Distracted Love_Destructive Love Series Book 2

by Autumn Stone

  The story breaks my heart and I hope that I can make a difference in a little girl’s life. The silence stretches as if he’s waiting for me to say something, but, what do you say after a story like that? Without sounding trite and fake. I decide to say nothing instead.

  “Well, the last thing that needs to happen is you need to meet Lily. She has the final say.”

  He makes a quick call and Mrs. Paul walks in with a beautiful little girl. She is heartbreakingly beautiful and it’s clear that she is Mr. Bonnano’s daughter. Lily is small for her age with big green eyes and long black hair currently pulled back into a braid. She carried a well-loved stuffed rabbit in her right hand and wore an adorable denim dress.

  And, what happens next surprises even me. Lily looks up and runs to me and hugs my legs.

  “Well, that’s decided. When can you start?” He asks with a slight smirk.

  “As soon as possible.” I say quietly even though I want to scream and shout with happiness. Lily is still wrapped around my legs and I bend down to give her a hug.

  I’m surprised by the arrival of two equally handsome men into the study. A equally as tall as Mr. Bonanno, the first was a Latin man with liquid brown eyes, and dark brown hair. He looked like the life of the party. The other man looked dangerous, almost like he’d seen things that others hadn’t seen and done things that no one should know about. He had sandy blond hair and cold hazel eyes.

  In that moment I wanted to disappear or eat. Which ever happened first.

  “Hi, I’m Jordan and you are?” The blond one addressed me while holding out his hand. I nervously extend my hand out and find it grasped firmly, his hand harder to the touch than I expected, as if he had experienced hard work.

  “This is Cree Johnson, you can call her Ms. Johnson. She will be taking care of Lily.” My future employer said before I could speak up.

  The two men smirked and looked at each other before looking at Mr. Bonnano.

  “Dante, you aren’t going to introduce me to the lovely lady?” the handsome Latin man said.

  Looking a bit impatient Mr. Bonnano, Dante, made the introduction reluctantly.

  “Ms. Johnson, this is my long-time friend and brother from another mother Javier de la Cruz.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Cree.” Javier said with a twinkle in his and leaned in to kiss my cheek. What is it with these people and kissing? I’ve gotten more action in the last hour than I’ve had my whole life.

  My continued state of virginity wasn’t going to end anytime soon, but I definitely had some new fantasies that were about to happen after meeting these men.

  I decide to pick up Lily who continues to hold onto my legs like a little monkey.

  “Hey, sweetie, I will be back and you’ll get to play with my little sister.” At that her eyes widened.

  In this moment of overwhelming emotion, I knew that I was doing the right thing when I looked at that sweet little face. She needed me.

  I begin to get nervous about the time because I have to walk back to the bus stop and take the bus back to town. If I’m late I will be charged a late fee and I just don’t have the money for that. And, I’m uncomfortable asking if we’re finished with the interview. Thankfully Mr. Bonnano seems to sense my discomfort and hands me the contract to look over and sign.

  These men intimidate me and I’m nervous to be in their presence because they make me feel off kilter. This is for Sierra I keep repeating in my head.

  And, before I change my mind, I sign the contracts. Because let’s face it, I have no other option.

  Once I’m done Mrs. Paul escorts me through the home to the front door.

  “Dearie, I’m so glad that Mr. Bonnano hired you! You’re just what Lily needs. The wee little lass is a dear, but she’s had a hard time of it for such a young girl. You seem like a sensible girl, those men are heartbreakers, each and every one of them.” She says as if we’re passing secrets.

  There’s more? I wonder

  “Don’t make the mistake that the other women have made. Don’t fall in love with them.”

  I smile somewhat sadly and reassure her that that won’t happen. And, it won’t happen because I know that I don’t have a chance with any of them.

  Dante

  The urge for a drink was overwhelming. And the urge to sniff a line was even worse. But, he had to interview another potential nanny and Javier and Jordan were at the house, as well as Gianna and her fucking games.

  He’d rushed back home when he realized that he was running late and almost ran over some crazy lady walking on the side of the road.

  He wanted to laugh when the candidate came in. She was a tiny black woman around 5’2” or 5’3”. She was about 100 lbs overweight and wearing an ill-fitted suit from better times.

  The candidate had beautiful rich chocolate skin, pillowy lips, and dark mysterious eyes framed by thick eyelashes. Gianna in her never ending quest to fuck with people’s minds, teased the woman a little bit and obviously frightened her.

  The woman looked like if she could disappear she would. Then, she seemed to give herself a mental shake and forced herself to stand tall. Then, in a blink of an eye, she crumpled to the floor and passed out.

  What the hell?

  “Mrs. Paul, bring some ice water and a wash cloth.” I shout. She runs out of the room and returns in a blink of an eye and begins pressing the cloth on the woman’s face. She moans in distress and I’m curious to notice that those little moans begin to turn me on.

