by K. D Clark
Micheal sat at a table in the middle of the employee break room. His eyes kept darting back and forth between Cassandra who stood in front of him and Calvin and Lucas standing off to the side. He fiddled with the ring on his hand. Taking it off and putting it back on, twisting it around his finger as she started down at him.
Finally she spoke, “Why was my shipment late?”
“There were too many shipments scheduled for yesterday.” He said not looking up from his hands. “I thought we were in the clear but some ships were rescheduled due to the storm.”
She walked around the table standing close. “Well if that was the case it would have been pretty easy to pick up the phone and give my guys a call, no?”
Micheal nodded frantically, “Yes, yes I should have, I fucked up alright.”
Without warning Cassandra’s hand fist in his hair and slammed his head down to the table.
“Fuck!” He yelled. He reached his hand up to cup his nose as blood leaked between his fingers. Cassandra watched as tears started to slide down his face.
“So the good news is I know you didn’t get searched by the FEDS. That product is in perfect condition. That means I don’t have to kill you. I also realized today that you are very stupid. How’s your daughter doing, Anna right?” His eyes widen as more tears poured down his face to his hands still covering his bleeding nose.
“Does she like that new catholic school she got into?”
Micheal shook his head frantic. Cassandra leaned down to his ear, “Let make this clear, if there is anything that is going to make my shipment be even a minute late. You get on the phone and you beg Calvin to spare you life. You understand?” Micheal nodded.
“Good, clean yourself up.” She turned to Calvin and Lucas, “Bring the product to the warehouse and divide it up so it can hit the streets first thing tomorrow. Meet me at Tempest afterwards?”
“See you there, boss.” Calvin replied.
The sun was setting as Cassandra walked out of the building and slide into the backseat of the SUV. She remembered she never texted Andre back. It would probable be best if she didn’t. Andre was a relief from her Cosa Nostra life. It was like she forgot who she was suppose to be for a second and could just be herself. That’s why it was so dangerous for her to be around him. She took out her papers and rolled a joint as best as she could as the car came to stop lights. Instead of responding to Andre’s earlier text she decided to check on Gio.
“Boss.” Giovanni answered.
“How are things going down up in New Jersey?” She asked.
“New Jersey is taken care of. I’m on my down to Mexico now to have a chat with our friends down there.”
It was better to keep things vague on the phone just in case someone could be listening.
“Sounds good. Keep me up to date and don’t stay down there too long.”
He paused. “Something going on.”
“Nothing to be concerned about. I’ll see you when you get back.”
She ended the call as they pulled up to Tempest.
* * *
Around 1am Cassandra worked on payroll for Tempest and a few other businesses she had a hand in. She had threw her hair up in a bun trying hard to concentrate and not get bored. Paperwork made her want to fall asleep and considering she was laundering millions of dollars in her businesses it made it that much more difficult. She had spreadsheets and documents surrounding her when she decided she needed a break. Calvin and Lucas had showed up a few minutes ago, they were enjoying themselves at the club downstairs. She let them drink for free figuring they deserved it after the work they put in today. No longer able to concentrate she made her way down the glass staircase to the club floor. Like most nights, the club was crowded. She stood at the end of the bar giving her bartender the signal to make her a long island. She felt strong arms wrap around her waist. In a flash she turned around having removed the knife from her side pocket and held it at the stomach of her attacker. She looked up to see Andre’s wide eyes staring down at the knife.
He looked up at her one eyebrow raised, “Really? You’re going to shank me?”
She closed the knife and returned it back to her pocket. “Less obvious then shooting you.”
He rolled his eyes, “Well thanks.”
“What are you doing here?” She asked turning towards the bar to grab the drink that was set in front of her.
“Oh you know just coming to grab a late night drink, and find out why someone has neglected to text me back.” He slide into the bar stool next to her.
“How’d you know I’d be here?”
He shrugged, “Where else would you be?”
“I’m predictable?” She asked as she sipped on her Long Island.
“I didn’t expect a knife to be pulled on me so I would have to say no.” He cocked a smile showing his pearly white teeth while simultaneously making her heart flutter.
“I was working.” She said.
“So was I.”
“Different kind of work.”
He shrugged. “Maybe but it still stands that we’re both busy people.”
She wanted to smile and drink and go back to Andre’s place like last time, but she needed to cut the cord. He was a dangerous distraction and the point that he kept coming back for more only made it worst.
She stood up grabbing her long island. “I have to get back to work.”
He caught her arm. His touch igniting a fire deep in her stomach. His eyes stared down into hers, his mouth forming a flat line. She could see the faint line of his biceps bulging under his suit jacket. For a minute it was like they were back in his penthouse, but he wasn’t the one in control here.
“You’re running.” He said.
She snatched her arm from his grasp and her drink swooshed over the sides of the cup. Leo was by her side in a instant.
“We have a problem?”
Her eyes never left his, “No, I’m good Leo. I run a million dollar criminal organization I don’t run from anything.”
He nodded. “Keep telling yourself that.”
