by Rose Cody
“If you can get it done, then get it done.”
“No problem, boss.” Johnny says, nodding his head as he watches his boss turn behind the bar and disappear back down the hall as he walks towards his office.
Johnny huffs, sighing out loudly before turning towards Joe and connecting his fist against the top of Joe’s arm.
“Hey!” Joe says, holding in his yelp in case the boss is still in earshot.
“I had to get up fucking early this morning and now I’m going to be up all night!” Johnny says, walking past Joe as he makes his way back behind the bar.
“Solver of problems, though, right?” Joes says, following him. “Hey, Johnny!” He calls out to him. “My thirst is a problem, too, why don’t you make me a drink?”
Chapter 7
Amber leans against the sink, her soapy wet hands holding strongly onto the counter as she closes her eyes and quietly lets out a deep breath. Her mashed potatoes and roast beef have turned into a solid rock in her stomach, weighing her down.
She wipes the back of her hand against her nose as she opens her eyes, standing up straight before turning her head and looking back towards her parents sitting in the living room. Amber glances over to the blinking clock on the microwave before gazing back over at them.
They have no idea that in less than twenty minutes she’ll be having her second meeting with the mafia in as many days.
She turns her attention back to the dishes, rinsing the last of the cutlery and placing the glistening forks on the rack to dry before picking up the towel from the counter beside her and wiping her soaking hands on it.
Amber walks over to the oven, threading the towel through the handle to dry before walking over to the stairs and stepping up the carpeted ledges and down the hall to her room.
She quickly grabs her sweater from the back of her desk chair before going over to sit on her bed.
“I could fucking go to jail.” She whispers to herself as she wraps her sweater around herself before resting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her palms. “Imagine that, girl goes to jail for conspiring with the mob; thugs continue to run free.”
She rubs her fingers over her eyebrows before smoothing out the little hairs.
“I could be jeopardizing what little we have left…”
She shakes her head, clearing her thoughts as she stands up from her bed and walks across her room, stepping through her doorway and closing the door behind herself.
Amber makes her way to the bathroom across the hall, gently closing the door and twisting the lock before walking over to the sink.
She turns on the cold water tap, letting the chilled liquid run over her finger as the water pressure builds before leaning forward and splashing it against her face.
Amber reaches for her towel, pulling the fluffy olive square from the rack and pressing it against her face. She moans softly into the plush material as the rock in her stomach only gets heavier.
She lets the towel drop to the floor before stepping over it and opening that bathroom door back up. Amber bounces back down the stairs, letting out a slow, deep breath as she quietly makes her way into the living room.
“I’m going to go out for a little while.” She says, forcing a smile for her parents as she slips on her light brown flats. “I’m meeting a friend for coffee… I don’t know when I’ll be back so it’s okay if you don’t wait up. She just got back from Asia, so I’m sure she’s got enough stories to fill the entire night.”
“Alirght.” Her dad says, looking up at her with his tired eyes. “It’s getting late, though, so please be safe, Amber.”
“Of course, dad.” She says to him as she turns the door knob on the front door and pulls it open. “It’s just a coffee.”
He nods, giving her a small wave before turning his head back toward the TV as Amber steps outside into the cool night air.
She sighs as she walks down their front path down to the city sidewalk, shaking her head.
She hates lying to her parents, but this is really something they don’t need to know. Maybe she’s doing it behind their back, but it’s all for them.
Amber turns off of her street, looking back and forth and all around her as she walks further away from the safety of her home.
Her heart beats in her chest as she hears the engine of a car start up and she glances behind her again, watching the black vehicle slowly begin to drive towards her.
She picks up her pace, beginning to panic as the car doesn’t pass, but instead slows down and pulls up beside her.
Amber stops, watching as the tinted passenger window slides down an inch or two, a man’s voice seeping through the crack.
“Get in.”
Chapter 8
Amber hesitates before stepping forward. She hooks her fingers under the silver door handle, pulling on it and opening the door before bending down to look inside the car.
“Oh my gosh, it’s you!” She says, recognising the man from before. “Are you here to help me.”
“You gotta get in the car.” He says, waving her in.
“But you’re the guy, right?” She asks, again nervously.
“Get in the fucking car, lady!” He says, nodding his head up and down before looking around out of his window and in his mirrors.
Amber quickly slips inside, embarrassed as she shuts the door behind her.
“Don’t bring attention to us. Things have to be done quickly.” He says , slowly driving away.
“Sorry!” Amber says on the defensive. “It’s not like I’ve done this before! So how am I supposed to have any idea what to do!?”
