Bound: The Pentagon Group, Book 3 (25 page)

Unease settled within me as I watched him walk away. I knew he was angry and disappointed. I was thankful to see him in one piece, not a scratch on him, knowing cooler heads prevailed. Instead, I fully expected him to fuck me senseless, but he didn’t. Matt made his demands and walked away. At the tip of my tongue lay the revelation of my pregnancy. I wanted him to stay and celebrate with me. We were going to be a family. I couldn’t do it. Clear head had to prevail because there was too much at stake. Even though the other Pentagon men were fully aware of what I was doing, I felt so alone in my plans. The preservation of Pentagon was most important. I needed to be the strongest of them all.

I grabbed my cell phone and called Irena. She’d called earlier and I was too busy being escorted by Ken to speak to her. Concerned with Matt hearing me speaking to a private investigator, I refrained from returning the call until I could speak freely.

“Perla, great timing, I have a few minutes to give you an update.

“Great. I hope it’s a good lead.”

“Somewhat. The only detainee in your kidnapping being held is Aida Parisi, so that tip given to your husband was correct. I sought information about the two men you claim assisted her with your kidnapping. Aida was the only one who was extradited to the U.S. There were no men arrested with her. I contacted the police in the region of the Dominican Republic who arrested everyone. They claim they handed over the two men to the people who identified themselves as U.S. federal officers. They oversaw the transfer of records and paperwork. From the moment they handed over the prisoners, they had nothing more to do with the case. But Aida and two officers were the only people to arrive in the U.S. on the airplane. I tracked back video at the airplane hangar, and my team was able to acquire pictures of the parties who arrived. I sent you an email, just now, on a secured line. You’ll have to register and create a password,” she finished.

I took time to follow the steps and opened up the email.

“Okay, I’ve got them before me,” I reviewed the first picture of a male wearing a polo shirt with the logo of the charter company who exited the plane first “I don’t know the man in the first picture,” I informed. “I don’t recognize the female flight attendant,” I scrolled, and then I gasped, stopping at a pic of a male dressed in the same uniform as the flight attendant and the crew member who exited, “Oh my God,” I cried.

“What is it Perla?”

“Man in picture number three is Tony. The man who attempted to kidnap me the first time and ultimately succeeded the second time.”

“Are you sure? The pictures are a bit pixelated.”

“I will never forget him.” I said.

“Okay. It’s a start. Continue, please.” My heart beat rapidly and I gulped a few times to gather my composure.

I inhaled deeply when a wave of nausea struck me. “I don’t know the man in picture four wearing the suit, “Aida is in the picture,” I answered. Aida was handcuffed, and wore a non-descript linen jumpsuit. Even with the graininess of the picture, she was free of makeup and her hair was slicked back in a ponytail. I scrolled to the next picture and there was another unidentified man wearing a suit.

“There is one last picture.  Do you know who that is?”

I scrolled to the last picture and I nearly fainted. My heart palpitated strongly in my chest, and I said, “The man is Eric Pierce. Or at least the name he used when I first met him. I know he may be using an alias. I don’t feel safe, Irena. What should I do?”

“First let’s calm down. You’ve identified two important pieces. I’ll identify and eliminate the crew from the list of suspects. I have pictures of the two men you’ve identified. I can run them through facial identifying software. I have a lot of resources to get us answers to identify and imprison these men. Now that I know who they are, my visit to Aida will be easier tomorrow. I will call you tomorrow with more information, okay?” she said reassuringly. I calmed down with her empowering words.

After we hung up, I called Ken. “Yes, Ms. Perla, what can I do for you?” he answered.

I hurriedly explained I had reason to believe my captors were still out there and I needed him to assign another guard. I didn’t want Matt to know or be worried about my safety. Before he could object or deny me this request, I said I would pay, and he could remove himself from being my guard.

“I’ll talk to the agency and have them assign Josh. He can be pulled from another assignment and back with you. Do you think you’ll need him tonight?” Ken asked.

“No. I’m home and the building is secure, but I plan on being at work at seven in the morning.”

“Done. He will walk you to work in the morning,” he said before we hung up.

I felt relief, but then I remembered my appointment with Esmeralda’s medical office. I decided not to worry about it until then. I needed a good night’s sleep for my sanity and for the baby’s health.

*****

The next afternoon, Josh drove me to my appointment at a non-descript building in Fall River, Massachusetts. It was a lengthy drive, seemingly filled with every commuter seeking to leave Boston during midday. The time allowed me to review more papers and sign documents. When we arrived, Josh insisted on escorting me to the office, but agreed to leave me at the guard’s desk. I took the elevator to my sister’s fifth floor office.

I’d been to a gynecologist office many times, but never pregnant, which made me feel like a terrified school girl. I heard my sister’s voice while I was checking in under the name Marcella Peña. I told Esmeralda to use my mother’s maiden name, and I would pay cash.

“I’ll take her in,” she eyed the receptionist knowingly. Everything felt so covert. I felt so shameful. When we were in the examination room, which reminded me of my last time in Matt’s practice, she gave me a strong hug.

“I read the article about you three,” she started.

“What? What article?”

I knew full well which article she referred to.

“One of the nurses saw the article on her favorite gossip site, and because we share the same last name, she asked if you were my sister. I needed to get you in here before everyone connects you to me and you to that article. You have gotten yourself into one big mess, baby girl.” The swell of hormones made me break down and cry.

Esmeralda held me tight and shushed me until my crying jag ended. She sat me down and took my vitals. She only asked me questions when she didn’t know my history, confirming information on my real electronic medical record and duplicating them in her system with a new name. Using my mother’s name, she promised to invalidate the record once I revealed the truth to Matt and sought a doctor in Boston. She took me to the bathroom to pee in a cup then escorted me back to the room. She pulled out a fresh gown from the drawer and asked me to undress fully, leaving me to my privacy. Soon after, a knock on the door awoke me from my trance.

