Chapter 1

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Chapter one

“Yayo, yayo

Moo la lah

Yayo

Bitch better have my money,

Y’all should know me well enough,

Bitch better have my money,

Please don’t call me on my bluff,

Pay me what you owe me,

Ballin’ bigger than LeBron,

Bitch, give me your money,

Who y’all think y’all frontin on?

Like brrap, brrap, brrap “

“Jesus Christ” I shrieked when I saw the old lady that was lurking behind me, giving me the stink eye disgusted.

“I want a copy of Macbeth, rental two weeks period.”

I tried to slow my heartbeats and move. This woman almost gave me a heart attack. I went to the shelves to get her the book she wanted, and who buys or rents a book this late? It’s 10 pm for God’s sake. Isn’t she afraid that someone would rob her or, worse, kill her?

“Here you go ma’am, this would be.....”

“I know what the cost is, here.”

She threw the money on the counter and went mumbling something about kids these days who have no shame.

Wow, I love Sundays; they are the best start to a productive week, so that’s why people are so peachy.

“Ariel, please clean up and close. I’ve to go. Haley just called, and she is throwing a tantrum.”

“OK Daniel, have a good night.”

He didn’t give me the chance to reply and left me screaming after him, ugh why me? Why did Jason have to take the day off? I went to the kitchen and checked that everything was clean and gathered the garbage bags, then went to the back door to throw them out.

You see, I work at a library slash coffee shop so you can read your favorite book and enjoy your drink. Sometimes we rent books only for the regulars, so I’m sort of a librarian, waitress, and barista.

I’m a senior. I live with my mom who is a nurse, by the way. I don’t need money actually, but I work to pay for my piano lessons. My mom works so hard to afford the college money for me.

 I want to be a doctor, so yeah I need a little fortune, that’s why I’m working to pay for my piano lessons. I wanted to help her. I’m not a shameless girl, as the nice lady said a few moments ago.

I sighed and threw the bags next to the others in the alley and when I was about to leave; I heard someone groaning and froze. Oh my god, what is that? What should I do? Is this for real or just my imagination? But again I heard it.

I swallowed hard and turned back slowly, then took hesitant steps farther into the dark alley. My breath hitched when I saw a body behind a big pile of garbage and again froze, staring with wide eyes. In front of me was a man clutching his stomach and groaning in pain.

And without thinking, I ran to him.

“Oh my god, oh my god. Sir...... Sir, Are you OK? Jesus, I’m gonna call 911.”

The man held my hand and looked into my eyes and said, “D.... Don’t please, just get me out of here.”

“But... But you are bleeding so hard, and I think you lost so much blood. You need to go to the hospital. “

“No... NO PLEASE, just help me to get out of here.”

I chewed on my lower lip, thinking about what to do. The thing is, I live in Queens, and..... ugh you got the picture. The man tugged on my hoodie sleeve and that did it for me.

I put one of his arms around my neck. I slipped my right hand around his waist and started to stand up and boy, was he heavy. I held dragged him all the way inside into the kitchen and closed the door.

While I was about to drag him out and to my mom’s car, I heard the sound of the front door’s bell. Someone is here. I put him in the corner behind the small counter and was about to see who came, but the man held my right hand in a death grip and shook his head no.

“It’s ok? Don’t worry, I’m gonna be ok.” I whispered.

He dropped his hand reluctantly and let me go; I gave him a small reassuring smile and headed to the door to see who was there.

“We are closed, sirs,” I said with a weak smile to the three bulky men who were looking around suspiciously.

“Oh, I see. Did a man come here, or did you see him pass by?” the tallest one asked.

“This is a library, sir; a lot of men come here to read books.”

“This one is no ordinary man. Well built, 6.5 foot, tan skin, dark hair, amber eyes, stabbed, bleeding,” He said, smirking.

“Oh, umm no, I don’t think I saw him. Do you want to check the cameras? Maybe he came during the morning shift. I wasn’t here, sorry.”

He narrowed his eyes and tried to see if I was lying, so I fluttered my eyelashes and gave the most innocent look I’ve had.

“Alessio, let’s go.” One of the other two men told the hulk in front of me. Alessio gave me another look and went out with the others.

I let out the breath I didn’t know that I was holding and slid to the ground.

After ten seconds, I regained the ability to walk again and went back to the man in the kitchen.

