by T. L Smith
“You took her there?” I seethe at her, but she rolls her eyes at me.
“They are your friends. It’s as safe a place as any. She loved it. Until you came.” My hands clench at my sides, and I have to remember even though she may not act like a lady, she is one, and if I hit her, she would probably hit me back right, in the balls too.
“She has her mother’s funeral in a week, Harlin. The last thing she needs is you interfering with everything.”
She scoffs at me. “Please, she likes me. I’m irresistible. Plus, I like her. I think she’s just as bad as we are. We just don’t know it yet.”
“You don’t know shit, Harlin.” I run a hand through my hair and Harlin rolls her eyes. “What? You’ve know her for five minutes… now suddenly, you know all about her?”
“I see it, you see it. She’s tame, yet wild. It’s in her eyes. It’s in her body language.”
Looking past her, I see Milanka watching us from her window. She sees me staring, but doesn’t look away, just keeps looking with that faraway look she has mastered.
“Don’t take her again.”
She walks past me to her bike. “I make no promises, boss.” She rides off, leaving me in front of Milanka’s house, staring up at her as she looks down at me. She blinks a few times then shuts the curtains, leaving me wondering what the fuck this woman is doing to me.
Work is never easy, work is never fun. This week, though, has been torturous. Milanka hasn’t spoken to me, and tomorrow is her mother’s funeral. I told Derrick not to attend, but I don’t guarantee he won’t attend in the hopes that he will see Milanka. His obsession with her went too far last time. He believes he loves her, and most of my life I didn’t care what shit he spilled, but now I know her, and I know he’s talking absolute shit. Calling him again, he answers on the first ring.
“I’m going. No, you can’t talk me out of it,” are his first words. My hand grips the cell phone tightly.
“If you do, Derrick, you will regret it.”
“You can’t bribe or threaten me, Connick. I’ll be there dressed in black. See you tomorrow.” He ends the call, hanging up on me.
I wonder, do I warn her?
Should I just go ahead, do it now, kill him?
Fuck! I can’t.
Fuck! I need this company.
It’s what I’ve worked for all my adult life. Why must Derrick fuck it all up? Why must I even care if it affects her? Because somehow, Milanka’s worked her way into my life like a leech takes hold of your blood. Slow and steady.
Going home that day, I smell Milanka on everything. It’s been weeks since she’s been here, and yet I can still smell her everywhere. I tried to fuck another woman to see if it was just her pussy I was addicted too, her charms in the bedroom. I went to my club and requested the most confident and experienced woman on our books, but even with her impressive capabilities I couldn’t get hard when she touched my cock. I’m fucked, and it’s all on Milanka.
Laying my suit out for tomorrow, which I need firstly for a meeting and then for the funeral, I wonder if Milanka’s taking anyone with her. She can’t drive in that piece of shit car she has. She says and acts as if she has no money, but I disagree, and believe she does have some. Actually, I am positive of it. She just acts like money doesn’t exist. Maybe she’s saving for a house, I don’t know. I have all her accounts in a file, one is hidden so it was one of the last ones I saw, but there is a fair share of money in it, one that she puts into every time she gets paid. She never touches it though, it just sits there in a locked account, adding and adding up. Why does she need it? I have a feeling she does it without even needing it, because of how she was raised.
Cherry comes over with paperwork, but doesn’t stay for long, and doesn’t chat about anything which is unlike her. She leaves after she orders pizza and takes a box home for her, leaving one for me. I go to sleep hoping Derrick gets hit by a bus because that will make everyone’s life easier tomorrow.
No one is here, not even Milanka. Her mother’s coffin is at the front, and I’m waiting for someone to walk in the door. Checking my watch, I hear the front door open and in walks Milanka, dressed in all black. She looks around at the empty room, her eyes coming to a stop on me as she does. Walking up, she touches the coffin, lays some flowers on the top and steps back. The door opens again, making us both turn to see who it is. I requested no service unless Milanka asked for something specific. I notice she hasn’t. But now Derrick is walking in, dressed in all black as well. He looks to Milanka then side glances me before looking back to her. I watch as she freezes and becomes so still I’m afraid if you pushed her she’d fall right over like one of those fainting goats.
“Derrick.” He ignores me and starts making his way toward her. I catch Milanka before he does and block his path by standing in front of her. My hand goes backward to connect with her and somehow she moves, stepping into my back.
“You have to hide behind him now, Mils?” He laughs.
“Pay your respects and leave. Milanka doesn’t want to talk to you.”
His eyes go from behind me to me. “She doesn’t want you either. Don’t act like she does. She works her way into your brain until all you can think about is her, and you become obsessed with everything she is. Are you there yet, brother? Are you obsessed?”
I don’t answer because I know I am.
Do I love her though?
Who the fuck knows.
You have to know love to feel it. I don’t know how to feel it, but am I obsessed? Possibly. I want her all the time, but to his extent, I don’t think so. Her hand squeezes my jacket and I realize I haven’t answered.
“Your obsession is beyond unhealthy, Derrick. Don’t talk to her again.”