“Hi, I’m Doctor Lea Coombs,” she smiled. I felt at ease. “I hear you confirmed a pregnancy at home,” she said cheerfully. We talked for a while before she examined me. When she opened my gown to do a breast exam, she asked, “There are contusions on your breasts, chest and stomach, are you aware of them?”

“Yes,” I answered sheepishly.

“Was this done consensually?”

“Absolutely,” I said in the affirmative, and with conviction.

“And you’re in a safe environment?”

“The safest and most sound relationship, I assure you,” I answered.

She nodded, but took the opportunity to remind me the options to keep me safe from a violent partner. She also lectured on safe sex by using a word or signal, talking through our experiences, and ensuring to have open communication afterwards, especially when he doesn’t abide by safety protocol.

After she conducted the gynecological exam, she continued, “Since you don’t know the timing of your last period, I want to do an ultrasound, so follow me,” she finished. We walked to another room where the machine was located. A knock on the door prompted the doctor to allow entry. Esmeralda entered and talked to the doctor.

“So as far as your urine test, you are pregnant and your levels look fine,” she alerted. Esmeralda turned to leave.

“Essie, can you stay?” I asked my sister. The doctor’s eyes widened in surprise. “She’s my big sister,” I informed. “I hope this can remain between the three of us.”

“Of course, any family of Esmeralda is family of ours,” she assured.

The doctor took a wand and covered it with plastic, smearing with lubricant. I thought it would be above my belly, but when I was asked to put up my legs for insertion, I gripped Essie tight. She stroked my hair and said it was the only way to see an early pregnancy. After many clicks of the machine, a picture popped up. A grainy image of a tiny bubble with a rice grain inside, then she raised the volume and we could hear the waves of its heartbeat.

“Wow,” I said. “Is it the heartbeat?” Everyone nodded. Essie cried, and I followed suit.

“It appears your almost eight weeks pregnant,” she said. I calculated backwards and it would have been when I thought I conceived; the night Matt and I reconciled after the prenuptial meeting. The doctor claimed if I missed my low dosage estrogen pills and was inconsistent with time of ingestion, I could easily have conceived. The night of our break up I couldn’t take my pill because I spent it at Carson’s place, which was a contributing factor. Because of my heartbreak, I hadn’t remembered to take them consistently since. I had decided to start anew with the next month, but at that point we were broken up and I spent nights at the hospital, missing them daily. It didn’t matter because I was already pregnant. When I asked if the hospital should have known of my pregnancy after the car accident, she said it may have been too early to get a positive result.

“Essie, can I have a moment with the doctor, please?” I asked. She nodded and left.

“Can I continue to have my type of sexual activity while pregnant?” I asked, hoping I didn’t have to tell Matt to stop the ways he took me because then I would have to tell him why.

“As long as you’re safe, not in tremendous pain, and don’t feel stressed, which can harm the baby, you’re free to continue. Be as safe as possible because this isn’t about just you anymore,” she concluded. I nodded. We returned to the examination room, and I changed. Esmeralda returned with my prescription for prenatal vitamins. She told me to make an appointment within four weeks with a doctor of my choosing or return to her office. I hugged her, feeling a stronger connection I hadn’t ever felt. Because I was going to be a mother, I finally understood her.

Josh remained silent as he drove us back to Boston. I assessed the sonogram print out of our baby. When I’d sufficiently ogled my little guy’s picture, I stored it safely in my briefcase. I worked on some more files. Josh dropped me off at my building, taking me upstairs to my apartment. He waited until I was ready to go to rehearsal.

I couldn’t help feel warm inside. It was like I was glowing with heat from the inside out. There was a determination to resolve my issues with Pentagon. I had a baby to protect and nurture, and I needed his father to be part of our lives.

*****

The conservatory looked the same. I felt I’d stepped through a time warp. Once I left, I had no intention of returning. At the time, I felt like a failure, dropping the very thing my mother loved to experience with me. I moved onto academic study and felt unfulfilled for many years until I created my job at Pentagon. Carson yelled my name, and I returned to the present day, running to meet him. He pulled me tight and hugged me. He radiated excitement. The students were warming up in the hallway.

Carson waited for me to tour with the student volunteers. While I begrudgingly explored the building, it was nice to share the experience with promising artists. Our rehearsal was wonderful. The group was filled with excitement and I loved my dance with Carson. The students were very complimentary of my solo. Carson gave me technical advice and I did my solo two more times. By the end of rehearsal, I was exhausted, hungry, and winded.

Josh was waiting by the entrance, watching me and Carson talk in the hallway. “So what’s up with the warden?” He asked, motioning over to Josh.

“I’m making sure I’m safe.”

“I thought everything was over. What’s wrong?”

“It’s not over, and I don’t want you to worry. I’m protected. He’s by my side, as much as I let him, so don’t worry,” I said with a smile to reassure him.

“Does this have anything to do with your ‘love triangle’?” He asked. My eyes widened.

“Does everyone in Massachusetts read the same bullshit tabloid blogs?”

“Yes, especially when I put an alert with your husband’s name. He’s perfection,” he complimented. I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t let your fiancé hear you say that, Carson,” I warned. He rolled his eyes.

“You didn’t say much about what happened while you were with Brady, but it seems you two spent a very cozy time together.”

“Those pictures can be interpreted a million ways. It’s the power of suggestion, which makes you think something happened, Carson. I’m in love with Matt, and nothing will change that, okay?” I stated.

“The way Brady was looking at you, holding you, and holding your heels . . . Damn, you’re one lucky girl—he wants you bad,” he said.