I Need Your Help

by Susan J.

My life has changed so much since moving to Miami. The peace of mind that I was searching for I found here. The ocean has always brought me peace of mind. There hasn't been a time when Miguel doesn't cross my mind; he has called but hasn't stopped by since the last visit.

Just as I thought my life would be full of peace and tranquility, some strange things began to happen. One day I went shopping, and as I walked from the store to my car I heard a gunshot. I dropped down near my car to take cover and found that the bullet had shattered my rear window. I looked around to see if I could see who it was that was shooting, but I saw no one. I got into the car and drove home.

The next morning after I finished my coffee I took a walk on the beach. It was so wonderful to be able to step from my backyard right onto the sandy beach. Some friends waved hello and I waved back as I continued walking and feeling the warmth of the sun on my shoulders. I stopped to talk to a friend of mine who walked over to me.

"Good morning girlfriend," said Gloria.

"Hey Gloria. Good morning right back at ya."

"Great morning isn't it?"

"I couldn't have asked for more. So what are you doing today?"

"I've got some running around to do. What about you?"

"I think I'm gonna be lazy today," I said.

"How about we meet later at my house for a drink?" Gloria said.

"Sounds good to me."

The water lapped at out feet. Gloria looked down.

"Oh look what the water brought to the shore," she said.

I looked down to see a beautiful seashell. As I bent down to pick it up we both heard a loud pop ring out.

"What the hell was that?" Gloria said.

"Get your ass down!" I yelled.

We both fell to the sand. I looked around trying to find out where the shot came from. I saw the figure of a man with blond hair running towards a parked car in the parking lot near by. We got up and Gloria looked at me.

"You okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine. What was that?" she asked.

"It must have been someone's car backfiring."

"Then why the hell did we have to stay down?"

"Because nowadays you can't be too careful."

"I guess you're right. I'll see you later."

"Okay."

She left. I looked down and to my surprise I found the bullet near my right foot. I picked it up and looked at it.

"Shit!"

I put it in my pocket and walked back to the house. I closed the curtains and locked the doors. I took my gun out of the drawer, as I held it I saw for the first time my handshake. I took a deep breath.

"I can handle this. I'm fine."

I put the gun back in the drawer. Later that day I walked towards Gloria's house. Since she only lived about three houses away from me I took the beach route Just as I was leaving my patio area a shot rang out and broke a potted plant that was on my patio wall. I ducked behind the wall. Out of reflex I reached for my gun but I then realized that I didn't have it with me. I felt helpless; I was about twenty feet from my house but it felt like a million miles away. I had to get inside quickly. I counted to three and ran back to the house. Once inside I stayed low. I took my gun from the drawer and headed back outside, but once again the person who shot at me was gone. I locked myself in the house again and called Gloria.

"Hello?"

"Gloria, it's Serena."

"Woman, where are you?"

"Sorry, but something came up and I can't make it."

"What's going on? Anything I can do?"

"Thanks, but everything is okay. We'll get together later in the week."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later."

"Okay Gloria. Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up the phone. I felt a chill go through my body. I looked at the phone and picked up the receiver and dialed a number. I waited and then entered by number and hung up. I walked to the kitchen and took a soda from the refrigerator. The phone rang and I ran to answer it.

"Hello. Thanks for calling back. Where are you? I need you. See you then."

I hung up the phone. The three hours that passed seemed like three days. The doorbell rang and grabbed my gun and aimed it at the door. I walked to the door and looked through the viewfinder but I saw no one. I put the barrel of the gun against the door and prepared to shoot. I cleared my throat.

"Who is it?" I said.

"Serena, it's me."

I opened the door just enough so I could see who it was. What I saw was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.

"Miguel, Oh thank God it's you."

I opened the door and he came in. I closed the door behind him and locked it. We walked into the living room and I put my gun on the desk. I looked at Miguel.

"Thank you for coming, Miguel."

He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders.

"You're shaking. What's wrong?" he said.

"You're looking at a damn mark."

"What are you talking about?"

"Since yesterday someone has tried to kill me three times."

"What? Who?"

"Good question. Maybe someone I pissed off, or maybe it's you Miguelito."

He stared at me.

"That's a stupid remark to make. Besides, if it was me we wouldn't be having this conversation," he said.

"I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm saying. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm scared Miguel. For the first time in my life I'm scared and it's pissing me off knowing that someone is out there trying to kill me and I'm locked up in my own house like a mark and not being able to do a fucking thing about it!"

I picked up a vase and threw it across the room. Miguel pulled me towards him and held me tightly.

"I feel like I'm losing it Miguel."

"No you're not. I'm here so don't worry."

We sat down on the couch.

"Do you have any idea who it could be?" he asked.

"No."

"Have you seen anyone?"

"I saw a blond guy running towards a car this morning after a shot came my way, but I didn't get a good look at him. For all I know he could have been wearing a blond wig."

"So how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?"

"To be a mark."

I stared at him and by the smile on his face I knew he was kidding. I grabbed a small pillow from the couch and started hitting him with it.

"You bastard!" I said.

