by Raven Crow
A group of pretty women walked by arm in arm, dressed in various dresses, laughing and joking and I felt alone in a small sea.
Arms gently wrapped around me like a warm blanket. “Hey there, beautiful,” Gio said, his raspy voice sent shock waves down my spine.
“What are you doing here,” I turned asking blankly.
“Isn’t it obvious, I’m following you duh?”
“I knew it, you are a stocker and you have chosen me to follow? I’m so boring. You are better off following someone more interesting.”
“Too late I’m fully vested now. I never quit on my investments, I just see them all the way through.” He laughed.
Our playful banter set a more pleasant mood. He had made me feel comfortable. Not an easy task.
His eyes wildly wandered my body.
“Seriously though I’m glad I ran into you, I wanted to say thank you for showing me the neighborhood yesterday, Gio.”
And thank you for making me come—was what I had wanted to said but keep to myself.
“Well I tried my best to show you around but the ‘whole dead girl in the pond’ thing kind of ruined our tour. I am going to make it up to you today, however.” He produced a black American Express card holding it up into the air in front of me like it was prize to win. “Today, everything is on me!”
“What like a shopping spree, yeah right don’t tease me?” I remained unfazed.
He put the card into my hand closing my palm around it.
“Oh, I never tease about money.” He yanked my hand pulling me down the mall. “So where are we starting first?”
Arching his brows twice with a flash of a smile he pulled the sense of adventure out of me.
“That store up there.”
I pointed to an exclusive couture boutique that I could never afford on my budget or ever.
“Fine, you lead the way.” His cute voice swayed.
**
I never thought I’d see the day when I was actually sick to death of shopping but after two hours of picking clothes off of the racks I’m calling it quits.
“Are you going to try anything on in this store at least, Jo? We have been to seven different stores and you haven’t tried on anything yet.” Gio questioned.
His tolerant temperament towards me was startling. I have had two lovers in my life so far, and although my experience is very limited I would say that judging by the way he behaviors with me he might actually be into me.
I felt the warmth from his breath on the back of my neck. He was so close to me that if I stopped suddenly he’d surely run right smack-dab into me. He had made my blood to start to pump faster.
“I don’t need to try any of these clothes on I’m sure that they will fit just fine.”
When in fact the truth was that I dreaded those damn dressing rooms, it seemed no matter what the outfit looks like in reality it will look like shit on you in the dressing room, period.
“Are you sure about that Jo, because my mom’s always have a hell of a time finding clothes that fit them right so they always try everything on first.” He cocked his head to the side facing the dressing rooms. “Come on; let’s go make sure that those clothes fit that sexy as hell body of yours.”
His firm hands nudged me towards the doors to the dressing rooms. I could only just nod as the door shut. He remained behind me though as we both entered the dressing rooms.
He scanned the bottoms of the dressing room stalls.
“What are you doing in here with me and what are you looking for, Gio?”
“I am checking to see if there’s anyone in here. No one is here, we’re alone Jo. I thought that maybe you might need a little help in there getting everything on.” He winked.
“Actually now that you mention it I do need a little help getting these to fit.”
He had been serious. He grabbed my hips easing us both into a stall closing the door and locking it behind us.
His mouth found mine and my eyes closed, letting my head fall backward as his kisses landed on my neck next.
He pulled my shirt up and off in one motion while he continued to kiss me neck working his way down. My legs started to shake. Moans escaped my open mouth.
I felt the silky, black, slip dress roll over my head before sliding down my body. I opened my eyes to see that he was dressing me.
My nipples hardened under his thumbs. He pushed my arms up into the air up against the wall as he gripped a hold of my wrists clamping them together with one hand. Blood rushed to my inner thighs as I started to get wet as hell.
His other hand made its way up my dress and into my panties through the side between my legs. He slid his finger into me as he kissed and nibbled on my neck. My knees got weak and I thought I might pass out.
“This dress looks amazing on you I wonder what it looks like on the floor.” His taxed voice growled.
“We can’t someone might come in and we will get busted.”
Chapter 14
Gio
Jo’s skin tasted sweeter then honey and it felt softer then cotton. I had only planned on buying her a new wardrobe but making out in the dressing room seemed like a great idea.
My cell phone started buzzing inside of my pocket pulling my attention off of her beauty.
“Hmm I should probably see who is calling me.” I pulled my lips from hers, grabbing my cell out of my pocket. It was my dad. “I am so sorry but I have to take this call.”
“Ok it is fine go ahead and take the call.” Jo sighed. Her big, blue eyes hung down to the floor.
“Hello dad what’s up?”
[“Pablo called he got the shipment early so you and Sax need to go and pick it up today.” He barked into my ear.]
“Today?” I spitted.
My voice change caught Jo’s attention.
[“Yes today, Gio you need to get this shipment over to the Riviera by six tonight. Pablo is cutting forty percent off the total if we can get the product turned around and sold in forty-eight hours or less. Do you think you can handle it or should I get someone else to go?”]
