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As I unpack my few belongings, I realize that this room isn't just a place to sleep. It's a symbol of my new life – humble, hidden, but mine. And for the first time in a long time, I allow myself to hope. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to climb out of the darkness and into a life of my own.
I place a small box on the bedside table. Inside are the letters from my mother, the only tangible connection to my previous life. Her words are filled with love and caution, reminding me to stay safe. I trace my fingers over her handwriting, fighting back tears as I decide I’d better survey the town and get a sense of the place. Hell, I’ll need an exit plan if my past finds me.
Taos is beautiful, a welcome change of scenery. The vast desert, the colorful sunsets, the peaceful nights. They're so different from the opulence and danger I grew up with. But even in this tranquility, I don’t believe I’ll escape the shadows of my past. Every corner of this small town reminds me of what I've lost – a life of luxury, yes, but also a life of constant fear and lack of control.
As I walk through the town, I keep my head down. I've learned to blend in, to be unremarkable. But inside, I'm screaming for a sense of normalcy, for a life where I'm not constantly looking over my shoulder.
Despite everything, there's a part of me that misses the thrill of my old life – the power, the respect, the certainty of my place in the world. Here, I'm just another face in the crowd, struggling to make ends meet.
But I can't go back. The stakes are too high, and there's no place for me in that world right now. So, I'll keep being Talia Rogers, the girl who works at a motel in Taos. I'll keep hiding, keep surviving, until I figure out who I really am beyond the daughter of a mafia boss.
As night falls, I sit in the plastic lawn chair outside the door of my room, looking up at the stars. They seem so distant, so indifferent to my struggles. I wonder if there's a place for me here, a place where I can be free of my father's legacy. But for now, I'm a girl in a small town, holding onto letters from her mother and trying to find her way.
My mind wanders to Antonio.
I miss him.
His presence, his vigilance, his strength.
The image of his large frame and massive hands on me flashes across my memory, and my thighs press together on instinct from the throbbing between my legs.
I long for him.
But being here in Taos will keep me off everyone’s trail, including his.
All I can do for now is hope that he’s alive and will figure out a way to find me.
4
Antonio
The cold,crisp air of Colorado bites at my exposed skin as I step out of the vehicle. We drove all day and most of the night to make it here, my men taking turns driving after making camp one night. That’s all we needed to be rested and ready.
The crunch of snow under my boots echoes in the empty roads. The moon makes the snow-laden streets feel different, surreal. My team and I look around the small town surrounded by towering mountains, a place that feels a million miles away from the life I know. It's quiet, too quiet, and every shadow seems to threaten the night.
I'm haunted by thoughts of Natalia. Her eyes were fierce and full of fire the last time we spoke. I can't shake the memory of the last time I saw her. She was all fear yet so strong, her eyes full of resolve. It haunts me, and I know she's not just a target to find.
She's everything.
The void of her absence is a constant ache, gnawing at me from within and adding to the sense of isolation that engulfs me. Ever since Vinny, my trusted right-hand man, was shot, the silence has been deafening. He's still in the hospital and will likely be there for another week or two. And with the boss in hiding, without his steady guidance, I am left to navigate this dangerous path alone. The weight of responsibility presses down on my shoulders like a heavy boulder, threatening to crush me under its immense pressure. But I have to push through it, I have to find her.
She’s my purpose.
The urgency to find with her grows stronger, driving me forward despite the doubts and fears that cloud my mind.
With determined strides, I walk over the black SUV parked down the street behind mine, its engine idling softly. The streets are practically empty, the quiet town seemingly asleep. But I know better than to let my guard down. I move with purpose, my eyes scanning every shadow, every corner.
My men, dressed in dark jackets and jeans, are waiting inside the two SUVs behind mine. Their expressions are tense, mirroring the urgency of our situation.
"Anything new?" I ask, climbing into the passenger seat. The interior of the SUV is simple with clean, functional lines. The dashboard is lit up with the soft glow of the GPS and various devices.
Rico looks over at me from his spot in the driver's seat. His face is drawn and tense, the lines around his eyes etched deep from tiredness. There's a faint hint of sweat and cigarette smoke coming from him, a sign of his stress. "Nothing concrete, boss. We've checked the usual spots, asked around. She's like a ghost." His voice is filled with urgency, his words snapping out like bullets as he reports on our progress. The soft hum of the engine adds a layer of white noise to the otherwise quiet night.
I nod, my jaw tightening into a hard line. It's what I expected, but it still hits me like a blow to the gut. "Keep looking," I say through gritted teeth. "She has to be here somewhere, and if not, someone may have seen her."
Rico calls the rest of the team over to his side of the vehicle, issuing orders for them to continue the search. They nod in understanding, their faces set with grim determination. They know how much Natalia means to me, and they also understand the lengths I will go to find her.
As I walk through the crowded streets, my mind is consumed with thoughts of her. Our last moments together replay in my mind - the unresolved tension, the words left unsaid. I can feel the panic rising inside me as I think about her safety. She's not just another target. She's the wild card in what used to be my carefully ordered world that I can't afford to lose.