* * *
Andre slide into the Lexus and speed off. He had men on the street competing with Cassandra’s smaller men and it was only a matter of time before she noticed. He needed to get close but she kept herself well guarded. Not just by the older bodyguard she kept around. She had built walls around her emotions higher then he could see over. She was smart. Working only at night and sending her underboss to handle all the big business, so few people knew who the real boss was. To say he was getting bored running his legitimate business’s was a understatement. He needed her in order to get things back on track. He knew when he was talking to the real Cassandra and when he was talking to a Boss. Tonight he had been talking with a Boss who realized she needed to get her priorities straight. He wondered how many other people had seen flashes of the real her. He doubted it was many. It was no question she was beautiful. Curvy in all the right places, long wavy hair but a sleeve of tattoos and cold eyes to remind you she wasn’t your average woman. After driving around for what seemed like a hour Andre decide there was only one person he needed to call to get her out of his head for a little while. Matteo picked up on the 2nd ring.
“Sup?”
“I need to get laid.”
He heard ruffling on the other end of the phone and Matteo’s laughter. “Ms. Mafia Queen getting to you huh?” Andre stayed silent deciding not to engage in Matteo’s joking. “Alright fine meet me at that pool house. You know what I’m talking about?”
“Yea, I’ll see you there.”
The pool house was as dirty and grimy as it sounded. With old pool tables and flickering overhead lights. It smelled strong of cigarette smoke and beer. He would much whether spend his time at Tempest. Even if Cassandra was going to ignore him like he was just another one of her one night stands. Within a few hours of being there and a handful of girls Matteo tried to hook him up with, Andre was ready to go home. Matteo was leaning close to a long legged bru
nette when Andre patted him on the back.
“I’m going home. I’ll see you tomorrow at the office.” Matteo waved him on going back to his conversation. Getting Cassandra out of his mind wasn’t going to be as easy as going to a bar and picking someone up. She already had her claws in him.
* * *
Six Years Earlier
The funeral had been exactly what you’d would expect for a Cosa Nostra Boss. Cassandra received a lot of pats on the back. They would say encouraging words such as;You’ll get through this. stay strong. What they didn’t know was that she didn’t need the encouraging words. She felt like a terrible person to feel relief that her husband was laying in the casket. The mob wife act was up now. No more running back in forth between prison and Gavin’s men to deliver his messages. No, she was done being a messenger. Giovanni came up beside her.
“Talk with me?” He asked.
She nodded and they made their way to the exit of the funeral home. They walked for awhile coming to a stop at a brick wall beside the gas station. Cassandra pulled herself up to sit on the ledge. Giovanni didn’t say anything as he pulled a blunt out of his pocket and lit it. He passed it to Cassandra, she hesitated.
“Trust me your going to start needing this.”
She took the blunt and inhaled. She started a coughing fit as she tried to exhale.
“What do you mean I’m going to start needing this?” She asked
“What are you going to do now, Cass? Gavin is gone. You might be able to fool all those people in there but I know you couldn’t be happier to see him dead in that casket. So what now?”
She took another hit from the blunt this time the exhale was a lot more smooth.
“You’ll back me up?” She asked.
He didn’t have to ask what she was talking about.
“Yea, and Calvin and Lucas too. You know they hated Gavin. They’re ready to get someone in charge who actually knows what they’re doing.”
She passed the blunt back to Giovanni. “This doesn’t feel planned to you? Like this was how it was suppose to be. Like maybe my father…”
“Doesn’t matter.” He cut her off. “This is what you want? Then it doesn’t matter how you get it.”
“The vote for the new Boss is tomorrow at 8 right?”
Giovanni smiled, “Yea Cass tomorrow at 8.”
6
Chapter Five
One week passed with no text or calls from Cassandra, despite Andre’s attempts. He’d texted her once a day. He’d gone to the club a couple more times but either she stayed in her upstairs office or wasn’t there at all. She was running and fast but Andre couldn’t shake her from his mind. His guys have been doing good in the streets. Turning a good profit and definitely taking a slice out of Cassandra’s pie. He’s sure she has noticed by now. So it comes as a bit of a surprise when at 1am his phone vibrated with a text from her two words, Come over. It didn’t take long for Andre to jump out of bed, throw on some sweats and a t-shirt and head over to Cassandra’s. The drive was short but on the way there he started to worry about getting caught. Maybe she was setting him up. The oh so mighty Don of Cosa Nostra who allowed him to take control of her body and mind for two nights and then disappeared like nothing at all had happened. It was a risk he had to take. When he got to the apartment entrance Cassandra buzzed him in and he made his way up to the third floor. As he walked in he noticed the building had a old charm to it. Original hardwood floors, crown molding and a creaky staircase. She owned the whole building, Andre knew from his research, but she choose to live in one of the smallest studio’s. Cassandra opened the apartment door wearing grey shorts that could double as underwear and a t-shirt. Her hair was pulled up in a bun on top of her head and she held a glass of what looked like tequila in her hand. She looked so relaxed as if she was just having a casual night at home. Andre knew something had to be wrong and he didn’t miss her bloodshot eyes. She waved him in. He stepped inside and like the rest of the building the beautiful crown molding and old hardwoods continued throughout the studio apartment. There was a large bed sitting against the wall with two windows to either side. A small couch, coffee table and TV separated the bedroom area from the kitchen. The studio smelled like a mix of marijuana and her body spray.
