The Temp

by Cates, A. K

  Observers, yeah right! If they really were who she feared they were, they wouldn’t observe for long. Hopefully they’d follow the moving truck, notice Eve wasn’t at the new address, return back and lose Eve altogether after she didn’t show up at the apartment again.

  It was a long shot.

  *

  Jensen snubbed out his third cigarette in only two hours and yanked out his phone.

  He was in deep shit with Beareman, Cotes and the Boss. He hadn’t understood before. Now he was starting to. This girl was special.

  “It looks like she’s moving away,” he said after he’d dialled the number. He gave the details of what she’d been doing. A look in her window had confirmed there was significantly less furniture. He wasn’t talking to the Boss, never directly. It was Cotes on the other line. Jenson sighed, at least it wasn’t Beareman.

  There was a rumble on the other side, Cotes was drawing breath, his lungs not what they used to be. “Follow the truck and keep a safe distance this time.”

  “Ok will do,” he said after a moment, he tried to sound chipper despite his apparent failure. “I’ll follow the truck and see where she ends up.” He could already hear the dial tone before he stopped talking.

  59

  “Eve,” Nick beamed. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”

  Her cheeks pinked immediately. Nick, she’d never known how he felt and seeing him there was as if she were seeing him for the first time.

  “I’ve been busy lately,” she smiled apologetically. The coffee shop was near empty on this day, Eve had chosen the off peak hour for her work and the peace and quiet.

  “The usual?” Eve nodded, standing off to the side.

  Her booth had two people sitting in it though it appeared as though they would leave soon. “How’s your writing going?” Nick said as she fingered her notebook in her bag.

  Eve blinked, Nick never asked even if he presumed to know exactly what she came in here for. He’d kept it to himself like a secret.

  She assumed he knew, after all how many people came in purely with notebooks and worked in them for hours like she did? None.

  “It’s not. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” she blushed. Eve put the money on the counter and walked over to her favourite booth as soon as the couple vacated.

  Trisha wasn’t working her shift until later today, yet Eve had craved her favourite pastime, even if the writing might not come easy. She fiddled with her pen as she waited for Nick to put the coffee on the table.

  Nick was different today, stood straighter, broader and his hair shone brighter. His eyes glittered a brilliant blue as he lingered over her table a second longer. “You look different,” he said pulling her attention to him.

  Funny, her head lopsided. “I was just thinking the same thing.” She could picture him as the high school heartthrob or quarterback of the football team; he was barely a year older than her in golden wheat hair, sparsely freckled cheeks and muscular arms.

  “Oh.”

  “Stressed I mean, you should come by more often. You’re always happier when you leave here,” he said, his cheeks turning a slight pink. Eve blinked again. Nick hardly ever spoke to her, except to smile. Now he was speaking to her as if they always spoke like this and it seemed natural, easy.

  Why hadn’t they spoken properly before?

  “I am always happier when I leave here,” she said, having Nick notice that he cared…she smiled down at her coffee.

  …

  “Eve.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Can I see you outside the coffee house some time?”

  “Huh?”

  Nick hesitated, shuffling from side to side as he stood there.

  Eve’s mouth opened and closed.

  “Can we um, I guess go out some time?”

  …

  “Ok,” her voice was so tiny.

  “Huh?”

  “Ok,” this time she smiled. Eve always liked Nick, always appreciated his appearance, his award winning smile. Maybe he was better suited to her than Roman or even Trigger. Maybe, maybe, maybe she should try to forget billionaires, sexy handlers and corporate espionage.

  “How about tonight? Are you busy?”

  “No,” it was the understatement of a century. Eve couldn’t remember the last time she really had something to do at night that didn’t involve herself and a TV, Roman Pierce aside. “I’m not busy.” Oh, admitting it out loud.

  Nick lifted his wrist and for the first time Eve noticed a silver wristwatch on his arm. It was an exquisite thing far too pricey for a barista.

  She didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Can I pick you up at eight?”

  “You have my address?”

  “It’s the same at Trisha’s, isn’t it?” old address, she didn’t correct him as a pang invaded her. Eve nodded a tinge of warmth filling her insides. His eyes lingered on her face, “I’ll see you then.” He moved away from the booth.

  “Wait,” Eve said. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see,” Nick winked in a way she’d never seen before. In a matter of minutes he’d gone from smiling and quiet to winking and asking her out on a date.

  She hadn’t seen it coming.

  *

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  There was a tense silence between them.

  “I didn’t know what to wear,” Eve hesitated as she stepped out onto the front steps of her building; a step above his step coming to his head height.

  Nick wore a leather jacket and jeans, his hair flopping in a carefree way, his hands in his pockets. She took him in, the poster ad for a major underwear label.

  “You’re perfect,” he said.

  “I am?” Eve stepped down, their closeness catching her by surprise. She wore a simple blue dress flaring out at the sides and tapered in at the waist. Her shoulders were bare except for the shawl, her lips a delicate pink.

  “So are you,” she whispered.

  He laughed and turned away. “I promised I wouldn’t blush,” he shrugged. “Guess that’s not going to happen.” He smiled apologetically. “I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

  “Why?”

