Chapter 7

"When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak." - Audre Lorde

Isabella's POV

"Have you heard of her since she left?" Feodor roll onto his side flexing every muscle in his upper shoulder, reminding me why I agreed to go on a date with him six months ago. He eyed me at the gym for a while, but when he came over looking all manly, buff and damp with sweat to ask me out for dinner I couldn't resist. We were kind of in the same line of work, which we adore and we immediately hit it off.

"No." I turn on my side to face him dragging my finger over the outline of his tattooed sleeve. "I am really starting to get worried. She doesn't have any friends beside me and she hasn't reached out to me yet." I follow the line onto his stone hard chest.

"Maybe you should reach out to her." He suggests moving me underneath him.

"You really think that is a good idea?" I position myself so that his knee can fit between my legs." I was pretty mean to her that night. I practically chased her away." Feodor shrug his shoulders then lower himself so his lips are softly touching mine.

His phone ring at the exact moment his lips seal over mine. Without any hesitation he breaks the kiss to answer his phone.

"Шеф?" He clean his throat holding the phone between his ear and shoulder to get his legs into his suit pants.

"Десять минут." He slowly nod against the phone closing the top button of his pants. I admire every inch of him as he start getting dressed.

"я буду там!" He end the call and shove his arms through the long sleeves of his white dress shirt flexing all the muscles of his upper body while he twist and bend.

"Work?" I mutter and he nod at me. "My gift of God." I purr crawling over the bed until I am kneeling infront of him. I start unbuttoning his shirt from the bottom.

"Bella..." He sigh cupping my cheek with his large hand. I lean into his touch closing my eyes to absorb the feeling. "My beauty. How I wish I could stay." He purr planting a kiss on my forehead.

"I know." I breath at the sudden absence of his touch. "See you tonight?"

"I hope." He wink draping his jacket over his shoulder and exit the door. Never have I given a man so much power over me. I just love him so much. I fall back onto the bed.

***

"Lily. Hi." Lilith answer her phone after the first missed call and in shock I drop the pen I was holding between my fingers onto my desk.

She answered. This shouldn't be a surprise because I am her friend, but the way I acted the other night. I wouldn't have stayed. I would have run for the hill never looking back. I scared her.

"You sound surprised that I answered." I am. I was scared that someone would find your body in a darn alley or somewhere.

"Yeah. I was pretty nasty the other night. I was totally scared senseless. I am just glad..."

"I understand." Lily interupt me. "How are you?"

"I am good." Actually I am fucking great, besides the fact that my best friend is in deep shit with a dangerous and roughless man. "I am more concerned about you."

"I am fine. I am hiding. Most importantly. I am save."

"Can we meet? Catch up? I need to see you."

"Geez... Uhm.. sure. Where?"

"Where are you? I'll come to you."

"No. I mean. I don't want you getting caught up in all of this. I have to go. I'll call you." She kill the call.

Where are you Lily and more importantly who is with you. I wipe the brown lock of hair from my face and tug it behind my ear. Think Bella! I pat my forehead with my smartphone. You know her. Where would she go? Oh who am I kidding. If she can't come to me I don't know where she would go. Having her phone is probably a good sign.

"Miss Williams?" An unknown voice address me. I slowly lower the phone onto my desk looking up at a mildly slim build man wearing a blue dress shirt and black pants. "Do you have a minute?"

I nod my head standing up from my chair to shake his hand. "Isabella." I introduce myself and he does the same. "How can I help you, Detective Decker?" I withdraw my hand and invite him to take a seat opposite me.

"We are looking for a friend of yours." He start and I swallow hard pass the lump in my throat. "Miss Lilith Taylor." I shot up an eyebrow at him. "Do you know where I can find her?"

"Is she in trouble?" I ignore his question.

"I would just like to talk to her." He inform me shifting nervously in his seat. He should practice his lies.

"I am sorry, but I haven't heard from her since she got home from the police station the other day. She seemed scared. Rattled. I thought she went to visit family." I teach him a little about how to lie. She doesn't have any family, but I am not yet prepared to throw my best friend under a moving bus. She wouldn't hurt a fly.

"Do you know that if you are withholding anything from me about Miss Taylor's whereabouts that is obstruction of justice?" He threaten me.

