by Tia Wylder
I looked behind us and saw a few curious eyes gazing our way.
“Chill out man, what’s gotten into you?” I asked.
Michael shook his head. “It’s Dmitri, he sent one of his goons to the graduation today.”
“Dmitri Mikhailov, the Russian mafia boss? I thought we dealt with that?”
Michael shrugged. “Well, apparently he’s changed his mind. He wants the rest of the money my dad owes him, tonight.”
The wind shot out of me like I had been punched square in the stomach.
“Have you told your dad?” I asked.
Michael shook his head. “No, I didn’t want to ruin his day. He seems happy for once. I thought we had taken care of it last time. I thought we were past this. I know he took the money to pay for my school, and I feel like I owe it to him to make this right.”
I nodded. “You know I’ve got your back man. Just say the word.”
Michael smiled. “You’re a good friend, Devin. Let me get the money together, and tonight we’ll meet them. We’ll just pay off the debt and be on our way. You won’t need to do your thing.”
I wasn’t too sure about that, but I had helped Michael out of a few tight spots before, so I was ready if and when he needed me. We had never gone toe-to-toe with the Russian mob, but there’s a first time for everything.
I stayed away from Deandra, even though it was more difficult than ever. I knew Michael didn’t need any more stress than he already had weighing down on him. That night we said goodbye to his parents and told them a story about going out on the town to celebrate. Michael was carrying a ludicrous amount of cash on his person as we made our way to the meeting place.
Last time we did a deal with Dmitri and his boys, things got tense, but we all walked away, nice and smooth. This time was immediately different. For starters, Dmitri wasn’t there. Instead he had sent three of his pale and tattooed lackeys to do the deal. They were all tall and built like freight trains with bulging muscles and scarred faces. They stood quietly under the streetlights in the local park. As we approached, one of them held out a hand.
“That’s far enough. Who’s your friend?” The center one asked.
“His name doesn’t matter. He’s here as an insurance policy,” Michael said.
The Russian man in the center chuckled and gestured to the other two goons standing beside him. They each reached into their windbreakers and pulled out large handguns.
“Interesting. As you can see, I’ve brought two of my own,” he said.
Michael brandished the briefcase he was carrying and opened it for them to see.
“This is all of it. Take this to Dmitri and tell him we’re even.”
All three of the men started laughing and I felt the adrenaline gushing into my bloodstream.
“Dmitri has decided that the remaining total has doubled. Call it interest.”
Michael closed the briefcase and threw it on the ground.
“That wasn’t our deal! You tell him to take that and leave us alone!” Michael shouted.
All three men armed their guns and pointed them directly at us. I felt my heartbeat thundering inside my head and my hands shaking at my side.
“This is not a negotiation!” the man shouted.
Michael looked over at me and nodded.
No, I suppose it’s not.
Black and coarse fur erupted from my skin as my bond shattered and reformed. I collapsed onto the ground as my body went numb from the pain. I heard the mobsters arguing amongst themselves in Russian as my transformation was completed. I leaned forward balancing on two gigantic fists as I stared down the men.
I charged toward them and they opened fire. The wild fear in their eyes made their aim sloppy. I swung my right arm and slammed my fist into one of the men. He flew backward several feet and landed on his back. I turned to the other and grabbed him by the shoulders. He dropped his gun and started pleading for his life.
I threw him to the side as well, hard enough to knock him unconscious. The third man, the one who had been talking the entire time, shot twice in my direction. One bullet flew just past my shoulder. The other lodged itself in my upper arm.
I let loose a primal roar. The man pulled his trigger several more times and realized he was out of ammo. He dropped his gun.
“This isn’t over!” he screamed.
The man turned and ran in the opposite direction. Pain was radiating from my arm. I fell to the side and shifted back to my human form. Michael rushed to my side. My clothes had been shredded in the transformation, I was shivering in the cold as blood gushed from my arm.
“Devin, where’d they get you?” Michael asked.
“Right in the arm, nothing serious.”
“We got to get you to a hospital!”
I shook my head. “It went clean through. I’ll be fine, I heal faster than most people.”
“I don’t what I would have done without you man. They probably would have killed me. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
I stood up. “Well, you could start by getting me somewhere safe and maybe some clothes. Once that’s done, I’ll take a date with your sister.”
Michael shot me a look. “You’re not being serious?”
“You know I’ve always had feelings for her, man. I just saved your life, so you know I can keep her safe. I can be her protector if things get out of hand.”
“I’ll think about it,” Michael said.
That was good enough for me.
Chapter Three
Deandra
I never expected this to happen. When Devin asked me to go out on a date with him, I thought it was just some elaborate prank. I was the innocent quiet girl and he was the mysterious bad boy. We mixed together like oil and water, but I have still been hopelessly in love with him since we were younger.
“You’re serious?” I asked.
“Absolutely. I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” he said.
Yeah, no kidding.
“What about Michael?”
Devin shrugged. “I did him a favor so he’s not going to be bothering us.”
