by Vi Keeland
As I begin to fall asleep, my head tucked into the crook of his shoulder, his arms wrapped tightly around me, I find my hand resting on his dog tags, covering his heart. There’s an ache in my chest I just can’t ignore anymore. This complex man protects his mother, yet has no one to protect him.
Chapter 42
Vinny
Nico kicked my ass today. Brought new sparring partners in from a gym across town, ones that have no power to their punch, but their hands and feet work are so fast they made my head spin. Little fuckers didn’t leave me bruised, yet I feel like I did a twelve-hour day of nonstop cardio.
“Out of breath?” Nico asks, grinning as I bend over, grabbing my knees to catch my breath after finishing my last spar of the day.
“You’re a sadist.”
“Nah. I only enjoy watching you get your ass kicked.” He laughs as he throws me a towel.
“How’s Elle and baby Nicholas?”
“Good.” Nico smiles reflectively, chuckling to himself.
“What’s so funny?”
“She burned the bottle.”
“Burned the bottle? I’m surprised you even let her near the stove.” It’s been a running joke since Nico and Elle met, the woman is smart, beautiful, funny…but put her in the kitchen and she’s like a nun at a sex toy shop, scared and totally at a loss at what to do with any of the equipment.
“It was two in the morning. I guess she didn’t put enough water in the pot she was using to warm the bottle. Melted the plastic. Smoke alarms, fire department…the whole nine yards.” Nico smiles, clearly amused instead of upset.
“She’s never gonna live this one down.”
“Nope.”
Laughing, together we walk to the back room for water. “Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“Why Elle?”
Nico furrows his brow, confused at my question. He’s not sure where the question came from and oddly, neither am I. “You went out with a lot of women.” I smirk. “A lot. Think half the reason I got to the gym so early in middle school was to see what you had coming out from the night before.”
Tersely, Nico replies, “You got a point to this little walk down memory lane?” He folds his arms over his chest and leans against the counter, chugging half a water bottle down in one big gulp.
The amusement draining from my face, I’m in serious need of some advice, something I rarely ask from Nico. Not from anyone for that matter. “What made you know Elle was the right one?”
He’s quiet for a minute, giving his response thought before he replies, “I started to think about the future. Before Elle, I lived in the moment, never thinking past today or tomorrow. But the day I met her, I started to think about down the road…and every thought, every plan I made in my head, she was standing by my side.”
I nod. Thinking a few months ago I wasn’t even sure what I was doing at night as I got on my bike to go out. Yet this morning, as my mind wandered, I realized my lease would be up in six months, and I found myself wondering if maybe it would be time to move. Find a nicer place, one that Liv would like, possibly even want to share with me.
Nico waits, watching as I give his words some thought, I see a knowing grin rising to the surface. “You running on the treadmill or lifting every time you find yourself thinking of the future with Liv?”
I chuckle to myself, he’s so god damn right. “Running.” I smile.
Tossing our water bottles in the garbage, Nico slaps one hand on my shoulder as we head toward the door, turning off the lights as we pass through each room. “Eventually, you’ll be so exhausted from all the running, you’ll just give in.”
Chapter 43
Liv
The office I once loved walking into, with a feeling of pride and accomplishment consuming me, now relegated to Monday morning dread. My co-worker hates me, glares and sneers at me at every conceivable opportunity, my boss is a dreadful, leering sleezeball. All the honor and journalistic pride I felt starting this journey, crushed beneath the weight of the story I’ve been assigned.
“How’s the story coming, Olivia?” Summer smiles at me. I’m not sure if she’s grown ugly in the last two months, but I can no longer remember what I saw in her that I was jealous of when I first started. Her natural, glowing beauty disappeared, replaced by fake, stale, formulaic tricks to attract attention.
Ignoring her completely, I make my way into Sleezeball’s office for our Monday morning team meeting. Our sorry excuse for a team is one with only two players and a coach whose sole purpose is to get in our pants, rather than mentor us to watch our careers grow and prosper.
