A Dangerous Game

by Sienna Grant

  “So, what will it be?” I have to force a smile on my face.

  “Have you been like this all day?” Angelo frowns at my current mood.

  “No, I saved the special smile for you two.”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t scared the customers away. Smile.” Angelo stresses.

  “What’s up, Laur?” Stefano asks, staring at me.

  My head shakes.

  “Nothing, tired that’s all.”

  His eyes are fixed on me, making me feel nervous.

  “So, I haven’t got all day, what are you having?”

  “The best of course. The lasagne.” Stefano orders with a grin. That grin is going to get me in so much trouble.

  I turn my attention to Angelo as he looks over the menu.

  “Why are you looking at the menu - you know what’s on there, you moron.” I tell him on a frustrated sigh.

  “Alright, Miss Happy, I’ll have the meatballs.”

  Writing down their order, I force another smile out, but my senses are tingling. I know Stefano’s looking for a reaction. I won’t give him one though.

  “Thanks. Anything else before I go?”

  “Just bread please.” Stefano’s smooth, but firm voice turns me into mush every time I hear it and he knows it. I take the menus from them and walk quickly away into the kitchen, out of sight.

  Cutting some fresh bread, I place it into the basket and put some butter into a dish, before taking it to their table. They both thank me and I leave them to their business.

  After an hour and half, they’re still here. It’s like they’re hanging around just to piss me off. The time seems to have slowed right down, but finally, I’m finishing in half an hour. I could have left earlier; it’s been pretty quiet for the last hour or so. I’m restocking the fridge while there’s few around, really to keep out of sight of Stefano. If I stay here and keep watching him, I’m going to give shit away really quick. I can’t keep looking at him; it kills me knowing that he can go around and do whatever he wants. After he kissed me in the club, I thought maybe we’d had found a turning point, but I was just being naive to think that. Really what can I do? Nothing. He’s his own man, even if it does hurt.

  I hear the bell above the door as it opens. I jump up thinking it’s a customer and see Rhys standing at the desk at the front of the restaurant.

  “Rhys, what are you doing here?” I ask a bit too loud as I reach him, touching his arm. I glance back to see Stefano glaring at us. Rhys is a little older than me, quite built, blond, with a kind of messy hairdo. Clean shaven unlike Stefano’s trimmed moustache, beard, and coiffed, slick hairstyle, but that’s him. It wouldn’t be Stefano if he was in anything other than a well-tailored suit and expensive shoes with neat hair. A sigh leaves me, but I try to hide it.

  “Hey.” He smiles. “I thought I’d come and wait for you to finish and give you a lift home.”

  “Oh, that would be great.”

  “Also, I thought you might want to try and drive my car? I was going to see if you were up for a lesson?”

  “Me? Drive your car?” I point at my own chest with my thumb

  “Yes, you.”

  “I don’t think that’s wise.” A sly smile creeps onto my face. “Okay, well, I don’t finish for another half an hour, so take a seat at the bar and I’ll grab you a coke.” I grin at him.

  “Okay, I’m just popping to the men's.”

  I nod and grab him a bottle from the fridge and pour it into a clean glass, placing it on the bar for him. Stefano looks over at Rhys. His jaw straining before he stands from his chair, straightens his suit jacket, and leaves the table, heading the same way as Rhys did. I keep my eye on him until he disappears around the corner. Other than follow him in there, I’ll just have to trust him to be good.

  Rhys is quiet when he returns from the toilet. It makes me wonder if Stefano said something to him - if I ask him straight out, he won’t admit it anyway, so I leave it. I look at the time and see it’s five minutes to six. Stefano and Angelo stand from their chairs and make their way to me at the bar. Stefano hands over his credit card to pay the bill. His eyes barely venturing from Rhys.

  What is his problem?

  He casually turns his head back to the front to face me.

  “So, who’s your friend?”

  “Rhys, his name is Rhys.” I sigh in frustration. “Rhys this is Stefano and that is my brother Angelo.”

