“No not at all, I‘m glad you called” he threw some water and some rags he found lying around the apartment onto Colleti’s blood and brain fragments to soak up. “So have you thought what you wanna do?”
“I don’t mind I‘m easy”
“I doubt that, so what you want to do”
“I really don’t mind.”
“Ok you wanna catch a movie or something?”
“Oh yeah there’s this old theatre downtown that is showing the Godfather Part One. It‘s my all time favourite movie”
“Really?” he mocked “I wouldn’t of picked you as a mafia doll wannabe”
“Are you kidding, I love it I‘ve read the book loads of times and each time I watch it or read it I fall in love with Michael. I think he‘s so noble towards his family” Lucas laughed “Your mocking me?”
“Not at all I‘m just picturing you as a mob doll. So shall I pick you up?”
“No it‘s ok I‘m close by to it, I‘ll walk down”
“You sure?”
“Yeah I‘m a big girl I can look after myself.”
“Ok. What time does it start?”
“Eight” Lucas looked at his watch it was six he had to do a good clean up job so the blood wouldn’t seep through into the downstairs flat, then he’d have to shower and change. “Yeah that’s fine I‘ll meet you outside is it the theatre on Broadway?”
“That’s the one”
“Ok I‘ll see you then” he hung up. The clean up was always the worst part so messy. He’d been wearing gloves so he wasn’t worried about prints. The rags had soaked most of the mess up, he bagged it all in bin liners and threw it in the closet where Colleti’s body was slumped in a heap and then he shut the door. Nicely done he thought. He picked up his colt and tucked it back into his waistband and headed out the door.
She wore green combats that came just below her knees, a black short sleeved shirt unbuttoned so a tiny but noticeable amount of cleavage was showing, she wore a pair of black open toe stilettos and her hair was down in gentle waves. She looked beautiful, a natural beauty that she was unable to see. Passing men commented on her and as Lucas was approaching a young guy that he recognised was attempting to chat her up.
“So sexy what you up to? Wanna come to a party with me, I‘ll make it worth your while if you know what I mean” the guy smirked putting his hands round her waist.
“No thanks I‘m meeting someone and I‘d prefer if you didn’t have your hands on me” she exclaimed trying to prise the guys hands off her. “Get off me” she tried to wriggle free but the guy had a tight grip on her.
“Ah come on baby you know you want it”
“Please get off me” she pleaded.
“Excuse me” Lucas said tapping the guy on his shoulder.
“Clear off mate. Cant you see I‘m busy”
“Yeah I can see that, your busy man handling my date” the guy turned around letting his grip of Amelia go, he instantly recognised Lucas from Cal High and took a step back.
“Shit Lucas sorry mate, I dint realise she was with you. I just thought she was some two bit hoe” Lucas was fuming how could anyone disrespect Amelia, he clenched his hand into a tight fist and punched the guy hard, the crack of the punch caused people to turn around to look, Amelia was backing further away from Lucas and the guy, she was scared.
“One I aint your mate and two she’s far from a hoe so I suggest you leave right now before your mouth gets you into more trouble” the guy scrambled to his feet and scurried off. Lucas walked towards Amelia but she stood routed, not daring to walk to him, she was even more unsure of Lucas now his violence had scared her and Lucas could sense this. “Are you ok?” he asked, Amelia just nodded and looked to the ground. “Amelia” he took a step towards her but she stepped back until her back was touching the wall. Lucas looked surprised he figured all girls would like to see their guy defend their honour but Amelia was different and she was not his yet. “Amelia can you look at me please” she raised her head “Did I scare you?” she nodded “I‘m sorry, he had his hands all over you, I was jealous, you looked so scared and I wanted to protect you. I don’t want to see you get hurt” he put his hand gently under her chin and coaxed her head up to look at him but she flinched and shuddered under his touch. Lucas never had a girl react to his touch like that before, “Amelia I would never hurt you” she smiled up at him half forced and half real but it was still a smile.
