Mikes POV I pull up in front of my penthouse. The place is quiet. Too quiet. I have a splitting headache. The type that starts from the back of your head and migrates to the front. Where you can literally feel your head pounding. I had been thinking a lot. Everything is weighing heavy on my head. From the mess with the envelope, Donald’s woman who happens to be Delmonts daughter. If only Donald had listened to me. All this would have been over by now, and Theo is not talking. I might have to release him. He obviously knows nothing about what has happened. And to top it all up a shipment came in late. One of the new boys almost got followed. Stupid move, very Careless. That’s how you get the cops on your back. That’s how people end up dead. I move drugs. Pills. Coke. Stuff that makes people forget, stuff that makes them feel better for a while. I am not proud of it, but it’s what I do. And tonight, everything felt off.It’s like everything is just coming down at once. I slam the c
Donald’s POV I knew something was off the moment I stepped in. Delmont was already seated at the far end of the boardroom table, a fresh cup of black coffee is placed in front of him. The room is too quiet. No board members, no assistant just him. “You’re early,” I say. “So are you,” he replied without looking up. “I told them to take their time.” My chest palpitates a bit. “Why?” “Because I wanted a few minutes with you,” he said, finally meeting my gaze. “One on one.” I move towards my seat, cautiously and slowly. I pull back a seat and relax into it. “We could’ve scheduled that.” “But then it wouldn’t be spontaneous,” he says scribbling something into a note. “And spontaneity reveals things.” I stare at him confused. He is seated at the end of the table. He’s fingers are laced together. He just keeps looking at the papers in front of him. He finally looks up. His tone is sharp. “What the hell were you thinking, making that move without telling me?” “What do you me
I decide to take a walk around, I am putting on a coat. It’s a little chilly outisde. I reach into my pocket for my phone. Rebecca’s message is still there. I stare at it for while, I am really not up for dinner with family. But meeting her mother might give me the information I need, if Rebecca’s playing me or not. Would someone who wants to ruin my life invite me to dinner with their mum? I am not sure anymore. I type out a reply sure, why not and hit send before I even get to change my mind. I pass by an ice cream truck. I notice a little boy holding on to his mother. Literally dragging her to the truck and pointing with excitement. “No Jon, not today” “Please mum,” I hear him say. I stand there for a while hands in my pocket enjoying the charade. “Come on boy, I would get you ice cream” I say walking over to him. “Can I get little jon some ice cream?” I say looking up to his mum. “Say yes” he is prancing up and down with his hands held high. “Oh, please don’t bother,
Rebecca’s POV I have changed my clothes three times already. The first one felt to formal, the second felt too casual, and the third. Well now I am staring at the mirror. Wondering if this gives a You are highly welcome and make yourself at home kind of feeling. I smooth the fabric and drag it down. It’s just dinner. It’s just my boyfriend, kind of meeting my mother. “Rebecca!” Mum calls from the downstairs. “Can you check the oven? I think the chicken might be burning” I rush out of the room reserved for me, and head to the kitchen. I yank the oven door open. A wave of heat hits me. It isn’t burning but it is turning brown faster than it should. The kitchen smells like rosemary and garlic. She has gone and outdid her self again. Baked potatoes, that cheesy spinach thing that she makes in special occasions and a bottle of fine wine is placed on the counter. For a woman who has moved on she sure knows how to cook for a gathering. I walk over to the pot and stir
Donald POV My hands drop from the door bell, I shift my weight from foot to foot. I am suddenly aware of how stiff I look in this Blaizer. I have been in rooms full of people who wanted me to fail. I have sat at tables with contracts of billion dollar deals. And yet here I was, fidgeting and sweaty because I was about to meet Rebecca’s mother. The family of the man I am supposed to despise. Makes me anxious. I wouldn’t be here if Rebecca had not told me her parents had gotten a divorce and her mother lives alone. I hear footsteps and in a few seconds the door is opened. And standing in front of me is Rebecca. Her hair is curled at the tips. She has on a satin floral gown. Putting on a red lipstick. She looks comfortable, like home. “Donald! You are here” “Hii” I say, flashing perfect set of teeth’s. “Come in” she looks overly excited. The house is bigger than I thought. It smells like food and flowers. Something is baking in the kitchen. And there is something else.
