AllFreeNovel
Share Us
NINE
Louis
PLAYLIST: ? INTO U - DXVN. ?
Casino goers gaspin horror when I knock out thecazzowho disrespected Tasha. They’re eying me like I’m the monster. The brute. The bad guy.
All roles I’m used to by now. As an enforcer in Gio’s empire, I’m used to the assumptions. I could be the softest motherfucking teddy bear on the inside and it still wouldn’t matter.
Because all people see when they look at me is a huge, six-foot-five, two-forty guy swinging his fists and acting barbaric.
Never mind that I was defending Tasha’s honor. That’s an inconvenient piece of the situation.
I release a disgruntled breath and glare back at them, my fists tight. If they want to try me, I’ll knock them out too.
A couple bystanders cautiously approach the guy to help him up. He’s barely coming to, practically seeing stars by the vacant look on his face.
Tasha stands nearby in shock. For once the boss bitch hustler is speechless.
I’m over the situation. I turn around to leave.
“Louis!”
Now it’s my turn to walk out on her. I keep going, retracing the path to the elevators. Tasha chases after me.
But I’m pissed.
It’s true I’m a gentle giant deep down inside. Most in my personal life, like my kid sister Nikki, see only the good guy side of me. Make no mistake, though, I’m not a fucking pushover. I have my limits, and Tasha’s hit a hard one.
If the girl wants to be disrespected by drunks tossing cash at her whenever they want—if she wants to continue to be bought by whatever man wants to have her—then that’s her prerogative. I’ve done nothing but treat her well. I’ve been patient, attentive, tried to show her she could trust me.
She’s just gotta trust herself enough to do so.
But I’m beginning to think it’s a lost cause.
There are bright spots, moments where I see it in her eyes. We’re having such a good time, I can tell she’s as into it as I am. She’d never admit it, of course. I’ve learned how to read her well enough where I swear she’s showing me parts of who she really is.
Then it’s like she catches herself and reverts back.
I don’t know how to get through to her—how to get her to stay and not run away.
“Louis! Will you wait up? I’m in heels!” she calls.
I step into the elevator and smash my finger on the button for the penthouse floor. Tasha makes it at the last possible second, sliding through the closing doors. She’s out of breath, her chest rising and falling, and her eyes wide and on my face.
I don’t look at her. I stare ahead. The same expression I wear when I’m standing guard at work.
“Louis,” she says in a tone that’s almost whiny, “look at me.”
“Five minutes ago you were happy to walk ahead as I chased after you.”
She flinches as if burned. “It wasn’t that.”
“Then what was it?”
“You promised you wouldn’t try to change me.”
“Me not wanting you with other guys is wanting to change you?”
