by Eden Rose
"I feel as if she could be a wonderful addition in my life, however I can't tell if she feels the same way. Its almost as if I'm just a piece of ass to her." I can't believe they are talking about me. I stood still at the opening of my bedroom totally trying to see if they will say something else.
"Vincent, you shouldn't feel that way. Give her some time. Savannah never had a steady person." Now I'm getting angry.
"What happened to her parents? Its crazy to think that she doesn't have anyone here for her."
Wow. They are ripping up all of my scars right noe. I feel more exposed than ever and I really want to punch my former best friend in the face. How dare they talk about me?
"She does though. Vans is adopted into my family and that is her family as much as mine."
"Does she ever talk about her parents? I don't want to press her or anything."
Why isn't he asking me these questions? Hello, I'm right here!
"No, she doesn't. The therapist that she went to told her she needed to let it go so it isn't ruining her life anymore. When she turned seventeen, that is the last time we spoke of them."
Seeing the therapist was such a dark time for me and I almost didn't go. Mrs. Thomas made me go when she found out that I was cutting myself in the bathroom. It was only the one time, but she scared me so much when she started yelling at me.
I opened my mouth to say something but the home phone rang. The three of them turned and looked at me as I ran to the phone. I couldn't let Vincent know that Joel still called me. The voice-mail clicked on just as I'm about to tackle it.
"Fuck Savannah! If you think that I'm just going to disappear you are insane!" Vincent jumped off the couch and grabbed my waist so I wouldn't answer it. He kept my hands locked as I started to shiver. "He isn't good for you. Don't be a whore just because I asked for a divorce. I'm still your husb-"
I seen his finger fly out to answer the call in a jabbing motion. "Listen, apparently I didn't make myself clear!" Vincent screamed into the receiver. The voice-mail is still recording and broadcasting what is being said on the other line.
"Is this Vincent? Leave my wife alone!" Joel growled into the phone.
" I'm not playing this game with you. " He is still holding my waist as he spoke on the phone. "You should really get your priorities straight. She picked me, I intend to be with your ex-wife until she asks me to leave. Find a new person. Savannah is busy enjoying the life that she deserves." He hung up the phone and then held me tighter. "Baby doll, don't cry. Come on, sit with me on the couch." Vincent picked me up like a baby and carried me to the couch. On the couch, I shut my eyes and let sleep flood over me. Anne patted my shoulder.
*Chapter 8*
When I opened my eyes, Vincent is still there. To think that yesterday I'm sleeping in his bed and awoke to him not there and here he is sleeping on my couch. Not just sleeping on my couch but sacrificing his comfort to allow me to sleep on his chest. It has been so long since this last happened; since I felt safe. His shirt is off and I snuggled further into his chest and traced the dice tattoo. Its so strange to think about how things can change in a matter of days and hours. I moved just slightly to see if Ronnie and Anne were still sleeping or if they were on the couch. Anne and Ronnie were sleeping on the other side of the sectional.
"Hey green eyes. How are you feeling?" Vincent asked me as he adjusted himself on the couch and grazed me with his morning wood.
"Nothing that some severe retail therapy couldn't fix, babe."
"I like when you call me that."
"Hey, you two! Coffee and shower? I'm itching to spend some money!" Anne is funny. Always thinking about shopping.
"I called my associate, and he is bringing over breakfast from Stella's and a change of clothes for myself and Ronnie."
"Why do you call him your associate, doesn't he have a name?" Anne asked with a cautious tone to her voice.
Ronnie is the one to spoke to her, "Its the ranking system, love."
"Annie, his name is Adamo! Super nice," I got a look from Vincent.
He adjusted himself so I fell off of his lap onto the couch. "Baby doll, let's shower and get ready to go to the city." Vincent got up and grabbed my hand. While he led me to my room, he let my hand go and smacked my ass.
"Is something wrong? I didn't mean to make you upset."
Vincent sat on my bed as soon as we entered. "Adamo is an associate. He is trying to work his way up to where Ronnie is. Then Ronnie will move up to my position. Then I will become an under boss. More than likely you are about to find some things out about me that you don't know."
I took a deep breath and sat at the other end of the bed trying to breathe. " I'm an enforcer for the Lucky Family. I have a hand in these businesses because those owners came to ask for help. When I help them, I take over part ownership. I enforce the rules. I make sure that people pay their dues. If they don't pay their dues then something will happen to them. That is my job. My father was a capo in this family and I'm inducted after high school."
My mouth dropped. What is happening here? Should I really go along with this? I swallowed a deep breath and asked the question that is pressing against my mind. "Have you killed anyone?" I choked out my question and dropped my head down. What have I done? Why am I so attracted to the bad guys?
Vincent nodded and I fell off the bed because of the shock that fled through me.
He leaned over and held his hand out to help me up but I bypassed it and slid to the wall to walk myself up to a standing position. "Savannah, please don't judge me. This is my job. However, it is now my responsibility to ensure your safety. Things like last night and day will happen all the time for you."
