by Olivia Deici
“I can't walk out there in the state I'm in.”
I looked down and erupted in laughter. His smile was mischievous.
“This is your fault, you know. You should help me take care of it.”
“You weren't an innocent victim here. Go out through my side entrance.”
He grabbed the back of my neck and hauled me forward, kissing me hard.
“I'll be back at seven. Is that good?”
I nodded. “Busy day. Many patients. That should be a good time, though.”
His eyes looked into mine.
“I've never looked forward to working out more.”
Chapter 12
Roman
I paid a special visit to Miguel that morning. He was going to hear me about Parada.
I pulled up and saw the lines of unmounted motorcycles. I climbed out of my car, which was a hell of a lot easier than getting in was.
My cock had finally relaxed. It took a lot of coaxing.
A lot.
I had to go home and jack off to visions of that green-eyed beauty riding me.
Twice.
Walking up to the entrance of their building, I nodded to a few members when they greeted me.
“Hey, Rome. What's up man?”
Miguel walked up and we executed our typical fist bump and elaborate handshake, bumping shoulders, as I took my sunglasses off.
“We have a problem.”
He inclined his head. “Let's go talk about it. Beer?”
“Nah. Too early.”
He laughed and grabbed a bottle. “My liver enjoys a nice Heineken in the morning.”
When we settled in his office, he kicked his feet up on the desk and leaned back.
“So what's the problem?”
“Parada.”
He chuckled. “Which one.”
“Little less than six feet tall, temper's a mean son of a bitch, and has a scar on the left side of his face. I think his fists like women's faces.”
“Hector.”
I leaned forward and hardened my features. I saw Miguel tense.
“Put a rein on that hijo de puta before I take care of him.”
He held his palms up. Miguel knew who I was and that the clothes I now wore did nothing to erase the animal I'd always been. I wore a suit because I had to, but the child who grew up hand to mouth remained.
I'd grown up with many kids who were now in different groups and segments of society. We were all friends, and a few of us enemies, but we never forgot where we came from. I'd known how to shoot a gun before I could legally drive.
My family was definitely one of the most successful of our group, if not the most successful.
“I don't want bad blood between us.”
I shook my head. “There won't be, but put a leash on that fucker.”
“What'd he do?”
“Wanted to attack a doctor.”
“Laurenti?”
My body tensed as if ready to fight. Her name on his lips? On any man's lips.
Fuck. No.
“Yea. How do you know her?”
It must've been my tone, but he swept his hands in denial. “Naw. She's known in the community. Helps out a lot of people, bro.”
He watched me for a long second and whistled.
“Fuck me. A woman finally got to Roman Zambrano.” He sat back with a smile on his face. “Never thought I'd see the day.”
My face remained stoic. I typically didn't care if anyone knew about the piece of ass I was fucking at the moment.
Izzy was different.
She'd started to crawl under my skin, and I had a feeling that woman was going to burrow into my heart.
“Contain it.”
“Consider it done, hermano. He's been causing a lot of trouble for us. This is a long time coming. He's a pendejo.”
I nodded and stood.
“Keep in touch, Miggy.”
He laughed at the old nickname we used to called him.
“Tú también, Rome.”
I'd had enough of memory lane for one day. I had a shit ton of meetings to get through before I saw my girl.
Chapter 13
Izzy
I'd finished with the last patient a half an hour ago, gone upstairs to change into my running clothes, and waited for seven to come- all giddy to see him. My skin vibrated with anticipation. I had been looking forward to seeing him all day. He'd been the presence looming in my mind as I'd seen each patient.
I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this excited and giddy. He made me feel alive, happy even. It felt good.
He made me feel good.
It was 7:10PM, and I was looking out of the window for the thirteenth time in five minutes, when I heard a bang on the door below. The sun's light was already fading, but it wasn't unusual for the late banging to happen. It's occurred many times before, and even later than now. If there was an emergency with anyone, my patients or their friends and family often came knowing I'd help the injured- no matter who it was.
Dezi, my American bulldog rescue, only lifted his head.
“It's ok, Dez. I'll be back.”
Shrugging, I went downstairs and through the inner doors that led from my apartment to the office side of the building. I unlocked the doors and hurried through.
The waiting room was dimly lit and calm. The falling sun added a bit more light to the room. Marta had tidied up, and it looked orderly after today's busy day. I opened the door thoughtlessly as I'd done so many times previously.
It was stupid.
I knew this now.
I was shoved backwards and knocked off my feet. I landed on my ass with a cry of surprise. A large figure in dark clothes walked in and slammed the door.
My heart thudded in my chest. I couldn't quite catch my breath. This had never happened, although I always feared it could. Mostly, everyone was friendly with me no matter what walk of life they were from. I helped one and all, with no care to any demographic factors.
