Alyssa's Desire

by Krysten Raine

  Right around lunch time Alyssa's cell phone started to vibrate on her desk. She grabbed it quickly because even though the ringer was off, the vibration was loud against the hard wood. She glanced at the number and she did not recognize it, so she clicked the button to send it to voice mail so she wouldn't get into trouble for taking personal calls during work hours. Twenty minutes later Alyssa was on her lunch break and she decided to check her messages.

  "Hello, Alyssa? I don't know if you remember me. My name is Antonio Romero; I work at Romero's Pizzeria. You gave my uncle your number. Anyway I'm on my way to work and I can't talk but text me if you still want to go out," said the voice on the message.

  Alyssa smiled to herself as she listened. She may not understand Jack Coleman's intentions toward her but the cute pizza guy was pretty easy to understand. He wanted pussy and she was happy to oblige that request. Alyssa happily sent Antonio a text message that said that she was still interested and that she wanted him to call her when he could. A few seconds later she got a text message back that read, "Awesome can't wait."

  Alyssa thought about Antonio for the rest of the day. She had hoped he would call her, but when time went by she figured he wasn't interested. Now she was very excited to see what was up with this cute Italian boy. Alyssa had already made one daring move with him when she wrote her number down on the paper towel and slipped it to his uncle at the pizza shop. Tonight she decided to make another move. Right before work she called the pizza shop and she ordered a small pizza with sausage and peppers as a pick up order. Antonio had taken her call but she didn't tell him who she was on the phone. When Alyssa arrived to pick up her pizza, Antonio's eyes lit up and a huge smile was plastered all over his face.

  "Bella ragazza, you ordered a pizza?" he asked her sweetly.

  "What can I say? I couldn't wait to see you again," Alyssa said nervously. She bit her lip and looked down at her feet for a brief second before bringing her gaze back to his.

  "Your other boyfriend is gone now?" Antonio asked hopefully.

  "Yeah, he wasn't my boyfriend. We just went on a couple of dates, and then he went back home to England. I knew that there wasn't going to be anything serious with him since he was only here for a short while. That is why I figured I would go ahead and take a chance with you, "she said with a smile.

  "Good," he said. "So you're not seeing anyone else then?"

  "Hopefully I'll be seeing you," Alyssa said with a wink as she took her pizza and slyly exited the restaurant, leaving Antonio speechless but intrigued.

  Minutes after Alyssa left Romero's Pizzeria, she got a text from Antonio asking her to dinner and a movie on Friday night. She happily texted him back and accepted his offer. Maybe things were looking up for her after all she thought as she made her way home to enjoy her delicious pizza and a good movie on Showtime.

  When Alyssa got home there was a message on her machine from her mother. She sounded happier and she told Alyssa that a lawyer had come to see her and that he was going to take over her case. The new lawyer had told Valerie that it was daughter's employment at Coleman, Patters and Schleicher that prompted him to take the case. Alyssa's mother was basically calling to say thank you, and Alyssa just smiled. Her mother sounded better, like she was clean or at least through the roughest part of her recovery. Things were definitely looking up and Alyssa was feeling pretty good.

  By Friday she was feeling even better and anxiously awaiting her date with Antonio. The two of them had been sending each other text messages all week and they had talked on the phone a couple of times. Alyssa learned that Antonio's father and his uncle had started the pizzeria together a few years back. Their parents had come to America from Italy in the late 1930's. It had been an almost cliché arrival at Elise Island for the Italian immigrants. They had struggled financially while they raised their children, but the pizzeria had proven to be a successful venture. It had been past down for the last two generations and Antonio was set to take over the family business when his father was ready to retire. For now though, Antonio made pizzas and went on deliveries, along with the daily cleaning and maintenance of the shop.

