“Did you ever ask any of them about it or if they knew where your boyfriend was?”
“Hell no! You cross Joker in this city and it’s not pretty. He may not kill you but he’ll make sure that life isn’t easy for you. He’ll take your job, your car, your home, and anything else you might need or care for. I’ve heard of men missing their hands and tongues for messing with him. I grieved at home and minded my own business. If you get serious with him, you’ll learn that’s what a girlfriend or wife does in that lifestyle.”
“What did your boyfriend do for them, exactly?”
“I’ll be honest, I don’t tell people about any of this stuff, but you need to know what you’re getting into. Denzel was a drug runner for Maximillian. He’d fly all over the world and smuggle drugs back into the city for them to cut and distribute. How do you think they can afford to be dressed like that and drive around in exotic vehicles? Joker’s got his hands in everything in this city.”
I don’t want to upset Keisha, but that right there is most likely what got her boyfriend killed. He could’ve been murdered in another country and she’d have never known. Am I really justifying things so Thaddaeus doesn’t seem so immoral? It looks like it, but I’ve seen a different side of him than what everyone else has, and I don’t like to judge someone without seeing it with my own eyes.
But that would explain how at his young age he has a ton of money. I’d guess him to be mid-thirties. That’s plenty of time for him to have built a decent career or to have become a big-time criminal, I suppose. Too bad he chose the latter.
“I’m sorry you went through that, Keisha.” And I am. It had to be heartbreaking and scary to experience that, but I’m not planning on going through anything like she did. I’m also not planning on cutting Thaddaeus off dry. I’m already invested in this weird nonrelationship.
“Hey, don’t you worry about me; that was many years ago. I’ve moved forward and grown. If you want to date him, I’m not one to try to stand in your way. The heart wants what the heart wants, just please be careful. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Thanks, I will. I’m glad Kaleigh wasn’t here for lunch when he stopped by or she would’ve freaked out. Oh, do you mind keeping this between us? I don’t want the office to know and then me end up losing my job or anything. Not that it would happen, but just in case. I’d rather keep my personal life out of their sights if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I get it. You have my silence girl, don’t worry.”
“Thank you.” I send her a grateful smile and head to my office.
Am I crazy for not believing all the evidence? Probably. Do I care? Not at this point. Seeing him yesterday was like a nail in the coffin.
I want him, even if he’s not so sweet to everyone else. Guess that makes me selfish and stubborn. So be it.
“You’re not concerned that someone saw you go into her work yesterday?” Max asks.
Cage and another friend of mine, Dillion, sit with us around a table in a quaint restaurant. It’s one that a distant cousin of mine owns, so we like to give them our business during their slow hours.
Shrugging, I slice my steak up some more, into bite-sized pieces. “No one has any idea who she is. That’s another reason why I’m interested in her. If anybody saw me, then they’d think I was heading into the marketing business to most likely speak with the owner not an employee.” I’ve thought about it a hundred times, before walking into that building and then afterwards as well. I don’t want anything coming back on her because of my associates or me. Benny watched the building, looking for any threats and he didn’t notice anyone. He’s good at catching people so I’m not too concerned.
“Right,” Maximillian replies, ogling one of the young waitresses busily cleaning her section.
Dillion pipes up, “So, guess we’ll know if her Boss turns up dead then, huh?”
That’s one way to think of it, but he’s right. As long as it’s not her, that’s all I care about.
“Can we trust her?” Cage probes.
“We’ll find out soon enough. I’m taking her to dinner this week.”
At least I hope I am. I damn sure have been planning on it the past few days, especially after the little run-in we had in her office. Christ, she had my cock so fucking hard. Her cheeks flushed and the stuttering—getting her words tangled up whenever she’d try to respond. I’ve never wanted to clear a desk off so badly and fuck on top of it before, like I did watching her squirm in her seat.
That draws Max’s attention from the waitress, “Wait, you asked her to dinner, already?”
