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“You’re right. We’re not, so why start now? We’ll be back—same time tomorrow. Have my money, or it’ll be more than just a knee. You got me?” I look to the trembling man.
“Y-yes, T. I’ll have it.” His whole body shakes from fear. At this point, I often wonder if I should feel empathy for these assholes. But then I remember that they borrowed money from the fucking mafia. If you don’t want to end up in this situation, then go to a goddamn bank.
“See to it that you do. I don’t like wasting my time.” With that final message, I exit the shop, Neo following right behind me.
Thank God that’s over. I’m fucking starving. “Let’s go. I need to eat.”
“Glad a bit of blood didn’t make you lose your appetite.”
“Shut up. It was one fucking time.” I was also fucking fourteen. Any kid that age would throw up if they watched their father skin a man alive.
“One time too many, coz.”
* * *
Stepping into Helena’s café, I can tell something’s off. I’m instantly put on high alert, and my pulse races.What the fuck is going on?Everyone knows this place is owned by Neo’s sister. No one’s stupid enough to mess with it.
I scan the interior. Everyone’s quiet. As their eyes dart across the room, I recognize the fear, but they also look as though they’re waiting for something. Like they’re… curious. Then I spot the object of their curiosity.
A red-haired fucking angel. That’s the only way I can describe the woman currently sitting in my fucking chair. The same chair that no one dares to occupy, because they know it’s reserved for me. It’s the best spot in the café. Right next to the fireplace with a view of the whole room.
My steps falter. I’m completely captivated by her. Then I remember everyone’s still waiting on me, waiting to see what I’ll do with the girl bold enough to sit herself in my chair. She’s new. I’ve never seen her around here before. I’d remember if I had.
She’s got her face buried in her phone, oblivious to the fact that all heads are currently turned in her direction. I can see that her lips are pursed, so maybe she’s not that oblivious after all. But I can’t see her eyes. I really want to see her fucking eyes.
“Torna a quello che stavi facendo. Chiunque tocchi quella ragazza mi risponderai.”Go back to what you were doing. Anyone who touches that girl will answer to me, I tell them in my native Italian. Even if they don’t understand me, everyone gets the message and the chatter resumes. “We’ll eat in the office tonight. Make sure she gets whatever she wants, Helena.” I don’t wait for her reply. I know my cousin will do whatever I say. I walk through to the kitchen without a second glance towards the woman. As much as my whole body is aching to turn around, I don’t.
Instead, I continue to the office, where I know I’ll have a view of the whole café. Neo made sure there’s a state-of-the-art CCTV system in place. I power on the wall of screens and sit on the lounge chair in front of the monitors.
I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “Maybe you’re right.” I glance up at Neo, who hasn’t said a word since we arrived.
“I usually am. But what, exactly, am I right about this time.”
“I need to get out of this fucking marriage.”
“And a certain cute little redhead you just left sitting in your spot—a spot you won’t even let me sit in,mind you—has nothing to do with this change of heart, right?” he prompts.
“Or everything to do with it,” I say absentmindedly, as I watch her interact with Helena on the screen. The thing my cousin loves the most about the café business is interacting with the customers. She refuses to leave the floor, even though she makes more than enough to hire sufficient staff to wait the tables.
Half an hour later, I watch the red-haired vixen stand and head to the counter. I shoot to my feet, ready to follow her wherever she’s going. I need to know where this woman lives. I need to know her name.I need to know everything.
I smile as I watch her leave a note by the register after Helena refused to take her cash. Pocketing the small piece of paper before walking out, I start making my way up the street. I keep to the shadows as I trail her steps.
She’s smart though. She must sense she’s being followed, because she picks up her pace. I stop across the street when she enters an apartment building. I wait. And then I see it. A light turns on, and she’s looking out the window. It’s like she’s staring straight at me, but I know it’s impossible. I’m too well hidden.
I pull the note from my pocket, finding a fifty-dollar bill wrapped around the paper. Is she nuts? She ate a grilled cheese, and she left fifty dollars?
I don’t know how much I owe you, but hopefully this covers it.
Holly
Holly.I roll her name over my tongue. I like it.I fucking love it.I stand there and wait for her lights to turn off. Surely she’ll be going to bed soon. Then images of her sprawled out over my sheets fill my fucking head. Fuck! I really need to find a way out of this engagement.
I watch for over an hour. Her lights never turn off, but she doesn’t appear at the window again either.
ChapterFour
Iwake to an insistent knocking. What the bloody hell is making all that noise? It takes a while but as I return to consciousness, I realize the pounding is coming from the front door.Shit.I get up, and as I head towards the sound, my feet freeze on the cold wooden floors beneath them. Why didn’t I pack fluffy socks or something?