“Don’t think I missed a beat then, brother. I saw you pause. You are. Isn’t she wonderful like that? Maybe it’s her magical cunt?”
She gasps and releases my suit jacket. I feel her walk around, then see her when she’s in front of me. She does the most unexpected thing, she kicks Derrick straight between the legs, making him drop to the floor with his hands covering his junk. I wince in pain and look away for a quick second, it makes my eyes water, and when I look back she’s leaning down speaking into his face.
“You’re sick, do you know that? You’re a sick delusional prick. I hate you and would never want you, even if I were laying where my mother is right now. How dare you come here on this day!” She kicks him in the face which makes him react and move one of his hands to cover himself. I want to laugh until she spits on him and walks out the door, leaving Derrick to rot on the floor by himself. I catch up with her. Milanka’s hands are clenched when I finally reach her, so I grab her arm, turn her around, and see the anger everywhere. It radiates from her body, her face and in all aspects of her being.
“You need to eat, let me feed you.”
“Please, I saw it too, you know. You did pause. Do you think of me as an addiction?”
“No. Fuck! I don’t know.”
“You want me because I am a good fuck then?” Her arms cross over her chest.
“I would fuck you anywhere, anytime, you know that.”
“That didn’t answer my question. Oh wait, maybe it did.” She turns and walks off leaving me standing there watching her.
I’m stuck to that same spot. Derrick emerges from the funeral home with one hand still on his cock and walking with a slight limp.
“You don’t need to protect her. She’s the last person who needs any sort of protection. Trust me.” Derrick walks away, leaving me wondering what the fuck he’s talking about.
I call Cherry straight away as I watch Milanka drive off into the distance in her old broken piece-of-shit car.
“Cherry, I want you to buy Milanka a new car. One like yours, small and reliable.”
“She won’t take it.”
“Make her fucking take it. Fucking burn hers so she has to.” Hanging up my cell, I go to the one place I can relax, the mudslide. The guys go there
every week, almost always on the same night. Last week I didn’t know she was there and when I arrived I was shocked. I go to relax and have a few beers. Hardly anyone knows about the place as it’s on my father’s land, but he doesn’t maintain the area or even care for it. The guys that go there have been with me since college. I respect all of them, even if I did punch Matthew’s head in. We aren’t friends, I don’t see them at any other time unless it’s for work. I don’t socialize with them and they know it and never ask me to, but they are all a close-knit bunch.
I also hire them. They run a small investigating company I own, and they also do a lot of dirty work on the side for some of those customers as well. Sometimes, the guys bring their flings out here, but usually, the only girl that’s here is Harlin. She’s treated like one of the guys. And yet, she brought Milanka here. I know why she did it, though. It’s to show Milanka more of who I am. But if I want to do that, I will do that in my own time.
“No fists flying tonight, brother?” Jason asks, handing me a beer as I sit next to him.
“Nope, but I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again if hands don’t stay to themselves.”
He laughs and cracks his neck as he looks around at all the guys. “I haven’t seen you like that since college. What’s happening? Really?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Placing the beer to my lips, I take a long swig. I see all their eyes on me but no one says anything more. It was good to see Milanka today. Having gone a week without her near me has been different, and I don’t think it’s a good kind of different. It’s one that fucks with your head.
Then there’s Derrick. I don’t even know what to do with that massive problem. Of course, the easiest solution for all our situations would be to kill him. Then I think about his daughter. She doesn’t deserve that, but does she deserve someone as fucked up as Derrick as a father? A man who doesn’t even understand how to respect a woman? He sure as shit doesn’t respect Nicole, she’s his plaything, and the one woman he wants hates him. So, his head-game is weak and fucked up and I don’t understand him or his fucked up feelings.
“If you say so. Remember, actions speak louder than words.”
Chapter 12
Milanka
The funeral was a disaster; my life is somewhat the same as well. I quit work and have been stuck on my couch all week after not being able to move. Serena has called and checked in on me a few times, so has my new friend Harlin. I tried to get Cherry to take the brand-new car that’s parked out front and sell it to give Connick his money back, but she wouldn’t do that no matter how much I tried to bribe her. If I decide to drive myself anywhere, I won’t have any other choice but to take that new car because, in the process of buying me a new one, he’s had my old one towed away. Luckily I don’t keep anything valuable in my car or I’d be very pissed off right now.
I’ve been toying with the idea of taking a photography course online, and I think I will just bite the bullet and do it. Photography is something I’ve always been interested in and loved, just not of me, but of everyone else. I don’t understand the whole ‘selfie’ thing. Why do people want to take photos of themselves when there’s so much more interesting things to capture?
I went shopping online and bought a new camera, and it arrived in the mail yesterday.
Serena immediately wanted me to take photos of her and the kids to test my skills with my new camera, and they came out pretty good considering it’s not something I’ve ever done before.
Serena asked me what kind of photography I want to do—take portraits, weddings, landscapes, candid shots—there are so many options. Today I’m visiting a studio to get a feel for it thanks to Von. He’s friends with a very well-known celebrity photographer, and I couldn’t be more excited to view his work, including witnessing how he works with the camera.