“Ladies. How are we today?” he asks, but doesn’t wait for a response. Mostly because he doesn’t really care. He exhales loudly, feigning remiss. “I’m really going to miss our Monday mornings together. Just a few more weeks and our little trio will become a couple.” Is this supposed to be motivation for winning the job? Because it’s making me feel like losing might not be such a bad thing after all. A lesser job a thousand miles away in New York is starting to sound appealing.
“I need both of your final stories two weeks from today.” Leaning back in his chair, he folds his arms over his chest and smiles at both of us, raising an eyebrow, almost daring us to complain.
“No problem, James. Mine will be ready. I had to scrap the fluff that was started, but my new research brought me a great new angle for the story. I think you’ll be very happy with it.” As she speaks, Summer slowly crosses and recrosses her legs, her barely professional length skirt hiking up a tiny bit more each time, a clearly calculated move. One that Sleezeball falls for, hook, line, and sinker. Of course.
“Wonderful, I’d expect nothing less from you, Summer,” he leers. “You’ve really shown us what an asset you can be.” Yeah, she’s shown her assets alright.
Begrudgingly, Sleezeball turns his attention to me after a minute, but only because I’m speaking and he’s forced to. “I’ll have your story ready.”
Almost salivating at the thought of the story I’ll be bringing him, his smile makes my skin crawl. “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into your story, Olivia. Can’t wait.”
***
Heart heavy in my chest, I spend the morning working on the background for my story. I pray I’ll never need to hand it in, but I need to get words on paper nonetheless. I start with Senator Knight, still unable to bring myself to write anything at all about Vinny. Guilt consumes me. My mind wanders, looking back at the last month I wonder where I went wrong. How did I let myself grow so attached to a man that may soon hate me? Is this really what I worked for? The chance to write stories that will sell papers, at the cost of tearing apart lives? Have I just been naïve all along, putting my journalistic role models up on pedestals as noble, when they’re really only ink slinging exploiters?
By lunchtime I’m in desperate need of fresh air, my brain clogged with questions for which I have no answers. Feeling everything I dreamed about my whole life might just be a sham, I feel lost. Like the weight of the world I built up in my head is coming down to crush my dreams.
Outside the gloomy, gray day seems fitting, as if the universe is in sync with my feelings. Caught up in my head, at first I’m startled as a strong arm grabs me from behind, pulling me into the alleyway just a half a block away from my intended lunch destination. But something familiar hits me, and for a few short seconds, I think it’s Vinny being playful. Then my arm’s wrenched back further, causing pain to shoot from my shoulder to my wrist, and I realize I’m wrong…Vinny would never hurt me.
One of the hands gripping me moves to cover my mouth and the other locks both my hands in one of his, using a shoulder to slam my back into a brick wall. Hard. The force knocks the wind right out of me.
“What kind of a game do you think you’re playing, Miss Michaels?” My eyes widen to find Senator Knight’s face inches from mine, scathing anger mars his normally perfectly refined features, his practiced smile nowhere to be found.
His hand tightly over my mouth, I couldn’t respond if I wanted to, although it doesn’t take long to realize he wasn’t expecting a response.
“My life has value. Unlike that drug addict and her violent spawn. If you think you can just waltz in and destroy me, you’re sadly mistaken. No one will give a shit if they were to be lost in a tragic accident. Do you understand me?” He increases the pressure on his hand covering my mouth.
I stare, frozen in place, unable or unsure if I’m expected to respond this time.
“Do you understand me?” he screams loudly, his eyes wild, our faces nose to nose. It’s not the volume that scares me, it’s the anger and desperation in his voice that makes me believe his words are more than just a threat. I shake my head as much as I can with his hand still pressed to my mouth, pinning me against and the wall.
“And this time, I won’t show any mercy.” His voice is so detached, there’s no question in my mind that he’s capable of what he promises. Senator Knight’s hand at my mouth loosens slightly, “Kill the story. Or whatever happens is on you.”
