Desired Too

by Lessly, S. K.

  “Ahhh! Goddamn it, Raquel!”

  I snapped out of the trance I was in and realized my brother was the one that touched me. I brought my hands to my mouth instantly.

  “Oh my God, Vic! I’m so sorry!” I moved toward him, but he moved back from me quickly.

  “Damn, Raquel, what the hell is wrong with you?” my brother snapped.

  The rage and anger that he shot towards me told me that it wasn’t a good idea that I attempt to squash anything with him today.

  I did take a few deep breaths to try to calm my erratic impulses. “I’m really sorry, Vic. I didn’t hear you come in and my mind-”

  “Yeah, you’re a fucking head case, do you know that?!” He rolled his eyes and started massaging his hand.

  “I know and I’m sorry.” I moved toward him and he instinctively backed up from me. I put my hands up to signal that I was harmless and asked, “Dad said that Ira called here looking for me. Did he say what he wanted? Did he leave a message or a phone number?”

  Victor looked behind me at my father before bringing his eyes back to me.

  “What’s going on Raquel?” my father asked me again. He moved from behind me, taking wide strides away from me and stood next to Vic.

  I knew that I probably seemed crazed to them both, but nonetheless I really didn’t have time to play twenty questions.

  I smiled and really tried to relax. “Nothing, Dad. Everything is fine. I just need to know. Ira and I parted ways amicably with an understanding to keep our distance from each other.”

  “Why? Did he hurt you?” my father asked quickly.

  I shook my head. “Dad, I just need to know what he wanted.” I looked back at my brother, hoping my father didn’t catch that I really didn’t answer his question. “Vic, did he leave a number or say what he wanted?”

  Vic shook his head. “No, he didn’t leave a number, and I didn’t ask, assuming you had his number. He asked if you had come home, and I told him you did, then asked what he wanted. He didn’t say. He just hung up.”

  I stared hard at my brother, trying to see if he was hiding something.

  I didn’t see anything that hinted that he was lying.

  I asked, “When did he call you?”

  “He called about two or three days ago.”

  “Shit!” I snapped.

  “What’s up?” Victor asked.

  I didn’t reply. Instead, I moved to the door. I immediately started thanking Angel for moving me out of the hotel. Now I definitely owed him an apology. The question now would be, did anyone see someone moving my things and were they followed?

  Fuck!

  “Raquel!”

  I stopped at the door of my father’s office, turned and looked in my dad’s eyes. I could see the worry in them, the fear. However, I didn’t have time to address his issues either. I needed to take care of my own debacle of a life before this shit got worse. If Ira was calling, then that meant I had little or no time left.

  I smiled calmly. “Dad, everything is fine, I swear. Since I no longer have my old phone, I don’t have Ira’s number. I need to call some people we know in Cali and get it.”

  “And you’re sure everything is okay between you and Ira?” he asked.

  I moved to my father, gave him a kiss on his cheek and hugged him tight. I tried not to hug him as if it was goodbye, but it felt like it.

  Shit, I was losing control.

  When I moved back, I smiled again and rubbed his arms, trying to soothe the anguished look on his face. “Dad, I love you. I’ll call you in a couple of days, okay? Maybe we can do lunch or something.”

  “No, you’ll call me later tonight and tomorrow,” he insisted. “We can and will do lunch this week. Tell Sally to put you on my calendar.”

  I smiled. “Okay.”

  I started for my brother, but again he backed away from me.

  I smirked, thinking, Coward, and instead moved quickly to the door of the office. The moment my feet hit the pavement, I started making my calls looking for Ira.

  As I drove, I was so engrossed in my screwed up life that I hadn’t even realized that I had made it back to the hotel so fast. I looked at the time on my phone. It was 11 am. I wasn’t sure what Angel was doing, but I knew I needed to have that talk with him sooner rather than later. He had no idea how his controlling ways probably saved my life. I headed to the room to get my thoughts together before I called him. On the elevator, I called another number that I remembered, hoping this person would know where Ira was.

