Apprehension

by K. D Clark

  I’ll be outside.

  She wondered if he’d gone home and gotten some sleep like she had or if he’d been out all day. The door chimed as the waitress taking over the night shift came in. Sabrina finished up her tables, and by the time she said goodbye to George and Jose, Jayce’s car was parked out front. She got into the passenger seat and he immediately leaned over the console and kissed her on the lips. His hand was strong and rough against her chin but his lips were soft. She melted into the kiss. She could stay like this all night. When they broke apart she looked him over. He had changed clothes but he looked just as tired as he had this morning.

  “Did you get any sleep?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  He shook his head. “Nah, wasn’t enough time.”

  She was curious what he’d done after he’d dropped her off this morning but she didn’t ask. It was probably better that she didn’t know. He grabbed one of her hands and interlaced it with his. They headed in the opposite direction of her house, further downtown. When Jayce said he wasn’t going out of his way to pick her up he’d obviously been lying. The neighborhood wasn’t the best but she felt safe with him beside her. They pulled up to an apartment complex and he parked in one of the numbered spaces. The complex needed some updates but it didn’t look bad at all.

  “You ready to see my humble abode?”

  She smiled. “I’m ready.”

  They exited the car and climbed the outside steps to the third floor of the apartment. His neighbors had welcome mats and wreaths hanging outside their door. He stopped at the door that was bare and slid the key into the lock. He swung the door open and motioned for her to step inside first. The apartment was pretty standard. Carpeted floors, and there was a kitchen to the left with a small window to see out into the living room. There was a small area for a kitchen table but there was nothing there. The place was pretty empty except for a couch and a TV in the living room.

  “Where’s all your furniture?” she asked as he closed the door behind them.

  He shrugged. “I haven’t really gotten a chance to decorate since I’m not here that often.”

  “We’re going to have to fix that.”

  She liked the idea of decorating his place. It was amazing in itself that he was able to get his own apartment while still in high school. From his Camaro she would have thought that his place would be crowded with clothes and shoes and high-end stuff. But as he took her on a tour of the small space she realized it really was empty.

  When she expressed this to Jayce he said, “Being a solider doesn’t pay much until you get made.”

  “But you have a Camaro.”

  He grinned. “Priorities.”

  She shook her head. Men and their cars. They settled in on the couch.

  “So what are your plans once you’re ‘made’?” she asked, curious about how all this worked.

  “Upgrade to a better apartment and move into the city. That’s where all the big guys are and where real money can get made.”

  She snuggled close to him and took a deep breath, breathing in the smell of his cologne.

  “You want to order food?” he asked, and on cue her stomach rumbled.

  He laughed. “You like Chinese?”

  She nodded eagerly.

  Jayce ordered Chinese, and she turned on the TV, flipping through before landing on a romantic comedy that had started fifteen minutes ago.

  Jayce shook his head. “Typical.”

  She playfully slapped him on the shoulder. “Shut up, it’s a good movie.”

  “It’s a chick flick.”

  “Do you want me to change it?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “It’s whatever you want, babe.”

  She smiled at that and relaxed back into the couch.

  “So does your job change after you become ‘made’?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I can’t tell you much for your own safety and in case I get arrested.”

  She hadn’t thought about that. Of course getting arrested and serving time in jail was a risk that Jayce was taking. Is that something she could deal with? At this point she didn’t think she had a choice. She was already falling for Jayce and whatever he did outside of this little love nest they were creating she didn’t want to know.

  “I won’t ask any more questions,” she said quietly.

  “I didn’t mean it like that. Ask me anything you want to know. I’m just not sure I’ll be able to answer them all.”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t want to know. This”—she put a hand on his chest—“is the Jayce I know, and I don’t want anything to change it.”

  *****

  Sabrina blinked, her eyes adjusting to the sun slightly peeking out from behind the curtains. It took her a minute to realize where she was. Jayce’s arms were around her waist, holding her tightly to his hard, naked chest. He breathed deeply and he looked so peaceful. She decided not to wake him. She figured it had probably been awhile since he’d gotten a decent night’s sleep. His bed was soft and his body warm against hers. She stayed beside him until he started to stir awake.

  “Hey,” he said against her neck, his voice husky from sleep.

  She turned around in his arms. “Hey yourself.”

  “What time is it?” he asked.

  “Almost noon.”

  “Oh shit! Really? I need to take you home.”

  She shook her head. “I texted my mom last night to say I was staying at Wendy’s.”

  “Good because I want you right here,” he said, relaxing back into the bed and landing a kiss to her lips.

  She stretched out on the bed. Her stomach rumbled.

  “Hungry?” he asked

  “Yea but I don’t want to get up.”

  “Me either.”

  They lay like that most of the day rolling around in the covers before eventually ordering some take out and then going back to the bed to eat it. When Jayce’s phone rang it broke up their fun and he had to get to work. He didn’t say what he was doing and she didn’t ask. He dropped her off at home with a kiss and a promise to see her tomorrow.