“If we go in now we‘ll not of missed much, I got the tickets” she held them out her hand shaking a little. Lucas clasped her hand and pulled her into him he wrapped his arms around her gently and kissed the top of her head, he felt her melt in his arms.
“Come on then lets go watch you swoon over Michael Corleone” he laughed.
The pair emerged form the theatre more relaxed with each other, both smiling.
“How many times have you seen that?” Lucas asked.
“I dunno a few”
“And you still grab my arm when Sonny got shot and when Michael‘s car blew up killing his girl”
“Yeah well it‘s shocking still.”
“Even if you’ve seen it loads of times?”
“Stop mocking me” she blushed playfully pushing him.
“Your pretty easy to mock though”
“That’s not nice, your cruel” she blushed again.
“You blush a lot”
“That’s because you mock me a lot.”
“It‘s cute” he held her hand and pulled her into his arms once again he tucked a wave of hair behind her ear and lent in to kiss her.
“I should go” she pulled away “I had fun, I‘ll guess I will see you around”
“Oh ok, do you want me to drive you?”
“No. No thank you” Amelia walked off down the street, Lucas waited a few minutes and then jogged off after her.
“Hey Amelia he called after her “Amelia can you wait up a second please. Amelia” she stopped, turned and looked at him.
“What?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No why”
“Why? Because you high tailed it off away from me like you just stole something”
“I said I had to go. Sorry”
“Hey don’t apologise if you gotta go but if your blowing me off Amelia, shit you could just say.” She never looked up at him he threw his hands in the air “Whatever bye” he walked off towards a parking lot where his car was. His phone rang, it was a member of his fathers commission asking how the Colleti job went. Lucas informed the man it was taken care of, it was clean and no one saw him.
“Lucas” it was Amelia she must of followed him, he looked at her then turned away and told the man on the other end of the line that he had to go and that he would be in touch tomorrow. He put the phone in his pocket and unlocked his Chevy impala’s driver door.
“Lucas” Amelia put her hand on his arm.
“What”
“I‘m sorry”
“What for?”
“For being a bitch, its just I don’t wanna get played”
“Played, who‘s playing you, I like you”
“I…err” she hung her head and started toeing the floor.
“Why would you think I‘m gonna play you?”
“Because your, your you” Lucas scoffed “Your popular, your reckless, you sleep around, you don’t date you screw around and I‘m opposite to everything your about. What’s in it for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean what’s in it for you, what do you want from me, I‘ve told you I‘m not like the girls you know, I‘m closed off, I don’t want to get hurt. I wont get hurt.”
“I’m not gonna hurt you. I like you Amelia and I wont hurt you I promise I know you don’t trust me I get that my reputation isn’t exactly squeaky clean and I know I‘m not a nice girls kinda guy but if you give me a chance I‘ll try my best not to screw up.” she looked up at him wide eyed, her eye lashes were long and her eye liner thick like she was
trying to hide her beauty.
“You better not” she exclaimed.
“I promise. You gonna let me give you a ride now?”
“Errm” she looked at his car then to him and then back to the street.
“I‘ll not bite”
“Ok” she slid into the passenger seat of his black American muscle car, it was a classic and well taken care of.
“So where you want me to take you, home?”
“Oh no, my father has company and well… no not home” Lucas glanced at her she was mysterious he liked that.
“I aint gonna let you wonder the streets do you wanna come back to mine?”
“Oh I err…. I ”
“I wont pounce you we can order in I‘m starved what you say, I‘ll pay”
“Yeah I guess that’s ok I could eat something”
“You guess that’s ok wow please calm your excitement” Amelia laughed at him “I like that” he turned the key in the ignition the car roared to a start.
“Like what”
“Your laugh”
He held open the door to his apartment, switched on the lights and closed the door.
“Wow, this place is gorgeous, you live here alone”
“Just me”
“Its so clean, its gorgeous”
“Thanks. So what you want?”