  My phone rang in my ear for five agonizing rings before a voice picked up.

  I didn’t waste time. “Squeak, do you know where Ira is?”

  But the second I opened my hotel room, I knew exactly where he was.

  I could hear Squeak’s voice as I stared at the figure that was sitting on my bed as he said, “Hello, Roxy.”

  I hung up the call without a word, closed my door and leaned my back against it. “Hello, Ira.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Raquel

  Ira and I had met my first year in San Francisco. We dated off and on for a while before we decided to see where we could take our relationship. When Angel mentioned that he’d come to see me months after I got to California, Ira and I had just started dating then. Things were great with us. We hung out with each other all the time. I’m not going to agree with Angel and say that I was all in love, but I thought things with Ira could actually go somewhere.

  We spent a lot of time together. We visited Chinatown a lot, we went to the movies, rode the trolley everywhere, and went sightseeing, as if we were tourists new to the town. There were times when we hung out at my place or his, watching movies or playing video games.

  When we decided to take our relationship to the next level, I saw no reason why things wouldn’t work out. That is, until the moment I saw his jealous side. I had never seen a man overreact so much in my life. This man was dangerous with his jealousy. Any man that looked at me or smiled at me, I swear, Ira went off, cussing at anyone, and, on a few occasions, almost coming to blows with those that didn’t take his shit.

  The day I had enough and called it quits was at a party that my boss threw for our department. My boss and I were cool. We had an amazing relationship. Jay Hanover was just that kind of person you loved the instant you met him. He was a great person to work for, easygoing, funny, smart, and gay as gay could be. He didn’t keep it a secret, and I was cool with it. To each his/her own. I’m not one to judge anyone.

  I took Ira with me to the company party, and, at first, he was cool. However, at one point during the party, after watching my boss hug me, touch me on my arm, or put his arm around my shoulder for too long, Ira had enough and went bananas.

  He made a huge scene and almost started a fight right in the middle of the party. I seriously had to beg my boss not to call the cops on him. It was so bad that I honestly thought I would lose my job. Nevertheless, that night, I broke up with Ira. I couldn’t and wouldn’t subject myself to that kind of crazy.

  Of course, since something was terribly wrong with me, I gave him another chance, and it seemed he had changed, but it didn’t last. When he started following me around everywhere I went, showing up out of the blue or questioning my every moment, I realized he was a new kind of crazy and it would only get worse from there. It took months and months of back and forth, from the beginning of our relationship right up to the end, before I decided he was too toxic for me.

  Angel had the same tendencies but he was so different. Angel was very protective of me. He hated when someone touched me or got close to me. I just didn’t think he would have stalked me or made me afraid that his anger would ever turn violent towards me. There were times with Ira that I did, however. He made me feel like one day, my mouth would write a check my ass wouldn’t be able to cash.

  I moved deeper into my hotel room and looked around. “What are you doing here?”

  Ira stood tall, six feet two inches in height, and moved toward me smiling
, his white teeth shown against his tan skin.

  “Is this how we’re greeting each other now?” he asked.

  Ira wrapped his arms around me, and, I swear, I expected Angel to bust down the door with his gun drawn ready to put Ira down for touching me. I quickly hugged him and stepped away.

  “Wow, that was dry,” Ira told me frowning.

  “Yeah, well, what did you expect? Why are you here?”

  Ira sighed and sat back down on my bed, “They know everything.”

  Three simple words said, and I tell you I almost passed out.

  “How do they know everything, Ira? How? You said that they would never find out. You said you’d make sure of it. Why now?”

  “I don’t know, okay? Shit, I didn’t fucking say anything, but…”

  I moved closer to him seeing my life flash before my eyes. “But what?”

