Expect the Unexpected

by L. M. Heidle

  ALEX

  The bartender leaned over the bar, yelling to be heard. “What can I get you, ladies?”

  “A dirty martini and a Pepsi.” He hesitated before hitting his knuckles on the bar and walking away. I know most people didn’t go to a bar and order an overpriced soda, but I wasn’t feeling the alcohol tonight.

  Kass held up her phone, showing me the same number that had been calling all night. “Why exactly are we avoiding him again? I thought you guys were good.”

  Things weren’t good, they were amazing. Thinking about him had me thinking about last night and the moment I truly knew I was in love. He’d had me falling for awhile between his playfulness, devotion to his family, and the safety he made me feel, but after last night there was no doubt in my mind about us.

  I had my back to him as we watched a movie on the couch. Minutes after the movie started he moved my hair over my shoulder and started running his finger up and down my arm. Every swipe of his finger had my focus less and less on the movie, and when his lips found me neck, I was done. I rolled to him at the same time he moved over me, trailing his lips over my cheek to my lips. The kiss started slow and sweet, but within seconds I saw fireworks behind my eyes.

  The next thing I knew, he pulled back and removed my roaming hands from under his shirt. I was so confused when he stood and slowly backed away. “What?” He put his hand up cutting me off. My brows drew together as I turned red from embarrassment. I was inexperienced, but it was pretty hard to miss he was turned on. I brought my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them, and resting my chin on them as I tried to figure out what happened.

  After a minute or two, he came back over, pulled me into him, and kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry, Alex. I needed to stop before I couldn’t.” That was the moment I knew I was in love. He had enough respect for me to stop because he knew my reservations about having sex.

  Kass snapped her fingers. “That right there. Someone smiling that big, with stars in her eyes shouldn’t be avoiding her boyfriend.”

  I twirled the straw in my drink. The only major downfall with Trayton was Lucas. I saw Lucas more now that I knew the truth, which was something Tray hated. He tried to hide it, but he wouldn’t be winning any awards for his acting anytime soon. “He threw a hissy fit when I told him Lucas and I were going shopping for Trip tomorrow. He needs to understand that stuff won’t fly. Lucas and I are finally getting back on track, and he needs to respect that.” She put her hand over her mouth, making me close my eyes. “He’s coming isn’t he?”

  “No,” she said through a smile.

  “He’s here,” Tray whispered angrily against my neck, making my body shudder. I might be ticked he was interrupting girls’ night, but that didn’t change how he affected me. He put a hand on the stool turning me to face a very pissed off man. “Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

  I moved my hand to his chest to shove him but ended up pulling him closer. He smirked when my hands migrated south. I dropped my hands and frowned. Stupid muscular awesomeness. “You know why.”

  He stepped in between my legs, resting his hands on my thighs. “No, I know why you aren’t talking to me.” I rolled my eyes as I tried to push him away, which only made him grab my hips dragging me closer. “Alexandria, you’re mad I get it. If you don’t want to talk send a message telling me to screw off, but don’t turn your phone off.” He leaned in, and his lips by my ear. “Not only because it worries me, but it’s not safe.”

  I pulled my phone from my back pocket and turned it on. “Better?” He nodded. “Okay, you can leave now.”

  “Not with you dressed like that.” I had on a pair of high-waist black shorts with a pink halter top, not risky by any means. His lips found their way back to my ear. “At least not without me here to enjoy it.”

  I bit my lip to stop my smile as I pointed to the door. He gave me a kiss on the forehead and walked out laughing.

  “You love him.”

  I moved my eyes from his butt, turning to Kass. “Yeah, I do.”

  ALEX

  My relationship with Trayton and Trip wasn’t the only ones that changed. I heard from Luc a lot more and even saw him a couple of times. I had a feeling his increase in contact had to do with his disapproval of Trayton because we had several fights about him. When he realized I wasn’t backing down about breaking up with him, he grudgingly accepted it. After that, our relationship quickly fell into an easy, familiar rhythm as we caught up on what we missed.