“No, I was going to wait but she brought up us having lunch together yesterday when I stopped by her office. She knows some of my intentions.”
Dillion mumbles, “Bet she doesn’t know that you’re planning long-term though.”
“Let me worry about Grace. You take care of business and everything else will run like it’s supposed to.”
Day Number Ten…
Bella: Diamonds?!
Gazing down at the text she sent me from this morning, I still haven’t replied. What should I say? Yes, I sent her diamonds. She’s lucky I’m a patient man or those diamonds would be on her left ring finger already. I could’ve had her kidnapped and gotten a priest to marry us in no time flat if I wanted to do it my way. I haven’t even kissed this woman yet and I want her to belong to me. I’ve gotten what I’ve wanted for so long now, it’s driving me crazy inside to wait and have her come around to the idea.
According to my grandfather, when I find the woman that I think may be the one—really the one—then I have to court her before anything else can happen. I don’t think that’s how it should be done, all this wasting time when she could be mine already. She may not like my way, but at least she’d have my last name already.
Today’s the tenth day of my grandfather’s courting period. It’s the tenth day of me watching her, the tenth day of me wanting her, and the tenth day of me waiting—not so patiently.
I’m done.
Tonight I’m taking her to dinner if she’ll agree and if she doesn’t, I may just fucking burst.
Me: Dinner, tonight?
Bella: Thought you’d never ask.
Me: Is that a yes?
Bella: That’s definitely a yes. Thank you for the bracelet.
Me: You’re very welcome. Wear it tonight. I’ll pick you up.
Bella: Okay. What time?
Me: Seven p.m.
That went over way easier than I’d expected. I figured she give me a glimpse of that fire inside, making me work for it. The ticket must’ve shown her that I’m serious. I’m not wasting my time with her and I won’t be put off that easily.
Now what the hell do I keep busy with for the next three hours? If she wasn’t at work, I would’ve said sooner but I’m sure she’ll want time to go home and freshen up. Hopefully she has on those sexy-ass heels I sent her. I want to see her in them and nothing else—just her flesh and stilettos. Her stunning body laid out on my white silk sheets, completely bared and waiting for me.
“Hey, Joker, we found the guy who’s been tagging up the fight pit.” Cage comes into my office, not bothering to knock. I clear my throat, pushing the thoughts of Grace to the back of my mind.
We have a pit under one of the old buildings downtown that we use to host illegal fights. It’s a risk having so many people stuffed into a building that’s been long closed down, but it brings in a lot of cash and in this business, money talks. Lately someone’s been spraying graffiti everywhere and I’ve been having Cage repaint the place each week. It’s a stupid expense and I’ve grown sick of messing with it. I knew once I put money on the culprit’s head, that he’d magically show up.
“Oh yeah? Where is he then?”
“That’s the surprising part. It’s not a he, but a she. It’s some young, tree hugger chick. She thought we were using the place to run drugs and build bombs so she was trying to protest. I explained to her that it’s only used for fightin
g and she promises to stop.”
“Tell me you’re kidding. Did you at least bring me her hands as payment?”
“No, that’s the truth; that’s all that happened.”
Evidently, he was thinking with his fucking cock.
“You told her we use it for illegal fighting and gambling and you just expect her to mosey on with her life, not spitting out a word about it to anyone? Are you a fucking idiot suddenly?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but for some reason I believe her.”
“And you’re fucking slow too? What in the hell am I hearing right now?” My voice rises slightly. “You know what? You go rough her up, if she talks; you let her know she’ll get a bullet to the brain. I’m not fucking around with people destroying my shit.”
“I know where she lives, works, everything; she won’t say anything, I’m sure of it.”
“You better be willing to put your own money on that, so help me, I’ll kill her myself and you won’t like the outcome if that happens. I didn’t realize you’d turned so pathetic recently.”