  Ira sighed again and looked at me. Did I mention he was fine as shit? I mean, built like a truck, baldhead, tats everywhere, a real badass. That’s why it was ironic when my father said he understood women’s attraction to bad boys. What he didn’t know was that my attraction ran deep.

  “Look, Roxy, it didn’t matter how I found out. I just know you’re in danger. That’s why I got clear from my babysitters to come here.”

  I nodded absently and sat next to him on the bed. “This is fucked up.”

  “I know.”

  I shook my head. “I did nothing wrong, though. I just did what you asked. Why can’t I tell them that? Why can’t I tell them that I had no clue who they were?”

  Ira took my hand in his and kissed the back of my hand, the same way Angel did a few days ago. However, I didn’t feel as cherished when Ira’s lips touched me. No, I felt like the walls were caving in, as if I needed to bring out the claws.

  “Because, baby, they don’t give a fuck,” he answered. “They think you were involved, and that’s all they need. Maybe they think getting to you might help them get to me. Who knows.”

  I looked at him, hope-drenched in my eyes. “Do you think they will try to get to me the same way they did before?”

  Ira shook his head. “No, they will not make the same mistake twice. No, they will make this up close and personal. I won’t put it past them that they already have someone here, watching you, just waiting…”

  I sighed deeply, closed my eyes and shivered again. “Okay, Ira, you’ve made your point.”

  I stood, moved to the corner of the room and tried my best to wrap my arms around myself.

  “Hey, baby, listen,” he said as he stood and moved to me. He slowly moved his hands to my face and placed them on the side of my head, through my hair. “I won’t let anything happen to you, okay? You have my word.”

  I closed my eyes and allowed him touch me. I would have preferred Angel’s soothing touch, but I couldn’t bring him into this, so I allowed Ira to comfort me. But Ira thought that was his opportunity and moved in to kiss me. The moment I realized the space between us diminishing, I leaned back from him.

  “Ira, no.” I pushed him away from me and moved from his arms. I took a few deep breaths and got into work mode. I needed to, or else, shit, I was going to lose it. “What’s the plan?”

  Ira grinned at me and rubbed his hands together. “This is just like old times, right? It’s you and me, Bonnie and Clyde, at it again.”

  I chuckled. “No, not like old times. Look, we need to get out of here. And you need to figure out how the hell you’re going to keep my ass alive.” I pointed at him, saying, “This is your fault, your mess.”

  Ira put his hands up and smiled. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Look, I got it covered. Trust me, okay? You’ll be fine. Let’s go!”

  eddie

  A huge smile hounded Eddie’s face as he pushed the end button on his cell phone. Everything was coming together. Pops was listening to more of what Eddie wanted to do with the family and less to anything Angel wanted to do. Eddie had already made moves that would better serve his interests, instead of Angel’s.

  Angel’s need for legitimizing more of the family business was bullshit. He and Drake could believe that shit if they wanted to. No, what Eddie believed in was the strengthening of his family’s interests in the states and abroad. He wanted to get into more of the drug trade that was running rapid in Asia and Mexico. He knew that there would be resistance, but they were the Leonetti Family for fuck sake. The Leonetti Family was synonymous with power, ruthlessness, and strength. It was built to run shit and destroy anyone that got in their way. It’s the way of his father and his father’s father, etc. The sooner everyone understood that, the better off everyone would be.

  Eddie dialed another number, going through the motions of shielding his own number from the person he was calling.

  The call was picked up on the second ring.

  “Are you ready?” Eddie said into his phone, knowing what the answer would be. He knew this person was thorough. His reputation preceded him ten times over.

  “Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”

  Eddie nodded and tried his best to keep his composure. “Just make sure you make it messy.”

  “Don’t tell me how to do my job. You just be ready to deal with the fucking aftermath. I’ve met your brother. This shit is going to get ugly quick.”

  Eddie snickered to himself. God, I hope so.

  “Don’t you worry about anything. My brother is going to react the way he should, as long as you do what you need to. Everything needs to happen according to plan, understand?”

