucking henchmen and what were you doing? Conspiring with them behind my back, and for what? To try to play hero? To try to win me back for them?” I stopped to take a breath and I could see the hurt in Alessio’s eyes. “How long have you been selling out your family to the FBI?” Alessio’s eyes burned with anger at my latest accusation. “I’ve never sold out my family to anyone.” “No? Then what do you offer the FBI? What’s your value to them?”
Caught in the Crossfire 32: Beatrice
I stepped out of the shower, the wound in my side a sharp reminder of my mortality as I hobbled to the room to find clothes. My hair stuck to the side of my throat and my eyes had small black circles along the bottom where my mascara had run in the steam. I was never great about removing my makeup before a shower and it showed. “Bea? You done?” Trey’s voice called out for me from the hall where he had gone after making sure I could navigate the shower on my own. “Not yet,” I called out. The drawers in this room were filled with clothes my size and I was hit again with the irony that Alessio had everything I needed before I even got here. It was almost as if he had planned it. The room blinds to the windows were closed and I could see the sun shining through the small slits on the side of the frame, casting
Caught in the Crossfire 31: Beatrice
“What does that even mean?” I yelled in frustration. “I work for you forever and somehow that doesn’t kill me? I retire? Your father lets me walk away at the end of my career and spend the rest of my days in a little hut in Costa Rica? You know that would never happen. I’m with your family until I die, whenever that is. There is no reality where someone works for your family and then suddenly just doesn’t. Unless they’re dead.” Alessio stretched his neck as I huffed out the reality of my situation as if he were entering a ring and needed to loosen his muscles in anticipation. “I will protect you,” he said, ignoring the rest of my rant and zeroing in on my fear for my life. “I won’t let anyone in my family hurt you.” “THEY’RE TRYING TO KILL ME! I’VE BEEN SHOT AT AND THREATENED AND YOUR FAMILY IS THE TOP OF T
Caught in the Crossfire 30: Beatrice
“Your brother’s company is in DC? I thought he lived in New York,” Callie said, trying to sound nonchalant as we drove closer to the industrial buildings on the outskirts of the DC Metropolitan area. “Just his data storage,” I replied. “It’s held by a company in Annapolis.” “Why did you need Mark to tell you that?” “It’s not public knowledge but Mark’s his counsel,” I said. “It’s the reason I got hired at the firm.” “That’s why your mother loves him?” “Oh yeah, and Mark is an acceptable choice for a Welsh.” I could see Alessio turning his head slightly to listen to our conversation. His eyes glanced back at me in the rearview mirror and I felt the intensity of his stare.
Caught in the Crossfire 29: Beatrice
Callie looked at me with confusion. "We went there, I didn't see a camera," she said slowly. Her face was scrunched in concentration. "No, you wouldn't have," I answered. "But you did?" Alessio asked. I nodded. "Mind giving us a little more information?" Callie asked. I loved working her up when I had information she didn't yet have. "There's this company, Safe and Secure," I started. "Your brother's company?" Callie asked. I nodded in triumph. "Exactly." "You have a brother?" Alessio asked.
Caught in the Crossfire 28: Beatrice
Mark stared at me with a look of disbelief. I was standing in the doorway of his office, breathing heavily from the effort of the day. I was exhausted but I needed information and Mark would help me. "You were shot?" I nodded in agreement and my face reflected my exhaustion. The day had been long and Callie kept trying to pull me back toward the elevator. I knew she wanted to get me back into a cab heading toward Alessio's. I wasn't ready to go back yet, though. I had things that I needed to find out. Mark was the first stop. "Listen, I need a favor," I said and I watched as Mark's brow rose expectantly, waiting for me to explain. "I need to know who stores backup files for Safe and Secure? Specifically for S
Caught in the Crossfire 27: Beatrice
I walked around numbly through Alessio's house. It was a large house for the city, but small enough I felt like there was someone near, just around the corner, waiting to soothe the loneliness that came with this day. I wanted to go home, back to my house but he wouldn't let me. I supposed that was because someone was trying to kill me, but today, I didn't care. I could die the same day Leah had died and I would be at peace, finally.Unfortunately, Callie had other ideas because she followed me like a puppy. Alessio had left and as soon as he walked out the front door to "meet with some business partners" I felt uneasy. I didn't like being in his house without him here. Trey had similarly gone home, despite my protests. Alessio had assured me Trey was safe and my inability to argue meant he, too, walked out the front door ahead of Alessio."Callie, I need
Caught in the Crossfire 26: Devon
I knew she wouldn’t be happy that we had put flowers on Leah’s grave, but I had hoped she might be able to look past her anger and see that we sent the flowers as a way to honor her friend, not to taunt her with memories of the past. Perhaps it was presumptuous of us to assume we could be a part of her grief when her anger was too raw, too poignant. I could see her from a distance. I was sitting in a car on one of the winding roads through the cemetery and I watched her visit Leah. I knew she would come here, I didn’t know when but I knew she would make an appearance at Leah’s gravestone. I needed to be near her today. Of all days that she needed me, today was the most important of all. She needed me, David, and even Alessio, as new as he was, and I needed to be close so I could help her, even if it was from the shadows. As soon as I felt her tense on the bench next to me in the courtroom when she realize