“Me, really? What about you? You’ve been pining after some uppity bitch for nearly two weeks. I don’t see you going out and taking care of business like you preach.”
“That ‘uppity bitch’ is going to be mine, just wait and see. And don’t speak about her like that, she’ll be sitting beside me before you know it and you’ll damn sure show her the respect she deserves being my woman. You’re my friend, but I won’t hesitate to throw you out on your ass if need be. You can run in the streets like a fucking mangy rat. You forget how comfortable you’ve grown living the ‘uppity’ lifestyle.”
“Right, some friendship we have here. She’s been in your life for two minutes. Me—ten years—and this is how you treat me.”
“Yeah ten years and you can be gone in five minutes. I plan to have her around for the rest of my life. Now get on board or find another place to live. I don’t have time for people who only want to be halfway in this business. You know the deal, since day one it’s all or nothing, loyalty and sacrifice.”
It’s the most respectful way I can threaten him, but Cage understands the underlying message. It means either get with the program or be cast out. He’d be away from a life he’s grown very accustomed too. Cage’s the last person I expected to hear a tantrum from anyhow.
With Max, I knew it would happen right away; he’s jealous and always has been. He likes the bulk of my attention and it’s taken years for him to not threaten anyone growing close to me.
The other guys? I figured they’d give me a little grief over Grace. After all, she is an outsider and isn’t in this lifestyle, but this whiny shit that Cage is pulling—no fucking way. I won’t tolerate it. They have to know it right away too, so they quit their shit. Sometimes I feel like I’m dealing with a group of twelve-year-olds going through puberty when it comes to them having a piece of my attention.
I work with some of the most notorious and ruthless criminals, and to have someone soft this close to me is a red flag. I’ve seen Cage beat a man to death with his fists. I would’ve more likely expected him to carry the graffiti chick’s hands in here—bloody and all—before throwing his jealous fit over the woman who’s quickly become my newfound obsession.
I don’t know what it is about Grace either, but a piece inside me must have her. If she asked me to slit twenty men’s throats, my friends included, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it for her. That’s what they should really fear. I don’t hold all the power any longer, she does. In a matter of days, she’s grown to consume most of my thoughts. It can’t be healthy to think about someone so abundantly, but then there’s nothing healthy about this lifestyle.
If I were a Boss, I’d sit at the head of the table and gladly let her sit on my lap, that’s how much control she holds in the palm of her hand; she just doesn’t know it yet. I hope she never realizes it, for it could easily be the death of me. I’m already taking a risk by bringing her into my circle, then to hand over so much influence to her as well. It could really fuck things up around here.
Luckily, I’m not a Boss, and according to the streets, I’m not a thug either. The rumors and papers paint me as being a gangster. Yes, there’s a difference between that and a mobster in my world.
A piece of trash thug does as he’s told, robbing small time and taking whatever handout he can get. A gangster takes care of his business and people know to fear him. I’m not the one to commit petty theft. I’m the one who’d take your entire familia outside into your yard and shoot them in the back of the head if I had to-to survive or keep them quiet. A mobster belongs to the Mafia; he does their bidding. I belong to no one and do my own.
I need a woman who can love and stand next to a man as hard as me. I need someone who isn’t scared to pull that trigger to protect me if it came down to it. Grace showed me a fire deep inside her from the moment we first met, and it’s given me hope that she could be the one for me—the Bonnie to my Clyde.
I’ll find out soon enough if she can handle my life and if she can be my ride-or-die chick. If she shows me that she’s the one, she’ll have my loyalty for life. I’ll love her with every breath that I have. I know it’s soon, but I feel it in my soul each time I look at her, that she’s meant to be mine, that she’s the one. I’m not used to being wrong; it’s one of the many reasons why I’m where I am today.