“Now we can talk without your pit bulls here to guard you.”
It was ironic how I, indeed, had a protector upstairs. And he was barking and growling like mad. He heard the rumble down here.
“What do you want, Mr. Parada?”
His laugh caused shivers.
“You to butt the fuck out of our lives.”
He took out a paper and I recognized my prescription sheet where I'd written the names of shelters and a divorce attorney, as I'd done for Gina five times before. She must have kept this one.
“You need to stop fucking putting ideas in her head.” He jammed his index finger in my forehead.
“Don't touch me.”
Dezi was going nuts upstairs.
Parada crouched down and got in my face.
“What the fuck are you going to do to stop me, you fucking nosy cunt.”
I stood up quickly and backed off. I was done dealing with this asshole.
“Oh? You have cojones now?”
I smirked and it threw him off. He became suspicious of me. His eyes narrowed.
“Get the fuck out of here before I call the police.”
He sniffed. “Where's Romano? Don't have him to guard you now, huh?”
He came at me and I took a defensive aikido stance.
He laughed at me.
“What? You think you can fight me?”
I nodded.
“Let's see what happens when a woman who has two black belts fights back.”
He laughed again and looked around.
“Are you sure you don't want to wait for Romano? Didn't you give him any today? You pay him to guard you with your pussy, don't you, you fucking slut.”
“I don't need anyone to defend me. I can defend myself.”
He took three steps closer to me and I maintained my stance.
“You're fucking weak! All you females are fucking weak!”
I shrugged but didn't lose my focus on him.
“I guess you'll have to find out if I am.”
“Bitch!!”
He got to his feet, and I swear his eyes were red.
“Does it hurt your little man's ego to be put down by a woman?”
Parada charged after me again, but before I could situate myself to defend, he was pulled back and slammed against the wall.
“Did he touch you?”
I was momentarily struck stupid. I hadn't even heard Roman come in.
He looked over to me and then back at Parada.
“Did he fucking touch you!”
He yelled that question in Parada's face. The veins were bulging in his neck.
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
Chapter 14
Roman
My hands squeezed the son of a bitch's neck. The urge to kill him was only tempered by my worry over Izzy. I'd heard yelling and came running. There was a dog upstairs that was going nuts to get to her.
My fucking heart jumped in my throat.
I had entered the front door in time to see her flip him. Pride like no other flooded me when I saw what she was capable of.
My Izzy was incredible.
That wore off quickly when I realized he wanted to charge after her again. I grabbed him and slammed him against the wall.
Now, I waited to hear her answer because it would decide this motherfucker's fate.
“No.”
Her voice was hesitant. I was probably scaring her as much as this fucker did.
Or, she didn’t want to tell me because she didn’t want me to hurt him.
“Tell him the truth, puta.”
Parada was looking at her. I held him up by his neck, and his voice sounded pinched. I slammed him hard against the wall again where he dangled a foot above the floor.
“Don't you fucking talk to her! Don't fucking look at her.”
His eyes focused on mine.
“You look at me.”
I let a moment pass.
“Did Miguel speak to you?”
His face looked confused for a moment. I reached into his pocket and pulled his cell out. I saw five missed calls from Miguel.
“You don't answer the phone when he calls? I'm surprised he puts up with your shit.”
“Fuck you.”
I threw his phone to the floor and got in his face.
“You don't touch what's mine.”
He sneered.
“Roman, please. It was nothing. He didn't do anything.”
Her voice was strong but it was tinged with fear.
“Did you touch her?”
Parada smiled.
“Ok. You got me. I touched her forehead.”
My eyes narrowed on him as his lips spread wider.
“But I wanted to do more.” His voice came out in spurts as I increased the pressure around his neck.
“Stop, Mr. Parada.”
“I wanted to push her down and stick my dick in that mouth of hers so she'd stop fucking putting ideas in my girl's head.”
He stopped to breathe. My hand allowed little room for that.
“Then I wanted to fuck that cunt of hers until she bled.”
He laughed and it blew the lid off my temper. I slammed him back twice.
“Roman!!”
I roughly pulled on the collar of my dress shirt with my free hand. “You fucking think my clothes civilize me?”
I got so close to his face, my nose nearly touched his.
“You think this suit castrates me?”
My jaw clenched and my voice went soft. I knew my eyes were wild. My temper was unmatched. It was my biggest character flaw.
And well-known amongst the street groups.
Parada lost the smile on his face.
“The only thing keeping you breathing is her. You better fucking thank her and leave her the fuck alone. And if you ever show your fucking face here again.”
I paused.
“I. Will. End. You.”
His breath was coming in spurts.
I pushed his head against the wall.
“THANK HER.”
He choked.
“You can look at her.”
