Trust Me
      Chapter 10
 

"Out there, it's such a lonely sky,

They'll trap your wings my love and hold your flight,

They'll build a cage and steal your only sky,

Fly away, fly to me, fly when the wind is high,

I'm sailing beside you in your lonely sky,

Fly away, fly to me, and if you need my love,

I'm sailing beside you in your lonely sky...

I'll come in with the dawn,

I'm sailing beside you in your lonely sky,

On the wings of the morn,

I'm sailing beside you in your lonely sky,

Above the world we'll be flying,

I'm sailing beside you in your lonely sky...

And though their hands are cold they'll love forever..."

--from Lonely Sky (words and music by Chris De Burgh--from the album Spanish Train And Other Stories)

When the song ended Danny gathered Michelle in his arms. The smell of her hair and the feel of her skin was a haven. He didn't want to let her go. She had come to him without a fight, but he knew that it couldn't and wouldn't last. He could not let Dietz take her away from him, so if letting Michelle go was the only option, that was the way it would have to be. He wanted to plead with her, but it wasn't his style. She knew how he felt about her. She knew he would always love her. Perhaps he had always known that loving her would also mean having to let her go. He no longer had it in him to ask her to understand. It would never happen.

Michelle felt Danny's hands on her back and let herself melt into him. If she tried hard enough she believed she could make all of the horror and terror disappear. It wasn't possible though. He wasn't there to ask her to understand. He wasn't there to tell her he had changed his mind. Somehow she knew that and in a way it didn't bother her. It was honest. It was truthful. The things she had been asking for since the nightmare had begun. The Danny she loved was leaving her and if she thought it would make a difference she would have begged him to alter his decision.

They clung to one another both knowing things would never be the same. The choices they had made changed everything. Forcing them to become people they didn't recognize. In this moment they knew each other and it was enough.

The song ended and she reluctantly withdrew from his embrace. She walked to the console and turned off the music. Not a word had been exchanged between them. She turned back to him and held out her hand. He stood up and took her hand. They walked to the door and she turned out the lights.

They reached their bedroom. She turned to him and brought her hand to his face. Her fingers caressed his cheek and he turned to place his warm lips to the palm of her hand. She began to unbutton his shirt. Her eyes watched her fingers as each button passed through the loop hole. His arms remained by his side. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders and only when his bare chest was revealed completely to her did she press her face into him. She heard him sigh and felt his hands come to her head. He pulled her face up to look at her.

He exhaled deeply. His mouth covered hers. The kisses were hot and came fast. She reached her arms around him and ran her hands over his back.

His fingers worked furiously in an attempt to remove her shirt. He got tired of it and pulled apart the folds. The buttons popped and flew in every direction. He forced the sleeves down her arms and grabbed at the clasp of her bra, releasing her full breasts. Her nipples were erect waiting for his touch.

He began to kiss her chest. His moist mouth opened over her nipple and she felt his teeth pull at the nub. Her back arched and his arm held her up. Her hair fell on her back, long and curly. Their breathing had it's own rhythm. He laid her down against the pillows and his body followed. Kissing her stomach , the palms of his hands covered her breasts. His head went lower.

He slid her pants down her legs and resettled himself at her stomach. He pulled at her silk underwear with his teeth. She wiggled her hips trying to help him. There was an urgency to this moment. Her hands played in his hair as he gave up in desperation freeing her breasts he used his hands to rid her of her panties. She kicked her legs and was free. He sat up again and on his knees began to unbuckle his belt. She followed suit and knelt before him. Her hands covered his as she helped him with his zipper.

Finally naked they lay together. With her index finger Michelle traced circles on Danny's chest as she kissed his arm. With her tongue she cleared a path from his forearm to his shoulder. She loved the salty taste. Danny was getting restless. Her hand traveled low, but never low enough and he began raising his hips to her. He wanted her to touch him. He wanted to feel her grip. She sensed his desire. Throwing her leg over his, she rubbed herself against his thigh. She was very wet. Only then did she reach for him and cupped him her hand. He throbbed in ecstasy. He couldn't wait any longer. He reached for her pulling her completely on top of him. She landed with a thud against his chest. Straddling him she teased by brushing herself against his manhood, but never allowing him to thrust up into her. His mouth found her breast and his hand found the other. She touched herself and brought her fingers up to his mouth. He smelled her scent and felt his excitement build. He freed her nipple and took her fingers into his mouth. He sucked at them with abandon. She slid down onto his hardness and heard the sharp intake of his breath. She pulled up a bit and his hips thrust upward to her. His hands covered her buttocks and held her down.

 Placing his hands on her hips he helped her find the right rhythm. Their breathing was heavy, their bodies soaked in sweat. They were nearing their destination. She could go there with him. He wouldn't leave her behind. They could be together here and now.

He picked up the pace, this time with every thrust he rubbed himself against her. Each touch was like a whip, burning into her. She met his thrust and rubbed back.

She was moaning. Her face was a fixture of intense painful pleasure. He watched her. He wanted to witness the moment. Suddenly her eyes opened wide. She stared into his face and then her head fell back and her shoulders rolled. Her body began to convulse as she reached the final peak.

He felt her tighten and the blood rushing through him. He sat up and put his arms around her back to hold her up. His open mouth found the hollow of her neck. His body reacted along with hers and the release was strong and powerful. She felt the warmth shoot up inside her. He fell back against the pillows gasping for breath.