  When Antonio picked Alyssa up for their date, he asked her where she wanted to eat. His preference was simple, anything but Italian worked for him. Alyssa just laughed at this and then she suggested that they eat at a quiet Chinese buffet that was nearby. It was a small place but the food was always excellent and the price couldn't be beat. Over dinner the pair talked more about Antonio's restaurant and Alyssa told him all about her job at Coleman, Patters and Schleicher. Well, she told him everything except for the fact that she had a mad crush on her boss and that she was dating in a fruitless effort to forget about him. She figured such information would be kind of a downer for the dreamy eyed Italian.

  Then Antonio started talking about how close he was with his family and how lucky he was that they all worked together. He said that being together all the time strengthened their familial bond. Then he asked Alyssa about her family. Without even thinking, Alyssa blurted out the whole story about her mom's addiction and about what happened with Trevor Barnes. She even told him about getting arrested and how her boss had come to her rescue. Then suddenly she looked up and saw the shock and awkwardness on Antonio's face. She realized that perhaps she shouldn't have shared this particular information. She didn't want to scare Antonio away and all of this was a lot to take in.

  After Alyssa had spoken she realized that she probably had needed to tell someone about all of this and just get it off her chest. Still now she had created the mother of awkward moments as Antonio clearly didn't know how to respond. After a few long moments he touched her hand and he told her that he hoped that everything works out with her mom.

  Alyssa just looked down at her lap. She didn't really know what to say. Thankfully Antonio noticed the time and he suggested that they make their way to the movie theater before 8:00 to have the best selection of films. Alyssa gratefully agreed, anything to change the subject was welcomed right about now. Plus once the movie started there would be two hours or so before they had to talk again. Maybe that was enough time for this awkwardness to subside. They arrived at the theater just before eight and they quickly picked an action film. They sat in silence through the feature and Alyssa was wondering if she had blown her chances with Antonio. He did put his arm around her during the movie though. At least there was that.

  At the same time that Alyssa was at the movies with Antonio, Trevor Barnes and his associates were standing in the shadows in the New York Harbor, anxiously awaiting a small boat with a very important shipment. Barnes lit up a cigarette and looked around nervously. He had been getting his heroin deliveries from this same small boat for years and he had never had a problem, but tonight the shipment was late and Trevor had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't say a word about his feelings to the men who stood by his side. Instead he tried to remain cool and collected. Part of being successful in this business meant making sure that the boss was always in control. The slightest sign of doubt or weakness and one of these fools would try to take over. Trevor couldn't risk that and so he kept quiet and released his apprehension with each puff of his cigarette. Before long the tiny vessel arrived. Trevor breathed out a sigh of relief covered up by the exhale of his smoke. He did however motion for his boys to wait just a second before they made their move. Trevor and his crew looked around cautiously before finally approaching the boat.

  The courier was ready to deliver twenty-five crates filled with cheap, imported knick knacks, such as snow globes, music boxes, ceramic decorative items, etc. Generally speaking each box contained an item that was manufactured for pennies on the dollar, and each one contained a small amount of heroin hidden inside. Most of the items had a secret compartment where the special additions could be easily removed; leaving the cheap souvenir intact, but a few items had to be broken to reach the goods inside. The compartmentalized goods could be reused but they could only hold a very small bag of good
ies. The larger, breakable items were used to hide the greater drug quantities.

  A man wearing a dark hoodie and black jeans jumped off of the boat and tied it to the port. He then waved Trevor and his crew over. His attire made identifying the man impossible, but neither Trevor nor his associates thought anything of that. They all figured he was dressed that way to avoid being identified if anyone witnessed what they were about to do. So Trevor motioned for his men to start unloading the crates from the ship and putting them on their trucks. With each crate, Trevor opened one of the compartmentalized items to ensure that his product was inside. Once he was satisfied with what he found he would give his approval for the goods to go on the trucks. The man in the dark hoodie ignored this and he just kept handing crates down to Trevor's crew. When all the crates were transferred, Trevor walked up to the boat and he tossed the man aboard a bag containing a large amount of cash as payment for the special delivery. The man opened the bag and looked at the money. Then suddenly he reached behind his bag and pulled a gun on Trevor. Seconds later DEA agents came out from their hiding places around the port. The man with the hoodie pulled out a badge and then he addressed Trevor Barnes directly.