Olivia The kitchen is finally quiet. The hum of the fridge is the only thing making this place have life now, After the clinging of cutleries, the chatter in the room a few moments before. I have cleared the dishes, wiped the counter twice. Anything to keep my hands busy. And now I am standing at the sink letting the water run down my palms longer then it needs to. Dinner was nice… there was a calmness with the way the dinner flowed. No underlying tension. Rebecca seemed lighter, more like herself than I have seen her in a long time. She hasn’t brought anyone home in years. Not since the divorce. Not since she built that wall around herself and decided it was safer to keep everyone out. My sweet little Rebeca. Always trying to be strong for everybody. I didn’t ask her anything. I never do. Maybe I should have, but I’ve learned it’s better to wait for her to come to me. And Donald, he wasn’t overbearing, not eager to impress, but there was something about him. He wasn’t the kin
Twenty five years ago, My family was murdered while I hid in a trap door basement. I remember it like it was yesterday. At a suburban area of New Mexico. We surrounded the dining table, my dad, mum and brother Miguel. We had just recited the lords prayer, we were having my favorite, salsa and guacamole. When we heard the first gun shot from a distance. We froze. “Sssh” dad said placing an index finger over his mouth. “Take them to the trap door basement” he instructed my mother. A light whisper as he gets up to retrieve his rifle from beneath the kitchen sink. Miguel starts to cry. “It’s okay baby” she cradles him and grabs my hand. She’s in a hurry, I follow beside her hand in hand almost tripping. Mom gets to the leaving room, gets down on her knees, beside the couch and asks me to help as she pushes it aside. I am only eight. Another gun shot, this time closer. Miguel is shouting now. My whole body shaking, I feel a liquid trail down my pants, I don’t move. “Ma
Today had been what one might call a bad day. I lost a business deal and to make matters worse, my car broke down on the way home. I decided to take trip to a bar to get in one or two drinks while it was being fixed. Seated at the bar. Tequila in hand, Bobbed my head to the music. I found myself replaying the days event. I notice a woman a few seats away. Blond hair, flushed cheeks, blue eyes, red lipstick she kept glancing at me. I had just counted her fifth shot when a drunk slid into the seat next to her, holding a bottle of vodka almost empty. “Hey. You sexy looking thing, how about we excuse ourselves from here and head into the back for some action” “Not interested” I heard her say. Turning away. “Aw, Come on lady. It’s not everyday we get to see people like you around here” he places his hand on her shoulder. I notice the look of disgust flash across her face. “She said, she’s not interested” I say pushing off my seat and walking toward them. “Mind your business Turk, m
Olivia The kitchen is finally quiet. The hum of the fridge is the only thing making this place have life now, After the clinging of cutleries, the chatter in the room a few moments before. I have cleared the dishes, wiped the counter twice. Anything to keep my hands busy. And now I am standing at the sink letting the water run down my palms longer then it needs to. Dinner was nice… there was a calmness with the way the dinner flowed. No underlying tension. Rebecca seemed lighter, more like herself than I have seen her in a long time. She hasn’t brought anyone home in years. Not since the divorce. Not since she built that wall around herself and decided it was safer to keep everyone out. My sweet little Rebeca. Always trying to be strong for everybody. I didn’t ask her anything. I never do. Maybe I should have, but I’ve learned it’s better to wait for her to come to me. And Donald, he wasn’t overbearing, not eager to impress, but there was something about him. He wasn’t the kin
Donald POV My hands drop from the door bell, I shift my weight from foot to foot. I am suddenly aware of how stiff I look in this Blaizer. I have been in rooms full of people who wanted me to fail. I have sat at tables with contracts of billion dollar deals. And yet here I was, fidgeting and sweaty because I was about to meet Rebecca’s mother. The family of the man I am supposed to despise. Makes me anxious. I wouldn’t be here if Rebecca had not told me her parents had gotten a divorce and her mother lives alone. I hear footsteps and in a few seconds the door is opened. And standing in front of me is Rebecca. Her hair is curled at the tips. She has on a satin floral gown. Putting on a red lipstick. She looks comfortable, like home. “Donald! You are here” “Hii” I say, flashing perfect set of teeth’s. “Come in” she looks overly excited. The house is bigger than I thought. It smells like food and flowers. Something is baking in the kitchen. And there is something else.
