Page 65 of Shape Of My Heart
She did as he instructed. As he walked into the apartment, two guys rushed him but Josh effortlessly sent them to the ground with his fist. When they tried to get up he hauled them right back. With his height and build they were no match for Josh. She could see why he was called the Mancini Machine, and why he played defense for his team. Nothing and no one could get past him, unless he allowed them to. One guy tried to escape but Josh caught him and lifted him off the ground, holding him by histhroat.
“You and your friends messed with my girl,” Josh balked, squeezing the man’s throat. Amy stood back and watched. It didn’t escape her that Josh just called herhis girl, but she was too shaken to think. “I’ll show you a bit of mercy because you weren’t dumb enough to attack me. Give me her things if you wanttolive.”
The guy coughed as he tried to speak. “Okay,” hemanaged.
Josh dropped him on theground.
Amy looked around, there were five of them lying there. She couldn’t believe that Josh had done that and was impressed with his strength. She was impressed that he would defend her, as if she really washisgirl.
The man scrambled off the ground and ran into the backroom. Josh waited for him with asserted dominance. The man brought the sewing machine first. It seemed like it was intact, probably because they wanted to sell it. He then went back to retrieve her other things and she could see that her mannequin was broken in half and her dress was ruined. All the stones were gone. The material was cut in places and filthy with what looked like greaseonit.
“Is that all of it?” Joshasked.
“Yes, we sold therhinestones.”
A tear ran down Amy’s cheeks when she heard that. She spent a whole month’s salary on thosestones.
While Josh picked up the heavy stuff, she took the bags with her clothes and held herdress.
“You better hope like hell I don’t see you again,” Josh cautioned the guy who nodded vigorously. “I know you know who I am, you look like you recognize me, and must know I’m bat shit crazy. So don’t fuck with me. Pass the message on.” Josh motioned to Dom and the other men on thefloor.
Amy followed him as he walked out; she tried to stop herself from crying but she couldn’t. The showcase was a month away and this dress had taken her months to make. Not because she couldn’t sew fast or put a dress together quickly. It was simply down to the fact that it was her winning ticket. It was the dress that was supposed to land her the job. She’d spent time designing it with all its intricacies. She didn’t know whatshe’ddo.
Josh put the stuff in his car then took her into his arms again where shebrokedown.
She’d reached that point, that breaking point where she couldn’t take it anymore. It was alltoomuch.
