Page 6 of Protecting His Woman
“No,” Vicki said.“I agreed to this date because regardless of who you are and what you do, and what you think you are, I like you.”
This intrigued him.“What I think I am?”
Vicki smiled, the kind that lit up her whole face.There was no conspiring edge to her smile.Just soft, pretty, natural.
“You’re a good guy,” Vicki said.
Now, this made him throw his head back and laugh, as he had never heard anything so absurd in his whole life.
He looked toward Vicki, expecting her to be offended or upset.
She looked at him, and there was this soft smile to her lips.“You can laugh all you want, but I know the truth.I know you have no choice but to keep people in line.Your goal is still the same.”
“My goal?”
“Yes, your goal is to protect us.The civilians.Old County is an unusual mix, and you keep the balance.Without you, there would be war on the streets and a lot of dead bodies mounting up, or thrown into the river.I’m not a fool, Damion.I know what goes on in this town.I also know that once you know, there is no leaving.”
He couldn’t argue with her on that one.
“I do wonder, though,” Vicki said.“How did you become the one running the show?”
He smiled.“Because, I’m the worst one.You have your family leaders.They have it all at their fingertips, and then you have me.”He shrugged.“I am willing to put an end to conflict, and if that means shooting someone in the head, then I will, and I have done so.”
****
Vicki knew deep downshe should be afraid of this man.He was dangerous with a capital D.Damion was the scariest man around, and yet when she was with him, she felt safest.Her only difficulty tonight had been leaving her home to Delphine.
The other woman had promised to take care of the kids, and Frank hadn’t arrived, and she didn’t like that.Frank should have been home, but she also knew The Lords were drawing him in, and that terrified her.She had never been drawn to any of the families or gangs, or whatever people wanted to call them.
In Old County, they were families.Mainly because once you joined, you had their back and they had yours.There was no way to get away from any of them.
Vicki never wanted to be in a family.Taking care of her own was a full-time responsibility.Her mother hadn’t even been bothered to leave enough food or cash to buy groceries.
The bills were fully paid, but that was because she dealt with them.This is why she had given up her apartment several years ago.At eighteen, she had saved enough to get her own place.For a couple of months, she did rent a place that was a dump, but hating mess the way she did, she cleaned it up nicely.Only, her mother had recently given birth to Betsy at this point.Frank had come to her, complete with Betsy in his arms, and the kids, and asked for help.
She spent more time at home, taking care of the kids and keeping house, than at her own place.She had no choice but to say goodbye to her dreams.Her mother gave birth to kids, and it was Vicki’s job to raise them.
Only, with the way Frank was going, she truly didn’t believe she was doing a great job of it.If she had, wouldn’t Frank want more from his life than joining The Lords?She understood in Old County it was limited, but there was still a fulfilling life to be had.At least, that is what she kept trying to tell herself, so far to no avail.
Vicki stopped asking questions as the waiter came out to take their order.She looked over the menu, and it appeared to be in Italian.
Looking to Damion for help, she let him order for her, and now she felt like crap.She couldn’t read Italian.She had taken French in high school, but even then, she had only been able to grasp a few words.She only just passed French class.She did well in her other lessons, but she believed the teachers gave her a break, seeing as she was also taking care of her family.
Family always came first.Apart from tonight.
With the waiter gone, she looked at Damion.Her heart raced a little as his gaze caught hers.He had intense blue eyes, and there was nowhere else for her to look but straight at him, and be completely hypnotized.
“How did you get the job?”Vicki asked.
“I killed the last man in charge,” Damion said.
“Oh.”
“It’s not like it is unheard of.The guy that was here before, Mitchell Green, was supposed to keep everyone in line, but he had a penchant for underage girls.The only other problem with that, besides the obvious, those girls had to be unwilling.He didn’t broker deals that benefitted the town.He didn’t stop wars from raging on the streets.He was only interested in what he could get, and how soon he could get it.”Damion frowned.“I watched.”
She was so intrigued by what he was saying.
“You watched?”