  “The time before last you came in with a guy, I thought he was your”-

  “He’s not,” she said. “Sorry, it’s complicated. He was my boss.”

  “Oh, right,” another tense silence filled the air. Having Nick from the coffee house stand before her out of his barista uniform was very disconcerting and different.

  “Where are we going?” he took her hand, the sudden contact surging to her abdomen. Nick was holding her hand, the same Nick who she’d seen so often. The same Nick who she’d never seen coming.

  “We’re going down a dark alley so I can have my way with you.”

  “Huh?”

  “Joking,” he held up his hands in mock shock. Eve’s heart stumbled. It was a joke, a simple harmless joke. She’d forgotten what those were like. Should she be worried about Nick? She’d known him a while, though she hadn’t really known him. He was cute, he was approachable and friendly and quiet and all those things that shouldn’t ring alarm bells.

  They continued walking and his hand slowly found hers again.

  “I wanted to ask you out for a while, I wasn’t sure if you were interested.” Nick wasn’t looking at her.

  “What changed your mind?”

  “I guess someone forced my hand,” he laughed to himself. They turned down a dark alley like he said they would. Her pulse sped up; her fingers were hot against his. Nick stopped and looked down at her. She was childlike in his presence. He was over six feet tall towering over her and could overpower her before she even screamed.

  Her skin tingled. “Nick?” His lips pressed against hers in a flash. He pulled away a moment later. “What was that?” Eve exhaled.

  “I don’t know, I couldn’t help it. I”-he squeezed her hand. “I guess I wanted you to know in case you couldn’t tell why I’d asked you out.”<
br />
  “I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “I wasn’t sure you’d feel the same way.” Nick took her hand and walked them further down the alley. Eve exhaled. It was Nick. How could she think he would hurt her? They turned another corner and came face to face with the Museum. “This is where I wanted to bring you. There’s a night time exhibition I think you’ll love.”

  “I love the museum.”

  “I know you do,” they went up the steps.

  “How?” How did he know?

  “Shh, you’ll spoil the surprise.”

  Eve froze before the museum, the blood draining from her face. “No,” her chest deflated. She’d been wrong about Nick, suddenly the danger invaded her. She didn’t really know Nick, although he did know her. A little too much. Too much. He knew she loved the museum. He knew where she lived. And he knew how she’d react to this exhibition. This exhibition. Oh, god.

  “This is exactly the look I wanted on your face,” Nick voice was emptier than she remembered. Eve couldn’t think, couldn’t escape it. Her past was here and Nick, had he planned this all along? Was he one of them?

  In front of the museum stood a sign on a gilded stand.

  The title bore; The real story behind New York’s most notorious families.

  “How long have you known?” her voice quaked, her chest heaving.

  “Not too long, I shouldn’t have been surprised.”

  “You shouldn’t? Who are you?”

  “You know who I am Eve, come on let’s go,” Nick beamed a cool calm collected smile; the same one that had warmed her insides now iced her on the spot. Only a psychopath smiled in that way.

  “I don’t want to go in,” Eve backed away. “I can’t.”

  “I knew this would happen,” Nick’s hand held fast, “Eve, I promised them I would take you. Come on,” his determination caught her off-guard. How could it be Nick? Her past had come back to haunt her. Nick. How could you?

  “They’re here?” Eve squeaked.

  Nick glanced at his silver wristwatch. Who still wore a wristwatch? Had they bought him? Paid him in advance? Endless possibilities went through her mind.

  “They should be arriving any minute.”

  Eve pulled away at him. “I have to go. Please.”

  “Eve,” Nick put his arms around her enclosing her from behind. “The gang told me you might be resistant. Come on, I’ll walk you in.” Gang? Eve tried to struggle, finding Nick’s quarterback body wouldn’t relent. He was strong, too strong. Her chest rose and fell in sheer terror, the pain thickening like frostbite.

  “Oh god, I can’t breathe. Why are you doing this? What did they promise you?” She needed to call for help, get to her phone. She tried to grab it out of her bag. Who would she call, Trigger? Tell him she was in trouble?

  Nick snatched the phone out of her hand. “It’ll all be over soon,” he whispered in her ear.

  Eve started hyperventilating. It was really happening. This.

  “Nick, please.” She couldn’t call Trigger. No one would help her.

  He pulled her up the steps.

  Eve was slow, knowing the trouble awaiting her. Nick, no, not Nick. They’d gotten to him, lured her here and would pounce on her any second.

  They, not the blackmailers, they…her family.

  60

  Nick stared again at his wristwatch. “They’re late.”

  “Who’s they Nick?” her voice quivered. “Go on at least say who they are?”

  “You know who it is,” irritation lined his voice. “Come on, we’ll get started without them.” They stepped forward to the ticket booth. Nick showed the woman at the front desk the tickets.

  Eve’s brow sweat, her palms were moist and Nick would not let go of her. She could scream, why didn’t she? Would someone else get hurt if she involved them?

  Other people queued along waiting to get inside. People. Public places. Oh, Eve was in over her head, with phobias and imminent family drama of the worst kind.

