Keep Me (The Lucky Family Book 2)

by Eden Rose

  He didn't say anything and I took out my new cell phone and found a number for a taxi. I needed to get away from Vincent because my resolve was fading.

  Vincent gripped my elbow with enough force for me to know that he was not happy about this. His words that came next, gutted me and I felt like the biggest wimp ever. "You are really going to do this? I love you so much. I am sorry for everything that has happened to you. These past couple of days have been agony."

  "I know what you mean," I breathed out and opened my eyes which were blurry. Part of me wanted to say to hell with it and run off with him. However, the rational side of my brain knew that I wouldn't be happy. "We both deserve to be happy. A relationship shouldn't be about tracking devices and- and- and-and clocking the other person. We should be able to trust each other, be able to go out to dinner with out being interrupted. I can't remember the last time that we were together and somebody didn't interrupt our time. Do you really want to have a relationship like that? Honestly, how are we supposed to be together when you are always with them?" As I was talking I realized how jealous I was about the family. The mere factor that Vincent spends so much time with them and not me killed. "Do you like having to worry about whether or not I am going to be shot or drugged? This is not what I expected." I really wanted to take back and eat all of those words. The fact that he was quiet really scared me.

  The hand that held my elbow moved to my cheek and he forced my face to look at him. "I don't like having to worry about that. However, I made a choice to not live without you. This," he took his hand off my cheek and waved his hand between our bodies, "isn't over. I don't accept that. We will work this out and be happy."

  I loved his words and I bathed in them as I listened to them. "How can we be happy? We left the state and they followed us. I feel as if I am also under a microscope. What is there to do to make us feel whole again?" Give me pretty words, Vincent. Make me believe that I am being foolish and we can ride off into the sunset.

  "First off, I will handle the family. Second of all, I decided that I need you in my life. All of this that happened has only proved how strong my feelings are for you. And I know you have feelings for me. Please, don't walk away from me. What is it that you need?" His accent was thick. The words that came out of his mouth were so enthralling.

  I don't want this to be over, truthfully but I need to take care of myself. Too much has happened and I am so worried that one day I am going to hate myself for not doing that. "I think I need some time. All of this is so scary and intense. Can you give me that?"

  The silence scared me more than ever. So much can happen during the quiet. Vincent hummed to himself and scratched his neck. "Of course. Under a few conditions."

  Really? He is going to put rules on my time. Apparently, Vincent didn't know what give me time meant. "What are those?"

  "That you still stay in my house," I opened my mouth to object but he put his hand up. "Wait a minute," he put his hand further on my face. "You can sleep in the couch room if you don't want to sleep with me. This way I can make sure you are safe. You won't have to do coupley things with me. Hell, I will make it so you don't even know I am there. Another condition, you stop saying that you want to end things. I know that you are stressed, but it would kill me if you were to leave me permanently. Can you agree with these terms?" He turned my ending things with him into making it seem like a business arrangement.

  In truth, I did not have anywhere else to go since I am not really on speaking terms with Anne or Ronnie. Also, I really didn't want to live without Vincent but I wanted to gain some boundaries. "Yes."

  Chapter Seventeen

  When we arrived back to our side of New York, it has been nearly two days since I spoke to Anne. I knew that she and Ronnie came back too because the emails from work are sent to both us and she is the one that is responding. It was just a matter of time before I bump into her. Vincent had Stella had moved my stuff into the room with the couch. I was amazed to see that they moved the couch and put a nice and comfortable bed in there for me and painted it a light green. Yes! No more blue. It has been about two days since I had spoke to Vincent. Sleeping in this room will be hard.

  I thanked Stella and started to put my things away. In order to give myself something to distract myself from unpacking, I turned on the television and settled to watch some sappy Lifetime movie.

  With my stuff put away, and now that the second movie is ending, someone knocked on the door. I got off the bed and opened it. Half expecting to see Vincent, there was Stella. I couldn't let her see my disappointment.

  This was my idea to break up and I really didn't have any other place to go. I asked for this and I know that I am punishing him for something he really didn't do... but, I need to protect myself. The protection that I am trying to give myself is good but it doesn't make it hurt any less.

  "Did you want to eat up here or eat downstairs?" She asked as she scanned my new room. "Mr. Vincent isn't here." I could tell that is curious to see what I might have changed since I took over the room. I watched her eyes as they darted all over the place and I waited for her to acknowledge that I am watching her.

  Due to my recent hospitalization, I have been commanded to take this week (today is Day 5 Since The Accident) easy in order to rest and heal. I understand the light duty and everything, but I am extremely bored and there is only so much Lifetime movies that I can endure. There is a follow up appointment with my new doctor at the end of the week and I am hoping to be released in order to go back to work.

  I still read my emails and look up listings to see what's new in order to keep my mind from over analyzing everything. So far, I did find a new building that has been renovated. The building is older but it is new to the market and I wanted to take it. I read in the information section that the new owners are dividing up the units and making them the new It place in Manhattan with only fifteen units.