  I also remembered a few things about him, like his hatred for shopping, which is why I was five seconds away from strangling him. “You do realize Trip doesn’t get out for a week, right?”

  “Yes, you’ve mentioned it about a million times today, Lucas. Stop your whining and help me pick out a bedspread.” I grabbed his arm dragging him over to the bedding section.

  “The guys would die laughing if they saw me right now.”

  “I could always tell them how you willingly played with my Barbie’s.”

  He looked around before whisper-hissing, “Shut up.”

  “Then stop whining and help. Now, do you think he’ll like the black and red or the black and tan?”

  “You’re evil.” I smiled innocently and batted my eyelashes. “The black and tan.”

  “Great, I’ll get the black and red.” He threw his hands up and scoffed. “On to throw pillows.”

  “Did you forget your brother is a guy?”

  I tapped my finger on my chin. “Hmm . . . wasn’t it Malibu Barbie that was your favorite?”

  “I was eight, and she was in a bikini.” He groaned, “I can’t believe you have me justifying that.”

  After we had got a bedspread, sheets, and pillows, we moved onto clothes. Lucas grumbled the entire time, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The last stop of the day was for personal items. “Lucas, do you remember what kind of deodorant he uses?”

  “Seriously? Just pick one.”

  I studied the two in my hand, Intense Sport or Pure Sport. What the hell is the difference? Why couldn’t I just smell them like I did mine to pick one? “Maybe I’ll get a couple so he can choose.” I set them in the cart and headed toward shampoo when Lucas groaned…again. He marched over to the cart, putting Pure Sport back before grabbing shampoo. He wrapped his hand around my wrist pulling me along as he pushed the cart to checkout.

  “Lucas, wait! He needs conditioner.” He completely ignored me, muttering how Trip owed him. When he started slamming things on the checkout counter, the clerk took a step back and had her manager come over to check us out. The whole time I was biting my lip trying not to laugh. As we were ‘helped’ out of the store, I started freaking out. “Luc, did I get everything he’ll need?” I wanted to make sure he had everything he needed to make this transition easier, and I was terrified I’d forget something.

  Holding up the ten or so bags, he said, “You got plenty.”

  “I just want to make sure he’s comfortable.”

  Lucas assured, “I know, Lex. He’ll appreciate it.” He moved an arm around me, knocking me around with the bags. I was about to complain when I saw his hardened eyes and tight jaw.

  My head moved from left to right. “What’s wrong?”

  “Alex, I need for you to listen very carefully and do exactly what I say.” I speechlessly nodded as my heart rate kicked into overdrive. “I need you to reach in my front pocket to get my keys and unlock the door as quickly as possible.” I shoved my hand into his pocket without a thought and unlocked the car. “Now get in the passenger seat and start the car.”

  I stopped mid-way in the car. “What’s going on?”

  “Just do it,” he gritted out as he threw the bags in the backseat. Seconds after he sat down and put the car in reverse, the back glass shattered with a loud pop. “Shit!” He shoved me into the floorboard as glass from my window shattered around me, making my heart stop.

  I nailed my head on the door when Lucas accelerated out of the parking lot sideways, tir
es screeching, and horn blowing. I covered my head and curled into a ball as a bullet hit the tire making us fishtail. A glint of silver caught my eye. Lucas had a gun and was preparing to use it.

  “Lucas! What are you doing?” I screeched. “There are children in the parking lot!” I could only see his profile as he took another sharp turn, but I knew Lucas was gone. I’d never pictured him as Playboy, the gang member, but I could see it now. His face was set in hard lines as a menacing aura rolled off him. I didn’t like how comfortable he seemed with the gun, but at least he lowered it. He accelerated again seconds before slamming on his brakes and laying into the horn, making my ears ring. “Move it, old man!!” I screamed when a bullet hit the side of the car. Lucas didn’t say anything, but I saw his hand reach for the gun in his lap, then I heard an awful screeching sound. The sound metal against metal makes. At least it was a car he hit and not the old man.

  He’d straightened the car out and laid the gun in the center console a few seconds later so I assumed we were out of the mall parking lot, but I was too scared to move. I ignored my cramping legs and the glass cutting into my skin. Instead, I focused on what the hell just happened.

