Muffin Top

by Tabatha Kiss

  Monica fights a losing battle against her grin. “Goodnight, you two.”

  “Goodnight.”

  She retreats into the kitchen to grab her purse and has the good sense to escape out the back exit.

  As soon as the door closes, I pull Evey into my arms and crush my mouth on hers. She kisses me back with a wide smile; a smile that I never want to fade from her lips ever again.

  I bend down to pick her up and she lets out a quiet squeal as set her down on the counter.

  “Vincent, are you sure you’re okay to—”

  “Yes.”

  I hold her body closer and she wraps her legs around my waist. The edges of her knees press into the bruises along my sides but I ignore the pain. I barely even feel it. Just the sight of her happy and smiling is enough to dull any and all pain I might feel for days.

  Evey pulls away and rests her forehead against mine. “Vincent…”

  I pause to take a breath. “Yeah?”

  “Thank you.” She wraps her arms around my neck.

  I cling to her just as tightly, inhaling her perfect scent. It’s starting to feel like home to me as much as this bakery does. “You don’t have to thank me,” I say. “I’ll always fight for you.”

  We sit still for several moments, lost and found in each other’s arms. When she raises her head, there are tears in her eyes but not like the ones before. Those were full of pain but these shine love back at me.

  I wipe them away and kiss her nose. “I love you, too.”

  Evey smiles but it quickly fades as she looks over my shoulder. Panic fills her eyes with the sound of screeching tires on the street outside. “Vincent—”

  I look behind me in time to see two assault rifles pointed at the windows through the open car doors.

  I leap over the counter, tightening my grip on Evey to bring her down with me. We hit the floor as the bullets ring out, tearing the front windows to bits.

  “Move!”

  I lay a hand on her back and push, guiding her into the kitchen. We crawl fast, keeping our heads down. I throw open the refrigerator and I kneel behind the stainless steel door with both arms around Evey, shielding her from the almost endless spray of gunfire.

  Bullets strike the refrigerator door and Evey screams in terror as the lights break above our heads. I hold her closer, waiting for an opening. They have to stop and reload eventually and I can’t peek out there until then.

  I cringe as I watch the glass cases shatter in front of me. The tables and chairs splitter and topple over. The cash register falls and spills out onto the floor.

  Muffin Top. My bakery. My livelihood. Completely destroyed right in front of me.

  The bullets cease and I let go of Evey. “Stay down,” I tell her. She trembles in fear and whimpers my name but I keep moving to get a good look outside.

  I rise up to look through the broken counter and I see them reaching into the car trunk for more ammo. I recognize them instantly; the other two bastards I beat up outside of Evey’s apartment. Shank must have used his one phone call to set this up from the inside. The bastard.

  “Vincent, who is it?” she asks, still hidden behind the door.

  I rush back to her. “It’s Shank’s men.”

  “What are we gonna do?” she asks.

  “I…” I glance around for a weapon, “am going to scare them off, hopefully.”

  “And what am I gonna do?”

  “You…” I lean in to kiss her, “are going to run.”

  She shakes her head. “No.”

  I point to the back exit. “The first chance you get, run out into the alley and don’t stop.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  Courage flashes in her eyes, making me smile, but it makes no difference. I can’t let anything happen to her. “Evey, please.”

  “No,” she says again. “I’m sick of running away. Give me my phone.” I reach into my back pocket for it and she snatches it from my grasp. “Hold them off while I call for help.”

  “Evey—”

  She bolts away and disappears up the stairs as I grunt with frustration. It’s not the best solution but at least she’s out of sight.

  I turn my attention back to the front and creep along the floor to peek through the counter again.

  “Did we get him?”

  “I dunno. Go check for a body.”

  I smirk.

  Disarming them is top priority. Bringing a baseball bat to a Glock fight is one thing but these are assault rifles. I’m fast but I might not get close enough for that to make a difference…

  I need a distraction.

  I feel for the last two black capsules stashed away in my pocket, keeping one eye on my targets as they step in through the busted windows.

  “Silva! Come on out!”

  With tiny grenades clenched in my palms, I slide through the darkness around the counter to increase my view. They’re scared; still bruised and annoyed by our encounter in the alley.

  This should be easy.

  I take the grenades and I twist the ends, arming them to explode. My pulse counts down two precious seconds before I toss them towards the far corners behind their backs.

  They ignite before touching the ground, creating arcs of light above their heads. The bastards cry out as they pop, raining fire on them and I seize the opportunity to take one down.

  He doesn’t see it coming. I grab his gun first, easily jerking it out of his grasp before slamming him in the jaw with it. He topples over a few broken chairs on his way down, alerting his friend but I’ve already launched my attack on him before he even blinks.

  His finger twitches along the trigger and he manages to get a few shots off over my head. I twist to avoid them and slam my forehead against his nose to send him back. He stumbles into the counter and shrieks as glass shards pierce his back.

  I pry the gun from his hand and stare down at them as they let out weak, pathetic moans before passing out completely. Flames grow up the walls behind me and I cringe a little more for my bakery.

  I head for the kitchen, tossing the guns far out of their reach, and move to find the fire extinguisher near the back exit. Thick smoke follows me in, burning my lungs, so I reach for the door and throw it open to help air the place out.

