Page 25 of The Devil's Heir
"Yes, Jarek. I will think it over. Thank you for the opportunity."
"Sir," I correct her.
"Huh?" I see that I've confused her and chuckle wickedly.
"I am not, Jarek. To you, I am Sir. That is all you will refer to me as in the future unless I say otherwise." I roll my window up and Jackson drives off, leaving my little pauper behind.
FIFTEEN
Liliana
I knew the day would come when I would see Jarek again. The tabloids do not do him justice. If I thought he was handsome in high school, he's devastatingly beautiful now. Only, there's a hint of something just below the surface that I can't quite pinpoint.
I remember that I once said he was the devil, and he just confirmed it. Why would I involve myself with someone like that? He's part of the Mafia, for Christ's sake, but—I can't help thinking about that itty bitty part of him I saw flash through his eyes when he looked me in the eye. It was almost as if he was pleased to see me.
I must be wrong, though, because he was the bane of my existence years ago; I doubt he's changed all that much.
"Do you mind telling me what you were doing being dropped off by that fancy car from earlier?" A raspy voice behind me makes me jump, and I spin around to see Fran smirking at me.
"It was nothing, really," I rush out.
Fran leans into me and, for my ears only, says, "If you're turning tricks in order to make money, don't be ashamed about it. You can talk to me; I'll keep your little secret."
I jerk back and stare at my friend shockingly.
"Fran! Why on earth would you ever think that of me?"
She cackles and shrugs her shoulders. "I don't, but I do like getting a rise out of you." She crosses her arms as she continues to smirk. "Seriously, though. Why were you being dropped off by that fancy car?"
Sighing, I sit in the rickety old chair I keep outside my tent. "That was Jarek Falcon, the—"
"Mafia Boss,well, soon to be anyway." Fran cuts me off.
"What? No, he's not theBoss,"I deny.
"Yes, he is. Are you daft, child? His uncle wastheKing Pin before he passed, and that nephew of his was his only living relative."
"How do you know all this?" I ask baffled.
"Let's just say that I knew his uncle years ago. He wasn't a nice man, but for some reason, the only thing he did halfway decent was that he always got permission from a female before doing anything. It was like a game to him. He'd tease and tease until he got what he wanted, but then he'd toss them aside after using them."
"How do you know all this?"
Fran studies me as she lights up a cigarette. Taking a long pull on it, I watch her inhale before smoke billows out her nose and mouth. Her gaze then moves just over my shoulder as she says, "Because I was that rare one who wouldn't give him permission."
I wait for her to continue, but she doesn't, so I ask, "What happened?"
"You're looking at it, sweet cheeks. The bastard ruined me. Got me fired from my job, sabotaged every job interview I had gotten before they stopped coming altogether, and got me evicted. I was a social pariah—still am. Unless I get a new identity, this is my life."
"Oh, Fran…" I say softly, not really knowing what elsetosay.
She waves my words off. "I've made peace with my way of life now, but you are still young, and you need to do what is best for you, so you don't end up like me. Tell me, what did young Falcon want?"
I decided to start from the beginning and tell her about my high school days and how Jarek bullied me. I told her how I ran and then found Heath—I even told her my real name. What was the point anymore? Then, I told her the proposal Jarek gave me before going silent.
Of course, she's going to tell me to tear up his card and never speak to him again. It's what any sane person would do. I should have known better because my friend is far from being rational, and her advice shocks the hell out of me.
"Do it, sugar. This is your only way out of this hell hole. Times are different now, and I'm sure young Jarek isn't like his uncle, but you have the power here."