  Jayce

  Sabrina was stuck in his head and he could have spent all day rolling around the sheets with her. She was perfect in every single way and if he had a say, she would be in his bed every night. He had to meet Mason in the parking lot of the liquor store. He lit a cigarette and walked from his car and got into Mason’s.

  “Someone is in a good mood,” Mason said, taking note of the smile on Jayce’s face.

  He shrugged, not giving anything away.

  “Most be a girl huh?”

  Jayce didn’t want to talk about Sabrina with anyone—he wanted her all to himself. “You didn’t call me here to talk about my love life,” he said.

  Mason put his hands up. “Alright I get it.” Mason grabbed the pack of cigarettes from the console and took one out to light it. He inhaled and let the cigarette and his hand hang out of the window.

  “I started following this guy that Lucas wants us to hit.”

  “Oh yea, what’d you find out?”

  “His name is Jimmy. He likes to eat at the Italian restaurant on Dale. He doesn’t have a family, no wife, no kids. Lives in a sleazy apartment. He’s a big guy, we should probably keep our distance.”

  Jayce nodded. “You know what he did to piss off Lucas enough to kill him?”

  Mason took a puff of his cigarette. “No idea and I doubt we’ll find out. They ask us to take a hit, we take it.”

  Jayce nodded. That was the way of Cosa Nostra—until you ranked high enough to start asking questions you did what you were told.

  “We’re taking the hit in two weeks. There’s some kind of event happening at the restaurant he always goes to. I can bet money he’ll be there and drunk. He usually walks home, we can catch him then.”

  Jayce took a long drag of his cigarette.

  “You ok with this?” Mason asked.

  “I have to be don’t I?” He just hoped that Sabr
ina would never have to find out.

  Chapter Nine

  Sabrina

  Two Weeks later

  Sabrina had spent every possible moment she could with Jayce. When she wasn’t at school or at the diner and when he wasn’t out working, she was at his apartment. They were often interrupted and Jayce had to leave at a moment’s notice but Sabrina didn’t mind. Anytime she got to spend with him, she was happy. She hadn’t said anything to her mom yet about Jayce. She wasn’t sure why but it was just easier to say she was at work or at Wendy’s house. Her mom wasn’t very strict but it was unlikely she would be ok with her spending nights over with Jayce. The whole school knew by now that they were a couple. He was pretty public with their relationship. He often caught her at her locker and they had a good make-out session before a teacher would pull them apart.

  “Have you gotten your homecoming dress?” Wendy asked from across the table, pulling Sabrina from her thoughts. She was sitting at lunch with Wendy, Chad and Alyssa.

  “Huh?”

  “Homecoming—it’s this weekend. You haven’t noticed the signs everywhere?” Alyssa asked. “It took me weeks to make those.”

  Sabrina had been so wrapped up in Jayce she hadn’t even noticed the banners. “No I guess I haven’t been paying attention sorry,” she admitted.

  “Or maybe you’re paying attention to something else more?” Wendy wiggled her eyebrows at Sabrina, and she blushed.

  “Come on, I’m going to the mall tonight to pick out a dress. Why don’t you come with me?” Alyssa said.

  Sabrina hadn’t confirmed if she was going or not but she doubted Wendy would let her get out of it. It would be her last homecoming anyways, she should enjoy it.

  Sabrina nodded. “Ok yea.”

  “I have to go home first and then I’ll swing by your house to pick you up. You coming, Wendy?”

  Wendy shook her head. “Can’t I have work at the diner.”

  The bell rang and they got up from the table.

  “I’ll text you when I’m on the way to you house,” Alyssa said, walking the opposite way.

  “Alright.”

  After school she sat in Jayce’s car as he drove her home.

  “Did you know homecoming was coming up?” she asked.

  He had one hand leaning out of the window with a cigarette hanging from it while the other was on the steering wheel. “Yea, babe, there’s signs everywhere.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Well I didn’t notice.”

  He looked at her with a raised eyebrow as they came to a stoplight. “Do you want to go?”

  “We don’t have to, I know you’re busy…”

  “Do you want to go?” he interrupted her.

  She nodded. “Yea.”

  “Ok, then we’ll go.”

  She smiled. “Really?”

  “Yea whatever you want, babe.”

  Jayce

  The day of homecoming seemed to sneak up on him. It was on a Saturday this year and Jayce was grateful because that allowed him the time to pick up all the things he needed. He was carrying a few bags and heading to his car from the mall when his phone vibrated. He answered, balancing it on his shoulder as he opened the car door.

  “What’s up?” he answered.

  “Hey you busy?” Mason’s voice said over the phone.

  Jayce looked down at the small jewelry bag in his hand. “A little bit, what’s up?”

  “We gotta take that hit tonight.”

  “Tonight?” Jayce set the bags down in the back seat and closed the door. “I have homecoming.”

  “Oh shit. Really?”

  “Yea.” This was just his luck. He would have to complete the biggest job he’d ever been given on the night of homecoming.

  “It’s now or never Jayce.”

  Jayce sighed into the phone. He promised Sabrina he would take her to the dance but he also had a life-long commitment to Cosa Nostra.

  “What time?”

