She’s too good for a salty dog like me, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. Youth, beauty, and a promising future are on her side.
What good would I do for her? Bringing her into the seedy underbelly of organized crime. It sure as shit pays good, but it’s not a place for someone precious.
As the minutes pass and we near Josie’s apartment building, warm relief burns away the cold. I’ve trudged this path alongside her every night since I first set eyes on her. The day my life changed forever.
A midsummer morning, discussing the future success of my organization in a park. Josie was jogging before class. Sweat dripped down her neck, and her white shirt was as close to see-through as it was going to get. Her tights showed off her perfect ass and drew me in, but it was the flash of neon blue beneath her shirt that hooked me.
Then and there, my cock made the decision for me. I’d never get away from this woman. Not until she was truly and utterly mine.
I’ve been here ever since. A hapless lap dog, waiting for Josie to bark an order and bring me to her side. I still find it funny how a powerful man like myself has lost all his senses for a woman he hasn’t had the pleasure of experiencing. But my logical mind is often superseded by the head dangling between my legs.
Clamoring from an alleyway catches my attention. The sound echoes through the empty street and stops Josie in her tracks. She stares into the darkness, removing one earphone.
What are you doing? Run. Get out of there.
A muffled voice comes from the shadows. I can’t hear what it’s saying, but anyone in the dark at this time of night is up to no good.
I cross the street cautiously.
I didn’t want to expose myself like this. What’s Josie going to think of me following her around? I’m sure saying ‘it’s to protect you’ will make me seem like less of a complete fucking lunatic.
I might be a lunatic, but at least I’m here. Josie doesn’t have to deal with whatever this is alone.
I make it across the street and tuck myself behind a thin tree. It hardly covers my frame, but I go unnoticed. The speaker from the alley is obscured by the supporting wall holding the building up.
“I didn’t like how you treated me back at the bar,” a male voice says.
I missed whatever this was, and now Josie’s in danger.
White-knuckled fists clench so tightly at my side that my nails dig into my palm. I can feel my pulse pumping burning fury through my veins.
If I’m lucky, Josie will run. She can dip inside her apartment and leave me to deal with whoever’s bothering her. But she’s a deer in headlights.
I’ll make him pay for scaring her.
Footsteps echo from the alley before the streetlight above illuminates my next victim. Sure as shit, I saw this guy at the bar, but I missed when he went up to Josie.
I’m slipping. I let this get by me. Everyone dreams of the fat cat lifestyle until they’re knee-deep in it. A life of luxury makes you lazy. You forget the basics of hard work and the serendipity it brings.
When I was younger, this prick wouldn’t have left the bar without a few broken bones. Now? He’s holding all the cards, and we’re left watching. Why? Because I took my eyes off the prize.
“I don’t like being disrespected. Not when I’m making polite conversation.” His smug tone pisses me off even more. I don’t have to see him to know what I’m dealing with—an entitled prick who preys on the weak.
Josie stutters and stammers until she finally gets words out. “I’ve got mace. Stay away from me.” Her wobbly legs carry her back to the sidewalk’s edge.
Cracking my neck side to side, I prepare for what comes next. Another savage beatdown of some poor cunt who thinks he holds any semblance of power. I’ve dealt with hundreds of this guy before. What’s one more notch on my belt?
He lifts his feeble arm out to Josie. It sends me over the edge.
“Touch her and I’ll take your fucking hand,” I roar.
Josie’s head snaps in my direction. Her fear is replaced by a sparkling gleam. She bites on her lower lip to hide the smile creeping across it.
I’m glad she’s happy to see me, but we’re not out of the woods.
“This doesn’t concern you, pal. Mind your own business.” The guy lazily turns his head toward me.
His eyes widen when he catches my face, and his skin turns a sickly green. So, he knows who I am? Good. I won’t have to explain what comes next.