  Slowly, the woman begins to come to and looks at me with those beautiful deep brown eyes that reflect a deep-rooted sadness in them.

  I shove the down the emotions that she’s making me feel, ask if she’s ok, and try to ignore the unexpected tightening in my pants.

  As I listen to the woman answer my questions I’m reminded of a timid mouse. She seems to be afraid of everything, her shadow, me, and not surprisingly Gianna, who never likes anyone, but declared that she liked her.

  What the Mouse doesn’t know is that I already planned to hire her before she arrived. I knew about her financial situation and I also knew that she lead a quiet, uneventful life, perfect for a person who would be taking care of my daughter.

  The last piece of the puzzle was seeing how Lily reacted to her. And, fortunately, she loved her.

  I fought against and lost the urge to look at the cleavage shown as she bent forward and signed the NDA. It was if she was completely oblivious to her appeal.

  I wasn’t immune. And, that was an unexpected problem.

  Javier and Jordan were also aware of her charms and I found myself wanting to kick their asses as they messed with me when I introduced her to them.

  She looked overwhelmed and I fought the urge to laugh as I watched her beautifully expressive face display an array of emotions that ranged from: fascination, fear, exhaustion, and lust.

  My brothers from another mother have no idea that I’m doing coke and I’d like to keep it that way. My mood is going downhill and it’s time to get everyone out so that I can embrace the oblivion, the numbness that comes when I get high.

  It’s my little secret…no one will get hurt.

  As Cree Johnson exits with Mrs. Paul, I get treated to the sight of her luscious ass in that mess of a suit. Her calves are shown off by a pair of sensible heels that should only be worn by an 80 year old.

  That woman is off-limits for me and the Sexy Sixx as me and my friends are called-she’s only here for my daughter.

  In that moment I wonder where is Gianna? I need to fuck these thoughts out of my mind after I do a line, preferably off of her stomach and forget about the Mouse.

  Javier

  That woman has no place in being in this house. Dante is my brother from another mother, but he also is ruthless, cold and will fuck any woman that happens to have a pulse.

  If Mrs. Paul weren’t happily married and he had the urge, he would sleep with her too.

  I found Cree lovely with her quiet answers and lowered
eyes. In fact, I was convinced that she would make a wonderful submissive…if she was into sex play. My gut feeling was that she was a virgin and unused to male attention. As Jordan and I spoke with her, it looked like she was fighting the urge to run from us or from her dirty thoughts.

  Mrs. Paul returned and poured us a couple glasses of scotch that we planned to enjoy with a few cigars when movement outside of the window caught my eye.

  What the fuck?!

  Cree had changed her shoes and taken off her jacket while looking nervously at the house. It was clear what she intended to do and that was to walk to wherever she came from.

  “Dante, did you know that she walked?” He shook his head.

  “It’s fucking hot out there, we can send a car to her and get her to where she’s going.” Dante shocks me when he looks at me with cloudy eyes and says “no.”

  He’s changed.

  He would take the shirt of his back to help someone out and recently his behavior has changed and no one knows what to do about it.

  Thankfully, I hadn’t started drinking yet and could still drive. I rushed outside and went to my car so that I could pick Cree up.

  She’d walked pretty far by the time I pulled the car next to her.

  “Need a ride?” I hollered

  She looks hot and flustered as she stops and looks at the car. I could tell that she wasn’t sure if I was a creeper trying to hassle her. But, I noticed that recognition flashes through her eyes.

  “Are you sure it’s ok?” She says quietly.

  How could I say no to her? And, in what was surely a leap of faith for her, she gets in the car.

  “I would love a ride to the bus stop.” Cree murmurs quietly.

  “I’m driving you to your final destination.” It was a statement, not a request.

  She glances at me with a raised eyebrow and then gives me the directions.

  “Thank you so much. I need to pick up my baby sister from day care and I was going to be late if I waited for the bus.”

  We settle in for the ride and listen to my Jhene Aiko Pandora mix. The streets slowly became more rundown until we pulled up in front of a small brick building that seemed to have outlived its initial purpose.

  I didn’t want to live her here. It felt like I was abandoning her. And, as her sweet face turned towards me to thank me for my kindness, I found myself wanting to protect her from the fucked up situation she was walking into.

  “You know, you can still back out Cree. You still have time to turn down the position.” I look at her and take in the shock on her face.

  “I don’t understand? Why are you saying this?” She’s unnerved and confused.

  “We’re into some fucked up shit and I don’t want to pull you into it.” Sometimes you just have to state the truth.

  “Mr. de la Cruz, this is my first opportunity in a long time. There is no other choice but to say yes. I’m just a nanny. There is nothing about me and my situation that will pull me into whatever it is that you’re doing. Right now I just have to focus on my little sister.” With that she stepped out of the car and walked unsteadily into the building to pick up her sister.