Taking some Rolaids to settle my stomach down, I contemplate calling an Uber when my brand-new keys sit dangling in front of me. Checking the time, I realize I’m already late and it's best to go now before I make a bad impression of myself. Walking to the new car is very awkward. I’ve never owned something this expensive before. Yes, Derrick used to lavish me with gifts, but that was purely so he could buy and keep me. His gifts were never this extravagant though and this feels way over the top and too much. I’m not sure what I can even do about it.
Opening the door, the first thing I notice is that it doesn’t creak, and not a sound comes from the car it’s so silent. Starting it, and not hearing the noises of my old car is even weirder as I take off down the road.
The studio was even better than I expected. All his work was on display, and I even got to stay for one of his photo shoots. He also offered me a job, which I couldn’t resist the request even though I was shocked that he would offer it to me. It would be utterly stupid of me to turn down a position that can help better my life, and that’s what I need to do—better my situation.
Harlin called when I left and asked me to come out with her. I was hesitant at first until she said he wouldn’t be there. Connick’s always on my mind even when he shouldn’t be there, and that’s a major problem. I have never had feelings for a man the way I do for Connick, and I don’t understand them one bit. I don’t think he does either.
Harlin is standing on some steps when I pull up at the front of her house in my new car. She raises her eyebrows and looks it over before she pulls the door open.
“Let me guess, lover boy bought you a new car?”
“Of course.”
“You want to burn it?”
I laugh and shake my head. “That sounds like a great idea, but unfortunately he took my old one, giving me no choice but to use this one.”
“That boy ain’t no fool, girl.”
“Where to?”
I notice she’s dressed in all black. She turns to face me. “I did plan to just have a girl’s night with you, but I had a call about a job.”
“Oh… okay.”
She looks me over before she speaks again. “You can come with. I’m my own boss and all.”
I shrug my shoulders telling her sure, and we start driving with Harlin giving me directions. We arrive at a quieter part of town, but also known to not be friendly. She tells me to stop at an old casino. Harlin swings around and proceeds to pull some items from her bag. Knives, guns, and god only knows what else. She starts adding them to her clothes and tucking them in her boots.
To say I’m shocked would be an understatement. Harlin hands me a knife, my fingers take it, but I don’t move. Instead, I just look at it, frozen in my position on the seat. The knife is large and very sharp. It looks a little like a hunting knife with a black handle and a shiny blade.
“What am I meant to do with this?”
“Protect yourself.”
“Ummm… okay. From who?”
Harlin smirks as she opens the door. She proceeds to walk around to my side and pull the driver’s door open.
“I wouldn’t recommend staying in the car by yourself. Just remember, the pointy end goes in them not you.” She starts walking off with her boots clicking on the pavement in the parking lot. Rushing up so I’m behind her, I follow her into the dark casino. Looking around, there are hardly any customers and those that are there stare at us as we enter. Some look away and back to their game, some look longer than necessary. Harlin walks straight past them and out the back. She only turns once with a smile on her face to make sure I’m following her as she walks. Behind a back door, a cloud of smoke is all I see when we walk in. The door shuts behind me with a thud, and I have to wait for my eyes to adjust.
“Joey,” Harlin’s voice filters through the silence in the room. Turning, I see she’s looking at a man that’s sitting at the head of the table with a cigar hanging from his lips.
“Harlin, baby, come on… not tonight.”
She cracks her head to either side. “I’m sorry, Joey.” She looks at the rest of the men around the table. “Leave boys, now.” Some stand and listen to
what she’s ordered them to do, but two stay seated right next to Joey on either side of him. “I didn’t want to do this the hard way, Joey. I had planned for it to be sweet and merciful. Are you picking the other option?”
He laughs and removes the cigar. “Harlin, you’re leaving me no choice, girl. What did you think would happen?” He nods his head to his men. They both stand at the same time and start walking toward her. I don’t think they even notice me in the room because all eyes are focused firmly on Harlin.
Stepping back, I hit a wall with no escape as I watch on.
What exactly is it that she does?
She said this was her work.
Is it hustling people for money?
It can’t be though, because why is she saying what she’s just said to him. It sounds more like she’s about to kill him.
Both men start walking toward her fast, yet somehow, I see it all in slow motion as I watch her. Harlin’s hand reaches behind her hip and she pulls out a gun faster than they can run. One precise shot goes straight into the first man who’s closest to her, the next scrapes across the head of the second as his body collides with hers. He attempts to hit her face while he’s on the top of her, but she moves her head to the side and his hand slams down to the floor giving her the advantage. Harlin pulls her gun back up, aiming it at the side of his head as he drops right on top of her.
“Don’t move, Joey.”
Looking up to see what she’s talking about, I notice she’s right, Joey’s up and heading straight to me because I’m still standing in the doorway. My body is blocking his escape. His hand touches me in slow motion, and I look down to see Harlin trying to stand as she pushes the man off her. The moment she does, his hands are on me, and her gun is pointing at his head.
“Let her go, Joey.”
His breath stinks as he pulls me to him while his gun is aimed directly at my temple. I should be scared, petrified, right now, yet I have a state of relaxation running through me as this man holds me with a gun to my head.