  And Nick, traitorous Nick.

  How long had he been one of them?

  Had they always known where she was?

  They walked passed the exhibition doors to the first display.

  A black and white photograph of a group of men stood before them blown up to the size of a door. With the heading beneath;The Berelli family immigrates to America.

  It was followed by a paragraph.

  The family settled in New York and soon became known throughout the area as having a part in every business and happening in the city. The family would go through many changes through the decades to come, however the order has always remained the same.

  The hierarchy of the family;

  The Boss. The Underboss. Caporegime. Soldiers. Associates.

  “So what are you, an Associate soon to be promoted? Nick, why did you bring me here?” her skin prickled all over.

  “I thought it would be the perfect place for a meeting.”

  “When did they get to you?”

  Nick’s phone vibrated. “Good that’s them now. Stay here, I’ll go get them.”

  “What?” they’re coming?

  “Won’t be a minute. I’ll come find you.” I’ll come find you.

  They’re here. They’re really here. “Don’t run, I’ve got the exits covered,” he winked. He winked!? Oh my god, he’s a psycho! Her chest seized, the adrenaline slicked hard and fast against her veins.

  She couldn’t be here, she couldn’t.

  Nick let go of her hand, stepping back to the exit. He turned his back on her, he was so confident, so assured in his power.

  She had nowhere else to run.

  The only exit was the same one Nick was going through.

  Oh, god. She couldn’t be here. She couldn’t, no matter what.

  This was her chance, her only one. A wave of people walked in and Eve sifted around the side, hiding from the ticket booth through another wave of on-comers.

  The museum doors were so close.

  Then she ran.

  61

  “Oh god, oh god, oh god.”

  Eve sunk against the wall of her new apartment. She’d run home, it hadn’t been far. They’d look for her here. She couldn’t stay. She couldn’t…Time was of the essence.

  Oh god, she gripped her head. All this time, all this time and Nick…Nick. Had she ever been safe? Had she ever…? She’d let herself believe it.

  Eve grabbed the duffel bag. After the last time, she’d never unpacked it in case she needed it.

  Her phone vibrated. She ignored it.

  She didn’t have to check to know it’d be Trigger, he could smell trouble a mile away.

  Her phone vibrated again. Eve grabbed the duffel, double checking she had everything this time. This time, she had saved money. Taken it out in small amounts, collected it, saved it and accumulated it. A wad of notes stared back at her. Good.

  It wasn’t much. It was a hell of a lot more than last time.

  Her phone vibrated again.

  Eve would leave any second.

  She just needed a few more things.

  Her phone vibrated again.

  Then came the knock at the door.

  “Eve.” Bang. Bang. “Eve, if you’re there, open up.”

  No. Her chest lurched.

  It was Nick.

  Eve froze. He’d go away. He would. If she didn’t respond.

  “I saw your light on.” Crap. Bang, bang. “Come on Eve.”

  She grabbed a bread knife. “Go away,” she yelled. “I’m calling the police.”

  Then came a lighter knock. “Eve sweetie, it’s Trisha are you alright?” Trisha? Oh god, no. No, no, no, no, no. All this time.

  Her knees folded under, her weight sinking into the sofa. How? “Are you alright? We were worried when you weren’t at the exhibition.”

  “Evee,” it was Jack’s familiar voice. What the hell was going on?

  “Nick, you’d better come back another time. Eve must have
really had a hard time in there.”

  After a moment of tense silence…

  “Bye, Eve,” Nick sounded deflated.

  Eve listened to Nick’s muffled steps and watched from her window as he left the apartment building. What was going on?

  “Eve, sweetie, was it that bad?” Trisha said through the door.

  “What?”

  “The claustrophobia.”

  “What?”

  “I told Nick, you might have issues going in. Fear of crowds, small spaces, confined spaces etcetera. We were going to meet you two there.”

  “What?” Eve blinked. She stepped towards the door, staring at the faded paint job.

  “Why?” It didn’t make sense, “but the exhibition”-

  “-Was my idea. We were supposed to all go together.” Eve braced against the door, her heart pounding out of her chest. “Eve, sweetie open the door.”

  “Evee,” Jack chimed in.

  Eve finally opened the door. She hadn’t been sure until she’d opened the door. There stood Trisha with Jack, the two of them. Alone. No family, no danger. What the hell was going on?

  *

  “You thought what?!” gone was Trisha’s motherly love. “How in the”-her voice climbed. “I cannot believe you did that to him? Do you know how long he was waiting to ask you out and this is what you do?!”

  Eve crumpled under Trisha’s shouts, “I thought he was going to attack me.”

  “At a museum exhibition?” Trisha’s voice rose again.

  Eve didn’t want to say that the exhibition itself had been a big factor, after all that was her heritage, the same past she kept running from.

  “He was being cryptic.”

  “He was trying to surprise you.”

  “He said others were coming.”

  “He meant us. He wanted to surprise you since he knew we’d moved away!” Eve cringed, Trisha was only getting louder and louder. Jack was off again with his music and headphones, Eve really wished she could do that too. “I told Nick you had problems in crowds and in small spaces and”-