EricI can’t believe it’s been five years since I have seen her, but as she opens the exam room door, my entire world is made right once again. She looks the same but even more beautiful- if that’s even possible.She wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight as she sobs into my shoulder, “I thought you were out tomorrow,” she whispers, her tears wetting my shoulder, and I smile, holding her tighter.“He let me go a day early,” I respond, looking back into her eyes.These last five years have been hard, but I knew they would be worth it once this moment came. It felt like the years went by too slowly, but now that this day has arrived, I know it was all worth it.Turning on Marcus was difficult. His goons even came after me, but they failed to kill me. Agent Latter agreed he would leave my family alone if I did this, but really, I knew he had no evidence to prosecute them. We always ensured we were careful where Marcus liked to throw his power around like a drunk emperor.Saying goodb
Jessica “Julie, Jackson, hurry up!! We’re going to be late!” I call down the hall. Our new apartment is small, and my little sister immediately answers me as she walks by, her long brown hair falling by her waist. She is only twelve, but she acts like she’s sixteen with the attitude she has. “Don’t get your panties in a twist! We’re coming,” she grumbles as she heads for the kitchen cabinet, but I sigh, knowing she will be disappointed, “You didn’t get more cereal?” she asks when she sees the bare cupboard.My heart sinks, and I shake my head, “No…I’m sorry. I didn’t have time.” I stutter out, but that’s a lie. I had the time; I didn’t have the money.Jackson walks past me next, and I smile, fluffing his hair up. It’s hard to believe he just turned nine, and they weren’t here, “Jessica, STOP! I just got it the way I like it.” He says, rolling his eyes at me, and I look at his features; he looks so much like Dad- God, how I miss both of my parents so much.Three months ago, I was at
JessicaI take a deep breath and turn around, only to come to stare at what I believe is a Greek God. Holy shit- this man looks like he could be carved of stone and placed at some glorious monument. “I’m so sorry,” I mutter- this is a nightmare!Embarrassed that he saw my outburst, I turn around and begin to look for my shoe, but he taps his foot, demanding my attention, “Looking for this?” He asks, dangling the high heel I am looking for with his index finger. He has a slight red mark on his arm, and that’s when I realize I launched my heel at this Greek God, and I left a mark on his beautiful body!Oh, My GOD!I reach for the heel, and he smirks, holding it above his head, “No, I think I will hold onto this. You seem to have anger issues, and I don’t want this stiletto shoved up my ass.” I take a step back, and even though he is wearing a smirk, his tone is serious, and now I can feel how red my face is.“Sorry,” I mutter again, trying not to stare into his deep blue eyes. “I have
The stage lights turn on, blinding me, but I can’t mess this up; we need this. I begin to shake my hips to the music as I unbutton my dress jacket, but I don’t have any rhythm. I only took ballet in preschool and fell off the stage at my first recital. The memory makes me wince- I hate stages!Mike watches me from a chair in front of the stage, he claps, but my heart is racing- I think I might have a heart attack. Is he going to make me take it ALL off? I mean, why haven’t I been concerned about this part till right now? If I get this job, I will take my clothes off for strangers every night.My palms begin to sweat, and I feel a little faint as I unclasp the last button, throwing the jacket at Mike. “Hell, yeah! Goodie-Too-Shoes-Science girl! Wahoo!!” he commends me, but I can’t help but think he might be pranking me at the same time. Will men be yelling at me like this every night?I smile but am holding down the stomach acid that I want to vomit. I didn’t eat breakfast, and now
DamonI chuckle, shaking my head as I walk back into my office. Her meek voice fading behind me. I already know this girl doesn’t have what it takes to work here, but I know my buddy Mikey always wants to see ANY hot girl naked. I didn’t ask for her name, but that girl was a straight 9.8 but with anger issues; I try to stay away from those types these days, though. I have enough issues running this laundering business. I had witnessed her tumble backward and fall, but what happened next was pure comedy. And the fact she hit me with her heel? I have never wanted to laugh harder in my entire laugh when I saw her face of shock, but I held it in, making her sweat. That’s what I do, though. Everyone who knows who I truly am in the crime world knows not to fuck with me.Sure, Billionaire by day and in the public eye but by night, Mafia Lord. I turn back around after closing the door and continue the task at hand, “An interview?” Mindy asks me as she places another stack of hundred-dolla
JessicaThe bus pulls up, and the driver smiles at me when he sees how much my mood has changed. I am downright happy! No! Ecstatic! “I take it you had a change of luck?” he asks me as I climb the steps, not hiding my glee. I smile back,” Yes, I start my new job tonight.” I say proudly. He nods approvingly at me, and I drop my money in the toll as I walk to a seat and begin scrolling on my phone, applying for multiple credit cards. I will not falter on my promise; the kitchen will be fully stocked when Julie gets home, but between my student loan debt and the many credit cards already in past due balance, I am only approved for five hundred dollars, but this is enough. I don’t care what I must do tonight; I will make great tips and begin paying down the debt I have accumulated. This is the start of a new life. I break the heel off my other shoe so they match, but I hope to buy flip-flops when I shop. The bus approaches the street where the grocery store is located, and I pull th