How dare he think that I needed to be protected. Is it because of Joel? Joel is a piece of shit that has no room in my life. "I don't need special treatment because I'm connected to you! Damn it, Vincent! I don't want to be placed in a weird situation where I'm dependent on a man." I got off the floor and started to walk away before doubt came flooding in. "Please be honest with me. Why are you with me? Are you trying to get back at Joel and you think that I will be the reason for your revenge?"
He climbed off the bed and cornered me against my bathroom door which I have managed to get to. "I want you to be my comare for a lot of reasons. Ever since you left me on Saturday, my mind has been focused on you. You blew my mind as you approached me at the bar." He got really close to my face and I heard my home phone rang. "Joel has nothing to do with us. Can you just be with me? Let's have a good time together." Vincent kissed my cheek.
How can I just be with someone? Throughout my divorce proceedings, I have never imagined that I would get involved with someone again. Much less this quickly. However, I'm actually considering trying this out. Maybe he is a nice guy who just does bad things. Those exist, right? I have heard of some serial killers who kill and then go home and watch cartoons with their kids. Would this be like the same thing as that?
I have heard of some women who ignore what their spouses do in order to keep the denial up. Can I really do that? I know now what he looks like when he is horny and what he looks like when he is sleeping. Maybe... Maybe this is just one of the circumstances that good guys do bad things and bad guys do good things. Only one question remains in my mind: can I keep up the denial and act as if this doesn't bother me? I guess... I can try.
"If I were smart, I would hit you and pick up your hot ass and throw you out the door. However, for some reason... I didn't learn my lesson with the past bad boy."
"What does that mean?" He got even closer and ran his hand down my torso. "Please, make sure you aren't going to just leave on day. No one will hurt you. Savannah, you are connected to me and if anyone were to come to you and disrespect you... Let's just say they won't be moving as easy."
Shivering under his hot touch, I grabbed his face between my two hands and kissed this powerful man's lips. I let my mind go. Everything that is keeping me inside the concrete wall, tumbled away as he kissed me back. "Let
's shower and go shopping."
*
I slipped on some cute shorts and gladiator shoes. My top is a bright yellow. With my long hair in a bun, I grabbed my purse and spritzed some perfume on. One last look in the mirror I shrugged. Pull it together chick. He's hot!.
Vincent is in fresh clothes and so is Ronnie. Anne appeared and looked so happy that her cheeks could break.
We left our apartment and started for the elevator. I leaned against the wall and Anne came up to me.
"You heard us talking about you, didn't you?"
"'You call yourself Fat Amy?' 'Yes, so twig bitches like you don't do it behind my back.'" By quoting Pitch Perfect, I answered her question.
" I'm really sorry, he just wanted to make sure he isn't misunderstanding you." Ate least she had the audacity to look apologetic for airing out all of my laundry.
These past months have been filled with anger and despair. I should be angry with her for telling him my business, but maybe this will show Vincent another side of me. I know I have been cold and bitchy towards him... I know I need to let someone in and be there for me. And if Vincent is not it... well, I guess... "Its fine. How do you feel about all of this?" I want to know how she is feeling about this. Personally, I'm skeptical about their professions, and I need Anne's I love everyone side.
"Vans, its pretty crazy. I don't know what to think besides to just weigh it out and see what happens."
We all walked to my car, I drove. Anne and Ronnie were in the backseat talking and Vincent is sitting next to me. Vincent didn't talk to me the whole drive into the city. This didn't make me upset, because I didn't know what to say.
I drove my Lincoln into the valet section and parked it, I left the keys in the car so they could park it. With my wallet in hand, I went to grab a twenty. Before I could hand it to the driver, Vincent placed a fifty into the drivers hand.
"Are we going to have a problem, Vincent?"
"Your money isn't good here. Come, let's shop." By putting his arm around me, I started to follow him and heard my car drive off. The downtown stores were busy since it is Sunday and the sales just started. Vincent and Ronnie walked off from us to go to another store but before they left, they stopped our hunt for a store by pointing us to a shop door.
Anne and I walked into said store and started to hunt for new clothes. "What do you think that people are going to be wearing to Sal's wedding? Should we wear a gown?"
"Annie, calm down! Whatever you pick out will be beautiful." I said I combed through the racks to find something that will fit my curvy shape. "I want to pick something sexy! Maybe a green dress."
Anne started to comb through the other side. "I want something... Well, sexy too." She picked up a blue silk gown and held it up to herself in the mirror. "Is blue silk in this season?" She asked as she plastered the dress against her frame.
"Ms. Castile? Miss Thomas?" A blonde woman approached us with short hair. She looked to be our age and very sophisticated; suddenly I felt inadequate. " I'm Bethany York. I have been assigned to help you find the perfect dress for Big Sal's wedding."
Anne and I exchanged confused glances and then she asked: "How do you know about that?"