  “Hello, Silva.”

  The gun fires before my instincts kick in. It strikes my shoulder and I fall back, slipping onto the kitchen floor as the pain shoots through my entire body.

  I look up into his ice-blue eyes and seethe.

  No.

  This isn’t possible.

  Aiden Shank stands in the doorway with a pistol clenched in his hand. He takes a step inside, grinning down at me as blood pools out of my arm.

  I put pressure on the wound. “How?” I growl.

  “Are you really surprised?” he chuckles. “A man like me comes and goes as he pleases. A man like me prepares for this kind of thing.”

  I grit my teeth through the pain. Anna told me there were dirty cops on the force but they couldn’t prove it. That shouldn’t be too difficult to prove anymore. Misplacing a psychotic mobster isn’t something that just happens.

  “You won’t get away with this,” I say.

  “I already have, Silva. The only reason why I haven’t put a bullet through your skull yet is because I’m a cocky son-of-a-bitch and I want to enjoy this.” He tilts his head. “Even better, I want to see the look on your face when you realize it’s over. That I’ve won. And that Evey is—”

  “Don’t you dare touch her,” I warn.

  He laughs loudly. “I admire the fortitude but the tough guy act isn’t quite as effective with you bleeding at my feet.”

  My ears twitch, sensing the shift in pressure on the stairs through the door behind him and my chest tightens.

  No, Evey. Stay back.

  Run.

  Aiden stares me down. “You should have killed me earlier.”

  “Maybe I will after all,” I say, stalling.

  “Doubtful,�
� he says, rolling his eyes. “How does it feel, Silva? Knowing that you’re the only one to blame for this? That Evey will suffer because you weren’t man enough to save her?”

  The knob turns and she pushes the door open. My eyes fall to her hands and I furrow my brow at the small pastry box from this morning.

  “Actually, Aiden…” I say, “you’re wrong about that.”

  “About what?”

  I smile. “Evey can handle herself.”

  “Hey, Aiden.”

  He spins around, startled by her sudden call.

  Evey holds the cherry-cherry cupcake over her head. “Catch!”

  She throws it at him and fear instantly passes over his eyes, full of remembrance of what happened to his old buddy, Clive.

  I seize the distraction and reach up with my good arm to yank the nearest drawer open, grabbing the first knife handle I feel inside.

  Aiden recoils but not fast enough to dodge the cupcake. It collides with his face and he shrieks, toppling backward into the counter.

  “You bitch!”

  He raises his gun in a blind panic and points it at Evey.

  I flip the knife over and grip the blade between my fingers. The world turns in slow motion as his finger twitches towards the trigger.

  Do or die.

  I take aim and throw the knife at his chest.

  It sinks deep into his heart and his body goes into instant shock. His knees collapse beneath him as he falls back and slides down to the floor against the counter.

  Evey rushes towards him and snatches the gun from his limp fingers before falling down beside me.

  She stares at my bloody arm. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” I say, cracking at smile at her.

  We stand up off the floor as Aiden wipes a hand against his frosting-covered face.

  “Sssilva…” He slurs, pointing a white finger at me. “What was that?”

  I step over to him and lean down to make sure he hears me. “It was a cupcake, asshole.”

  A dangerous rage flashes over his face but the drop in blood pressure leaves him cold. He slinks back and his eyes flutter closed.

  Evey’s fingers entwine in mine as I stand up and we take the exit into the alleyway. Sirens blare and the street fills with police cruisers and a fire engine.

  “Stop!” a voice cries out in front of us. “Vincent Silva, don’t move! Get on your knees and put your hands on your head!”

  Evey goes tense as two officers bolt in our direction with guns drawn. “Vincent…”

  “It’s okay, Evey,” I whisper, slowly moving to extend my injured arm up but I can only lift it so high.

  I lower to my knees as the officers curl around us. One lays a hand on their cuffs while the other rushes toward the bakery’s back exit to look inside.

  “Christ, we got a body here!”

  “That was me,” I say, raising my voice. “I killed him. There’s two more inside unconscious. She had nothing to do with it.”

  Evey’s eyes fill with tears as the officer takes hold of my wrist. “Wait—”

  “Step back, ma’am,” the officer says as he slaps the cuffs on me.

  She slides away but only a little. “Vincent—”

  “You have the right to remain silent.”

  “No!”

  I look up at her as I’m guided off my knees. My Evey. “It’s okay,” I tell her.

  She shakes her head in disbelief and I don’t blame her. To her, this was self-defense. She looks at me and she sees a man. A normal, everyday man that she fell in love with. The man that saved her life.

  To them, I’m a criminal. Always have been.

  He leads me through the alley towards his car and I look up to see Anna standing there with the rest of them. She deflates as I pass by, closing her eyes so she doesn’t have to witness her worst fears come to light.

  I wish I could say how sorry I am but I’m not.

  It was all for Evey.

  Chapter 16

  Vincent

  It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the inside of a cell.

  The last time, I was just a teenager. Young, stupid; full of more shit than smarts but I didn’t care. At least, not until a judge made me that offer: join the service or go to jail.