Are my feelings sudden? Yes. Do I give two shits about a lengthy enough timeline? Not in the slightest. I’ll fuck her tonight at dinner if she lets me. I’d also gladly marry her ass tonight if she’d say ‘I do.’ I’m a bit traditional in the sense that I don’t need to be in love with someone to make that commitment; I know our union could grow into it eventually. I’m more concerned on if she’s a good fit. The men are right, I can’t look weak so the right woman is imperative.
Count your nights by stars,not shadows; count yourlife with smiles, not tears.
-Italian Proverb
Seven p.m. rolled around and Thaddaeus was at my apartment five minutes early. I love it that he was prompt, because I can’t stand being late and that goes for other people as well. Going off Thaddaeus’ usual attire of pristine business suits, I decided on a long, classy evening gown.
I’m glad I did, because I think it’s more appropriate for the evening. It’s not necessarily the place he takes me, but more of the fact that he’s made sure we’re the only guests in the entire restaurant.
The intimate dining area is dimly lit throughout with multiple sparkling chandeliers and small votive candles on each table casting a warm, welcoming glow throughout. There are ten square tables; each fully dressed in thick white linen tablecloths with black napkins, and one set with shiny silverware and crystal wineglasses. The place is set up for exclusive customers only to give them the ultimate dining experience.
I’m a little floored with how much thought he put into this, but then maybe I shouldn’t be. He obviously knows what he’s doing when it comes to wowing a woman. Makes me wonder how on earth he isn’t already snatched up.
“So, what do you think?” Thaddaeus asks after helping me scoot in my chair and taking a seat in the chair directly across from me. He seems eager as he gazes at me expectantly. He wants my approval and it’s adorable.
“Very romantic and I’m floored you’ve reserved the entire restaurant. The driver was cool, too, and your car is amazing.” I could stammer on all night about how excited I am. The date’s merely begun and it’s already exceeded my expectations.
He shrugs. “I wanted to take you out, but also be alone with you as well. I’m selfish.”
“Well, mission accomplished,” I mutter, and then grin at my small outburst. He has this effect on me everywhere it seems, this habit of making me babble whatever’s on my mind out loud or come off rudely from nerves.
“You wore your new shoes.” His gold gaze regards me, observing every detail as he takes me in. He always notices small details about me and it’s a bit flattering and unnerving all at the
same time. I feel like I can’t get anything past him, but do I want to? I enjoy him calling me out like he does; it keeps me on my toes.
“I did. They’re my new favorites, I love them.”
“I’ll buy you a pair for each day then,” he gushes, clearly loving the fact that he can spoil me. His comment has me blushing. He’s never low-key, completely over-the-top with everything and I don’t know how to react to it. I don’t want to come off as ungrateful, but I also don’t want him thinking the only reason why I’m here is so he’ll buy me nice things.
“No.”
“Really? You’re telling me no?”
“I’m telling you no.”
Delight lights his eyes as his lips turn up in a barely-there smirk. Others might not notice it, but I can’t stop staring at him, so I see everything he does. He snaps his finger in the air and a server rushes over. He never takes his eyes away from me and it makes my stomach flutter excitedly.
“Sir?”
“Bring us the black forest cheesecake and the best red wine you have in house for my date. I’ll have your top-shelf scotch.”
“Very good, sir.” The waiter scurries away.
“You surprise me.” My cheeks will be sore by the end of the evening at this rate. His actions have me smiling nonstop. The evening’s merely begun and I’m already happy that I decided to come out with him.
“I’ve only begun.”
“If I knew we were having dessert and drinks, I’d have eaten a salad before you picked me up.” I’d have preferred to eat a bowl of pasta but this dress shows everything and tonight I want to look perfect for him.
“Oh, Bella, we’ll eat, but I wanted you to have a taste of what I’ll be eating off of you later.”
My throat grows tight and I have to swallow several times and take a sip of my water before I can reply. “You’re quite confident that I’ll agree.” My body’s already heating up just from hearing him say the words alone. My mind silently chants, I agree, I agree, I agree. I don’t let it show on the outside, though; I must appear somewhat mysterious.
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