Page 27 of King of the Bronx

“Where are all the girls at?” I asked, looking around the empty foyer.

“Either getting ready or with a client already,” she said as we walked out the door and down the stairs.

“Does it ever bother you?” I asked once we got in the car.

“Does what bother me?”

“Being in the business. Just knowing that those girls are selling themselves?” I had no room to judge. God knows I was in some of the shadiest businesses, but I had grown up in it and I was a man.

“Not at all. My girls don’t do drugs or get in trouble. A lot of them came from not the greatest backgrounds. They’re just doing what they have to do. There was a point in my life where I could have easily followed that same path.”

My eyes flickered to her. She was facing away from me, toward the window. I wanted to ask more questions, but I didn’t want to push. Raven had a story behind those beautiful eyes.

I parked the car and went around to open Raven’s door, but she hadn’t waited for me and was already standing on the sidewalk.

“Let me open the door for you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why?”

“Because that’s how you should be treated. If you’re going out with me, you shouldn’t have to lift a finger, so you can leave your ‘I can do it’ attitude at home.”

“I’m not helpless. I don’t need someone to open my doors and watch over my business.”

“It’s not about needing it. You don’t have to keep proving that you are capable of doing things on your own. We all know you can. Now come on.” This woman was going to drive me crazy. I tugged lightly on her elbow until she uncrossed her arms and followed me inside.

“Enzo?” The hostess asked as I walked up the stand.

“Yes.”

“Right this way.”

She led us past all the tables and to a set of stairs. I kept my hand on Raven’s lower back as we climbed the stairs to the rooftop. Only ten or so table were up here, and three of them were occupied. The hostess sat us at the table furthest away from everyone else.

“Thank you,” I told the her before slipping a one-hundred-dollar bill in her hand. She blushed before turning away and going back down the stairs.

Raven looked out over the city, her eyes wide.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I asked. From where we sat, we could see the entire city lit up with lights.

“This…it’s amazing.”

A smile spread across my face. I’d never taken a woman out on a date. I never needed to. Not when they were all too willing to let me take them home, but Raven was different. I hadn’t even thought about another girl since I’d walked her home that night. I was completely out of my element here, but I was glad it sounded like I’d done something right.

“Can I get you two something to drink?” The waiter asked, appearing next to the table. I ordered a bottle of wine and then focused my attention back to Raven. Her hair was down tonight, and it fluttered in the wind. It fell down her back in long waves. Her face was free of any makeup, but she was still more beautiful than any other woman I’ve ever set my eyes on. I kept my eyes on her plump lips as she brought her glass of water to them. I imagined those lips wrapped tightly around my cock.

I cleared my throat, trying to cover up the fact that I’d been eye-fucking her. “You live far away?”

“No. I like to keep close to the business in case anything happens.”

She reminded me of a lotus flower, growing from the mud and dirt into the strong beautiful woman across from me.

“What about you? Parents?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, my mom lives in Manhattan with my younger sister. Dad passed away several years back.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

---