DamonI’m sitting in my office about four hours before opening when there’s a knock on the door, “Come in,” I call, and the door slowly opens. Mikey is standing there with a broken plunger that is dripping water all over the floor, and I stare at him in disbelief. “Dude, what the hell?” I ask, pointing at that disgusting thing. “Why is THAT in my office?”“The woman’s toilet is clogged. I think they were flushing tampons again,” Mikey says with his face full of disgust. “Okay?” I question, frustrated. “Did you get it unclogged?” he nods but eyes the broken plunger.“The other two are clogged as well, and now I don’t know how I am going to fix them. Do you want me to call a plumber?” He asks, and my eyes widen.“Oh, sure, let’s just give the FEDS a personal invite into my business, Mikey!” Mikey’s mouth gapes, “Damn, that’s not what I meant. My cousin is a plumber. I can call him.” he suggests, and I shake my head, grumbling. “No, I’ll go hit the store and grab another one. There’s
JessicaDamon is quiet as we drive, and I look at the thong he placed in my lap- why did he have this? Where did he find this? Has this been in his pocket all day? I have so many questions. Why did the God have MY underwear in his pocket?“I found them behind the bar. I was going to give them back to you tonight, but now is fine too. You can slip them back on if you want,” he says, not even glancing at me. “Here? Like right now?” I ask, and I watch a slight smirk curl on his lips.“It’s up to you. I won’t tell anyone you aren’t wearing panties,” he eyes me, “Well unless you want me to.” He says, with his eyebrows raised. My cheeks burn red with embarrassment as I feel the lacey fabric and untangle it, reaching down for my ankles. I glance at him as I reach them and nervously place the panties around each of my feet, “I won’t watch. I promise.” He says in a serious tone, and his eyes return to the road.My eyes don’t leave him as I pull them on as quickly as I can, but his eyes remain
EricI can’t believe it’s been five years since I have seen her, but as she opens the exam room door, my entire world is made right once again. She looks the same but even more beautiful- if that’s even possible.She wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight as she sobs into my shoulder, “I thought you were out tomorrow,” she whispers, her tears wetting my shoulder, and I smile, holding her tighter.“He let me go a day early,” I respond, looking back into her eyes.These last five years have been hard, but I knew they would be worth it once this moment came. It felt like the years went by too slowly, but now that this day has arrived, I know it was all worth it.Turning on Marcus was difficult. His goons even came after me, but they failed to kill me. Agent Latter agreed he would leave my family alone if I did this, but really, I knew he had no evidence to prosecute them. We always ensured we were careful where Marcus liked to throw his power around like a drunk emperor.Saying goodb
JessicaMy whole body shakes as I sit in an interrogation room; what the hell is happening? I was only able to hug Damo briefly before they put us in separate cars and took us here. Even after everything Marcus has told me, I still want to be with Damon.I want to hear his side; I want to know what truly happened.The door finally opens, and Agent Latter appears; he has a can of soda with him and a sandwich. I watch as he walks inside the room and places them down on the table in front of me, “Please, eat and have a drink. We have a lot to talk about.”I shake my head, my stomach still in knots, and he sighs before I speak, “You knew my parents?” I ask, and he nods, sitting up straighter.“Yes, I was in charge of them,” he states, now sitting back. “Your parents were in a lot of debt, and I had made a deal with them.”My eyebrows raise, “A deal?”“Yes, if they could gather info on Macrus Lovoto and testify against him in court, then your family would go into witness protection, and yo
JessicaTonight has been like a weird dream, but the kind you don’t want to wake up from. I am finally with Damon, and it feels right. The way he was so gentle with me when we made love. The way he knew it was a big deal to me but also didn’t push it or made sure it was truly what I wanted was everything.He is mine.My heart flutters at every glance he gives me as we clean up the club, and I can’t wait to go to breakfast with him; I can’t wait to see what this will become.End game.He said the words, not me. He means those words, and I agree. I know it seems quick, and I know it seems crazy, but our future is bright- I just know it.I grab the last trash bag and tie it, sneaking glances at Damon while my heart flutters with anticipation…. I have fallen in love with him. Everything has led me here…to him. I wave at Damon as I open the back door and walk outside toward the large dumpster with a smile on my face. After this, it will be just the two of us, and we can talk and begin to t