  After a few minutes, and another acceleration sending me flying head first into the glove box I asked, “Luc, can I get up?” He jerked, almost like he’d forgotten I was in the car. He checked the rearview mirror before helping me off the floorboard. I had no idea where we were going because everything flew by what was left of my window, disorienting me until I had to look away.

  Dust flew as he sped into the garage parking lot. Before he even put the car in park, my door was ripped open, and I was being pulled from the car making me scream. I kicked and punched until I heard a familiar voice in my ear.

  “Shh, angel. It’s me.” I sagged in relief, Trayton barely catching me before I hit the ground as the tears started. My body started trembling as it registered I’d been shot at. I heard voices yelling all around me, but it sounded like they were miles away. Suddenly my legs went out from under me as I was picked up and carried into the garage. “Angel.” He lightly shook me. “I need to see your baby blues.” I tried bringing him into focus, but everything was still so blurry. He lightly shook me again. That’s when I heard Lucas’ angry voice.

  “Stop shaking her, she’s obviously in shock.”

  “Because you couldn’t protect her, idiota! She could have been killed! I knew a senza valore pandillero couldn’t be trusted.” My ears were still ringing, and the yelling wasn’t helping, so I pulled on Tray’s shirt. “There you are. How you doing?”

  “Umm, good?” In truth, I had no idea how I was doing. I did know that having Tray near helped me to calm the hysterics I’d started to feel. I was actually a little shocked I wasn’t losing my mind right now. I was definitely shaken, but I was able to breathe, and my heart rate was evening out.

  He lightly kissed my forehead before setting me down behind him and punching Lucas. His face snapped to the right, almost knocking him over. “That’s for not protecting her.” He followed with a left hook. “That’s because she’s bleeding.” Wait, I’m bleeding? My hand moved to my throbbing head where I felt dried blood. My hand fell as I watched Tray finish with a knee to the gut, and this time, Lucas hit the ground. I had no idea what to do as my head swung from the hostile man flexing his hand to the enraged man slowly standing up.

  Lucas brushed off his knees as he stood. With a deathly calm voice, he said, “I’ll give you those hits, but do it again and I’ll come back at you.”

  Tray got right in his face, but I cut in before he could speak. “Guys, come on, I’m fine.” I twirled before shakily saying, “Look no bullet holes.” From the heated—not in a good way—glares I received, they didn’t appreciate my attempt at humor. “Seriously, guys, calm down. Let’s not do something you’ll regret.”

  Tray gave a slightly maniacal laugh. “Oh trust me, I won’t regret anything.”

  I pushed my way between them. “Tray, don’t.”

  Luc grabbed my arm pulling me behind him. “Lex, stay out of this.”

  “Don’t you dare lay your hands on her.” He shoved Luc out of the way, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind him. I wondered if this was what a rag doll felt like.

  “I’m not supposed to touch her, but you can? I don’t think so. Her brother trusts me, not you.”

  “How much trust is he going to have when he hears about this?” Tray spit back. ‘The ‘Great Playboy’ almost got her killed!” Lucas took a step toward him, his fist already cocked.

  “Enough,” a guy with a nasty scar down the left side of his face yelled. Lucas instantly dropped his arm and stepped back. Not to mention Tray kept his mouth shut, even though it was obvious he was still fuming.

  There was a brief, tense silence before Tray asked, “Eduardo, what do you know?” Eduardo? He had the same overpowering air about him as Trayton’s uncle, which meant he was probably the boss.

  Lucas stepped forward and instructed, “When it involves her, you talk to me. No one else. Just. Me.”

  Trayton didn’t even spare him a glance. “Eduardo?”

  “By the time our guys got there he was gone. We have a tech guy hacking into the mall security cameras. As of right now we’re not sure this is Diablos related.” Getting shot at? Hacking into cameras? Is this really my life?

  “Shouldn’t we call the cops?” I interjected. Everyone’s head turned toward me. “Right, dumb question.” Cops meant questions, and there wasn’t generally a positive working environment between the two. If this was Diablos or even Russo related, they’d want to carry out their own form of justice. After learning about Tray and Luc I watched every show, documentary, and read every book I could find about the mafia and gang world.