Releasing me from his grip, he stands tall, straightening his suit and running his hands through his hair to tame the few strands that dared fall out of place. The smile I’d met when I interviewed him slips back into position. An icy chill sweeps over my body at how easily this man can transform. Taking one step back, he smiles at me, every bit the perfect politician the world thinks he is. “Good day, Miss Michaels,” he nods his head and turns.
I watch from the alley, still unable to move from where he held me against the wall, as a dark town car pulls up to the curb just as he exits the alleyway. Opening the back door, he gracefully steps in and never looks back. The entire two minute exchange is so surreal, it makes me wonder if I’ve just dreamt it.
Chapter 44
Liv
It’s been two days since Senator Knight’s visit, yet I still can’t get his threats out of my head. Sometimes my heart tells me one thing, and my head tells me another, leaving me conflicted as to how I’m supposed to feel. Senator Knight’s visit did not leave me feeling there was any room to wonder if his threats were serious. My heart and head both in agreement, his words were not a veiled threat. They were a promise. One I’m certain he would make good on and then go about his day as if whatever heinous acts he has committed, never even happened.
I need to take my mind off of work for a little while, the only problem is that my work and personal life have become so tightly entwined, it’s difficult to know where one starts and the other ends. Two days without seeing Vinny leaves me feeling anxious and sad, I can’t imagine what a lifetime would do to me.
Walking into the restaurant where I’m supposed to meet Ally for drinks before dinner with Vinny, I’m surprised to find her waiting with her brother Matthew.
“Hey,” I smile and greet Matthew, who stands as I approach. “This is a nice surprise. Ally didn’t tell me she was bringing her bodyguard.” Matthew’s five years older, he’s always been our protector. Only now it’s official, since he’s a detective with the Chicago PD.
“Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you ladies.” Matthew leans down and kisses me on the cheek. “Plus, she talked me into driving her here.”
“Driving her here? It’s only a six block walk,” I question, as I shrug off my jacket, which Matthew is behind me to quietly take. Such a gentleman, he reminds me a lot of his dad. When I was little, I remember going places with the Landry’s and always loving the way Mr. Landry jogged around the car to open Mrs. Landry’s door for her. It’s funny the things you take away from watching adults as a child that stick with you.
“I can’t walk six blocks in these.” Ally points down to her black open toe shoes. Silver buckles adorn the front, clasping the black leather material together from just above the toes to high on the ankle. The inside of the six inch heel is a bright girly pink, a stark contrast to the sleek, rockeresque shoe you see from the front.
“I don’t get why she buys shoes she can’t walk more than a few steps in,” Matthew says, smiling and shaking his head. Turning his attention to the bartender pouring drinks at the other end of the long bar, he motions with a simple wave of his hand for her to come over. “Still drinking cheap wine?” He looks to me for confirmation and I nod and smile.
Leaning on her brother’s shoulder, Ally responds to Matthew’s earlier comment, “I wear them because they’re hot.”
“Creepy Al. My sister’s shoes can never be hot. Nothing about my sister is hot.”
“Bet you would think they were hot on Liv.” She teases, something catching her attention from the other end of the bar, Ally waves to a guy with a goatee. “I’m gonna go say hi, he’s in one of my classes. Watch as my shoes work their magic.”
A full hour goes by and Ally never glances back in our direction…so much for happy hour drinks with my best friend. Although it gives Matthew and me a chance to catch up. It’s been a long time since we’ve really talked. When Ally and I first moved in together, he helped us move and then even came by a few times with his girlfriend Brie.
“How’s Brie?”
Matthew shrugs, “Over.”
“What happened, she seemed really nice?”
“She was. Just wasn’t there.” His face sincere, almost saddened at the recollection, Matthew draws a long pull on his beer and sets it down on the bar. “Can’t control it, although life would be a hell of a lot easier if you could.”
“You can say that again.” I finish my second glass of wine.
“Ally mentioned you were seeing someone. Not the one you would have picked for yourself?”