  Stefano holds his hand out. Rhys pales slightly at the sight of it.

  “Rhys.”

  Rhys takes his hand and shakes it.

  “Rhys Duffy.”

  Stefano and Angelo stand side by side giving Rhys the once over, their intense stares making him fidgety.

  “Are you two quite finished?” I look between them and frown. “I’m so done with this. Let’s go.” I tell Rhys. “Haven’t you two got work to do?”

  Stefano’s glare directs to me, his gaze burning through me. Smirking, I arch an eyebrow and turn from him, sashaying away to grab my stuff. I pop my head into the kitchen, shout bye to my Mum. I tell her the guys are leaving and she comes out. Once they’re preoccupied with my mother I can leave. I grab Rhys’ arm and pull him with me out of the door. I turn back in time to see Stefano watching us. I blow a kiss from the tips of my fingers to Stefano, waving with a grin and hightail it out of the door, while Angelo is hugging our Mum.

  Rhys takes me to a huge car park and shows me the basics of driving. I know most of the basics in theory, but it’s putting them into practice. Angelo started taking me in the car at sixteen to get the feel of it, but he had no patience with me. So, I refused to go with him anymore.

  Rhys is different, he’s calm, totally patient and easy going. His hand covers mine over the gearstick, his eyes smiling as he helps me ease the car into gear. When I stall the engine because I’ve brought the clutch up too fast, he just smiles. I feel confident around him. I take the car around the car park a few more times, until I start to get tired.

  “Is it okay if we get going back now? I’m really tired and I have college in the morning. Then work in the afternoon again…”

  “Yeah of course it is. I just wanted to try and see what you could do.”

  “Thanks for bringing me Rhys, I really enjoyed it.” I tell him smiling softly. He returns my smile with a smirk, his hand running through his hair.

  “You’re welcome. We can do it again another time, if you want?”

  “That’d be really good. Maybe then I can get some proper lessons with an instructor.”

  “You were really good.” That earns another smile of appreciation.

  I get out of the driver’s seat and walk around getting into the passenger side. Rhys starts up the engine and heads for home.

  As we reach the house my phone buzzes with a text message. Feeling his burning gaze, I find Rhys looking at me as I turn my head his way.

  “Thanks again.”

  I lean across and kiss his cheek. He smiles happily, his eyes fixing on the rear-view mirror, watching the car that’s slowly pulled up down the street. I look back and see whoever it is pull out of the space they were in and drive past us. Rhys smiles at me.

  “Do you know who that was?” I ask him.

  “Nope. Why do you?”

  “No. You just looked like you did.”

  “I’ll text you when I’m free. If that’s okay Laura?” He asks changing the subject. I answer him anyway.

  “Definitely.” I wave him off as he drives away and walk up the long drive, grabbing my key from my pocket and letting myself in. My phone vibrates again with another message.

  Pulling it from my pocket I see there’s one from my mum saying she’s going to be late and the other is from Rhys. A giggle passes my lips as I open it up.

  I really enjoyed tonight. Instead of going out driving, maybe you should let me take you out properly?

  What if I said I liked going out, driving with you?

  The dots start moving almost straight away, then ano
ther message appears.

  I’d probably say you just want me for my driving skills.

  We’ll see. Thanks again.

  I smile as I head on into the kitchen and make myself a sandwich, then head upstairs to my room. I eat my sandwich and strip off, to jump into the shower. My phone begins to ring as I’m leaving the room and into my en suite bathroom. I walk back to the bed, picking up my phone and see Rhys calling. I’m almost naked - I really need a shower. I’m afraid he’ll have to wait. I let the phone ring off and get into the steamy water, letting it wash away the day.

  My alarm goes off at six-thirty am. I don’t even remember falling asleep, I must have been exhausted. Turning off the alarm before it wakes the house up. I look through squinting eyes and find I have missed calls. All seven of them, all from Rhys.

  “Persistent much.” I groan.

