Forever, For Always Read online

  “Yay!” Benny exclaims.

  Isaac crouches down to Benny’s level, “Would it be okay if I changed out of my uniform though? It’s really hot out today and I’d really like to wear something with short sleeves. I know how much you like the uniform though, so if not, I can still wear it.”

  “It’s okay, Officer Monroe. Does that mean we can ride in your police car to your house?”

  “Of course, Buddy! Let’s go check it out while your Mommy grabs your car seat. I’ll even let you turn on the lights.”

  ~

  “I’m going to take a really quick shower before I change if that’s okay. Make yourself at home. The remote is on the coffee table. I have cable, so I’m sure there is something Benny would like on TV.”

  Isaacs disappears into his bedroom as I turn on cartoons for Benny, who has already sprawled out across the tan sofa.

  While walking around looking at the few family pictures along the wall, I spot something familiar that peaks my interest in the sun room that sits just off the living room. I run my hand across the top of the black baby grand piano and sit down on the bench. I haven’t played in years, but my fingers itch to touch the keys. I mechanically arch my hands and place my fingers in position. Instinctively, I begin to play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. It’s just like riding a bike. I’m able to play flawlessly, even with my eyes closed. Halfway through, a tear escapes my eye and I abruptly stop playing. It’s too much.

  “That was beautiful.”

  I inconspicuously wipe my tear before turning around to see Isaac, leaning up against the wide trimmed frame of the room. He’s wearing a plain dark grey shirt that seems molded to the muscles in his arms. The array of color and design that cascades down them always throws me off since I usually only see him in his uniform, which is long sleeved.

  “I’m sorry. It’s been years since I played. I couldn’t help myself.”

  “No way, years?” he asks in disbelief.

  I shake my head solemnly. “How old were you when you learned to play?”

  Isaac lets go of the frame while blowing out a sigh and walks over to sit down beside me on the piano bench. “Would you believe me if I told you that I can’t play at all?”

  “Why would you buy a beautiful piano like this if you couldn’t play?”

  “It’s really the only thing that I remember about my mom. She played at church. I always told myself that I would learn to play one day, so it’s kind of a motivational piece as well.” He laughs as if he is embarrassed.

  “I could teach you to play.” The words slip right out of my mouth, surprising me.

  A cheeky grin splays across his face as he stares into my eyes. “Really?”

  “I mean, I may be a little rusty since I took lessons from when I was eight until I was thirteen, but I’m sure I could teach you a little bit.”

  “Can we go get ice cream now?” Benny announces as he makes his way into the sun room. He has lost his patience on waiting it seems.

  Isaac is still staring at me. “I’ll take you up on that offer,” he says quietly before standing up and heading toward Benny. “Of course, Benny, let’s go!”

  ~

  “How can you eat that much chocolate and not get sick?” Isaac asks me as we walk toward the park with our ice cream. I ordered a chocolate dipped waffle cone with double chocolate chip ice cream.

  “Shut your mouth! There’s no such a thing as too much chocolate.”

  “I love banilla,” Benny states with ice cream smeared across his cheeks. Vanilla was Dominic’s favorite as well.

  “Where are we heading now?” I ask Isaac when we walk past where his convertible is parked on the side of the street.

  “It’s Saturday afternoon, so I thought I would introduce you to Domino Park. It should be pretty busy right now.”

  “Domino Park? I take it that is what the dominos stand for?” I ask pointing down at the painted pictures of dominos on the brink paved sidewalk we are on.

  “Well, it’s really called Gomez Park, but it’s nicknamed Domino because of the little open buildings over there. It’s where all of the Cuban elders come to play dominos. Don’t let them fool you either, the games can get pretty competitive and intense.” He laughs. “Some also play chess or a game of cards.”

  “Oh, I know how to play chess!”

  “Well, you won’t be able to play it here. There is a fifty five and over rule.”

  “Seriously?” I ask annoyed. I look ahead at the open structure as we get closer to it. The clatter of clanking domino tiles is unmistakable.