“Sir..... sir wake up. God, is he dead?” I kneeled and checked his pulse, no he’s still alive, just fainted. He’s still bleeding profoundly. I left again and closed everything, the light, and the front door, then drove my car to the back alley. I looked around carefully to see if anyone was watching me, and when I was sure that nothing was wrong. I opened the back door dragged the man to the car, and headed home.

Thank god I was living three blocks away, other days I just walked. But today when my mom knew that I’d be late she gave me her car.

Again I dragged held the very heavy unconscious man to my room, which was on the second floor. Lucky me.

My weak knees just gave up the moment I entered; the stranger and I were on the floor. I was breathing so hard and him groaning.

“Hey wake up, please. I can’t drag you around anymore. I’m not that strong, trust me.”

He moaned and flattered, his eyes open.

“Where am I?” he looked around suspiciously.

“Ah...... Um, after these three scary men left. I couldn’t let you stay at the library, so I brought you here to my house...... umm, this is my room.”

With wide eyes, the man looked at me, surprised. But actually, it was me, the surprised one. This was the first time I took a good look at his face. The first thing I saw was amber. His eyes were the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life, two golden gems with a hint of green. Red full lips, straight nose crocked a little, rough stubble dusting his sharp jawline, and a cute dimple on the right.

His groaning made me snap out of my trance and remember what was going on. With hot red cheeks, I stood up.

“Umm.... can you stand up? We need to go to the bathroom to clean your wounds.”

I didn’t wait for his answer. I just ran there.

After a minute or so, the stranger came wobbling. He lost a lot of blood; I was astonished that he could even open his eyes.

“Hey......Would you please sit here?” I closed the toilet seat and opened the first aid kit and looked for scissors, then faced him to cut his dress shirt.

“What the hell you think you are doing?” he growled.

I winced when he held my right wrist in a death grip.

“I need to check your wound. It’s still bleeding so hard, and your clothes must be sticky. It’s gonna hurt if you tried to take them off. I need to cut them.“ He narrowed his eyes.

“And if you check it, what can you do about it? Nothing.”

“Look, you don’t want to go to the hospital. You’re bleeding, and your wound needs to be cleaned at least.”

He let my hand go hesitantly. I helped him take off his jacket and tried to take off his dress shirt, but it was sticky like I thought. With all the bleeding and the open flesh, it was like glue. So I used the scissors to cut it open. I tried so hard not to flush when I saw his naked torso; it was a sight to behold.

Broad wide shoulders with lots of muscles, defined strong abs and on his left pectoral, there was a scary tattoo of a three-headed vicious dog, surrounded by flames. And a lot of scars were all over his abdomen. On his back, there was a full back length tattoo of some sort of grim reaper, angel!

His grunts again brought me back from dreamland. I shook my head, clearing it; I gently touched the wounded area on his right, trying to understand what I was dealing with.

“Umm... You need a couple of stitches. I’m not a professional, but I can do it. My mom taught me, but it won’t look pretty. I’m not an expert. “

He opened his eyes and said, “Just do it.”

“Ok, I’ll clean it first, Um.....I don’t have any anesthetic, I’m sorry.”

“Just fucking DO IT.”

I flinched but didn’t say anything and started silently to clean the cut, disinfecting and stitching it.

When I felt him flinching and biting hard on his lower lip so much that he drew blood, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Shhh, it is ok. I’m almost done. I promise it’s gonna end soon.” I cooed even though I know it’s childish, but what else can I do?

“Ok, I’m done. I think no vital organs were damaged, but you need to check everything up. I’m not a doctor.“ He just nodded.

“Ok... Here, let’s clean you up. I’ll bring you something to wear to get some sleep. “

I helped him to wash his face and gave him a big shirt of mine and walked him to my bed. Then brought him a couple of aspirin and a glass of water. When I was about to go, he grabbed my hand.

“Why?” he asked

“What? Excuse me. “

“Why are you helping me? Aren’t you afraid of someone like me? “

“Oh, I can’t lie and say I’m not afraid of you, but why not help? I mean, you were in a bad condition and can’t go to a hospital for certain reasons, so what else can I do? Leave you to die? “

“Do you know what I do for a living?”

“I think I have a good idea about that ......” I pried my hand from him. “Just get some rest.”

I took a shower and put on my pajamas and checked on him; he didn’t have any fever or anything, thank goodness. And then I headed to my chair next to my desk and tried to sleep.

I checked the alarm clock; it was 12:01 am. I sighed.

“Happy freaking eighteenth birthday Ariel.” Then I fell into a dreamless sleep.