“Well, you’re the one who came to us, so I would think you understand the gravity of the situation.” Johnny says, shrugging his shoulders as he watches Amber nod her head sheepishly. “But look, okay, if we’re going to be dealing with each other, I’d rather not fight about it. Just remember it for next time.”
“Yeah, okay.” She says, nodding some more, her chest aching.
“Now…” He starts, taking a deep breath in. “Where was your dad’s business? Around here?”
“Yeah, actually.” Amber says, letting out a sigh as she sits up in her seat to point it out. “About two blocks that way.”
They drive in silence for the next few minutes before Johnny slowly pulls up beside the blackened shell of a building.
“Is this it?” He asks softly, watching Amber wipe a tear from her cheek as she sniffs.
“Yeah. This is it.” She says, gazing out into the wreckage. “Or, this was it, I guess.”
“Wow, they really got you guys good.” He says.
Amber pulls on her sweater, tightening it around herself as she sits uncomfortable beside Johnny, her eyes trying to avoid the scene outside.
“Hey, by the way…” Johnny says, gently resting his palm on the top of her thigh. “I’m really sorry this happened to you.”
She nods biting her bottom lip as she looks into his brown eyes.
“But you came to the right place, yeah?” He says, a small, sympathetic smile turning up his lips. “We’ll make it alright again.”
Her face flushes hot before she turns away from him and pushes away his hand.
“I know.” She whispers.
He clears his throat before pulling away from the curb.
“So, do you have any idea where these dickholes like to meet?” He asks, glancing to her as he drives. “Have you seen where they hang out?”
“Well, they’re everywhere.” She says. “Just everywhere! But if I had to pick a single place it would be across from Stoney Trailer Park at the edge of town. I have seen them there before going in and out of a boarded up house.”
“Stoney, you said?” Johnny chuckles as he does a quick U-turn. “Looks like we’re dealing with a bunch of white trash degenerates. Fucking Christ, desperate like that play so dirty because they have nothing to lose.”
Amber nods, breathing quickly out of her nose as her heart pounds faster and faster the closer they
get before the offensive sight of the crack house comes into view.
“There!” She yells, pointing from behind the window. “It’s over there.”
Johnny turns his headlights off before coming to a slow crawl as he parks down the street, far enough away to keep any suspicion at bay but close enough to still see all the disgusting details that have plagued Amber’s neighbourhood for so long.
“Do you recognize anybody?” Johnny asks, leaning in toward Amber to whisper at her.
She leans forward, squinting her eyes as she takes inventory of the people sitting around on the front law, drinking straight from the bottle before her eyes catch the front door open.
Amber watches a tall man with homemade tattoos littering his sickly pale skin walk out the door, letting it swing closed behind him as he steps out onto the porch.
“Johnny.” She whispers, turning her head to make sure he’s watching, too. “That’s him. That’s the guy who threatened us. He’s the one who burned down my father’s bakery!”
Chapter 9
Amber’s body shakes with anger as she watches the scumbag who ruined her parent’s life dip his hand into the pocket of his dirty jeans, pulling out a pack of smokes before he taps the bottom and pops one out, picking it up with his mouth.
He tosses the empty pack onto the lawn before turning himself out of the direction of the wind and lighting his smoke.
She watches, her fists balling and bunching her sweater as a cloud of dancing smoke raises as he exhales. Amber follows the glowing cherry as the thug lifts the cigarette back into his mouth to take another drag.
“Amber…” He says, his eyebrows furrowing as he rests his hand on her shoulder to relax her as he gently pushes her back into her seat. “Amber, I’m sorry you had to come here…”
She sniffs, letting out a deep breath as she keeps her eyes locked in on the thug.
“His name is Oliver.” She says, shaking in frustration. “I don’t know his last name, but I know they called him Oliver.”
“Oliver.” Johnny says, nodding his head. “Well, alright then, we’ll find a way to take care of Oliver.”
Amber leans back into her seat as she feels Johnny’s hand trail down her arm before he gently opens her fist, letting her knuckles relax.
“We can go, don’t worry…” He says, leaning in to whisper in her ear as he entangles his fingers between hers.
Amber leans into Johnny’s hot breath as she feels it tickle her neck before she turns her head towards him. She closes her eyes as her lips gently brush against his before he closes the gap, pressing them together as his palm rests on the back of her head.
She sighs out as she feels his hand on her thigh as his fingers sink between her legs, resting in the warmth against her jeans.
“Johnny…” She whispers to him as he unbuttons the top button on her jeans before slowly pulling down the zipper.
