by Eden Fortae
He hesitated, and Antonio couldn’t tell if it was from fear or if the bastard had a burst of bold and decided now was the time to stand his ground. The window lowered a little more. Then there was a loud click from the safety being switched off.
“I was a friend of her mother!” That time his answer was swift, came out so quickly that the words were jumbled. “She’s like a niece to me. I-I’ve been Uncle Brian since she learned to talk.”
Uncle Brian? Hearing that made a small piece of his anger chip away. Still, it wasn’t enough to make him lower his weapon.
“Like a niece? You make a habit out of kissing your nieces?”
“No—you her boyfriend or something?”
Cool steel went further out the window, pressed into the center of the man’s forehead. Antonio wasn’t playing with him, and the fact couldn’t get any clearer.
“It was on her cheek! For comfort, I—I—I swear! Her mother passed away a few months ago, and she still seemed sad to me. Things are bad between her and her Dad, and she has no real family. S—so I took her to dinner and dropped her off at work— to help. You can ask her!”
Satisfied with the man’s response, Antonio let his trigger finger relax, but still let his target remain. He wasn’t happy with how much information the man gave away but took it for what it was. Any reasonable person would shit themselves if they had a gun pushed into their face like that. Probably cry and babble a plea for their life even if it meant confessing all their sins.
Beside that point, everything he spoke on, Antonio already knew. Something in him wanted to be angry that someone that calls themselves family could have and would have told everything there was to tell to anyone that held his ass to the fire, but he honestly couldn’t blame him. While Antonio, himself would go down in a hail of bullets before he gave up anything and cowered for anyone, he understood that not everyone had the balls he did and was ultimately pleased with what he’d just heard.
“Here’s what’s about to happen...you’re going to go back to your car and drive away. You didn’t talk to me, never saw me, or my license plate, but you will remember that I’ve seen yours and could easily find out where you live to follow through on this promise, you hear me?”
The man bobbed his head with wide eyes like a child eager to get out of inevitable punishment. Tipping his head, Antonio waved him off, relaxing into the seat with the gun in his lap. He didn’t feel better. Not in the least despite finding out that the older man wasn’t a rival, but an apparent friend. The feeling of being played still lingered and there appeared to be no reason behind why she left. He didn’t like it. Despite doing it so many times to countless women, the taste of his own medicine was too bitter to swallow.
As he leaned over the seat to put his gun back in place, he contemplated calling things off. It was getting harder and harder to keep lying to himself, claiming his interest in Kya derived from his hatred for her father. If that were indeed the case, he would feel less like a jackass for what happened and not feel justified. An innocent kiss on the cheek almost cost a man his life, and he didn’t feel a bit of remorse. Never would as long as Kya was involved and that was a problem.
Gun safe and secured, driving back in the direction of his office, Antonio’s made up his mind. Kya wouldn’t be a one-time thing. She couldn’t be if he wanted to rid himself of those strange feelings successfully. That was the priority. Until he had his fill, he couldn’t let go. She would have to become something he was tired of.
In the back of his mind, he knew he was still fooling himself, but he had to try. A man that was never in need of a backup plan had formulated just that. He was going at Kya, now, with something that he was sure more than not, would end just like the first.
Kya and Angel walked out of the lounge, chatting about the boring night at work. The place wasn’t nearly as full as usual due to rain that was heavy at times, it almost caused Kya to call off from work, so it made sense for their usual patrons to stay home. Had it not been for Uncle Brian surprising her the way he did with a visit, she would have done just that. It was his company that made her decide to go to work. The thoughts and fond memories of her mother led to crying on his part, and before she knew it, she was back beneath the dark cloud of mourning. She loved Uncle Brian. Honestly and truly loved him as if he were of her flesh and blood, but he put her in places she didn’t want to be.
“The rain would stop when it’s time to go home,” Angel mumbled, going into her purse for her keys.
An hour before closing, she volunteered to give Kya a ride. Well, demanded it with a string of curses at the first sign of refusal. Rather than argue, Kya agreed, thankful any time she didn’t have to brave the streets alone that time of morning.
“We got paid to stand around and do nothing, tonight. I won’t complain.”
“I’m not complaining. I just needed a little more action. My second personality hates when it’s quiet. It makes her crazy.
“You mean crazier.” Kya had to fight a smile.
“Don’t judge me. I’ll make your ass walk home.”
“No, you won’t.”
“You’re right, and I won’t. Still, don’t judge me. That makes my third personality—”
“Crazy?” Kya was trying to contain her laughter but had it knocked free by the hand that shoved her away. At some point, Angel joined her, but both women stopped after they turned the corner to the parking lot.
Antonio greeted them with his appearance alone, leaning coolly against the front end of his truck with both his arms crossed. He looked just as good as every other time he graced her with his presence. The sleeves of his shirt were pulled up to his elbows to reveal his tattoos. His jeans casual, but giving him a clean look despite his line of work. What she loved the most was the fact that his hair was hanging loosely around his shoulders, wild but sexy all the same.