  "I will eat on the patio," I said to her as I turned around and slipped into a tee shirt since I am only wearing a tank. I followed her down the stairs and walked outside. The serenity I feel normally when I go out onto the patio is now nonexistent.

  There were workers that are out working on the pool which is strange because I don't remember anything being mentioned about work being done. "Hi, what are you doing?" My attempt on not sounding accusatory definitely failed. Even though I asked the question, I still felt as if I'm interrogating them.

  "Your husband wanted us to be a heater in the pool for you," the worker said. When he said husband, I am about 150% sure that it would have hurt a whole hell of a lot less if he were to stab me.

  My civility has left and its time to focus on other things.

  I was trying very hard these past couple of days to avoid him. The most tormented part about living in here is walking past his bedroom door and having to fight myself from going into his room. Vincent did keep his promise. I've rarely seen him and when I did he would smile and walk away from me. After fighting myself from reaching out to touch him, I barely left my room unless I knew he was gone doing what ever it is that he does. Vincent's friends would come knock on my door to say hi and bye but that was the extent of human interaction that I had. My doctor has advised me that I take this week off from work and start back up the second week of September.

  The workers looked at me expectantly but I didn't have anything to say to them. "Um."

  Stella came outside with my dinner. I ate in silence as I played on my tablet. There have been a few foreclosures in affluent buildings that have spiked my interest. As I chewed my food, I plot what to do with these units and begin to wonder how hard it is to get into the flipping business.

  About thirty minutes later, the slider opened and I heard screaming. "Savannah!"

  I spun around and seen Annabeth and Bethany come through and sat at the table. They each had a bottle of wine and magazines. I didn't realize that I was so lonely until I seen them.

  "Hey, what brings you to my little slice of heaven?" I as
ked as I received a glass of wine.

  "We are going out! The guys brought us here for business and we want to get frisky!" Bethany exclaimed with her contagious giggle.

  "I am not ready to go out..." I exclaim and finish my bite of chicken.

  I heard a humph and a magazine slipped off the table. "You are so ready. Come on!" Annabeth pulled me off the patio chair and started to walk into the kitchen. I tried several times to yank my hand out of hers and she just held tighter.

  "Where are we going to go?" I asked as we walked through the foyer to the stairs, well I'm being pulled. After being dragged this far, I have had enough. "Jesus Christ, woman! I am coming!"

  "Good evening ladies," Vincent said to us. He looked absolutely delicious in his suit and blue tie. I wanted to mount him in the great room and have my wicked way with him. Who even cares that the great room is full of mobsters? They can watch or leave. I can just imagine unbuttoning his shirt and licking his tanned skin. Running my tongue over his sexy pecs and muscles. Watching his dick jump and strain against his pants while it begs for me to wrap my lips around its head.

  "Savannah?" I hear a female voice that breaks me out of my fantasy.

  I avoided eye contact as much as possible as my two friends spoke with Vincent. If my eyes look into his I am going to be lost.

  "I will meet you upstairs," I told them as I climbed the stairs to my room. Once in my room, I changed out of my lounge clothes and put on a pair of tight jeans and a cute tank top. As I pulled up the jeans, my hand brushed against the mound of my sex. My eyes slowly started to close but I snapped out of it. I don't need my friend to walk in while my hand goes to work. By the time I was sitting at the mirror, Annabeth and Bethany came in. Thank all that is holy that I wasn't touching myself.

  Yeah, but I'm still am tingling from the sensation.

  "How can you sleep in this house and not want to tackle him? He is so hot that sometimes I forget that I am married!" Annabeth exclaimed as she plopped down on my bed. A gust of air shot through her mouth.

  "Its very hard," I admitted. We are in dire need of a subject change so they won't find out how much I am torturing myself by enforcing this break. An old shrink of mine would have called me an emotional masochistic and emotional cutter seeming as this is all of my doing. "Where are we going?"

  "Johnny doesn't want us to go to any bars that they don't own. Which gives us four bars in Manhattan to go to. That outfit looks so cute!"

  I beamed over at her: "Thanks, Bethany. You look hot!" Bethany was wearing a short skirt and a tank top. I felt cold for her, but she still had such a good body for being a mother.

  "Have you spoke to Anne since you left upstate?" Annabeth inquires at me as she went into the closet to pick out a pair of shoes for me.

  "Negative," I spritzed some perfume on and took my wallet out of my every day purse and transferred it to my evening bag. "Are we ready to go?" I didn't want to admit how much I missed my friend.

  "Yep!" Bethany yelled as she fluffed her hair out and walked to my open door. "I need to say bye to my babe though."

  I rolled my eyes and followed behind them like a dog. We walked down the stairs and I went to the front door in order to avoid being in another situation with Vincent. My resolve is fading and fading very fast.

