Page 55 of Stolen Kisses
“So, I have to wait a whole day to see you? I’ll be in town tomorrow for business.”
Business, that meant other work.
Luc used to say that too, like it was code.
I shrugged into my clothes and he did too.
“Is it dangerous business?” I knew I shouldn’t ask, but I felt I should know if it was something likely to get him hurt. I didn’t know how things worked these days, but to me danger could come at any time.
“No danger tomorrow.” He smiled and stared at me then reached for his guns he’d placed on the table beside us. I couldn’t help, but be a little uneasy.
I’d grown up around guns, and seen a total of three people being shot and killed. Two were Franco’s business partners, the other was the first person I’d ever seen to die that way, and it was a memory I wanted to forget.
He saw me looking at the guns and I tried to look away.
“Do they bother you?” he asked.
I shook my head, but when I looked at him I didn’t want to imagine that there could be any darkness in him. Not the kind I’d seen in Franco. He had been nice to me too, but then he changed.
“I just …”
“No mindless killing,” he said. “Those Berettas belonged to my father, prior to him they were my grandfather’s. The first time Pa showed me them he gave me the principle of no mindless killing. The Japanese characters engraved on the handles mean head and heart. It’s there to remind whoever carries them to think with both.No mindless killing. It’s the first rule of being part of the crew. We don’t do that. Kill or be killed and only to protect those you love and yourself. That’s all you need to know.”
It was everything and more. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Don’t be scared of me, I would never hurt you.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“Come back to me tomorrow night.”
“I will. I promise.”
He planted a kiss on my forehead and I finished getting ready.
Leaving was hard.
I managed to do it though with my legs shaking and my soul bustling with anticipation.
So many emotions swirled in my mind and I was torn between everything.
Mostly I just felt that maybe I should just accept the break life was handing me.
Maybe this was my second chance to fix my life and give Flynn a better one.
It sure beat the plans I had lined up for us next.
Running away from Franco, moving to God knows where and having to start all over again. It was no real way to live.
I walked back to Vira’s, my head spinning and body buzzing like I was on some kind of drug. It was chemistry and emotion overload.
I never saw the dark shadowy figure following me until I accidentally walked too far down the road.
I should have turned down the road before and realizing my mistake I quickly whirled around. It was then that I saw the person and my turning around threw them off.
I didn’t see their face, but knew it was a tall lanky man wearing a trench coat. He slipped into the alleyway of the street ahead before I could get a good look.
It happened so fast. Too fast.