“Excuse me?” she asked confused.
“To eat; Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, pizza?”
“Oh pizza‘s good thank you”
“Ok pizza it is, I‘ll order now, cheese and ham ok?”
“Ah ha” Amelia scanned Lucas’s living room and sat in front of his large collection of films.
“It will be here in twenty mins”
“Hey why do you have all these movies if you don’t have a TV?” she asked, he had all the other usual stuff, sofa, stereo a few odd paintings on the wall but no TV.
“I do” he picked up a remote and pressed a button making the strangest painting of a woman screaming move to reveal a huge plasma TV.” I like to keep things hidden away”
“No way, you have the entire collection of Nightmare on Elm Street, I love these” she turned to him and gave a cheesy smile “What do you say to a Freddie marathon” Lucas looked at his watch “Oh sorry am I imposing, shall I go” she got to her feet.
“Sit down, I was only wondering how much longer this pizza was going to be”
“You sure?” he nodded “Ok” she slumped herself back on the floor flicking through the sleeve of the box set.
“What’s with the bag anyway, you carrying your worldly good with you. Are you like a bag lady”
“Shut up, I told you my father has company. He doesn’t really like me around so I normally stay at The Hotel on Sunset.”
“Really? don’t be silly you‘ll stay here I have a comfy bed.”
“What, no a hotels fine”
“Relax. You can have my bed and I‘ll sleep on the couch”
“Oh right sorry” she giggled “Are you sure?”
“I insist. Do you mind if I go put some sweats on?”
“No not at all” Lucas went off into his room as the door bell rang “I‘ll get it” she flew to her feet, paid the pizza man and laid the pizza box on the kitchen counter. “It‘s here” she yelled to Lucas.
“Great I‘m starved” he came out shirtless, Amelia tried to avert her eyes from him. His body was tanned and ripped, his skin was imperfection free and soft looking. On the top of his left arm he had a tattoo of a pit bull the same one as that of the colt. “Don’t worry I‘m putting a shirt on” he grabbed a white t-shirt from the hall closet and pulled it over his head.
“I never said… I mean I didn’t. err… can I use your bathroom please I‘m gonna change too if that’s ok”
“Sure go ahead its just there” he pointed to a closed door next to his bedroom “And feel free to come out topless”
“Doubtful” she smiled.
“What in gods name are you wearing” he laughed passing her a pizza slice.
“There my jammies”
“Yeah I can see that but their pink with care bears on” his laughter embarrassed her.
“Stop laughing at me. These, I‘ll have you know are my favourite jammies and they are super comfy. So you can stop laughing now and put the film on now” she sat crossed legged on the sofa.
“They‘re very err….” he laughed again.
“Very what” she looked stern faced at him.
“Different very different but cute though”
“Stop with the mocking”
“I‘m sorry but for a girl who loves the Godfather and who is making me stay up all night to have a Freddie Kruger marathon, pink care bear pyjamas are not what I was expecting”
“Well sorry I left my see through baby doll set at home”
“Tease”
“Yeah you wish.” Lucas smiled at her “So come on stick Freddie on” she playfully pushed him off the sofa, he lent over to kiss her but she backed away from him with a look of apology, he just half smiled. Lucas was a good looking guy every other guy at Cal High wanted to be him and every girl wanted him so why was Amelia so different he couldn’t work it out. Did she think she was to good for him, probably it was true but he didn’t think that was the reason. Did she not like him, no that wasn’t true either. He made her blush, he made her nervous they were common signs that indicated she liked him. What was it, he just couldn’t figure her out but something stirred in him when she was around and wasn’t the kind of sexual magnetism he felt when he was with Kesha. He did of course feel sexually drawn to her but there was something more, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. The way he felt when that guy had been touching her outside the theatre he was crazy with jealousy and the time he’d spent with he knew he wanted more from her. He knew this wasn’t good, he was Mafia, his father had sent him here on business to spy, to kill not fall in love with a pretty face but for some reason Lucas knew he wanted to love her, he knew that she would love him. He wanted to love, to be loved, though his mother loved him deeply it wasn’t a mother son love it was more a distant relative love, they were after all no real relation and this was the main reason they had no bond. His father loved him but this was the wrong kind of love, mafia love. Valentino had so desperately wanted a son to take control of the family name and all that came with it that when Lucas had been born he’d thought of nothing else, he’d trained him from a young age how to be fierce, how to be feared and now how to kill but he’d never taken his son to Central Park to look at the zoo or to a Nicks game. They had never done normal every day father and son things. He was never taught though what to do when someone makes your heart stop beating just by a single look from them, he’d not been taught how to love.