  As the girls said their farewells to their men, I stood stupidly at the front door waiting. Johnny, Vinny and Leo came up to me and gave me a hug. These guys are very nice and I like the fact that they haven't treated me any differently due to the predicament.

  "You look stunning!" Leo yelled as he hugged me and gave me an air kiss. "I am about to say screw this meeting and go with you ladies!" My wound still hurts and he hugged me hard enough to make it throb hard.

  Leo is such a flirt and I know he was just trying to make me feel good and everything, but I blushed all the way through my body. I didn't realize how starved I am for male affection. Leo is very handsome and has blue eyes with dark features. He's really young and has a good body. I've heard before that he is a police officer or something and works in the gang unit. Ironic, I know.

  Vincent appeared at the door and tried to avoid looking at me by looking all over the place. I tried to avoid him too, but when our eyes met and locked, I wanted to run to him. He looked like a god as he stood there; within reach but still so far away. This man exudes confidence and I only witnessed a slight jaw twitch while we looked at each other. "Leo, we have business." That tone of voice he used said everything. He is not to be tested. His eyes looked dead and showed no emotion whatsoever.

  I stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds that felt like hours after I refocused. "Come on girls, I want to be there for Ladies Night!" I yelled and pulled the door open but it would not budge. For some reason his door was so heavy and I heard him laughing at me as I struggled to open it. "Thanks for your help!" I screamed in a snide voice.

  "Where are you ladies going?" Leo asked as he walked me towards Bethany's Range Rover.

  When he placed his hand on my lower back I couldn't stop my shriek that fell out of my mouth. Definitely didn't expect that. "I guess only your guys' bars. You can come by later if you want?" I only asked Leo because I expected him to not come and if he did he would bring Vincent.

  He looked to be thinking about something before he closed my door. Leo tipped his head as if he had a hat on and winked at me before walking back into the house. I watched as he walked away and couldn't help but notice how his ass is not nearly as delicious as Vincent's.

  I need to get laid. Like, bad. I went through such a long dry spell before Vincent and now my body knows what kind of pleasure it could have. Believe me, I have considered taking Vincent for a ride a time or two... but...

  I sat in the back seat and waited for my friends to come to the car which is annoying me. When I spend time by myself, I begin to think about everything in depth. Frustration is laced through my deep breaths and no matter how many times I try to calm myself down, the only idea that could calm me is Vincent.

  Going back to him would be easy and everyone wouldn't judge me. The reasons why I am taking so long is because I want to make damn sure that he can give me the type of attention that I need. Yes, he gave me attention but I want more than sex. We have fantastic chemistry and I love him so much but our relationship needs to be more than what we do in the bedroom. I want our lives to be blended and compliment each other and I worry that it won't happen. So, until I know for sure, I am going to wait it out. I never used to understand why people used to say give me a sign but I do now.

  The car doors opened in the front and the jiggled as they moved to get in the car. "Okay, let's go!" Bethany said as she sat in her seat and gave Johnny a kiss goodbye.

  "Oh my word! Let's go!" I said sarcastically. "We get it! You're in love!" I hoping my sarcasm covers my jealously over their relationships that seems perfect in every possible way.

  Johnny kissed Bethany's one more time before looking into the backseat and his killer brown eyes penetrated me. "Don't be a bitch because you know you made a mistake." My mouth dropped and he walked away.

  As we drove, the girls talked about their businesses and asked how I was feeling. I felt awful because they told me that Anne and Ronnie are having a hard time since they have been alienated. Part of me wanted to reach out to her and be there for her, but I couldn't let the flame out of my hurt feelings. I knew that I would eventually forgive her and it would be sooner rather than later. We have never managed to go this long without talking.

  When we got to the bar, Bethany pulled into the valet section, and the valet driver must have recognized her because he allowed her to cut right in the line. The three of us entered the bar and did not even get stopped once. This is pretty nice. I could get used to this.

  "What are you ladies drinking?" A very cute and young Italian man asked as he stared us all down. I suddenly felt self conscience about myself but I didn't let it show.

  "Um, we will take three sex on the beaches and make them dirt
y!" I exclaimed as I handed my card to the server to pay for the first round. My hand that held the card stood in suspension while I questioned him with my eyes as to why he wasn't accepting it.

  "No, need," he walked away without my card.

  "Seriously, when are you going to learn!" Annabeth teased me as she moved to the side of the table for the cute waiter to place our drinks down. The server winked at us and then scurried off. "Just because you think and might want yourself to want to be broken up, you aren't."

  This was a battle that I am not going to be a victor at so its best to leave it. I rolled my eyes and chugged my drink. The deejay was playing some fun club music and I couldn't help but find myself dancing in my seat. Towards the bottom of my drink, I stood up. "Let's dance!" I chugged the rest of it then slammed my glass on the table and scooted off the seat.