“Yes of course I can handle the run. You know that I can do this. I was only thrown off by the timely is all; you remember that I was going to take Jo shopping today?”
[“Yes that’s right. Is she having a good time, of course she is, she’s a female with a limitless credit card. Send my love to her and hurry up. I’ll let him know to expect you two within the hour.” He disconnected]
“Do you have to go?”
“Yeah, I have to take care of some business.”
“Gypsy business?”
“Yes Jo, gypsy business it is what pays the bills. I hate leaving you here though. I wish I could have spent more time getting you dressed up.” I said with naughty undertones, she smiled.
“Maybe another time, Gio.” She winked.
I backed up out of the stall keeping my eyes on her as I exited. She waved.
“Don’t worry about the tab; I have an account with this store so they will take care of the bill when you are ready. See you tomorrow morning, Jo.”
“Thank you, Gio. See you then.”
**
I pulled up to Sax’s condo, seeing his car out front, I went inside.
I could hear the shower going once inside. His house was untouched like he hadn’t even been living there. I thought about calling out but I figured that he wouldn’t hear me over the shower so I sat down on his couch to wait for him to finish showering.
I had known Saxon Danes since I moved to the United States. Before the king adopted me I lived with the Danes in their house for six months. Sax the little blond-headed bad ass had my back from day one. Both of us were late bloomers, as a cause of that we were the smallest in our class even the girls were bigger. I had always been a fighter but Sax was the mediator. He would take his time studying his enemy, learning their weakness, their desires, and finally using the information to get whatever he needed from them. A power team indeed since before we had even knew anything
about the world. Sax got his smarts from his parents, a forensic scientist for a mother and a lead detective for a father.
He had always acted like a grown up too. Since we met he’d dress like a little gentleman instead of a kid. Looking around at his stuff, fancy art on the walls, expensive porcelain statues on the fireplace mantle, he even had a wine cellar.
“Hey bro, why didn’t you say something I would have hurried in the shower?” Sax asked.
He stood there with wet hair buttoning up his shirt. I stood.
“Gerald called, Pablo is ready with the shipment already and we need to go now to get it. Why are you showering in the middle of the day anyhow, did you go play basketball without me or something?”
When did Sax ever take a shower in the middle of the day? Something was definitely up with him. I had noticed how his eyes had shifted around the room when I asked what he had been doing earlier.
“Do we need a driver for the run if so I can call Pen to do the job?” He voiced cracked on her name.
“What have you been doing, Sax? You never answered me the first time I asked. And why are you so nervous?”
“I had some things to take care of earlier and I got dirty is all.”
There it was again that strange behavior of his, his voice actually went up on the word dirty. What the actual fuck is going on with him?
“Out with it, Sax what have you been doing all day?” My voice rattled.
“All right, I was out late last night and I slept in. That’s why I was showering in the middle of the day.
“What do you mean you were out late last night? I thought that you took Pen home after your dad questioned her? Did you go out and do something after dropping her off?”
“I stayed with her for a little bit and we talked.”
“Talked—you and Pen talked a little after you drove her home? Yeah right!” I snapped.
My doubts grew once he started pacing. Sax was a terrible liar so I could always tell when he was lying. It was a good thing that Sax was also an honest person most of the time.
“I didn’t think it was a good idea but things just got heated really fast and—well fuck she’s so damn—oh bro I messed up, I think.” He rambled.
“What the fuck bro, none of that made one bit of sense.”
“We had sex. I think I made a mistake. It was too much, too soon. Plus she started crying after; it was crazy I felt like shit. She said that she was upset about personal things but still.” He stopped pacing and stood by me.
Sax was too sensitive at times, too caring and way too forgiving. I couldn’t afford to have him falling in love right now.
“That’s cool bro why are you tripping? Ladies are emotional it’s alright, I’m sure she was crying about something girlie. Don’t worry about it bro, she even said that it wasn’t about you.”
Chapter 15
Pen
I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower onto the cold tile floor. Every inch of my body seemed to ache. My hands were sore, cut and bruised from cleaning all day.
I had not slept well so I started sorting through the piles of junk some time during the night. I wished that I had noticed before it had gotten so bad I could have stopped it from ever happening. No one should have had to live like that for even one second.
I wrapped the towel around my body, my soaked hair dripped as I made my way over to the bed from the bathroom where my clothes were laying.
A loud thud in the hallway stopped me. I turned towards the door and I heard another loud thud.
I jetted out the door into the hallway coming face to face with a man I’ve never seen before.
My heart beat nearly out of my chest. I gripped tight to my towel as thought that will be enough. Hundreds of thoughts raced through my head, one more pressing then the others; run!
“Penelope, is that you? Come into the parlor.” My grandma bellowed. “Penelope, look who came to visit us.”
The man moved to side with a strange grin on his face. I started to move passed him; he put his arms outward like he was ushering me into a ball of some sort. My adrenaline was still charged making my body noticeably shake.