He turned his head.
“Thank. You.”
His voice was morphed. I eased my hold.
“Get the fuck out. I'd fucking call Miguel if I were you. He's going to fucking hear about this.”
I let him go and he fell to the ground in a fit of coughs. He stood up after a few minutes. Parada was turning his head to look at Izzy. I got in his face again.
“Don't fucking look at her.”
His jaw clenched, and he turned towards the front door.
“If you return here…”
He paused at the threshold.
“Or you take out your temper on ANY woman.”
He turned around to me.
“I'll put a 45 between the pair of matching black eyes I'm going to give you. ¿Me entiendes?”
He nodded and turned again and walked out. When I heard him start up his motorcycle, I turned to Izzy. She was standing against the receptionist desk.
“I need to go to him.”
The barking dog registered in my head again. For the last five minutes, I just heard the blood pounding in my head.
She stood by watching me.
“Are you angry with me? Do you want me to leave?”
I didn't know what to do or think. Did the violence I showed turn her off from me?
I couldn't help it. It was inherent in me. My temper was swift and fierce. I rarely showed it, though. It had been a while, but tonight, the thought of him touching or threatening Izzy had set it off worse than it had ever been set off before.
Izzy began walking towards me and threw herself into my arms.
God, she felt good.
I leaned my head down and rested mine on hers, inhaling her light scent. She smelled good.
Her scent was comforting, easing the beast inside me whose hackles raised at the sight of her threatened.
“Are you alright?”
She nodded her head, but I felt her trembling.
“You did good, Izzy.”
She shook her head, which was resting on my chest. I pulled back.
“I was scared.”
My hands framed her face. “Being scared isn't relevant. It's what you do with it, Izzy, and you kicked his ass.”
She shook her head again and avoided my eyes.
“Look at me, Izzy.”
After a few heartbeats, her emeralds focused on me.
“That aikido maneuver was perfectly executed.”
Her smile was small but her eyes brightened at my praise.
“You know aikido?”
I smiled at her and nodded. “Some. I study Krav Maga and jiu jitsu.”
Her eyes widened.
“What levels are you at?”
“Fourth degree black in Krav Maga, and third degree black on jiu jitsu.”
Nodding, she said, “Aikido and jiu jitsu.”
It was my turn to be surprised.
“Nice combo. What levels?”
“Black. Both. Just earned in BJJ.”
I grinned at her. “I'd love to spar with you.”
She smiled and shook her head at me. “Do you ever stop flirting?”
“Baby, you say jiu jitsu, and all I picture are those strong legs wrapped around me.”
She shoved me and I caught her hands.
“Really, are you alright?”
She nodded. “Just disappointed in myself.”
“Why? You fucking did great. You defended yourself beautifully.”
She studied me for a second. I got the feeling that she wasn't often complimented, which I found really hard to believe.
“I should've been stronger, braver.”
“Was this the first time you put your training into actual use?”
She nodded.
“I began studying aikido first. After a year, my sensei approached me with the idea to also train in jiu jitsu.”
I wagged my eyebrows at her and she laughed.
“Your dog sounds like he's going to break the door down.”
“He's protective of me.”
I nodded. “He's a good dog then.”
“Did you bring clothes to change into?”
“You still want to go running?”
“Absolutely. I could use the exertion to unwind.”
I flashed her my dimples. “I could think of other exertional activities to do to unwind.”
“Roman, do you always have your head in the gutter.”
“I don't think so, but I know where I'd like my head to be now.”
She blushed and slapped a hand over my mouth. “Jesus.”
I bit her playfully. When she took her hand away, I said, “I have my clothes in the car. I'll be right back.”
“Just come up.”
A slow smile spread on my face. “Being invited up. I can see my status has already improved.”
“Don't get cocky on me.”
I looked down at myself and back up at her again. “A little too late. Let's see how it affects my run.”
I heard her laughter as we both turned in our respective directions.
Grabbing my bag from my trunk, I walked in through the waiting room outer door and locked it up. I headed in the direction I saw Izzy turn to, and recognized the hall I'd seen from her side door last night. I took the stairs two at a time and reached the upper landing that opened to her living area. There was a fence for her dog.
“Hey,” I called out. I heard her yell to come in
I stepped over the fence instead of opening it, and patted her dog’s head, who greeted me with a wagging tail.
She came out of a room and watched as her dog sniffed the shit out of me.
“Good boy, Dezi!”
I kept petting him and the dog leaned into my hand.
“Wow. That never happens.”
I looked up at her. “What?”
“He doesn't take to anyone. At all. He's super protective of me.”
I grinned as the dog nudged my hand. “He has good taste. You should follow his lead.”
Her laughter surrounded me.
“You mean I should nudge your hand with my nose and rub up against you?”