Amber leans back into her seat, letting her head roll to the side as Johnny sinks his fingers into the front of her jeans and into her panties before dipping his middle finger deeply into her slit.
He threads his finger through her lips, dragging it up and down and covering it in her slick before pressing the pad of his finger against her tingling, swelling bead and gently rubbing back and forth.
Amber moans out quietly as Johnny’s tongue flicks against her lips, spreading them open, before he sinks it inside to explore her mouth and wrestle with her own tongue.
“Come over here, Amber…” He whispers to her as he pulls his fingers out of her jeans and leans back into his seat before bringing his soaked middle finger up to his mouth and sucking her slick off, moaning as he swallows.
Her heart races as she hooks her fingers into the elastic waist of her panties and pushes them down along with her jeans as she watches Johnny unzip his suit pants and gently paw at his stiffening erection.
She kicks away her jeans, reaching out to him as she crawls over the center console and onto his lap, moaning as Johnny threads the tip of his stiff cock up and down between her soaking pussy lips before pressing his aching head inside of her.
He moans out, closing his eyes and resting his head against the headrest as Amber slowly sinks herself down his thick shaft.
She gasps as he bucks into her and holds her down with his hands on either side of her hips as he finds his pace.
“Oh… God…” He moans, pulling her close to him as his thick cock begins to swell even thicker inside of her.
Amber gasps as Johnny grunts into her, his cock twitching as he cums.
She rests her head on his shoulder as she feels Johnny stroke his hand up and down her back.
“Amber, I should get you home.” He whispers, clearing his throat as he deeply breathes in the scent of her hair. “I’ve got to get back to talk to Mr. Ambrosini.”
Chapter 10
Amber sits in front of the dryer on the concreate floor of her laundry room with her legs crossed and he elbows on her knees as she leans forward, resting her cheeks in her upturned palms.
Each day has felt longer than the last since Johnny dropped her back off in front of her house that night two weeks ago.
She sighs, leaning backwards and unfolding her legs before stretching them out in front of her.
Never before had she slept with a guy she wasn’t in a relationship with. Johnny was her first one night stand and as much as she tries to be angry with herself, she just can’t seem to be.
She closes her eyes, letting out a deep breath through her nose as she remembers holding on tight to his wide shoulders as his thickness nestled itself deep inside of her.
“I wonder if I’ll see him again…” She whispers to herself.
Amber shakes herself out of her daze as she hears the loud buzz of the dryer as the tumbling stops and her laundry finishes.
She gets back to her knees, crawling over to the machine before pulling open the round glass door and reaching inside to pull out her clothes, letting the warm, soft bundle sit in her lap.
“At this point, though, I’d be willing to just hear from anyone.” She whispers, picking up and shirt and folding it into a manageable square. “It’s been two fucking weeks and I hope they just didn’t take the money and put on a show before disappearing with all of it.”
She places the folded shirt on the ground beside her before picking up another one and folding it exactly the same.
“I should probably give them a call…”
Amber folds the rest of her laundry before picking up the pile and placing it into her wicker basket.
She stands up stretching, letting a squeal escape from between her lips before she sighs as she relaxes her shoulders.
She bends over to pick up her basket when she hears a loud crashing shatter to her left and feels the cold poke of glass as huge shards hit her skin.
“Ah!” She yells as she quickly sinks to the floor.
Amber hides her face as the smashed glass hits the floor before she looks up and around the room, her chest heaving.
“What the fuck!” She says, her body shaking as she notices the broken window and old, dirty brick just a few feet from her.
She gets up from the floor, her legs barely able to hold her, and runs out of the living room before picking up her cell and searching through the contacts.
“They need to fucking finish this NOW!” She says as she hold the phone up to her face, listening to the other line ring.
Chapter 11
Johnny kicks his feet up on the stained wooden coffee table in front of him as he lets himself sink into the dark leather couch.
He takes a quick sip of his scotch, letting the golden liquid sit on his tongue momentarily before swallowing it back as he watches some a few of the girls dance on the stage.
He raises his glass, smiling as he watches one of them spin around the pole before taking another sip and letting his mind wonder as he imagines the dancer to be Amber.
“Johnny boy…” He hears, knocking him back to reality. �
�Are you mad at us or something?”
He opens his eyes, watching as two women slink onto the couch, sliding themselves closer to him.
“Why would I be mad at you girls?” He asks, smirking as he takes another sip of his beverage.
“Well,” The blonder one starts. “You haven’t been coming for your usual lately, Johnny…”