“It‘s four a.m, I‘m so tired, do you mind if I crash out?” Amelia asked her eyes all puffy with sleep.
“No sure go ahead” he pointed to his room.
“Are you sure that’s ok I mean it‘s your bed I don’t mind the sofa or even going to a hotel, I don’t wanna put you out”
“It‘s fine honestly” he lifted himself up off the sofa and walked over to her and kissed the top of her head “Go right ahead, have a goodnights sleep”
“I hope I can sleep from watching all them films I‘ll wake up screaming, just you wait” she laughed stretching her self out.
“If your scared just come wake me. I‘ll be right here and I‘ll come chase away your demons”
“Such a hero, goodnight” she closed the bedroom door and left Lucas slumped back on the couch.
Lucas was not what she had expected, truthfully she hadn’t really known what to expect, he was kind and caring and though he had scared her at the theatre it had at the same time been chivalrous, he was defending her, protecting her, she liked that. Amelia felt safe around him. She liked him, she’d not expected too though and she felt something more too. Was it a one off. Though they’d not had sex would he spread it round school that she was tight, would he s
peak to her at school, will he want to know her. Amelia tossed the night through, she was a thinker. Before she dozed off she heard Lucas’s phone ring, she tried to listen in but sleep overcame her.
“Hello” answered.
“Lucas its your father. I hear you’ve done an excellent job today. I‘m grateful. I‘m proud” Valentino spoke “How are we on the O‘Doud‘s any information?”
“No father not yet, I‘m looking over the estate now, the lights are on and there does seem to be an unusual amount of cars there, I‘m gonna go check it now.” he whispered.
“Why are you whispering Lucas?”
“I have company and I don’t know if she’s asleep yet”
“She, hey. Defiantly a Valentino. You fuck her?” Valentino asked.
“No, father it‘s not like that, she‘s not like that”
“Jesus Christ! Lucas don’t you go all soft on me, you wanna be tapping that ass and tossing her to the side. Don’t go all googly eyed no broad is worth that. Go look around the O’Doud estate and report back to me if and when you find something out ”
“Yeas father I will”
“Oh and Lucas, lose the broad” Valentino disconnected the line.
Chapter Eight
Lucas shrugged on a jacket and stepped into his vans. He sneaked out of his apartment so not to disturb Amelia. He jogged once around the O’Doud estate perimeter to establish his bearings and to find a good entry point. He pushed his way through the shrubbery and made his way up to the lit window. He saw five men two of which he recognised as the O’Doud brothers; Vinnie and Jimmy, Vinnie been the older of the two and three other men a short chubby man with a bald head and mean expression, a tall man with short scruffy black hair and an eye patch over his left eye and the third an old man with grey tinged hair a grey moustache and a walking stick maybe the head O’Doud but Lucas was not sure he’d never seen his picture. The rooms window was slightly open and he could just make out what they were saying.
“When are we expecting the call?” the chubby one asked.
“Not for a while yet. Our friends over seas are finding it difficult to find a freight ship that’s willing to carry such a large quantity of narcotics” Vinnie O’Doud replied.
“What about the Valentino‘s, I hear there not liking our business”
Wrong Kind of Love Page 3