  In that moment, I see Cree as I imagine she was before life kicked her in the gut. Fierce, amazing, and never backing down from a challenge.

  But, I saw the gleam in Dante’s eyes when he looked at her, even if he didn’t know it was there. And, after an interesting talk with Gianna, one of the scariest and most direct women I’ve ever met, she also noticed it too. Dante and Cree were on a collision course and I had no idea who would be recovered from the wreckage.

  Wanting to make sure she got to her car safely, I pulled over so that she wouldn’t see me and waited for her to walk out the building. The weather had changed and a gentle drizzle was coating the sidewalk with much needed moisture.

  Cree exited the building with a tiny bundle in her arms wrapped up in a blanket. A look of resignation flitted across her face as she noticed the rain and she started walking away from the building.

  What.the.hell?

  I knew that she tried to save money on gas, but I was under the impression that her car was at the daycare. Getting out the car I follow her for 15 minutes until I see her stop by a van. She smiles inside the little bundle and enters the car. She doesn’t settle into the front set to drive off to her home.

  Instead, she closes curtains in the windows and a small light turns on from inside the car.

  She lives in that van. With that tiny baby. A feeling of absolute rage goes through me. There is no way I’m leaving her to spend another night in that fucking van. I decide to give Dante a call.

  “Dante, I just dropped of your nanny and followed her home. She’s living in her van with her baby sister.” Seriously, there was no time for chit chat.

  “I’m bring her back today. Get the bedrooms ready for her.” I knew that very few people could talk to Dante like that without getting shot and I was one of them.

  “I’ll speak to Mrs. Paul now.” He murmurs as if from far away.

  What the fuck is up with him? It’s time to talk to the other members of the Sexy Sixx about Dante and his confusing behavior. I have some suspicions but I’m hoping that I’m wrong.

  “On our way.” And, I hang up the phone. How will have this conversation with her and preserve her pride. Fuck pride, it’s cold outside and she has a baby with her. It’s time to bring her home.

  Getting out of the car I knock on the window. All movement ceases in the car as if the occupants are in shock. The, babies being babies, I hear the piercing wails of a hungry baby.

  Scared brown eyes that were red from crying were looking at me through the currents and widen in shock. The window rolls down by an inch.

  “Mr. de la Cruz…”

  “Call me Javier. You’re coming with me and moving into the house tonight.” Again, this was a statement, not a negotiation.

  The baby’s cries get louder and she moves back into the van and reemerges in the front with a sweet looking baby with gorgeous brown eyes and curly hair. Her face is red from crying and happily drinking from the bottle that her sister is giving her. In that moment I know that she has decided to say yes.

  “Let me finish feeding her…”

  “Grab what you need for tonight and her car seat. I’ll send one of our men to pick up your car. It’s cold, it’s time to take you home.”

  She’d changed. Loved the sweatshirt.

  Cree

  I became increasingly self-conscious as we drove through the streets and got closer to Sierra’s daycare. It was hard not to see the difference between the two neighborhoods. Immaculate lawns, to crumbling buildings filled with people whose dreams were slowly crumbling as well. Good people, but life had a way of breaking people sometimes and if things continued this way I would break soon.

  Mr. de la Cruz…Javier, as he kept insisting I call him, smelled like sex and delicious cologne. I felt overwhelmed by his intensity and I was having a hard time keeping focused on getting us to Sierra without embarrassing myself.

  The truth is that my boss, Mr. Bonnano, kept going through my mind. He seemed angry, broken, maybe even lost. There was something about him that drew me in and I had to fight that feeling if I wanted to be successful in my job. Lily was so sweet and I knew that I was the right person to help her.

  Javier was playing a great mix in his car that made me wonder what it would be like to go on a date with a man such as him. When everyone else was dating and having fun, I was supporting my mom after my dad passed away. And then I was just trying to keep my head above water while taking care of my sister.

  If wishes were money I would be a millionaire.

  We pulled up in front of the building and I didn’t want to get out. The feeling of being taken care of was so foreign to me that even a quick drive in the car was a foreign feeling in a life that had no one else to support and care for way too long.

  Regretfully, I got out of the car and walked towards my little sister. Mrs.
Jones was happy to see me.

  “Hey Girl! You’re earlier than I expected. How did your interview go?” Mrs. Jones was the neighborhood cheerleader and one of the nicest people I’d ever met.

  “I got the JOB!!” Finally I could celebrate with someone who cared. She started shrieking and jumping up and down.

  “When do you start?”

  “My boss would like me to start on Monday.” And, as I said that tears started burning my eyes. In that moment I started to cry. I was so damn tired and I was close to my breaking point of losing faith.