"I am well aware, Detective." I smile getting up to my feet. "If that is all." I gesture with my hand to the door.

"Sure." He stand-up and pull a card from his pocket. "Here is my number. If she shows. Call me."

"I will." I fake a smile and take the card from between his fingers.

Lilith's POV

Since Isabella called me I practicality sat on the couch the rest of the day accept for the occasional trips to the bathroom. Thank goodness I grabbed my phone during that awfully night. I might not have taken enough of the important things, but my phone I got.

Two days ago she chased me out of my own apartment. She was scared cripple. Like she already knew what was going to happen, before I did. She didn't call, didn't look for me. She reacted like I brought murder to our front door. Which I guess I kind of did. Seen that now there is a man who has been killed in the apartment. Two men, but who is counting, right?

But now. Out of the blue and two days later. She is worried about me. She calls me and is surprised that I answered. She wants to meet me. Catch-up? Wants to know where I am.

Oh I am grabbing at light. Making a mountain from nothing. I wave the thoughts away with my hand. I have known Isabella for a few years now and I will move mountains for her. That must be why she is acting like this. She wants to help, but can't really do anything to change the situation. I need to see her. Show her that I am fine. Tell her not to worry. Arthur has a plan. He said temporary, right. That must mean he's got a plan. Anyway... She needs to back off before she also gets hurt. I will never forgive myself if anything happened to her.

Now I am sitting in the corner of a quiet diner forking around the salad on my plate. I tried eating, but the food is tasteless or maybe it is my subconscious making me feel bad for betraying Arthur. I promised him that I will stay put this morning when he went out. He said he had some problems to sort out and he will bring dinner.

"Lily?" Isabella unsurely whisper at me when she take in the seat at the table I am seated. She stare at the manly blonde wig on my head. Yeah Yeah... I found it in Arthur's closet. I know it is not ideal, but hey... what is a girl got to do.

"Oh... Bella..." I get up hugging her closely pulling her to her feet. "It is so great to see you." I tighten my grip around her body.

"You look..." She let out a little giggle. "What are you wearing?" She softly push me back to look at me.

"We have to be quick. I have to be back before..." I roll my eyes. "Before dark. I don't want to take any chances." Nice save. Nice save.

"Okay... It is nice to see you Lily." She again take in her seat and I mine. "I am glad you are okay."

"As am I." I nod. "So what happened at the apartment?" I question her, but the frown on her face speak another language. She doesn't know what happened. How can she not know. Everything was a mess.

"Are you okay? You look confused." She stare at me in awe.

"I am fine. A little scared." I admit. What she doesn't know can't hurt her right. "Bella.. This is the last time I can meet up with you. Until this whole thing blows over." A tear escape my eye, but I wipe it away quickly.

"No. I am not ready to say goodbye." She grip my hand tightly. "This will never be over. You have to run. Get a new identity. A new life. Dye your hair. Put on some weight..."

"Shh..." I stop her. "We wil figure this out." I promise my best friend.

"We?" Her head shoot up.

"I met someone... He is a bit rusty, but he is my hope." The only hope of me ever getting back my real life.

"What is his name?"

"Arthur, but..."

"Come with me Lily." Isabella interject. "I know someone. You can rather put your hope into him. I knew an Arthur once. Gorgeous man, but short tempered. Mind of a psychopath..."

"What is your point?" I cut in. "Isabella please. I need to do this my way." I sigh.

"Fine." She cross her arms over her chest. "Just be save okay? And call me from time to time."

"I will. Now let's talk about something less depressing." I laugh.

For the following half an hour Isabella and I pretended that I wasn't running from the mafia and she wasn't scared of loosing her friend. We chuckled over lame jokes, talked about work, told them that I went to visit family and had a traumatic accident which kind of was the half truth. Then she told me about a guy. Apparently they have been seeing each other for six months, but are taking things slow. I knew she was up to something. Slipping out at night, missing dinners, working late. I also knew that she would tell me when she felt like it. He does sound like a nice guy. I can't wait to meet him, but I dont really have a choice. Waiting.

After sharing a plate of fries and washing them down with a extra large milkshake we said our 'time-consuming-goodbyes' and parted ways.