  “So I can’t play either?” Benny asks looking up at Isaac. Melted ice cream is running down his forearm from his cone.

  “Nope, I’m afraid not.”

  “Bummer.” Benny pouts as I whip out a package of wipes from my purse to clean him up.

  We don’t stay long at Domino Park as a group of men were getting a little too into their game of dominos. Even though what they were saying was in Spanish, which Benny nor I could understand, they were getting pretty heated. Isaac and I decided it would be best to not have Benny there.

  After walking around admiring all of the pink marble stars on the Walk of Fame, we head back toward Isaac’s car.

  “Can we stop in the Fruiteria before we leave? I need to pick up a few things.”

  “Of course, it’s right around the corner.” Isaac motions to his right with his head while holding onto Benny’s legs as he carries him up on his shoulders. Benny got tired of walking and sweet talked his way into a piggy back ride.

  I’m amazed at the amount of produce once inside. Everything looks and smells so fresh that it’s hard for me to decide what I want to buy now that I’m here. As I’m examining a mango, Isaac walks over to me and hands me a small cup. “I bought you an iced guarapo juice.”

  I look down at the light green liquid in my plastic cup and back up at Isaac with disdain. I don’t like trying something when I do not know what it is.

  “It’s good, Mommy!” Benny, who is back to standing on his own two feet now, interjects as he slurps from his own cup.

  I take a small sip of the sweet drink and look back at Isaac and give him a thumbs up.

  “It’s sugarcane juice,” he finally explains.

  “Ah, that explains the taste. It’s good. Not so good that Benny drank an entire cup though.”

  Isaacs laughs as he swoops up Benny. “I think I can handle it.”

  “I’m hungry, can we have dinner?” Benny complains as we walk back to Isaac’s car.

  “I could order pizza if you two want to eat at my place?”

  “Does pizza sound good, Ben?” I ask, already knowing his answer. That boy would eat pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I let him.

  “As long as it has mushrooms on it! And breadsticks with cheese dip.”

  “Mushrooms I can do. You sure have great taste, Benny.” Isaac turns around in his leather seat and tells him as I buckle him into the car seat.

  Now that late evening has approached, the humidity has dropped a little with the help of the cool breeze blowing in off the ocean water. It felt so nice out, that we ate our pizza on the patio table on his back deck that overlooks the beach. Benny fell asleep sitting straight up while eating his second slice of pizza, so I carried him inside and laid him down on the couch.

  I step out the sliding glass door and notice Isaac has moved and is now sitting on the bottom wood step of the deck. I walk down the four steps and sit down beside him, wrapping my arms around my pulled up knees. I close my eyes as I inhale the deep, salty, ocean air and letting out a small breath afterwards, not ever wanting to lose this smell.

  “I always said I would live somewhere warm and near the water. I just knew that it was where I was meant to be.” I share that little fact with him without thinking of my hard limits for the first time in four years.

  “I’ve never known anything but. Miami has always been my home. I even went to college here. Where did you live that made you yea
rn for paradise?”

  “Hell.” I respond, staring at the dark black abyss as the waves lap against the sand. It actually is a perfect analogy of how my life once was. It’s crazy how something so massive can make you feel so small and how it’s never ending deep blue water, can give you a small glimpse at land. Vincent was the ominous crashing waves, yet Dominic made them seem tranquil and serene. As bad as my life once was, I could never regret any of it, because if I did, that would mean I regret Dominic. Without Dominic, I would have no Benny, my sunshine who makes me happy when my skies are grey.

  “Oh,” Isaac says quietly. Leave it to me to turn a nice evening into an awkward one. “You know if you ever want to talk about it or anything really, I don’t mind listening.”

  “Thanks, but I think it’s time for Benny and me to head home.”

  “Okay, Vada,” he says without any harping. He stands up and reaches for my hands to bring me to my feet immediately wrapping me into a hug. I hug him back as I close my eyes while laying my head against his broad chest. He smells like a mixture of soap and ocean. I wish I could tell him, I really do.