I put a brave face on; following my grandma’s voice I came into the parlor where I found my grandma. She was sitting in her recliner alongside a stranger on the couch.
“Grandma?” I coughed one word.
“Look Penelope nice Mr. Moreau came over to visit us.” She replied, she pointed over to him.
I waved with a smile but I wasn’t sure if I knew him or not. I knew of his name but I hadn’t ever met him. By the way that my grandma was acting you would think that she was close to him.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Moreau, thank you for coming over to visit us today.” I greeted him with the manners my grandma had taught me.
He smiled a nearly toothless grin. He had black, greasy hair that he had slicked back into a single ponytail. He was dressed in jeans, brown boots, and a blue and white fly-collar shirt, your typical ‘red-neck’ gear.
“Oh may Penelope how you have grown over the years. I don’t think I have seen you since you were really small. You know me and your grandpa used to go fishing all the time. He was so proud of his little “Pen”; you were all he’d talk about out there on the lake for hours. I almost feel like I know you like you’re my own ken.” He leered.
I shuttered inside at the thought of being related to Mr. Moreau, and if what he said was true and my grandpa fished with him, it had to have been against my grandpa’s wishes. My grandpa was a noble man, full of integrity and principal. He was a mechanic his whole life and a fisherman for sport. He would have never spent time willingly with a gypsy boss who’s thickly involved in crime, that doesn’t make sense.
“Oh my, the cookies must be done by now. I will go get them and bring in the coffee too.” My grandma boasted while standing up.
“What do you mean by cookies, grandma? Please tell me that you didn’t try and cook again?” I went sailing into the kitchen.
Smoke was starting to rise up out of the oven. I grabbed some oven mitts to grab out the cookie sheet. I managed to pull the charcoal colored cookies out before they caught fire. The smell was awful as the smoke filled the room I started to choke. I opened the back door letting the smoke out just as my eyes started to burn and my vision was getting blurry.
Once my vision cleared I saw that I was not alone in the kitchen. The first man that was in the hallway had joined me. He approached with a look on his face like he wanted to eat me for dinner.
“Moreau asked me to come on in here to help you, little miss.” He sneered as he got closer to me.
I backed up until I was stopped by the counter; he continued to approach until he was so close I could smell his breath which stuck of beer and pig skins. I felt so uncomfortable with only a thin towel between me and this creep. His nasty eyes started to crawl my body and I actually gagged.
“Jim Bob get away from that girl, she’s nearly half your age.” Moreau shouted while entering the kitchen, Jim Bob nodded while he backed away from me. “Go on now and keep Mrs. Smith, company in the parlor while I discuss some business with Miss Smith.”
“Yes boss, right away.” Jim Bob replied, he moved towards the exit.
“Hey, Jim Bob,”
“Yes boss?”
“If you or anyone else puts their hands on Miss Smith, you will be answering to me. Understood?” Moreau’s voice rattled.
“Yes boss, of course.” He snapped in compliance before racing out of the kitchen.
My heart dropped at the thought of whatever business Moreau would want with me.
“I can see that things around here are a little bit overwhelming, huh—to say the least right? You know I could so easily relief your burdens if you let me, Pen? I already took care of your grandmother’s property taxes, now let me help you with your grandma’s care giving expenses.” He rambled.
How did he know about all of these things in our lives? Was this guy spying on us? Di
d he just say that he took care of my grandma’s property taxes, so what now I owe him? None of my internal questions left my head. The simple fact was that we needed the money or we’d lose the house. He was offering to take care of the burden that I had been working on for years to fix. I had to at least hear him out.
“Ok what do you want in return for your help, Mr. Moreau?”
“I just need you to keep on doing what you are already doing. Get close to Saxon Danes, just listen and report back what you see and hear. That’s all. That’s easy money, girl what do you say?”
I knew that there was no such thing as easy money.
Chapter 16
Sax
We had driven around for an hour looking for Pen’s house with no luck. I had believed that I knew where she lived but clearly I had been wrong. I must have been too nervous to remember correctly.
“Just call the girl and find out where she lives so we can pick her up already. We are going to be late.” Gio voiced in his soft but irritated tone he’d get when he was annoyed.
I had ignored him for the past ten minutes, I was too focused on finding Pen’s house and I didn’t talk while I drove at the same time. Gio knew that about me and even if he was annoyed he’d never yell about it or complain. He was blunt and direct but somehow he’d manage not to crush a person but rather build them with his words. Now with his fists, he was a monster, a beast without mercy, a sinful creature out for blood. Good thing it was impossible to set him off, he was in full control of; when and who he fought and that’s what kept him out of jail all these years.
I pulled over, pulled my cell phone out and called Pen’s number. I could feel Gio’s intense gaze on me.
The phone rang straight to voicemail I disconnected.
“I am pretty sure that we are close to the road that it is on.” I lied.
“This is the same road we were on an hour ago; it is the first road we were on actually. Congratulations bro, you took us in a complete circle.” He laughed while clapping, I was not amused.