DamonHer hands wrap around my neck, and my heart instantly races. Things have been so weird between us since the funeral, but I am not giving up on us- not yet.She pulls back from me, her eyes meeting mine, and I can’t help but see just how beautiful she truly is. My hand goes to her cheek, and I touch her soft skin as she stares at me, my head coming closer to hers as my lips push against hers. I can feel her stiffen momentarily, but she doesn’t pull away. She returns the kiss, and my whole being shudders with pure delight- this has been what I have always wanted, but why did I try to deny it for so long?She pulls back away from me, her eyes showing fear. My fingers trace her soft lips, the essence of what she tastes like still on my tongue. She tries to get up, but I pull her back to me, “Jessica,” I say as I look deeply into her eyes, “This,” I pause, “This what was always meant to be,” I say softly, though I am pleading as I speak the truth.This has been a nonstop dance for b
JessicaIt’s been two weeks since Mike’s funeral, and it still doesn’t feel real. I took an Uber here to work tonight, but Mindy has been picking me up. I cried the entire way here; I miss him so much. Nothing will ever be the same again. Damon offered me a ride, but he isn’t in the suitable head space right now, and I couldn’t allow it. He is hanging onto me as a link to Mike. He thinks I don’t see it, but I do.There was always that tension between us, but how can I just throw myself into him now? It wouldn’t be right or fair to Mike.“Jessica, table six needs more shots,” Mindy smiles, and I nod, walking to the bar.“No problem, we only have three tables tonight; I am on it,” I giggle, and she nods, walking to the other. The club has been pretty much dead since we re-opened; people are afraid to come here…. not that I blame them.What happened here still haunts my dreams, but the evidence no longer remains of what happened to Mike at this club, thankfully. Damon made sure to redo
TabbyEverything comes down to this moment, this exact one that I am, but it didn’t have to. If only Damon hadn’t tried to play me as a fool. If only he hadn’t treated me so poorly…maybe I wouldn’t be destroying his family…. or her.When I dropped off that envelope to Jessica, I did it because I hated the way they looked at one another. The way he looked at her was the way I wished he would always look at me, but he never noticed me. He never wanted me, not like that.He looks at Jessica like she’s made of some sort of fragile, expensive glass. He acts like he’s afraid to break her, but I see the desire in both their eyes and the way they long for one another.I thought that by asking him to be my fake boyfriend, he would finally see my value. See me more than just a plaything or something he fucked, but that couldn’t happen, not with her around.The pictures were supposed to tell her to back off. I was hoping she would hate that Damon’s dad slept with her mother. I was hoping that sh
DamonThe service was nice, and even though that speech was hard to make, it was what Mikey deserved. Everything I said about him was true. Each story that every person shared was a beautiful reminder of who he truly was.Jackson’s story was the one that surprised me the most, though. I know it can’t be easy going to two funerals in such a short amount of time. Mikey had only been in Jessica’s sibling’s life for such a short time, but he made a mark and a positive impact on them- that’s just what he did.I sit on the couch at Clody’s house, and there is still crying but also laughter as everyone talks about him. More memories are shared, but I sit there in a daze. - how can this be real?“Damon, would you like a slice of cake?” Mindy asks me, and I shake my head.“No, I am not really hungry,” I sigh as I look up at her, but she hands me the plate anyway.“It’s marble…his favorite. Have a slice for him at least,” she pauses, “Plus, I haven’t seen you eat a single thing today. You might
JessicaI can’t believe how many people are here. Mike was popular in high school, but I went away to college. I had no idea he was this popular in the entire town. I see some of our old peers from high school standing among the large group, but I also see cashiers from the grocery store and even restaurant owners along with their staff. So many people have shown up today because Mike was that type of person; he was loved. The crowd is so diverse, showing that, and my heart aches…..“Now, Damon Ricci, Mikey’s best friend, would like to make a speech.” The preacher announces, and I hear Damon inhale deeply beside me. My eyes widen as Damon stands- I am unsure if he is in any condition to make a speech, but if anyone should, it should be him. He and Mike have been friends for many years now; BEST FRIENDS.Damon carefully watches his footing as he walks toward the podium where the preacher stood. His eyes stay on the ground till he arrives at the wood stand. He then turns around slowly
DamonMy whole world was shattered in one moment. One minute Mikey was talking to me, and the next, he was flatlining. It still doesn’t feel real, and sometimes I even forget he is gone. I have even tried to call him a few times before I remember he will never answer.My heart hurts so much sometimes that I don’t know how to breathe. He made me promise I would take care of Jessica and her siblings, but right now, I can barely take care of myself. Mindy has been making sure I eat and bathe. She has been staying with me at night while I have my breakdowns; she is a true best friend…but she can never replace him.My father hasn’t let me near Marcus since he found out Mikey died. He says that Marcus needs to suffer, and if he lets me near him, I’ll kill him in a fit of rage. He isn’t wrong- I would probably kill him as soon as my eyes saw him.He doesn’t deserve mercy, and that’s what a swift death would be.I will say his screams coming from the basement have given me some relief…. he de