Seeing him after that night, sent shivers up her spine. The kind that also resulted in surges of remembrance between her legs. That part of her body was happy to see him. Generally, she was pleased to see him, but the woman standing next to her was not.
Angel glared holes into him while his gaze remained on Kya. Taking a single step away from his truck, he tipped his head slightly.
“Good Morning, ladies. I hope I’m not interrupting—”
“You are,” Angel replied quickly, face as cold and hard as stone. “What do you want?”
Finally, he took his eyes off of Kya, giving Angel his full attention as he closed the distance between them. If the eyes were one’s way of honestly speaking, the two were saying more than words ever could. Questioning met with anger that even Kya did not understand.
“I came to see if Kya needed a ride—”
“She has one.”
“Besides,” he continued, pausing with a twinge of authority behind that single word, “we have things we should probably discuss.” His attention returned to Kya by the time he finished, but Angel was not done.
“And you can’t do that here? Or is your intention to take her home and screw her like she’s your toy or some shit?”
“Angel,” Kya spoke up, turning to her friend with a serious expression. She appreciated the attempt to protect her but felt she was more than capable of speaking for herself. “I got this. I’ll call you when I get home.”
Angel wasn’t pleased. Kya could see it all over her face, more when she looked Antonio from head to toe.
“No matter what time it is, call me. And you,” the softening of Angel's features decreased as she looked at Antonio once more. “Esto no termina aquí. She better make it there with all her fingers, toes, and not a single hair out of place. They don’t make medication for the kind of crazy I am. You don’t want that in your life. Believe that.”
Spreading two of her fingers, she pointed at her eyes, then looked at Antonio and walked away. No matter what she did, the humor that surrounded her would never cease. However, the seriousness when it was there, hit Kya like a flashing sign. Suddenly, there was
an apparent tension between Antonio and Angel, leading Kya to believe that something else might have happened that night she hit her head.
Did he do something?
Did she say something that put them at odds?
If so, why hadn’t either brought it to her attention yet?
“What was that about?” She decided to ask. Antonio only shook his head, watching after Angel with lowered brows and a dangerous glint in his eyes. The fact that he didn’t look away until Angel had driven off the lot, bothered Kya. Despite the tenderness in his caress and warmth, she felt when he smiled at her, there was something predatory about Antonio. Something that made her fear for her friend, now.
Antonio never answered. Silently, he took Kya by the hand and led her to his truck. He opened the door for her and like a gentleman, helped her inside. When he did things like that, it blurred the dark images put into her head by her father. It took away that sense of caution she felt was wise to have.
Instead of pulling off as soon as he climbed in beside her, Antonio sat there, staring straight ahead as if he were thinking. He turned to Kya, his lips parting before he put the truck in motion. Kya didn’t peg him for a man that was ever at a loss for words, but that seemed to be the case.
“I live in the apartments off Lexington.”
“Right by the hospital.” He added, more to himself.
“Yeah. That location was convenient when my mother was alive. Her doctors were right down the street. Help not too far away if ever something happened. The one time it did...”
“I’m sorry.”
He was sincere. A look that made Kya smile followed those words. That would have been a good time to ask why he attended the funeral, but she was not sure she wanted to know. The answer could ruin the connection she felt to him, distort that romantic image walking side by side with how he greeted her with a rose that day. However, not knowing would make her blissfully ignorant, dumb and deserving of whatever pain could come from this game if that’s what it was.
“You never told me why you were at the cemetery that day.”
“I don’t recall you asking.”
“Maybe I was planning to ask the last time we spoke, but became distracted.”
A half smile so sexy, yet devious played at his lips.
“I think it’s fair to say you’re the one who was doing the distracting. I merely finished what you started. But, why do you think I was there, Kya?”
“To be frank, I don’t know why you were there. According to my father, you’re a killer that’s after me to get to him. If I’m honest, I believe it. Maybe not the killer part, because you had the chance to end my life more than once and didn’t. I do think there is some feud between the two of you that I’m in the middle of, though. Your interest in me makes no sense.”
Antonio appeared to be taken aback by her forwardness. Surprisingly, he nodded as if he agreed with her, leaning toward the door, and steering with one hand.
“I confess. I do know your father. The feud you speak of started with my father. After he went to prison, Rich became the biggest pain in my ass and even now, still tries to make my life hell. One thing I hate more than his constant harassment is feeling like someone is purposely trying to do me harm. So, through years of dealing with his bullshit, I decided to fight fire with fire by learning everything there is to know about Detective Robert Rich. His strengths, weaknesses, and what would hurt him the most. That’s you.”
He paused, looking over at her to assess the damage caused by the unfiltered truth. She was stunned, and it showed. Behind that look was masked pain and a voice inside of her head that repeated, “I knew it was too good to be true.”
A series of turns were made as he drove in silence and before she knew it, she was home. Holding tight to her purse, Kya went for the handle to get out when he quickly rushed around the front, beating her to the punch.
Kya slid out, avoiding his eyes to keep her mask in place. Behind closed doors, she would let it all out. Maybe shed a tear for the ounce of hope that he gunned down so quickly.