Rebecca’s POV I have changed my clothes three times already. The first one felt to formal, the second felt too casual, and the third. Well now I am staring at the mirror. Wondering if this gives a You are highly welcome and make yourself at home kind of feeling. I smooth the fabric and drag it down. It’s just dinner. It’s just my boyfriend, kind of meeting my mother. “Rebecca!” Mum calls from the downstairs. “Can you check the oven? I think the chicken might be burning” I rush out of the room reserved for me, and head to the kitchen. I yank the oven door open. A wave of heat hits me. It isn’t burning but it is turning brown faster than it should. The kitchen smells like rosemary and garlic. She has gone and outdid her self again. Baked potatoes, that cheesy spinach thing that she makes in special occasions and a bottle of fine wine is placed on the counter. For a woman who has moved on she sure knows how to cook for a gathering. I walk over to the pot and stir
I decide to take a walk around, I am putting on a coat. It’s a little chilly outisde. I reach into my pocket for my phone. Rebecca’s message is still there. I stare at it for while, I am really not up for dinner with family. But meeting her mother might give me the information I need, if Rebecca’s playing me or not. Would someone who wants to ruin my life invite me to dinner with their mum? I am not sure anymore. I type out a reply sure, why not and hit send before I even get to change my mind. I pass by an ice cream truck. I notice a little boy holding on to his mother. Literally dragging her to the truck and pointing with excitement. “No Jon, not today” “Please mum,” I hear him say. I stand there for a while hands in my pocket enjoying the charade. “Come on boy, I would get you ice cream” I say walking over to him. “Can I get little jon some ice cream?” I say looking up to his mum. “Say yes” he is prancing up and down with his hands held high. “Oh, please don’t bother,
Donald’s POV I knew something was off the moment I stepped in. Delmont was already seated at the far end of the boardroom table, a fresh cup of black coffee is placed in front of him. The room is too quiet. No board members, no assistant just him. “You’re early,” I say. “So are you,” he replied without looking up. “I told them to take their time.” My chest palpitates a bit. “Why?” “Because I wanted a few minutes with you,” he said, finally meeting my gaze. “One on one.” I move towards my seat, cautiously and slowly. I pull back a seat and relax into it. “We could’ve scheduled that.” “But then it wouldn’t be spontaneous,” he says scribbling something into a note. “And spontaneity reveals things.” I stare at him confused. He is seated at the end of the table. He’s fingers are laced together. He just keeps looking at the papers in front of him. He finally looks up. His tone is sharp. “What the hell were you thinking, making that move without telling me?” “What do you me
Mikes POV I pull up in front of my penthouse. The place is quiet. Too quiet. I have a splitting headache. The type that starts from the back of your head and migrates to the front. Where you can literally feel your head pounding. I had been thinking a lot. Everything is weighing heavy on my head. From the mess with the envelope, Donald’s woman who happens to be Delmonts daughter. If only Donald had listened to me. All this would have been over by now, and Theo is not talking. I might have to release him. He obviously knows nothing about what has happened. And to top it all up a shipment came in late. One of the new boys almost got followed. Stupid move, very Careless. That’s how you get the cops on your back. That’s how people end up dead. I move drugs. Pills. Coke. Stuff that makes people forget, stuff that makes them feel better for a while. I am not proud of it, but it’s what I do. And tonight, everything felt off.It’s like everything is just coming down at once. I slam the c
Rebecca’s POVThe drive to my mothers house feels longer than usual. Maybe because I keep second guessing myself. I tap the steering wheel out of habit. There is a sickening feeling in my stomach. I don’t know why I am even going. Things haven’t really been easy between us lately. Not since she told me about the affair. My mind flashed back to that evening. She had called me while I was at work in tears saying there was something she needed to tell me. I had dropped everything I was doing and rushed to her house. It still felt like a movie, except this is real life. My mother, the woman I grew up thinking was unbreakable and perfect sitting across from me at her kitchen table her eyes wet with Shame, telling me she hadn’t been loyal to my father. That years ago she has found comfort in someone else. Someone my father despised. His then rival. “I didn’t know what to do, I was lonely” I remember her say, with wistful tears. It was t just an affair. It was a betrayal that would ha
She’s Smiling, she looks relaxed. probably taken long before any of this mess began.Mike notices the change in my expression. His brows draw together.“What?” he asks, looking over my shoulder.Then he sees the picture too.“What?” He asks again. I can sense the frustration in his voice. A long silence stretches between us.“She…she’s his daughter?,” I whisper.“Yes, any problem?” “It’s her, it’s Rebecca. The girl IMet at the bar” I say. My hands are trembling slightly. Mike draws a breath and steps closer. “You are kidding me.”I shake my head slowly, still staring at the picture like maybe if I look long enough it will change.There is a long silence between us. My legs suddenly feel weak. I slowly sit down on the step. Mike is watching me. “You alright?” He asks. I don’t answer. I am thinking of Rebecca. Her soft brown eyes staring back at me from the photo. That easy, careless smile. Her lips i have kissed a dozen times.“Donald?”I drag my eyes away from the picture and
By the time I pull up in-front of Rebecca’s house the sky is almost black. She leans in kisses me softly and says “I don’t like that worried look on your face, call me if you need anything”. I nod, faking a smile, I watch her walk up the porch, the mood cast a light against her sleek figure. She pauses for a second and glanced back at me before she disappears into the house. The moment the door closes I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. Mikes message flashes right in front of me. I dial, it’s rings once, rings twice and on the third ring, he picks. “You alone?” Mikes voice is sharp and deep over the phone. “Yeah” I say trying to focus on the streets. “We have a guy they call Theo, Leon gave me a lead on him, but he isn’t giving me anything tangible” “Where is he?” My chest tightens. “He’s at the safe house” “And?” I say already feeling angry “He keeps saying he is innocent. Says he doesn’t know anything. We knocked him around a little. Nothing too serious, he’s s