  "Get on your knees and put your hands above your head! I am special agent, John Monroe with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Trevor Barnes you are under arrest for the possession of, and intent to distribute heroin as well as drug transporting. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights?"

  Trevor Barnes did not say a word. He did not try to fight. He simply sank to his knees and put his hands up as a DEA agent cuffed him. He glanced around a saw that everyone he was with was also being handcuffed or placed into police cars at the same time. He watched as agents seized his precious cargo, nearly 40 million dollars of heroin was slipping away from his grasp forever. The loss of the money stung to no end but he did not fear incarceration. He knew he would have a fair amount of power even behind bars. He was no stranger to doing time either as he has spent most of his teen years in lock up. All he was thinking about was finding out if one of his guys had flipped on him. Something deep inside told him that someone, somewhere had talked. Trevor gave a sinister smile as he slipped into an all-consuming mindset of finding the snitch and plotting his revenge.

  Antonio was taking Alyssa home when she received a text message from Jack Coleman. It said "Barnes is behind bars." Alyssa smiled to herself feeling a deep sense of relief at the knowledge that Trevor Barnes was finally arrested. Plus she was happy that Jack had made good on his promises to her. She smiled at Antonio and then she looked out the window of his car. She didn't want to think about Jack when she was with Antonio. When they arrived at Alyssa's apartment, she invited Antonio to come inside but he politely declined.

  "Let's take it slow, okay? Some things are better when you wait," he said which disappointed Alyssa but then he leaned forward and kissed her. His full and delicious Italian lips pressed against hers and his tongue slipped in her mouth for just a few sweet moments. Oh how good that tongue would feel somewhere else, she thought.

  "Can I see you again?" Antonio asked as his lips left hers.

  "Definitely," Alyssa replied. Antonio told her that he would call her and then he blew her a kiss goodbye as he left.

  Chapter Eleven: The Road to Recovery

  After Alyssa's first date with Antonio she wondered if she had said too much about the problems in her personal life. She feared that all of the drama and the association with drug dealers might have freaked him out. He certainly looked like he was in shock when she told him. Alyssa figured that there was a very good possibility that she would never see him again, but much to her surprise Antonio called her the very next day and asked her to meet him at Central Park. When Alyssa arrived at the park, Antonio looked genuinely pleased to see her. The two of them decided to walk along one of the paths and just talk for a while. Alyssa told Antonio that she was worried that she might have scared him off when she told him about her mother. Antonio stopped walking and he stepped in front of Alyssa so that he could rest his hands gently on her arms and look her directly in her eyes as he spoke.

  "Bellissima, you did what you thought was right for your mother. It was a lot to take in but I admire your courage and I am sorry for everything you have been through. I'm certainly not going to turn my back on you because of it," Antonio said with genuine sincerity.

  After that Alyssa felt far more comfortable with Antonio. She was glad that she decided to say something or else she probably would have dismissed any chance of having a true relationship with him, and she was starting to really like him. Antonio was more than a hot piece of Italian ass, he was really kind and respectful and truthfully Alyssa appreciated those qualities in a man. The rest of the afternoon, the new couple delighted in sharing stories of their dreams and ambitions. They talked about their interests and they shared hot dogs and ice cream from the street vendors in the park. It was a simple date, but it was a great one. The highlight came when they sat down on a bench to rest and Antonio leaned in for a kiss that turned into a ten minute make out session. Alyssa had to admit he really got her hot and bothered, even though it was essentially just kissing. Unfortunately some hot kisses in the park were all that Alyssa was going to get today because Antonio had to be at the pizza shop by twelve o'clock. He regretfully took his leave to go to work and Alyssa happily made her way home.