“Thank you for the ride.” She didn’t have the chance to put any real distance between them before he took hold of her hand and pulled her back against the passenger side door. There, he pinned her with his body, lifting her chin to force a line of eye contact.
“You asked me a question, and I told you what you wanted to hear, the truth. I watched you with intent to hurt your father, but it became so much more than that. I heard of your mother’s death and only stepped out of the shadows because you looked so lost and alone. That time and every other after that had nothing to do with Rich. Me being here right now has nothing to do with Rich. I called myself trying to gain the upper hand and screwed myself in the process.”
His hand slipped from her chin and went around her waist. He held her to him, moving his other hand to the back of her neck.
“I meant what I said when you asked what I want from you. Just you.”
What was she supposed to say to that? The woman inside of her, thoroughly seduced by his hard body against her and his lips skimming her jaw, wanted to comply and let him his way. The woman her mother raised to think clearly and look carefully, was not giving in so easily.
Kya pried herself from him. Once again, she looked down to keep her mask in place.
“You say you want me, but now that I know, I don’t think I can just take your word for it alone.”
She went to walk away again, but Antonio still held her captive. He gripped her hand so tight, but so gently that she allowed him to lead her to the back door of his truck. Antonio let her go just long enough to reach inside, and when he returned, he held a large bouquet of bright red roses. In his eyes, that danger that he naturally carried was nowhere in sight. Just like the night they spent together, Antonio was a different man.
“I won’t ask you to put all your trust in me or believe everything I say, but I am asking for one night. There is something between us. I don’t know what is, but if you give me the satisfaction of your company this once, I will leave you alone, and there will be no more questions of my motives.”
Logic was in an intense war with want. Her brain was fighting the battle of its life with her heart.
One night.
All he wanted was one night then he would go away. Did she want that? To say goodbye to Antonio for good just for peace of mind and proof that he wasn’t what her father said? While there was no questioning that there was something between them, Kya was left with more uncertainty than when the night started.
Saying yes could be the biggest mistake of her life, yet saying no could be just the same.
EIGHT
After applying the final touches to her makeup, Kya took a step back from the bathroom sink to stare at her reflection. The first time she applied eyeliner, she accidentally smudged her eyeshadow and had to take it all off. Once that was done, she thought the colors were too dark and ended up washing her face a second time. Now, with browns that looked natural and a medium shade of pink to bring out the undertones in her skin, she was content.
The reality of who she was going out with had not fully sunk in until that morning. Butterflies the size of bats took up every inch of her stomach making it hard to even think about eating. Throughout the day, her eyes traveled to the open closet door, pondering the right outfit. In a pair of blue jeans with a sexy pair of stilettos, she would risk turning him off. At the same time, a short dress for the sole purpose of turning him on was not her aim. Not that night anyway. Having already proven that she was not pressed for his time or swayed by his supposed fame was why he sought her out, requesting hers. The way she saw it, she’d already won.
When Kya agreed to one date, she had been on the fence about it. She wanted to let her instincts lead the way but hesitated because of his admission to the claims she did not want to believe. He tried to hurt her father. He said that. He said he wanted to use her to get to her father, but in the same breath, told her that things changed.
> His closeness, the clasping of her chin as he looked directly into her eyes drove his point home. It made her believe that he was genuinely interested. Still, Kya could not allow herself to let her guard down completely. Instead, she would use that night with Antonio to get to know him for herself.
Through the mirror and her open bathroom door, the red roses he placed in her hand, sat on her nightstand. Now a symbol of their connection, they gave her dull bedroom life. His presence seemed to have done the same by bringing her a smile and peace she hadn’t known since her mother became sick.
But what if this was a game?
Kya couldn’t stop asking herself that. Each time she let herself accept that Antonio was genuinely intrigued by her, that question rocketed to the forefront of her mind.
Why did he admit to his original plan?
If this was a game, why would he tell her that instead of lying to keep her in the dark, ignorant, and pliable?
Kya blinked long and hard, then looked toward her phone.
Antonio said he would be picking her up at seven and here it was, fifteen till and she was not dressed or finished her hair. With each second that she scrambled to get ready, those flaps and flutters of butterflies continued to plague her, more as she stepped out the door and saw him.
Antonio was a man that made a girl want to gnaw on the inside of her cheek regardless of what he was wearing, but black slacks and an open blazer revealing a crisp white shirt was just too sexy not to acknowledge.
Rather than the large truck he had been driving the night before, there was a shiny red car with a trail of red rose petals leading from the open passenger door to the steps of her apartment. Where the path ended, he waited. Pinched between his fingers, a lone survivor that was for her to keep.
“Hello, Kya.”
“Hello, Antonio.” Hearing herself speak, she cleared her throat and steeled her spine with confidence. She was on a mission and refused to be putty in his hands no matter what he did. “Don’t get me wrong, this is very romantic, but what is it with you and roses?” She asked while taking careful steps to avoid crushing the delicate flowers with her heels.