  I won’t get that choice again.

  I regret doing what I did back then. I regret all the petty crimes and misdemeanors. Just sad stories of a bored, entitled kid with nothing better to do with his time than fuck up.

  But I don’t regret anything I did tonight.

  Evey’s safe now and that’s all that matters. She can walk down the streets of Boston without looking over her shoulder for Aiden Shank again. Her life will finally return to normal like she deserves.

  Best case scenario… I get out in time for us to spend whatever is left of our lives together.

  Worst case… well…

  Shit happens.

  The block door slides open. Keys jingle on a chain as someone strides down the row towards my cell with a slight limp in their step. I know exactly who it is. She wouldn’t dare miss the sight of me in here again.

  “Hey, Silva.”

  Officer Sally Gilmore stops to stare at me through the thick, metal bars with a curved, devious smile. Her eyes fall from my bruised face to my bandaged arm. “Jeez, you look like hell.”

  “It’s nice to see you, too, Sally.”

  “I’ll admit, I’ve been counting the days until you got picked up again. I regret not being able to slap the cuffs on you a fifth time myself.”

  “Me, too.” I twitch my shackled wrists. “This guy was a bit too gentle for my tastes.”

  Sally crosses her arms over her chest. “I would have swung by sooner, but… you caused quite the mess tonight, Silva. I mean, the property damage alone…”

  “It was my property,” I argue.

  “Second-degree murder.”

  “He was a mobster.”

  She frowns. “Noise complaints.”

  “Well, you got me there…”

  “I’m actually impressed. I didn’t think it was possible for your rap sheet to get any prettier.”

  I stand up off the bench and walk over to the cage. “Okay,” I gesture with my hands. “Go ahead. Let me have it. Tell me about how you always knew I’d end up here and that the world will be better off without me in it. You can say it…”

  Sally glares at me for several extended breaths before finally shifting to the side with her keys in hand. The door clicks loudly as she slides the cell open and I step back in confusion.

  “Vincent Silva,” she says, rolling her eyes, “you’re free to go.”

  I blink. “Really?”

  “The ADA and the entirety of the Boston Police Department thanks you for your service and for your assistance in taking down one of our most notorious criminals,” she says, her voice stiff and rehearsed.

  I gawk. “You do?”

  She gestures for my hands and I raise them, wincing at the pain in my shoulder as she unlocks my cuffs. “They’ve decided to look the other way on this one… but mostly, I just don’t want to waste my tax dollars on housing you up. So, get out. Go home and bake cookies — or whatever the hell it is you do nowadays.”

  I stand still, letting the fear and dread fade as relief and freedom sink into their place. “Thank you, Sally.”

  “Officer Gilmore.”

  “I might just have to send you two dozen roses this year.”

  “Please don’t.” She steps to the side and smiles. “I might take a few of those famous cupcakes of yours, though…”

  I laugh as we walk down the line of cells together but my smile fades as I see Anna waiting for me outside the block.

  She stands there with that perfect, tall posture she’s had since birth. Her hands rise up to rest on her hips and she glares at me as I pause in front of her.

  Her foot rises an inch off the floor and she kicks me hard in the shin.

  “Ow.” I flinch. “What was that for?”
>
  “You know damn well.”

  She throws herself at me and wraps her arms around my neck, squeezing me so hard that I can barely breathe.

  “My little brother…” she mutters. “Always gotta be the hero.”

  I sigh but I don’t argue with it.

  Sally scoffs at us. “Is that all he gets? You’re way too easy on him, kiddo…” She continues on, quietly shaking her head as she makes her way back to the front hall.

  Anna pulls away and the anger returns to her face. She inhales to scold me but I talk over her instead.

  “It was self-defense, Anna.”

  She lets her air out. “I know… Evey explained everything, but still. You killed a guy.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, it’s not the first time.”

  “It doesn’t.”

  I shrug. “Well… if it makes you feel any better, it’s the last time.”

  “That might help a little.”

  “Did you find your dirty cops?”

  “We did,” she nods. “That wasn’t too hard to figure out when the car transporting him to jail never showed up.” She smiles. “You know, that girl of yours is pretty badass.”

  My heart skips. “Yeah, she is.”

  “Did she really throw a cupcake at him?”

  I nod. “She did.”

  “I like her.”

  “Good.” I take a deep breath. “Where is she?”

  “We let her go hours ago, but…” she pauses, “officers dropped her off at the bar with her brother instead. I guess she was too freaked out to go home.”

  I imagine her there now, sitting with sadness in her eyes and a drink in her hand. It took weeks for it to fade even the slightest after the loss of her father. I wonder how long it’d take for her to get over losing me.

  Anna nudges my arm. “Well… go. Before Sally changes her mind and tosses you back in your cage.”

  I look at my sister, feeling a burst of love and pride, just like I always have. “I’m sorry this went so far. I don’t mean to worry you.”

  She cracks a grin. “You can make it up to me with cute nieces and nephews.”

  I smile at the suggestion. Scratch that. I smile at everything about it.

  Chapter 17

  Evey

  I can’t take a single breath without my nose filling with the lingering scent of smoke.