Well, I’ll have to let them be that way…telling them that I’m pretty much being held against my will by the Bratva…that won’t go over well.
He sent an annoyed emoji face.
Technically, not the Bratva. Just me.
Whatever you say Wolf Boy,I finished the text office.
Pushing the phone into my desk drawer, I decided to get down to business. There were a few reports that needed my eyes on them. Mallory had me scheduled for three sessions today. Checking everybody else’s Google Calendar, I saw that they each had five appointments set up and a feeling of satisfaction rolled through me. My little business was legit and kicking ass.
After a while, a knock came on my door and Miguel peeked his head in shyly.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“This came for you.”
He came all the way in and pulled out a letter and some other things. Hoping up to see what it was, he handed off the letter and I began to read. Soon I was jumping for joy and crashing into Miguel’s waiting arms.
“This is unbelievable,” I stated looking up at him.
I began to blush when I noticed how closely into his arms I’d jumped. The white paper suddenly felt like a weight in my hands and I stepped back.
“It is…you’re amazing, Simone.”
Watching Miguel shyly, rub at the base of his neck I turned away from him and re-read the letter in my hand. Ink and Style had chosen to do a feature on the shop and me. Then a sensation hit me and I realized that due to my past, and how I loved remaining in the shadows, I had to give this to Miguel.
“Thank you but I’m going to give you the highlight,” I stated.
Miguel’s brown eyes betrayed surprised and he quirked an eyebrow. “Simone, this is a big deal.”
Walking back around to my desk, I smiled before sitting.
“It is, and it’s already done.”
“But…”
A shrug raised from my shoulders. “I’m not into the hype of having photos taken. I like remaining aloof. I’ll call them and have them feature you instead. This is great news for the shop and that’s the only thing I care about. Publicity for the shop is good for everyone.”
He didn’t seem like he wanted to let the issue rest but he did. Miguel closed the door back into place and I was alone once again.
Opening my desk drawer I pulled out my cellphone and saw a missed call from someone I hadn’t heard from in months. A smiled closed over my face and I hit redial.
The voice on the other end answered.
Chapter 17- Lucien
Death came quickly when it finally did come. Even if you knew that it was coming like a dark thick cloud on the horizon, when it finally approached, you still weren’t prepared for its icy and desperate clutches.
They had called me in while I’d been inspecting a shipment of cocaine and it had caught me completely off guard.
“It’s almost time,” a soft voice had said on the other end of the line.
“Comrade?” Liam had asked taking in my face after I ended the call.
“I need to go,” I said. "My mother..."
“Of course,” Val spoke.
“Let us know if there is anything, we can do for you…”