  ***

  Dominic and I ride in the back seat of Vincent’s Cadillac to the meeting. This is no meeting though. We both know that tonight is the night that several will be manipulated into losing their freedom, all at the hands of Vincent and the secret Rossi business, Rossment. The worst part of it all is Dominic and I are the pawns that bring this full circle. We’re the most valuable assets to the company because we’re the definition of false promises. They look at us in our designer clothes and luxurious lifestyle and want that for themselves as well. We hate this part. That’s why we do everything we can afterwards to help.

  We pull up to the rickety warehouse and Dominic gives my hand a squeeze. He knows the next hour or so will be extremely hard on both of us. Not to mention that he has to play his role perfectly in this if we ever want to make it out alive ourselves. That means he treats Vincent as someone he looks up to.

  His mentor.

  I hate seeing this side of him. He plays it so well it’s scary. I’m the one to witness the tears afterwards though, once we are home. I’m the one who wipes them away and reassures him that one day we’ll right these wrongs we were forced to do to survive. I’m the one who prays with him until we fall asleep, asking for forgiveness.

  ***

  “Vada, are you awake? We’re here.” Isaac says as I hear the click of his seat belt unfasten.

  “Sorry, just off in my own world I guess,” I mention while unfastening my own seat belt.

  He’s already reaching into the back seat, carefully unbuckling Benny from his car seat. “I got him if you want to head up and unlock your door.”

  Once I open the door I turn around to face Isaac, holding Benny who’s still fast asleep. His little head is perched on Isaac’s shoulder with his body hanging dead weight. I open the door wide so he can walk through. I follow him as he heads to Benny’s room, carefully lying him down on his bed. I lean over and tuck the covers up over him and then follow Isaac out of the room back to the front door.

  “Thanks for the ride home, and dinner and the park today. Benny had a blast.”

  “And so did you?” he asks.

  “Of course. Thank you.”

  “It just always seems like you rarely allow yourself to admit you had fun. You’re allowed to enjoy life, Vada. I’m not sure why you don’t think you should be able to. I know you are not a horrible person.”

  I shake my head no. “That’s the thing, Isaac, you don’t know me at all.”

  “Whatever it is from your past you’re hiding from, it can’t be that bad. I mean, it’s not like you murdered someone.” He laughs.

  “Remember, you were the one who told me you were okay with this. I told you I can’t and won’t talk about my past, and you said that you were fine with that. I warned you I would be a crappy friend.”

  “I know, I just think the more I’m around you that it seems like you’re always punishing yourself for something when you should be enjoying life. You have an awesome little boy and are doing a kick ass job at raising him. Talking to someone may let you finally live.”

  I’m terrible at hiding my sudden irritation. I roll my eyes as I open the front door. “Thanks again for this evening, Isaac, but, I’m not so sure I can really do this friend thing. I tried, okay?”

  Isaac shakes his head in disbelief at my sudden mood change. “I won’t force you to be friends. I’m not sure this was a great idea, either. There really isn’t such thing as a one sided friendship. I’m not sure why I thought it would work. Take care, Vada. I’ll see you around.”

  I slam the door shut as soon as he is out of the doorway and heading down the sidewalk.

  Chapter Ten

  “We are expecting a large amount of buyers tonight, more than the usual amount,” Vincent says in a low voice to Dominic and I, who are standing at the front of the posh looking room of the warehouse. From the outside of this building, you would have no idea a room like this exists inside. The back half of the building has been transformed and the front half is still vacant and empty. Vincent purposely made it that way.

  The room is starting to fill up. Most of the people are sketchy looking men, sometimes there are one or two women, and then there are always a few that look like well reputable businessmen. They look the way Vincent carries himself. If there is anything I’ve learned the last eight years in the Rossi home, it’s that looks can be oh so deceiving.