“Want a drink?” She asked from behind the kitchen island as she poured more tequila for herself.
* * *
Andre made his way to the island. Standing so close to her she could feel the heat radiating off his body and the strong scent of spearmint. His eyes meet hers and she felt that familiar wetness between her thighs. He reached over her and plucked the bottle from her hand.
“Why am I here Cassandra?”
With shaky hands she downed the rest of what was in her glass. She had been chain smoking blunts and drinking before she realized she didn’t want to be alone. The studio felt cold and lonely while the club was too loud and crowded. She took a deep breath looking into his patient eyes.
“You know what I do?”
He nodded his head. She leaned against the counter to keep her balance. “I don’t know how and I don’t trust you but I know you make me forget and that’s what I need.” She paused and when he didn’t say anything she continued. “I lost one of my men tonight. One of my best men. I sent him to do a job and he died. It’s not so much that I’m sad but I’m surprised that this kind of stuff still effects me.”
His eyebrows fumed together, “That what still effects you?”
“Death. I should be used to it, I’m surrounded by it.” She shrugged. She was grateful that he had taken the bottle of tequila from her. The weed and alcohol were mixing together and she was struggling to keep her balance.
“How about we go sit down?” He suggested. Andre helped her to the sofa and then he disappeared briefly before sitting beside her. He placed a glass of water on the coffee table.
He tilted his head towards the glass. “Drink.”
She didn’t argue as she downed the entire thing. She didn’t realize how thirsty she’d been.
“Thank you.”
He nodded and relaxed back into the sofa, slinging his arm over the back of the couch, “Tell me about your friend.”
She shook her head, quickly sobering. She had already said to much.
“I shouldn’t be talking about this.”
“You called me over. I didn’t ask you anything to get you in trouble I asked about a friend that you lost tonight. Which is causing you to drown yourself in Tequila. Tell me about him.”
She took a deep breath. “He was a good guy, quiet but loyal. He was there for me when many men weren’t. He fought for me when many wouldn’t.” She shook her head clearing her thoughts. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Keep going.”
“Why do you care?!” She snapped.
“Because you asked me over…”
“Yea, to distract me to take my mind off things.”
“You don’t need a distraction.” He stated.
“But I want one.”
“Well, I’m not going to give it to you. Now finish telling me about your friend.” She let her head fall back against the back of the sofa looking up at the ceiling. She felt hot tears slide down her face. She wiped them away before Andre could see them. After a moment he pulled her into his side. She stayed tucked under his arm for what felt like hours. Neither of them saying a word until she drifted off into sleep.
* * *
She woke to the smell of bacon and a pounding headache. She lifted up slightly and squinted her eyes, opening them enough to make out Andre facing the stove. She groaned closing her eyes and letting her head fall back to the pillow.
“Your up!” He exclaimed.
“Shhh, stop yelling.” She begged as she squished the pillow around her head trying to block out his voice.
“I’m not yelling.”
“Shhh” She mumbled once again.
Her mouth felt like a desert. She started licking her lips which were dry and cr
acked. She opened her eyes again to see Andre watching her. His dark hair had water droplet in it. He was shirtless and the sight of his muscles made her mouth even dryer if that was possible.
He pointed with his spatula. “Water and Tylenol. Drink.”
On the bedside table sat a tall glass of ice water and two red pills. He watched as she swallowed the two pills before going back to making breakfast. Breakfast?
“What time is it?” She managed to crock out before downing the rest of her water.
“I think 8.” He said. His back still turned to her.
“8! In the morning?” She looked around the apartment and noticed he had opened the curtains letting in the sunlight.
He shrugged. “I let you sleep in as much as I could but I got hungry.”
He swung the frying pan around and scooped something onto the two plates that were sitting on the island.
“So why didn’t you just go home?” It came out harsher then she meant and she immediately wished she could take it back.
He paused his eye’s trained on her, “Is that what you would have wanted?”
She sighed, “No.” There was no point in lying.
“Good.” He resumed putting the plates together and carried them to the bed. All he had on was one of her plush body towels wrapped around his waist. She couldn’t help herself as her eyes trailed down his abs to the V the disappeared under the towel. She forced herself to look back at his face. His pulled his lips into a knowing grin, having caught her staring. He sat next to her on the bed and set the plate in front of her. It was filled with two pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon.
She shook her head. “Wait, a minute did you shower here?”
He nodded as he chewed his food. “Yea after I worked out I figured…”
“What? Where did you workout?”
His eyebrows fumed together confused. “Don’t you know this building has a workout room, bottom floor next to…”