  When Alyssa got home there was a message from her mother. Valerie had completed the required rehabilitation program set by the jail and she was now allowed to receive visitors, mail and she could make phone calls twice per week. Alyssa immediately called the jail back and asked them when she would be able to visit. It turned out that visiting hours were in effect until 5pm that day and since Alyssa was already on her mother's list she was welcome to come down and see her mom. Alyssa decided to go for a visit immediately.

  Alyssa was incredibly excited to go and visit her mother. Hearing that her mom had completed rehab was tremendous news and she wanted to hear all about it and ask her mom how the new lawyer was working out. However when Alyssa got to the state prison, the memories of being arrested and being kept in the cold, dark holding cell rushed over Alyssa. She felt a lingering sickness in the pit of her stomach and for a few moments she thought she might need to find a restroom. Determined to see her mother, Alyssa swallowed hard and forced herself to content with her bad feelings and to put on a happy face for her mom. Nevertheless she was shaking when she walked in the front door and as she made her way to the visitor's check in area.

  Alyssa presented her ID to the guard and asked to see Valerie Snyder. Before long the guards escorted Alyssa to the visitation area and they instructed her to wait while they went to get the prisoner. Alyssa quietly nodded and then she sat down trying really hard not to stare at the inmates who were already visiting their friends and family in the same room. Some of these women looked like normal everyday girls, but some of them were terrifying. Alyssa was grateful that she never made it out of a holding cell during her jail time adventure. Then she wondered if her mother had any idea that she had been arrested as well. Alyssa hoped that her mom had no knowledge of it as she certainly didn't want to explain how she got out of her charges.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when a female guard escorted Valerie into the room. Alyssa smiled at her mom and was amazed at how good she looked. She was wearing an awful prison blue jump suit and her hands and feet were chained and cuffed, but otherwise she looked great. She looked like she was truly free of her addiction. Her eyes were clear and blue, not the hazy bloodshot ones that Alyssa had come to know. Her hair was washed and brushed and she had clearly taken a shower recently. That was actually a big deal for Valerie, who would sometimes go for up to a week without bathing when she was high all the time. Above all else, Valerie
looked happy, well as happy as someone who is incarcerated could be. She was smiling and she gave Alyssa a big hug once the guards took off her handcuffs. Alyssa gladly returned the embrace and whispered to her mom that she loved her, to which Valerie said the same. Then the two women sat down at the table together.

  "Thank you so much for coming to see me. I didn't know if you would since you were so upset the last time we talked," Valerie began.

  "Well I was mad at you for going back on the junk, Mom. I just wanted you to get some help, you know to get clean."

  "Well mission accomplished. It took about three months but I am officially in recovery and I think the worst of it is over," Valerie said with pride in her voice. Alyssa started to tear up at these words and she told her mother that she was very proud of her. Alyssa asked her mom all about the rehab process and Valerie told her about seeing the doctors and going to support meetings. They had set a list of goals for her and they were checking on her regularly. Alyssa was happy to hear that her mom was receiving good care for her addiction. Then Valerie asked her daughter how she managed to get her a new lawyer for free, especially one who was normally so high priced. Alyssa didn't want to tell her mother about her arrest and especially not about making the statement that extended her mother's sentence to begin with and so she simply said that she had asked her boss for help and that he had called in a favor to get Valerie better representation. Valerie started to cry softly but she choked back her tears and tried to put on a brave face. She knew better than to show weakness or emotion in front of the other inmates, even if they were doing the same thing.

  "Alyssa, thank you so much. This new guy thinks he can get some of these charges revoked or at the very least get my sentence cut in half. He said I'd have to keep going to recovery meetings, and see a parole officer. I'd probably get community service too, but right now I'm looking at ten years. This new lawyer says he can probably get me out in one to two years, maybe even six months if I testify against Trevor Barnes."