He grabbed the pillow from me and threw it across the room. He grabbed me and pulled me towards him and held me in his arms and kissed me. I felt myself start to calm down, I rested by head on his chest.

"No one is going to hurt you, querida. Not while I'm around, I promise."

"Thank you."

I opened his shirt and ran my hand over his chest. I kissed his chest as I opened his shirt even more. I found his nipple and I drew circles around it with my tongue. His head tilted back and enjoyed the feeling of what I was doing. I ran my right hand down the length of his upper body until I reached the front of his pants. I felt something very familiar and gently squeezed the package that I held in my right hand. He moaned and slid further down on the couch. I unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants and slowly slipped my hand inside between his underwear and his flesh. I slowly began to rub his flesh and by the way he was responding I knew it was driving him crazy.

"Serena what are you doing to me?" he moaned.

"Consider this as a down payment for your services."

He smiled and I started laughing.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"My right leg is in a strange position and it's starting to fall asleep and it tickles."

"I can wake it up for you," he said.

"Oh you can, huh?"

As Miguel started to move my leg tickled more and I started laughing even more. I fell off the couch and landed on my back. Miguel looked down at me from the couch.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine." I was still laughing.

Miguel rolled off the couch. I saw him heading down towards me.

"Miguel don't you dare…."

He landed on top of me.

"Dare what?"

"Land on me." I whispered out of breath.

"Oh. Now let's see about waking that leg up."

He started rubbing my leg and it made me laugh even more.

"You want to laugh, I'll make you laugh," he said.

He started rubbing the inside of my right thigh and since I was wearing shorts he had easy access to what he was really after. Little by little my laughter turned into moans as he began working his magic, so to speak. Just as things were getting more exciting we heard a noise coming from upstairs. We looked at each other and got up and straighten our clothes. Miguel looked at me.

"Is there another way upstairs besides this staircase?" he whispered.

"Yes. Go through the kitchen, there is another staircase that goes upstairs."

"Maybe we can trap who ever it is between us."

"Okay," I said.

"Be cool."

"You, too."

He patted me on the behind. He went into the kitchen and up the backstairs. I grabbed my gun from the desk and went up the front staircase. I aimed my gun at anything that I wasn't familiar with. I reached the top of the stairs and I found myself face to face with the blond man I saw running in the parking lot.

"Who are you?" I said.

"You don't remember me, do you?" he said.

I stared into his eyes. I felt my blood run cold.

"You're Roger's son. How did you find me?"

"That's right, I am his son. As for finding you, I have my own connections. One more thing, this is for you."

He fired three shots, one hitting me point blank in the left arm and the abdomen. I fell backwards down the stairs. Miguel looked on in horror as he watched me fall down the stairs. The guy turned to see Miguel and then he ran down the stairs and out the patio door. Miguel ran after him, but when he got outside the guy was gone. He ran back inside the house and knelt down where I was lying and held me.

"Serena, amor you're going to be fine. Please open your eyes."

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him. He gently touched my cheek and smiled, I smiled back.

"Do you know who he was?" he asked.

"Yes," I whispered.

"Who?"

As I was about to tell him the pain hit me so hard that I passed out.

"Serena!"

I woke up later that night in the hospital. I turned to see Miguel sitting by the bed and he was holding my hand.

"Hey there. How do you feel?" he asked.

"Like I've been shot three times."

"Well that's how you look," he said smiling.

"Ha ha, smartass."

"Amor, you know who he is don't you?"

"Yes."

"Who it is?"

"Do you remember Roger?"

"The asshole on the roof right?"

"Yes. It's his son, Jerry. Miguel if he found me then anyone can. I'm a sitting duck. Miguel I don't think Roger died right away."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because he was the only one who knew that I was the one who shot him. Oh geezs, I gotta get out of here."

I started getting up when I felt the pain from the operation.

"Oh shit, that hurts!"

"Lie down! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I've got to get out of here, otherwise I'm dead meat."

"You're not going anywhere! I'll take care of everything."

I looked at him.

"Okay Miguel, but I want you to do me a favor."

"Name it."

"Leave me a gun, just in case."

He smiled. He took out one of his guns and handed it to me. I checked it over and put it under the blanket.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome amor. Now rest. I promise I'll take of everything."

"Okay."

He kissed me.

"I'll be back later to see you."

"All right. Miguel, be careful."

"I always am."

He smiled and left. Miguel went back to the house and turned on his laptop. He hit a few keys and a familiar screen came up.

"Hello, Miguel," the screen said.

He typed in a response.

"Do you know someone named Jerry Ramsey?"

An answer came back.

"Yes."

"Where can I find him?"

"Let me research it."

"I don't have a lot of time."

"Give me five minutes Miguel."

"All right, five minutes."

A few minutes later the information he was waiting for came on the screen.

"Miguel, are you there?"

"Yes."

"Here is the information you wanted. He can be found at…"

Miguel wrote down the information and ended the transmission. He looked at the address.

"You'll be with your father soon, nino stupidido. Nobody messes with what is mine."