  “Two hours from now.”

  Jayce looked at the clock—it was 4pm now. If Jayce could get to Mason and make the hit he could still get to Sabrina’s by seven.

  “Alright two hours. In and out, let’s make this clean so I can go to homecoming after.”

  “See ya soon.” Mason hung up, and Jayce slid into the Camaro.

  *****

  Mason and Jayce sat in the car watching the Italian restaurant from afar. There was some kind of party going on. The restaurant was packed and the patio outside was filled with people drinking and dancing. It was starting to get dark outside and from the looks of it the party had been going on for a while.

  “You sure he’s going to be coming out anytime soon?” Jayce asked.

  Mason nodded. “Yea they’ve been drinking since before noon. I don’t know what they’re celebrating but it looks like a blast.”

  Jayce scuffed. All he cared about was getting to Sabrina’s house in time. While she was probably fixing her hair and makeup he was out stalking his prey.

  “There!” Mason said pointing to a man with a round belly stumbling out of the restaurant. He was waving goodbye to everyone and dragging his feet down the sidewalk. Jayce was slightly surprised that no one at the restaurant had offered to drive him home. The man headed down the street and Mason started the car before slowly following behind him. The Chrysler wasn’t the quietest vehicle but the man must have been too drunk to notice because he didn’t turn around. They followed him for a while until he headed down an alleyway. Mason parked the car just outside the opening. Jayce reached in the glove compartment for the gun he had stashed there when he’d first got in the car. Mason already had his out and ready.

  “You ready?” Mason asked.

  He nodded, he was ready to get this over with and be back with Sabrina. They got out of the car, pulling the hoods of their jackets up around their faces. They walked up to the stumbling man as he mumbled to himself. For a brief second, Jayce felt sorry for the guy—he had no idea what was coming.

  “Hey!” Mason yelled at to him.

  The man turned around and Mason let off two shoots. The man fell to the ground clutching his legs in a ball as he moaned with pain. Mason tilted his head towards the man. Jayce walked up to him. The man put his hand up as if trying to block the bullet that was about to come.

  “Please…”

  Jayce pulled the trigger, feeling the kickback as the man collapsed the rest of the way onto the ground. Blood splattered Jayce’s hoodie and the man’s eyes laid open.

  His stomach turned and for a second he thought he was going to be sick.

  “Come on we got to get out of here,” Mason said.

  They ran to the car, and just like that Jayce had completed his first hit.

  Sabrina

  Sabrina shimmed herself into her dress. It was baby-blue and covered with gems. It wasn’t fluffy like a lot of dresses they had seen but it fit perfectly to her body with just spaghetti straps holding it up. She had spent hours doing her own hair and makeup, but as she looked at her finished product she realized she had done a pretty good job. Her hair was curled and swept up into a lose bun with a few ringlets falling out to the side. She’d kept her makeup natural but it managed to cover all her imperfections. She was excited to see Jayce’s reaction. As if on cue, her mom called from downstairs.

  “Jayce is here!”

  She had finally told her mom about Jayce the same day they had decided to go to homecoming together. She came down the stairs and rounded the corner to see Jayce standing in the doorway. He was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a blue dress shirt that matched her dress. She watched as his eyes roamed her body slowly, drinking her in, and a smile stretched across his lips.

  “How did you know I was wearing blue?” she asked

  He shrugged. “I did some research.”

  She figured he must have badgered Alyssa or Wendy.

  “Pictures! I have to take some pictures.”

  They left the house to take some pictures o
n the front lawn. She stood in front of Jayce as he held her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her mom didn’t notice when he quietly whispered in her ear, “I love this dress but I can’t wait to see it on my bedroom floor.”

  Goosebumps rose on her arm in anticipation and suddenly she was ready to get this dance over with so she could be alone with Jayce. Once her mom was satisfied with their various photos and went back inside, Sabrina got into Jayce’s car. It looked like he had cleaned up the car for the occasion. The water bottles and food bags had disappeared from the floor board. She glanced in the back seat—the black duffle bags were gone but as she looked a little closer she noticed there was a ball of clothes. Peeking out was a white T-shirt with a bright red stain. Her stomach turned at the sight. If it was anyone else she wouldn’t have questioned it but knowing that Jayce was involved with the mob she had a pretty good idea what that stain was from. He got into the car and noticed her staring at the back seat.

  “I didn’t have time to go home,” Jayce mumbled while she continued to stare at the clothes.

  “Didn’t have time to go home after what, Jayce?” she asked quietly turning to look at him.

  He didn’t say anything, instead staring deep into her eyes as if trying to read her.

  “Didn’t have time to go home after what?” she repeated.

  He shook his head. “I can’t answer that.”

  Tense silence filled the space between them.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” he said

  “Look at you like what?”

  “Like you hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you, Jayce. I’m mad you lied to me.”

  “I didn’t…”

  “Yes you did!” she cut him off. “You said it was just drugs. This doesn’t look like just drugs to me.”

  He shook his head. “I didn’t say it was just drugs. I said I ran errands.”

  “And errands include killing people?”