  The man on the other end remained quiet for a second before he laughed. He actually laughed, which only confirmed that Eddie needed to kill the son of a bitch the moment he got the chance.

  “You’re in over your head!” He laughed again, then hung up.

  Eddie, feeling the anger start to take over his mind, banged his hands on his steering wheel. That son of a bitch will know what it feels like to fuck with a Leonetti.

  If it’s the last thing Eddie did, that motherfucker would pay.

  Eddie called the last person he needed to set his plan into motion.

  “What?”

  Eddie frowned and said tersely, “You’re up!”

  He ended the call and tossed his phone on the seat next to him.

  Just calm down, he coached himself as he closed his eyes and tried to do just that. He just needed to hold on and be patient. Soon he would have exactly what he wanted, what belonged to him.

  Two weeks later…

  Chapter Sixteen

  Drake

  As I sipped my third cup of coffee, I pensively watched as the one person, who had the power to end my cousin, break bread with another man. She clearly had no idea how volatile Angel could be or she wouldn’t have been there. The man across from her touched her arm and went to squeeze her hand and that move alone was a death sentence. I wasn’t saying that Raquel was cheating. I could clearly see that she had some disdain for the man before her, but that didn’t mean shit. If Angel had walked in there right then, all hell would break loose.

  For the past three hours, I’d been on Raquel’s ass. Not literally, of course. I’d followed her just as she left Angel’s that morning to a hotel close to Thirtieth Street, then to this restaurant.

  This wasn’t the first time that I had Raquel duty. Ever since I’d gone with Angel to Cali a few years back, Raquel had become sort of a hobby.

  We had gone to the west coast to take care of some business. Some wannabe cartel family was trying to test the waters, our east coast waters, and needed to be reminded who ran shit on the east coast. We were set to meet with this family a few hours after we landed, which gave us time to relax. I personally wanted to get to the hotel, smoke a cigar, get a drink, and maybe get into some shit, but Angel had other plans. He said he wanted to see a friend.

  I figured he was going to see some chick, maybe get in some ass, or whatever. I really didn’t think anything of it. I just hoped she had a friend.

  When we got t
o this apartment, close to Chinatown, he walked inside as if he owned the building. We walked up a couple of flights of stairs, then down a hall, until he found the door he wanted and knocked. When a man answered, I could see that Angel was shocked as shit. I was wondering what this was all about as I reached behind my back for my gun.

  Angel looked into the apartment, then at this dude and said simply. “Where’s Raquel?”

  The man stood rigidly and closed the door slightly so we couldn’t look inside the apartment. He stood about six feet and three inches with a little bulk to him. He tried his best to look mean, but that shit wasn’t working.

  It also seemed he had a death wish when he replied, looking at the both of us, “What the fuck do you want?”

  See what I mean?

  “What I want is for you to either go and get Raquel or tell me where she is,” Angel said calmly, which was surprising.

  I, myself, was heating up though.

  The dead man started laughing, and I inwardly shook my head and tightened my grip on my piece. I began to pull the gun anyway and smack the shit of him with it, but Angel gave me a slight shake of his head.

  The dead man, however, didn’t take this as Angel saving his life. He decided to poke the hornet’s nest, saying, “I ain’t got to tell you shit. You don’t own me like you do that son of a bitch.” His eyes glanced my way signifying that I was “that son of a bitch,” as he added, “The both of you can go fuck-”

  I didn’t let him finish. My hand snapped a colossal right to the dead man’s face, and he stumbled back. Angel and I then barged into the apartment, and I shut the door. Angel moved through the small apartment while I put this piece of shit in his place.

  He threw a couple of punches that, if they connected, could have done some damage. But I wasn’t an amateur at this, and he needed to learn some respect. By the time I was done teaching this fucker some manners, he was kneeling in front of me with his right arm raised in a very awkward position. At any point, I could break his arm, and he knew it.