  “I’ve spoken with your uncle, and none of their contacts have heard anything.”

  “I’m getting her out of here. Call me when you have something.” He tried pulling me out of there before I could give Lucas a hug, but I dug my heels in.

  He stared me down as I whispered, “Lucas.” He shifted out of my way with disapproval radiating from him. I grabbed Lucas’ hand and led him behind a car, mainly to get out of Trayton’s ear and eyesight. “You know I don’t blame you, right?”

  “You should, you were shot at today.”

  I wrapped my arms around his stomach. “You got me out of there before anything could happen.”

  “Lex, your window was shot out seconds after I shoved you to the floor.”

  “WHAT?” Tray roared as something crashed against the far wall. I should have known he wouldn’t stay put.

  I gave him a warning glare before putting a hand on Lucas’ cheeks so he was forced to look at me. “I trust you with my life, and today didn’t change that. Now give me a hug so I can get out of here before you two go at it again.”

  He kissed me on the temple, whispering, “He wouldn’t stand a chance.” I chuckled before letting go and following Tray out to his Mustang, which still had the driver’s door open.

  “So you’re taking me home?” I wanted to ask him to stay because I was still shaken up, but I didn’t want to seem too needy.

  He interlaced our fingers as he placed our hands on his thigh. “No.”

  “Then where?”

  He squeezed my hand. “My apartment. It’s not safe until we know who’s behind this.”

  I whispered, “Can Kass come? I don’t want her there alone.”

  “Call her, we’ll swing by and pick her up.” He leaned over me and pulled a first aid kit from under my seat. “You might want to clean up a little first.”

  TRAYTON

  “Nice digs, Tray.”

  “Thanks.” I took her bag and headed down the hall. “I’ll get the guest room set up.”

  “That’s nice, but first I’d like to know why the heck I’m here? Not that I’m complaining, because hello this place is awesome, but what happened?” My hand indistinctly tightened on her bag as I remembered seeing Alex’s ashen face with
blood running down the side. The black of her pupils taking over her blue irises.

  Listening to her relay the story and assure Kass she was okay was too much. “Excuse me, ladies, I need to make a few phone calls.”

  I stepped into my office and closed the door, fighting my growing anger. I’d never been so scared in my life when Playboy called me. I don’t think I took a full breath until I had her in my arms. After taking a deep breath, I sat down to call my uncle. I didn’t bother with a hello when he picked up. “Anything?”

  “No.”

  “What the hell is taking so long?” I ran my hand through my hair as my agitation grew. “Someone shot at my girlfriend in broad daylight, and I’m going to make sure they regret it.”

  “Calm down, Trayton.”

  I exploded from my chair, sending it crashing into the wall. “Calm down? Are you serious?”

  “You’re too attached to this situation to be rational right now. Let me handle this. It’s not an act first ask questions later situation.”

  I hated that he was right. Flying off the handle wouldn’t help anyone right now. “Fine.”

  “I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”

  After I had hung up without a word, I sat back in my chair with my hands on top my head. I knew she could get hurt with me, but I risked it like an idiot. Even if this had nothing to do with me, I didn’t know that I could risk her life again. I also didn’t know if I could live without the woman I loved. I didn’t know that there was any one thing or one moment that had me falling in love. It was more her as a whole and the fact when I thought about the future I saw her. Leaving her would be equivalent to having my heart ripped out, so I’d stop at nothing to protect her. Lord help anyone who stood in my way.

  I stood and headed back to the living room. I needed to hold her, to reassure myself she was okay. I stepped into the room finding it empty. I knew they didn’t leave which meant they went to bed.

  I made my way to the guest room. I needed her with me tonight. I had my hand ready to knock when I noticed a light was on in my bedroom. I pushed the door open and smiled. She was lying in the middle of the bed fast asleep with her hair sprawled around her. The light from the lamp made it appear like a halo. I didn’t call her angel for no reason. I called her that because she was my angel. My saving grace.