"Oh honey, I'm Johnny's comare. It is my job to know. Right this way, please." We followed her down an aisle to a big room that had ten different dresses in different colors. "These dresses have been selected for you two to wear. It is now our job to find the right one! Johnny and I are wearing light blue." She had a big smile on her face. I could definitely see myself becoming her friend.
"Bethany..." I started to ask her a question and she held up her hand.
"They are not as bad as you think. I get taken care of in ways that I never imagined. Johnny takes better care of me than he does his wife. We actually have a child together. Don't worry about the logistics. Just have fun with them. Vincent is a very nice guy, I have never seen him like this before." She winked at me then grabbed Anne's arm to show her the dresses that were selected for her.
"Oh my word! These dresses are amazing! I wish we had some champagne to really make this fun!" Anne finished her sentence as Adamo came in holding three champagne flutes filled with pink champagne. Not going to lie, I could get used to this. "Vans, what color do you think?" She asked me as held up two dresses on either side of her body.
"Try them on! I want to see the blue one first!" The blue one is a mermaid dress that left not a lot to the imagination. When Anne had on this dress, her brown eyes started to sparkle. She is a woman who is smitten. "You look amazing! Absolutely breath taking! How much is this dress?" I directed the question to Bethany who flicked her wrist.
"You two are adorable. Don't you know who owns this shop?" Anne and I looked at each other and shrugged. "Johnny bought it for me. Anything in here is free to the Lucky Family's ladies. Don't worry about it! Anne you look breath taking. I think this is the one." Bethany then grabbed me up and smiled. "Vincent loves a woman in a power color. Did you guys meet when you were wearing a power color?"
"I seduced him in a bar wearing black. Last night he showed up at my work event where I'm also wearing black. I want something colorful that will pop!" When the sentence is out of my mouth, Bethany brought out a fantastic green gown that had gems on it. I clapped my hands together and ran to it. "Annie kitten, is this promy for a wedding?"
Even though I'm asking her for her suggestion, I had my mind made up. This dress will be mine even if I have to sell a kidney in order to buy it. I know that Bethany said that the dresses don't cost anything for us but I felt guilty for taking advantage of her. I can get a couple hundred for my kidney, right? Maybe sell some blood...
Both Anne and Bethany answered at the same time. "Hell no!"
Bethany got me out of my clothes pretty fast, almost faster than Vincent. She slipped the dress over my head as I heard my second phone chirp. I didn't want to look at myself in the mirror until it is all laced up in the back.
I felt like a princess. Bethany gave me a swat on the butt which told me to turn and look. My mouth almost fell to the floor. This dress is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. More beautiful than my wedding dress. I started to tear up a little.
"Hey, hey, why are you crying? You look amazing." Anne is such a sweet person. She went to my purse and pulled out the second phone and read the text out-loud:
Your Man: hey baby doll, I hope Bethany is taking care of you! Xo.
"Oh my, Vans! That is so sweet. I wonder if I have a text."
With my tears now dry, Bethany comes over and fills my flute back up. "These are the two dresses!" She said as she cut the tags off of both. Surprisingly enough these dresses fit magically. "Anne, Ronnie is such a nice guy. I have never seen him bring a date to these functions. You must be very special."
"Hey, hey beautiful ladies! I see my Bethany has shown you to your dresses." Johnny appeared smoking a cigar. He waltzed into the room holding a champagne flute. "Oh my! Ms. Castile, Vincent is going to go crazy with this dress! Anne Thomas, right? Myself and the family were meeting upstairs where he talked about you."
I decided right then and there that this Italian accent has got to be the sexiest thing in the world.
"Hi babe! You have fun with the guys? I missed you all day." Bethany then kissed Johnny and hugged him tightly. "Did you see Embry today? She is looking more and more like you every day."
Johnny nodded and then directed his attention on us. "Ronnie and Vincent will be along shortly. I suggest you two get changed and let Adamo put these dresses in Savannah's car."
And just like that, we were dismissed. It is almost as if we shooed.
In a matter of minutes, Anne and I were out of our dresses and into our less extravagant clothes that we were in moments earlier. I'm adjusting my bra as we walked out of the back room. The door swung open as I slung my purse over my shoulder. I'm actually expecting it to be Ronnie or Vincent.
"Ms. Castile, I didn't expect to see you and Miss Thomas on this side of the bridge," my cli
ent is looking at me as if I'm out of my place.
"Mr. Stilarno, what a pleasure to see you," Anne went up to him and shook his hand. I'm still too stunned.
"Its a pleasure to run into you. I look forward to our closing on your old penthouse and then the signing of your new one tomorrow." I tried to get into business mode, although I'm still on cloud nine from having that dress on.
"Ms. Castile, business as usual. Are you going to let me take the two best agents in New York out for a celebratory dinner? My treat."
"Mr. Stilarno, what's bring you into our store?" Johnny asked while holding Bethany's hand. I felt the tension radiate through the walls. This made Anne and I stand closer together.