Vinny’s familiar sexy voice startles me from behind, there’s a hard edge to his words. “I’d like to hear the answer to that question too.”
Swallowing hard, I turn in my bar stool to find Vinny standing less than a foot away, positioned in the middle of the two chairs that Matthew and I fill. He looks angry, hands turning to fists at his sides, torn between coming to me and tearing apart the man I’m sitting next to.
Matthew stands, his naturally authoritative posture firmly in place. The silent gesture serves only to challenge Vinny’s already heated temper. Realizing the need to quickly diffuse whatever is beginning to brew, I stand and wave the white flag of surrender, turning my full attention to Vinny and laying my hands flat on his chest, brushing my lips softly over his.
“Hi.”
Glancing at Matthew and back to me, Vinny asks, “Who’s your friend?”
Stepping back, my kiss erasing some of the anger from his face, yet far from all, I introduce the two men. “This is Ally’s brother, Matthew.”
“Matthew, this is...”
“Vince Stone.” Matthew finishes my sentence for me.
“You know him from watching fights?” My eyebrows draw together in confusion.
“Sort of.”
What the hell kind of an answer is that? It’s a yes or no kind of question. “Sort of?” I repeat back to him, waiting for a further explanation.
“Broke up a fight last year in a bar, almost arrested him for busting some loudmouth’s nose.”
Vinny’s jaw clenches and his eyes close in reflection. He hadn’t recognized Matthew. Opening his eyes, he nods to Matthew, “A lot’s changed in a year.”
“I hope so.” Matthew looks between Vinny and me. “She’s like a sister to me.”
Raking his hands through his hair, Vinny turns to me, his jaw tight as he stares into my eyes. “Ready?”
Knowing I needed to tread lightly, I nod quietly and smile at Matthew, careful not to offer him an opening for our usual kiss goodbye. Something in Vinny’s posture just tells me Matthew’s lips on me wouldn’t be a good idea. Vinny’s hand grips my hip possessively and I thank Matthew for the drinks before moving to the restaurant for dinner.
***
“Are you upset with me?” Vinny’s been quiet since we sat down, but that’s not what stirs a knot in my belly, making it difficult for me to relax. It’s
the unspoken that speaks volumes to me, things that an outsider wouldn’t even pick up on. He didn’t order for me, or sit on my side of the table, not even a borderline inappropriate kiss to mark his normally visible territory.
“Should I be?” His eyes lock-on to mine.
“Of course not. Matthew’s like my brother.”
“I’m not worried about him.”
“Then what is it?”
“What’s the answer to his question, Liv?” There’s no need to ask him to clarify the question he’s referring to. He wants to know if my head is aligned with my heart. Would I have picked him for myself if my heart hadn’t made up its mind? I wish I could hide my response, but he’s good at reading me, sees my answer written on my face.
Closing his eyes, almost as if accepting a punishment he deserves, a small nod causes my heart to sink in my chest. Reaching for his hand, I finally respond with words, “I don’t think it matters what we plan for ourselves. Some things in life are just too powerful to change.”
***
Vinny’s mood lifted slightly, we laugh as we walk back to his place. I’m tipsy from a third glass of wine with dinner, although Vinny’s strong arm wrapped around me keeps me feeling steady. “Do you remember the afternoon we worked on Romeo and Juliet in the park and we took turns reading the parts?”
“Remember? How could I forget? I was sitting up against the tree, and your head was resting on my lap about three inches from my crotch. I had no idea what any of the words you were saying meant, but I liked looking down and watching you…the way your mouth moved. I kept having to shift to keep my dick from poking you in the eye,” Vinny teases.
Stopping as we reach his building, I turn and face him, reaching up and wrapping my hands around his neck. The alcohol leaving me feeling bold, I press up on my tippy toes and bring my mouth to his ear. “I went home and touched myself that night. Masturbated for the first time, with a picture of you in my head as I closed my eyes,” I whisper seductively into his ear.
