Page 9 of Forbidden Fruit

The moment I saw Johnny Gabino step into Sweet Cocktails, my heart plummeted to the floor. My hands trembled as I tried to pour a drink for a customer, the liquid sloshing over the edge of the glass. I muttered an apology, wiping the counter down with shaky hands, but my eyes kept darting back to him.

Johnny was the one person I never thought I’d see again, the one person I’d hoped I’d left behind for good. But there he was, leaning against the bar, looking at me with that same twisted grin he always had. He was taller than I remembered, leaner too, but the dangerous edge was still there, etched into every line of his face.

I felt sick to my stomach. All the memories came flooding back—the drugs, the nights I can barely remember, the way he used to control me, manipulate me, like I was his personal puppet. He’d promised me the world, but instead, he’d dragged me down into the depths of hell. And now, after all this time, after everything I’d done to get away from him, he was here, in the one place where I thought I was safe.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I needed to get out of there, needed to get away from him before he ruined everything. I mumbled something to Zayn about taking a break, not even waiting for his reply before I slipped out from behind the bar and headed for the back door.

The alley behind Sweet Cocktails was dimly lit, the shadows long and ominous. The air was thick with the smell of garbage and stale beer, but I didn’t care. I just needed to get away, to catch my breath and figure out what the hell I was going to do. I leaned against the brick wall, my chest heaving as I tried to calm down, but it was no use. The panic was clawing at me, tightening its grip around my throat.

“Raya.”

His voice was smooth, too smooth, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I looked up, and there he was, standing at the end of the alley, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his leather jacket. He looked just as dangerous as he always had, his eyes glinting with something dark and sinister.

I forced myself to stand up straight, to face him head-on even though I wanted nothing more than to run. “What are you doing here, Johnny? How did you find me?”

He sauntered toward me, his grin widening to reveal a new gold-capped tooth as he closed the distance between us. “Wouldn’t you like to know? It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I did. I’ve been looking for you, Princess. You didn’t think you could just disappear, did you?”

My heart was racing, my mind spinning as I tried to figure out what to do. Johnny was dangerous, more dangerous than anyone else I’d ever known, and now he was here, in my life again, threatening to ruin everything. “What do you want, Johnny? Why are you here?”

He stopped a few feet away from me, his eyes raking over me in a way that made my skin crawl. “I want what you owe me, Raya. You think you can just walk away from everything we had? From everything I did for you?”

My blood ran cold. I knew exactly what he was talking about—things I’d done that I’d tried so hard to leave behind. If that got out, if Maxwell found out…I couldn’t even think about what that would mean. It would destroy everything.

“I don’t owe you anything,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, but I could hear the tremor in it. “You ruined my life, Johnny. I’m done with you.”

His grin faded, replaced by a sneer. “Ruined your life? I made you, Raya. You’d be nothing without me.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “I’d be better off without you. Iambetter off without you.”

He took another step closer, crowding me against the wall. His hand came up to brush a strand of hair from my face, and I flinched at the touch, disgust curling in my stomach. “Is that what you think? You think you’re better off? You think you can just run away and start over, like none of it ever happened?”

I stared at him, refusing to let the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes fall. “I did start over, Johnny. You’re not part of my life anymore.”

His hand moved to my throat, not squeezing, but the threat was there. I could feel his breath on my skin, and it took everything in me not to shrink away. “You’re never going to be free of me, Raya. You belong to me, and I’m here to collect.”

My heart pounded in my chest, my pulse racing as his words sank in. “What do you want from me?”

He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, “Money, Raya. You’re going to give me money, or I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly who you are and what you’ve done.”

My blood ran cold. I knew exactly what he was talking about—the drugs, the prostitution, everything I’d tried so hard to leave behind.

“I don’t have any money,” I said, my voice shaking despite my efforts to stay calm.

“You’ll find it,” he hissed, his hand tightening on my throat just enough to make me gasp. “You’ll bring it to me tomorrow night. There’s a motel on Fifth, room 212. Be there at six with the cash, or I’ll blow your whole new life to hell. Remember you’re nothing but a whore deep down, Princess, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”

He stepped back, releasing me, and I nearly collapsed against the wall. He gave me one last look, a twisted grin on his face, before turning and walking away, leaving me shaking in the alley.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, trying to get my breathing under control, trying to process what had just happened. I couldn’t believe Johnny had found me, couldn’t believe he was here, threatening to destroy everything I’d built. But I knew Johnny well enough to know he wasn’t bluffing. If I didn’t do what he said, he’d go straight to the press, and my past would be splashed across every headline.

I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let Maxwell find out. I didn’t know what was happening between us, but I felt as though I wanted to hide it, protect it like the delicate bud of a flower, until I could see which way it grew.

The thought of Maxwell sent a fresh wave of panic through me. What if Johnny was already planning something? What if he was watching me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike? I couldn’t just sit back and let him take everything from me again. I had to do something. I had to find a way to protect myself.

My mind raced as I considered my options. I couldn’t go to the police—not with my record. And I definitely couldn’t tell Maxwell. That would only make things worse. The only person who might be able to help was Burt Stamford.

I didn’t trust Burt, not really. He was using me just as much as Johnny had, and I knew that. But right now, he was my only shot at getting out of this mess. He had connections, resources. Maybe he could help me deal with Johnny, make him go away for good.

With a deep breath, I straightened up and headed back inside. I couldn’t afford to lose my cool, not here, not now. I had to keep it together until I could figure out my next move.

---