  I stand with my legs crossed at my ankles in my extremely expensive nude colored pumps. My green cocktail dress is the perfect shade to accentuate my long auburn waves that fall over my shoulders. Dominic looks like a carbon copy Vincent in his tailored suit. Vincent whispers something to him and then he places his hand on the small of my back to guide me toward the front corner of the room just as eleven young women, some that look to be around the same age as me, walk into the room. They sit down one by one in the chairs up front near Vincent.

  You don’t want to be like me. This isn’t the better life you are looking for. I repeat in my head, wishing I could say it out loud to them.

  The girls can’t help but stare at Dominic and myself in our designer clothing and our all in all refined look. That’s where we work into Vincent’s great plan. We’re the supposed models at what their lives can eventually be. Of course, they don’t know that Dominic is really Vincent’s son. I guess I was an acquired pawn, so I technically sort of am, though I live in way better conditions than any of them will after tonight. The abuse, isolation, and things they will be forced to do are unimaginable. I shudder at the thought of life being any worse than I already know myself and in return it makes my heart ache for them.

  Vincent’s men roam the streets in search of these naïve runaways and homeless women. They usually range in age from late teens to early twenties. Vincent has a strict no exceptions rule that none shall be younger than sixteen. Apparently to him, sixteen is old enough to ease his mind and what little conscience he may think he has. Once they are brought in with promise of food and shelter, they’re introduced to us. Vincent tells them tall tales of luxurious lifestyles in hope of them agreeing to become employed by him. He uses me and Dominic as his examples of why being employed by Rossment is something they should want. We’re what they can so called “work their way up to.” What they don’t know is that he is selling them to the highest bidder. Most of the girls are all too trusting. That is why he only uses runaways. They almost always come from an already broken life and believe anything he tells them. To them, anything is better than where they are now.

  Vincent looks to Marco who is standing in the doorway. Marco nods his head once, signaling everyone is here. Vincent clears his throat to get the buzzing room’s attention and begins his auction.

  By the end, there’s always at least one girl who seems to want to change her mind, but it’s too late. They’ve already sold their souls per say. The look of desperation in the last o
ne to walk out as she looks back at me rips my heart in two. This is the very reason Dominic and I’ve made it our mission to reverse our lies and try to help them back out of this. Who would have known human trafficking was this big of a problem in the grand ole US of A? Vincent would put a bullet in our head right on the spot if he had any idea how many we have already helped escape not long after being sold.

  Once the room is down to just the three of us, Dominic lets out a sigh as if he had been holding his breath the entire hour. These nights are always particularly draining.

  “I need to leave with Antonio. We have a late business meeting tonight. I’ll be home late.” Vincent tosses his car keys in the air to Dominic who catches them in surprise. He’s never trusted Dominic with his car or even left us to close up before. “Addy, put all of the chairs back into the storage room before you two head home,” he demands.

  I look over at Vincent with furrowed brows. These chairs are not light. I’m not sure how I’m expected to take them back by myself, especially in the dress I’m wearing.

  Dominic realizes this as well. “I’ll go help her,” he says.

  “No,” Vincent barks. “I need you to go wait for Marco. He should be almost done collecting the money from the night. You’re second in charge now. Don’t screw anything up.”

  “Yes, sir,” Dominic says to Vincent while looking at me with apologetic eyes.

  I make my way out of the main room, heading in the opposite direction as Dominic. The supply room is on the clear other side of the back of the building. My shoes click against the polished, cement floor as I hurriedly push the chair to its destination. I unlock the door with the key that is attached to the rubber key chain that I’m wearing around my wrist. I flip on the light switch and push it against the side wall. Staring at the massive leather chair, I wrack my brain over how I’m going to fit the rest of the chairs in here sufficiently.

  “Happy Sixteenth Birthday to me,” I huff out loud to myself.

  I could possibly swing pushing one and pulling the other behind me to speed up the rate of getting out of here if it weren’t for these dang heels. I reach down and take them off one by one. I hear the door creak just as I toss them on top of the plush seat of the chair I just put away. Dominic must have come back to help me after all.