She lowered her body to him slowly, panting. Her long curly hair tickled his skin and he shivered. His hand came around her neck and he kissed her forehead. She placed her head in the crook of his neck and kissed his throat.

The first words spoken between them were said in unison, "I'll miss you."

Dietz was getting tired of waiting. He knew he didn't have much time. He had already heard that John Vasquez was looking for him. If anyone was going to hunt him down fast it would be John. He was a formidable foe and Dietz was1 in many ways looking forward to meeting him in the battle. He hadn't been able to move around much because John's inquiries placed a limit on his actions. Dietz didn't have many people he could count on , but he had one favor he could call in and it was just about that time.

He had to leave the motel room to place the phone call. The one in his room wasn't working. His cell phone was no longer of use to him and Jeanie his sometime girlfriend had already been visited by the Santos'. He missed Jeanie's warm bed. The place she lived in wasn't much, but over time it had become a home to him. Jeanie was good for him. She didn't ask too many questions and she was loyal. She had managed to face John's questions and played the dumb blonde role to a tee. John wasn't completely convinced, but Dietz hadn't told her where he was any way.

He made his way down the stairs of the motels balcony. He had chosen a room on the second floor because it gave him full view of the parking lot and it also afforded him two exits. He couldn't be too cautious.

He wore a hat and long trench coat. The lapels of the coat were drawn up to hide his face as much as possible. He reached the phone booth across the street and looked in disgust at the conditions it was in. The phone book had been ripped out long ago and the chain hung loosely from the base. The glass walls were filthy, graffiti added to the ambiance. He had to laugh at the "FUCK THE WHALES, SAVE ME!" written in big bright red letters on the right wall. He took his handkerchief from his pocket and picked up the receiver. He punched in the number and waited for the ringing to stop.

"Yeah?" the voice answered.

"Nino, my friend.", he said jovially.

"Hey Man, I don't have anything to say to you.", Nino sounded nervous.

"Nino, is that any way to treat your partner?"

"Dietz. I'm hanging up."

"Don't hang up Nino. You owe me and I'm collecting. TODAY!", Dietz threatened.

"Listen, you sick bastard. I'm already covered in shit because of you and your bombs. I don't owe you anything." Nino spat out.

He was worried. His father thought he had ended his alliance with Dietz when in reality there was no way for him to end it. Dietz was holding something over him. Something his father had no clue about and Nino was afraid of the consequences. Bernard had been very angry with him and the only thing that had saved him was Carmen Santos willing to let his father exact the punishment on him. He'd be a dead man if his father hadn't intervened. He knew Dietz was going to contact him sooner or later. He had hoped for later.

"I think you do. You're gonna do something for me..."

Nino listened. His father would be the one to kill him if Dietz didn't first. Carmen Santos' rule about family not killing family didn't apply in their organization. Nino remembered his Uncle Leo and his cousin Rudy. He rubbed his forehead and reached for the bottle of aspirin on his desk. The headache he thought he'd gotten rid of was back with a vengeance.

Ray reached the rectory and went to his small room in the back. He considered himself lucky. He had managed to slip by unnoticed and he was grateful. Father Tomas was sure to notice the change in him. He removed his jacket and sunk down on the hard wooden chair. He looked around the room and drank it all in with his eyes. One small iron bed covered with a thin sheet and rough looking blanket. A Cross hung on the wall above the bed. The nightstand held a lamp that had obviously seen better days, his Bible and his reading glasses. There was a chest of drawers. The chair he sat at was of a different wood than the desk. Nothing had to match here. The furniture was functional. Odd how the mixture reflected his emotional state. He was mixed up. It was rather comforting. It matched his mood and it seemed to him that for the first time he was seeing the room. It mattered that this room was nothing like the rooms he had grown up in. It was a complete contradiction to the luxury and richness of his youth. He had never let that bother him before, but tonight it made him irate. He was enraged.

His God, the God he loved and served wasn't offering him comfort. He felt lost. In anger he yelled out, "Why? Why are you doing this to us? Why?" Haven't we suffered enough? Hasn't it been hard enough? WHY?" Ray had spent his time in the seminary as a scholar. He was there to learn. The one thing he left at the door before he began his studies was his questions. The boy who found it impossible to stop the inquiries, had become the man who never asked anything. He listened and accepted. Tonight that wasn't enough. He needed answers.

After he had calmed himself he lay on the bed. He picked up his Bible and instead of searching for his favorite verse he began reading from the beginning. The first page he read as if he had never read it before. He had to re-capture his faith. It was failing him. He fell asleep with the Bible on his chest.

...She came to him in his dreams. He watched in wonder as she approached the bed her red robe falling to the floor. Naked she walked towards him. His body anticipated her touch. She climbed into bed with him and lay beside him. Her red lips met his in a passionate kiss. Her chest rubbed against his. She made circles with her tongue in his mouth. He placed his large hand on the curve of her waist, relishing the softness. His fingers splayed across her stomach as he pulled her closer. Her hand reached between his legs. His body stretched and enjoyed her pleasuring. He settled himself between her open legs and pushed forward...

Ray woke with a start. The Bible crashed to the floor with a loud thud. Covered in sweat he rubbed at his eyes and tried to erase the images of the woman from his mind. This dream had been coming to him for months now. Normally he would pray and then go to confession, but this time was different. He wanted the dream to continue. He wanted to see her face. He wasn't willing to let this go. He didn't want to feel bad about it and he didn't. He wasn't sorry. The realization made him cringe. What was happening to him?