Miguel prepared the gun and the ammunition that he was going to use. He put them in the car and left. Miguel drove to the hospital to check on Serena. He rode the elevator to the fourth floor and when the elevator doors opened he saw Jerry about to go into Serena's room.

"Hey!" Miguel said.

Jerry turned around and fired at Miguel but missed.

"Stupid move, nino!" Miguel said.

Jerry ran down the hall. Miguel was about to chase after him when over the intercom system he heard the words "Code Blue Room 418". The hospital staff headed with the equipment to Serena's room. Miguel stopped one of the nurses.

"What's going on? What does Code Blue mean?" he asked.

"It means that her heart stopped beating. Please I have to go," she said.

Jerry saw a door that said "To the Roof" and he headed in that direction. Miguel saw where Jerry was going; he opened the door to hear the footsteps heading upwards. Miguel ran after him. Jerry made it to the roof, he ran towards the right side of the building looking for a way to escape. Miguel opened the door to the roof and looked around slowly in case Jerry was waiting for him. He stepped out onto the roof and looked around.

"Donde estas nino! You can't hide from me pendejo!" Miguel said.

Jerry looked around but couldn't find a way out. Miguel saw him looking over the edge of the building.

"Long way down, isn't it nino."

Jerry turned to face him. He aimed his gun at Miguel.

"Who are you? And why are you following me?" Jerry said.

"Who I am is none of your business and the reason that I'm following you is you shot my lady. Good enough reason, you little shit!"

"Well your lady killed my father!"

"And your father was out to kill me! If it wasn't for her I'd probably be dead."

"Your Miguel Bain aren't you?"

"The one and only. So what do you think you're going to do now, nino?"

"I'm going to kill you and then go finish off your lady friend."

Miguel started laughing.

"You, kill me? Good one nino. Who hired you to kill her?"

"No one hired me!"

"So you took it upon yourself to come after her."

"Yeah, what of it?"

"You think you're such a big man, huh, nino?"

"I am a man and I have the balls to prove it!"

"Where? I don't see anything but a stupid nino with a gun."

"Stupid huh! I'll show you who's stupid!"

Jerry fired the gun but Miguel was too quick and too experienced that he moved and the bullet missed him.

"You missed me, nino. Care to try again?"

Jerry fired wildly and Miguel returned the fire, but Miguel hit his target and Jerry fell over the edge of the building. Miguel looked over the edge to see Jerry lying in the alley below.

"Nino pendejo."

Miguel ran down the stairs back to Serena's room. The nurses were leaving the room with the equipment. Miguel went into the room and one of the nurses was still there.

"How is she?" he asked.

"It was a close call, but she's pretty tough. She's going to be just fine."

Miguel sighed heavily.

"Are you her husband?"

"No, just a very close friend. She has no family."

"Well she's very lucky to have someone like you."

"Thank you."

The nurse left. Miguel pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. He held my hand.

"You don't have to worry about anything. Miguelito took care of everything."

He kissed my hand.

About a week later Miguel took me home to finish recuperating. As I sat up in bed I couldn't believe how much Miguel showed a caring side of himself, but he did tell me that I would be the only one to ever see that side of him. Miguel came into the bedroom.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Much better. Miguel come and sit by me please."

He came over and sat on the bed. I held his hand and then I kissed it.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"My way of saying thank you for everything that you've done for me."

"You don't have to thank me."

"Yes I do. I called you and you came running. Like you said in the hospital, I don't have to worry about anything cuz Miguelito took care of everything."

He looked at me.

"You heard that?"

"Yes. I know I can never change your way of life, and I would never even try to, but I'm very grateful to have you as a friend as well as have you on my side."

"Don't forget as well as your lover," he said.

"Yes, yes, that too."

We smiled at each other. I looked at my left wrist and took off the silver bracelet that he left behind.

"This belongs to you. You dropped it the last time you were here."

I put it in his hand. He looked at it and smiled. He looked at me and put it back on my wrist.

"Keep it, it's yours," he said.

"Why?"

"Because I have nothing to give you, at least this is something."

"Don't ever say that Miguel Bain. You have given me a lot in the time I have known you, especially your friendship, which means more to me then you could ever possibly know and for that I am grateful."

He smiled shyly. He leaned over until he rested his forehead against mine.

"You know that I will always be there for you, Serena Soto."

"And I will always be there for you too, Miguel Bain."

He kissed me tenderly. About another two weeks went by and I was now able to take care of myself. Miguel was packing his things and getting ready to leave. He closed his suitcase and looked around the room once more.

"Do you have everything?" I asked.

"I think so," he said.

I walked him to the front door. He opened the door and there was a taxi waiting for him.

"Take care, querida."

"I will. You take care of yourself," I said.

"I will. Call me anytime you need me okay?"

"I will if you promise to do the same."

"I promise."

He held my face in his hands and then hugged me as tightly as he could without hurting me. He kissed me and then walked to the waiting taxi. He got in and looked at me once more, then the taxi drove off. I closed the door and walked into the living room. I sat on the couch and touched the bracelet that I was wearing and I smiled.

"Miguel you are truly one of a kind."