  Placing my phone back down, I roll over, pulling the duvet over my head. By the time I wake again it’s almost nine and I’m late. I jump from the bed and quickly start throwing on a pair of jeans and a baggy jumper with my boots. I wash and brush my teeth in record time, before combing through my hair and pulling it back into a ponytail. I grab my books shoving them into my bag and rushing down stairs, grabbing some fruit for on the way.

  “Did you oversleep?” My mum points out the obvious.

  “Maybe.”

  “I’ve shouted you four times; I refuse to shout you again.”

  “I didn’t hear you.”

  “Well I did.” Mum sighs. Placing a peck to her cheek, I walk away.

  “I have to go, before I’m really late.”

  “See you later.”

  I start to walk down the road and tuck into my apple, when a sports car sidles up the side of me. The window slides down, the dark and sexy eyes, that can belong to only one man is looking at me from inside the car.

  “Where you off?” Stefano calls out.

  “College.” I sigh.

  “Want a lift?”

  Do I forget the fact that I’m still angry with him, or do I take the lift and use the opportunity to my advantage?

  “Could you? I’m really late…” Yeah I’m a sucker for that man.

  “Get in.” I settle into the black leather of Stefano’s R8 and smile.

  “This is so nice.” I school my features and remove the smile that’s plastered to my face. “Thanks for the lift.”

  He nods as he pulls out into the road, then looks at me from the corner of his eye.

  “So how was your little date?”

  “It wasn’t a date, he’s a friend. How was your friend in the club?” I ask annoyed. “I’m still angry with you.”

  “She isn’t a friend. She’s….”

  “A prostitute?” I cut in.

  “Give me some credit.” Stefano snaps. His face is stern, but I can’t help feeling the heat rise between us, thickening the atmosphere inside the small enclosure of the car. I watch him control the wheel, his hand shifting the gears. I wish he’d control me like that.

  “Why were you acting like that in the restaurant yesterday?”

  “Like what?”

  “Really, Stefano?” I sigh. “You really have no idea, do you? You can drop me here, it’s only around the corner.”

  My phone rings in my pocket again, manoeuvring my hand beneath me, I drag it out and lift it up.

  Rhys again?

  It rings again while it’s in my hand, so I dismiss the call instead. I’m not talking to him while I’m in a car with Stefano.

  Opening my inbox up, I send him a text instead…

  Sorry I’m at college. Speak soon.

  I hold my phone in my hand. Stefano stops the car near to the college and turns to face me.

  “Didn’t want to take the call?”

  “No.”

  “Trouble in paradise?” he smirks.

  “What is your problem? You don’t want me, do you? So why not... I mean it can’t be the age difference. I’m eighteen, you’re twenty-three, Rhys is twenty-one. Not much difference. I’m sick of your mixed signals Stefano. You kissed me - twice. You make demands. You say if anyone touches me, you’ll kill them; what am I supposed to think. I understand it’s a little bit more difficult for us, but at least be honest, if not with me, at least maybe with yourself.”

  Testing him and his willpower with me, my hand smooths up his thigh, until he stops the movement with his hand covering mine.

  “You know sometimes you just have to take the risk.” I lower my voice to a whisper and try my luck.

  “I’ve told you - I’m no good for you.” He turns his face away from me to look out of the window.

  My shoulders slump with a heavy sigh.

  “It just leaves me with one choice then doesn’t it?” I tell him quietly, “I’d still like to know what that means.” Stepping from the car, I attempt to shut the door, but he stops it.

  “It’s complicated. I can’t tell you. Just bear with me...”

  I look back inside the car shaking my head in disappointment.

  “Whatever Stefano.”

  I step back, slam the door shut and walk into the college, hoping my lecturers won’t notice just how late I actually am. I send Rhys a message to pick me up from the restaurant at eight, then walk into my first class.

  Chapter Ten

  Rhys

  My knee bounces in the footwell of the driver's seat, while I wait for Laura to come out of work. I really like her, but I knew they’d make me do this as soon as they knew.