My heart was palpitating in my chest and my hands were shaking. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
“So, I was thinking I would pick you up tonight at eight. I know this great hole-in-the-wall bar downtown. It’s got great food and drinks, you’ll love it. We’ll finally have a chance to catch up with each other.”
I just nodded and kept that goofy smile plastered on my face. Devin leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.
“Alright, I’ll see you at eight.”
I was paralyzed as he walked out of my front door. I stood there and watched him climb into his car and drive off. I had imagined this moment so many times over the course of the years we knew each other, but I never actually believed it would ever happen.
I probably spent three hours getting ready as I tried to get everything perfect. I changed my outfit no less than ten times trying to find something casual yet enticing. I had never had a boyfriend or even been on a date before, but I knew that I had a body worth showing off.
I finally settled on a low cut shirt with a long and flowing skirt that had a mixture of dark blue and emerald stripes running across it. I stood in the mirror and carefully did my makeup. When I was finishing up I heard a knock at the door. I dropped the makeup brush I was holding and snatched up my jacket as I ran down the hallway to the front door.
When I threw it open, I didn’t see Devin. Instead there was a large and muscular man with a bald head and striking features. He looked oddly familiar.
“Deandra, is that you?” he asked. I immediately recognized his thick Russian accent.
“Oh, Mr. Mikhailov! I haven’t seen you since you moved to the city. That was just after my eighteenth birthday, wasn’t it?”
His eyes wandered up and down my body. It was an odd sensation.
“My, my, time has certainly been kind to you. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”
&
nbsp; I smiled. “That’s very nice of you to say. Is there anything I can help you with?”
The coy smile dropped from his face.
“Yes, I was hoping I could speak to your father. Is he here?”
I shook my head. “Sorry, no. He’s out of town on business and he took my mother with him.”
He nodded. “Very good then. I suppose I’ll have to come back. If you’re ever in the city, Deandra don’t hesitate to come visit.”
“Okay, I will. Have a good night.”
As he walked away I remembered the way Mr. Mikhailov always made me feel. When it came time to send Michael off to college, he was always around. My dad said he was just a family friend, but there was something about him that I didn’t quite understand. It seemed like he was hiding something.
Even so, you couldn’t deny the presence he had. I wondered what business he had with my father after all these years. Those thoughts went away, though, when I saw Devin’s car pulling up to our driveway.
I stepped inside to grab my purse and then ran down the concrete steps and to the curb where his black Mustang sat idling. I climbed into the passenger seat and immediately was hit with the aroma of his cologne. It was musty with a hint of a sweet scent. Needless to say, he had me at hello.
“You look incredible Dee. Do you mind if I call you that?”
I grinned and nodded. “I actually prefer that to my full name.”
Devin put the car into gear and we sped off towards the city.
He looked so calm and collected, winding through those narrow streets. It had been a long time since I drove a car, but they always made me nervous. I was racking my brain, trying to think of something to talk about.
“Have you heard anything from the NFL? I’m sure all the teams are trying to get you to sign on with them.”
Devin chuckled. “Yeah, I mean, I’ve seen some recruiters at the games, but I’ve never made the move on them. If I did sign on, they would take me away from here. This city may not have much for me, but it’s got enough to make me want to stay.”
I saw him look over at me as he said that, and it made my already massive smile even bigger.
“What about you? What’s kept a girl with talents like yours stuck here?”
“Well, I’m sure you know all about how my parents have bent over backwards to help Michael pay for school.”
Devin nodded. “Yeah, I’ve heard things.”
“They never did anything like that for me. I think they always thought something was wrong with me.”
Devin slowed down as we approached a red light. He looked over to me and laid a hand on my shoulder.
“There’s nothing wrong with you Dee, not a single thing. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Your parents, they just don’t understand that your gift is too big for you to do anything else. There’s no room in that beautiful brain for math, science, and all that other crap. You were born to make music, and that’s all you should be doing.”
“Thanks Devin, that really means a lot. I guess I’ve never looked at it that way.”
“I know he doesn’t tell you, but Michael really cares about you. He may not notice how your parents have neglected you and your talents, but he still loves you.”
“Yeah, I know, but it’s just hard to look him in the eye when I know he’s gotten everything handed to him and I’ve been left in the dust.”
Devin slowed the car as we approached a bar on the left side of the road. It was one of the few buildings on the long stretch of road we were on. It was lit almost exclusively by neon lights, but it had a certain charm to it. There were six motorcycles parked out in the front, and a few pickup trucks. I hadn’t ever been to a bar before, but this was what I imagined one would look like.
“Alright, we’re here. I know it looks a little intimidating, but these guys are harmless. The owner’s a sweet lady who knows how to make good drinks.”
“You should probably know, I’ve never drank before,” I said.
Devin chuckled. “Really? Not even a sip of your dad’s scotch?”
I shook my head.
“Well, you’re in for a treat then. Alcohol is the cure for just about all of life’s problems. Don’t worry, though, I won’t let you overdo it. If you have a bad night because you drank too much, you’ll never drink again and you probably won’t go out on another date with me.”
“I trust you, Devin. I’m sure it will be fine.”
I was a little nervous, but having Devin beside me helped me feel safe. I was positive nothing could hurt me while he was here. We walked into the bar and the first thing I noticed was the cigarette smoke. It was thick and hung in the air like fog. A trio of bikers stood on my right exchanging jokes over a low-lit pool table.
On my left was the bar. Seven patrons from all walks of live sat hunched over it, holding conversations as an older woman moved with the speed of a teenager behind the bar making drinks.
Devin and I grabbed a seat around the corner of the bar. The bartender came over and smiled warmly.
“Hey there Devin, who’s your friend?” she asked.
“Marla, this is Dee. She’s the girl I’ve been telling you about.”
Marla laughed. “So her brother finally got that stick out of his ass and let you take her out?”
I couldn’t help but laugh along with her. It made me feel good that Devin talked about me. I felt less crazy about the way I thought about him all the time.
“So, what’ll it be?” Marla asked.
“A whiskey and coke for me, and one of your apple and cranberry mixers for the lady.”
The bartender nodded and went to work. I looked over to Devin and saw a look of concern on his face.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect her to say that. I don’t think I ever quite described your brother that way, but I don’t know. After a few drinks my filter tends to shut off.”
“It’s fine, really. I think that was a pretty good way of describing it, actually.”
Marla came back with the drinks and set them down in front of us. I reached over and grabbed my drink which had a nice pink tone to it. I took a small sip. The flavors of apple and cranberry hit me first, followed by a strong bite in the back of my throat as I swallowed it. I had to fight the urge to cough for only a moment before the liquid slid down my throat like a warm flame.
When it hit my stomach, a chill ran down my spine. As I slowly drank from the glass, I felt the stress, the nervousness, and the tension slowing evaporating out of me.
“What do you think, is it good?” Devin asked.
“It’s really good. I can see why people like it so much.”
Devin raised his glass. “To a date that’s been a long time coming.”
I lifted my glass and clinked it into his. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I had a total of two drinks before Devin decided it was time for me to eat something. The menu consisted on comfort food and plenty of fried options. Devin informed me that drinking made you crave such cuisine and he was certainly right.
We left shortly after eating. On the way back to my house, we exchanged stories from our childhood. We made fun of Michael, we laughed about all the times we almost tried to talk to each other, and we remembered all the times we wished we could have done something about how we felt.
Devin stopped the car outside my house and left the engine running. I looked through the passenger window and back to him.
“Listen, my parents are out of town, and it’s not that late. So do you want to come inside?” I asked.
Devin pretended like he was thinking about it, but he shut off the car almost immediately.
“Absolutely,” he said.
We made our way up the steps to the front door. I unlocked it and we stepped inside. While I was fumbling for the light, Devin found it almost immediately.
He looked over at me. “So, what do you want to do?”
I walked over to him and look up into his eyes.
“Kiss me,” I said.
He laughed. “Really? Just like that?”
I chuckled. “Yep, just like that. Kiss me, dammit!”
Devin wrapped his arm around my back and pulled me close to him.
“So demanding,” he said.
I sighed. “I’m waiting!”
He leaned down and I closed my eyes. Our lips connected and I felt lightning shoot through me. Nothing had ever felt so right in my life. Devin’s hands gripped my waist as he pulled me close to him. I took deep and gasping breaths between bouts of passionate kissing that were filled with his scent.
I reached down and pulled his shirt off as he unzipped the back of my dress. Our clothes fell to the ground as we collapsed onto the couch in my living room. The blazing passion between us fell to a dull roar. Devin’s lip descended to my neck as his hand traced a path from my shoulders to my legs.
He released a satisfied sigh. “You’re so beautiful.”
I didn’t respond. I was trapped in a paralysis between utter ecstasy and sheer terror.
“What’s wrong?” Devin asked.
“This is my first time. I’m a virgin.”
Devin ran his fingers through my hair and smiled.
“It’s alright. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
I shook my head. “No, I want this. Just, be gentle, will you?”
Devin leaned down and softly kissed me.
“I always am.”
His hand reached around and unclasped my bra with incredible accuracy. He pulled my panties down my legs and dropped them on the floor. I instinctively covered my breasts with my arm as he looked down me with fire in his eyes.
“How do I look?” I asked.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
He pushed my legs apart and dove downward. I felt his hot breath against my thigh. Chills shot through my body as his tongue emerged and pressed against me. I frantically reached for a pillow on the couch and used it to muffle the moans that escaped my lips. It was involuntary, especially when I felt his tongue start moving in tight circular motions.
His hands dug into my legs as his rhythm intensified. I reached down and held his head in place as I felt a climax rising within me. My body overflowed with emotion and pleasure as I screamed out loud into the pillow I was using to muffle my reactions.