  I loved her company that first night I met her. She’s different to most girls, she’s not all about herself. Laura is genuinely interested in people. When I realised, she knew Stefano Di Marco, that all went out of the window. After he threatened me in the toilets of the restaurant yesterday, I realise this has to be done. He thinks he can do what he wants, when he wants. We’re about to teach him a lesson.

  Laura runs from the restaurant smiling, as she approaches my car. Pulling open the door, she jumps in happily. While she straps the seatbelt across her chest and locks it in, I start the engine.

  “Same place then, or are you going to let me take you out properly?”

  “Dressed like this?” She looks across questioning, “I don’t think so.”

  “I think you look great.”

  “Thanks. You’re sweet, but I know I look a wreck. I overslept. I didn’t get into college until ten, which I was an hour late and the day has just gotten worse. I didn’t get the grade I needed on my coursework. Which means I need to work twice as hard on the next one and cutting my hours at the restaurant to get it done. Mum will go ape.”

  I force a smirk on my face.

  “Sorry, same place, if it’s okay with you...?”

  Something doesn’t add up, I called her before that and she said she was at college, so is she lying to me? Putting the car into gear, I head for the car park we went to last time for her driving lesson. She looks out of the window most of the way there, preoccupied with something.

  “Is everything alright Laura?”

  She turns her head. I’ll admit she’s fucking stunning. If only things were different.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, just a few things on my mind. Ignore me.” She says with a wave of her hand.

  Pulling into the car park, I drive into the middle and pull to a stop, turning off the engine.

  “Okay, here we are.”

  I take off my belt, get out, walking around the car, as Laura climbs over into the driver's seat.

  “Alright turn on the engine, foot on the clutch, put it into first gear. As soon as you feel the bite of the engine, slowly release your foot off, just like I showed you last time.”

  She pulls off smoothly and drives around the car park as sweet as a nut. She’s actually a natural. I get her to go a bit faster so we can try some gear changes, just into second. She looks so happy that can she drive.

  After doing a few rounds of the car park, I get her to stop and tell her it’s enough for tonight. She turns off
the engine and sits in the seat taking off her belt.

  “You did really good, well done.”

  “Really? Eeeek, I’m so happy.” She claps her hands together softly. “Thank you so much Rhys. My brothers wouldn’t take me.” She puts her arms around my neck pulling me in. As she leans in to kiss my cheek, I turn my head to kiss her lips, but she quickly pulls away from me.

  “Rhys.”

  “Oh, come on… You know I like you. Just a kiss?”

  “I’m sorry I can’t. You’re a friend Rhys. I don’t want to spoil that.”

  Gripping the sides of her face tightly in my hands, I crash my lips to hers taking what I want from her. She flattens her palms against my chest, shoving me away.

  “You know you want me.” I sneer. Putting my face towards hers again, her hand connects with my cheek before I can kiss her again. She gets out and slams the door. I get out, run around the car, grabbing her by the arm and swinging her around to face me. My other arm swings out, while I keep her still with the other. The back of my hand connects with her cheekbone, causing her to tumble to the floor. Bringing my foot back, it connects with her ribs.

  I watch as she cries out, wrapping her arms around herself and holding her ribs. I roll her over onto her back straddling her body. I pull my fist back until it’s landing on her face, busting her nose open.

  “You deserve this, you fucking cock tease.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Stefano

  Pouring myself a drink, I sit down, place the laptop back on my legs and resume my search. There has to be something on Rhys Duffy, but nope, nothing.

  “Fuck.”

  Why can’t I find anything? What am I missing?

  I’ll have to get Angelo or Roberto on it. Angelo will want to know what I’m up to if I ask him. I’ll have to make something up, or maybe I’ll tell him I have my own reasons.

  Laura has played on my mind all day, the heartbroken look on her face. I wish things were different. I can deal with Angelo being my best friend – I just don’t want her mixed up in all this shit. I need to keep her as far away from it, as much I possibly can, but for how long is anyone's guess.