Page 10 of Under the Influence
He rolls his eyes. As well aware as I am of her inability to actually cause anyone any harm. The only danger is to their ears from her screechingmouth.
“I’ll put in some cheese sticks foryou.”
“Thanks. And go ahead and leave the bottleplease.”
The lines on his forehead deepen with disapproval from my request. Yet he sets the black and orange decanter in front of us when a tan gloved hand slides between Sheena and me and tosses a small stack of hundreds on thecounter.
“From Mr. Trivoli. These ladies can have anything theywant.”
My improving mood diminishes from Tucker’s directive. All I want is Mr. Trivoli’s heart. Not his money. Not his power. Just him. I slam another shot. Trying to erase that idiotic thought from my dumb, drunkhead.
Chris’s own head bobs furiously from the mention of Gio’s name. Afraid of the mob boss who rules this city. Who thinks he rules Chris. Who thinks he rules me. Which makes me angry. Really, really angry. I point at the bartender, his cheeks engulfed with scarlet. “Don’t let him scare you. He can’t tell you what todo!”
Haughty with boozy indignation, I gulp my shot with Tucker’s deep laugh echoing amidst the murmurs of conversation behind us. Just like he is, which I discover after I spin around in my seat. His long, lanky body staking out the booth closest to the door as other patrons have filled the previously emptytables.
Fine. If he’s got nothing better to do than watch us get wasted, he can sit there all by himself. I don’t care. About him. Or his mean boss. Or one of my favorite “fuck me” heels sliding off my foot and tumbling to the faded gold linoleum when I try to steady my feet on the brass ring circling the bottom of myseat.
I love my pretty shoes. I love my pretty best friend too. Who doesn’t seem mad any more either with her huge smile beaming back at me. All of her earlier worry long gone. Which makes me happy too. Happier than I've been all day. Happier than I've been in a longtime.
Because ofher.
Nothim.
He only makes mesad.
I shake my dizzy head. Ignoring the blurriness sweeping through my vision. This is where I belong. With her. No worries or cares. Doing whatever the hell we want. Just like my favorite Miley Cyrus song says. Love who I want. Say what I want. Sing what I want. Which I’m going to do with her rightnow.
Since I know he won't miss the cash, I swipe some of Gio’s money from the counter and push off my stool. I only wobble a little, hobbling on one shoe. Forget it. I kick that stiletto off too. The balls of my feet sticking to the dingy tiles that mopping can't get clean any more after years of spilled beer, pizza crumbs, dirty boots, and sweatybodies.
Easy to absorb the energy spiking from the growing crowd, I focus on my mission with a little more enthusiasm. Men in expensive suits just as prominent as guys in long sleeve tees and thick soled sneakers. With a few girls interspersed through the groups. Most of them in jeans like Sheena. Making me feel self-conscious from my out of place cocktail dress. Wading through the lines for the bathroom in the narrow back hall, I wrap his coat tighter around me and follow the glow of the blue, orange, and yellow stripes circling around the large black screen at the end of the corridor. A throwback to the eighties, the old jukebox must be broken. No matter how much I try to smooth the bill, the narrow slot won't accept thehundred.
“Here darlin’, let me helpyou.”
I can tolerate the hot whiskey breath on my cheek, but the hand caressing my ass is too much. Before I can protest, his fingers are gone and so is my balance. I tumble to the gummy floor from Tucker’s force shoving the man against the wall. Those previously relaxed inked fingers wrapped around the guy’s throat while he dangles. The man clawing at Tucker’s vice grip to gain his release as well as hisoxygen.
“She's Gio Trivoli'sgirlfriend.”
Girlfriend.
He stops resisting Tucker's assault from the realization of his almost fatal mistake, and Tucker lets him drop. Sprawled only a foot apart, the stranger and I stare at each other as he gasps for air. His shaking hand guarding his assaulted neck while he sucks in deep breaths. Shiny brown eyes wide with shock. Almost as enormous as my ownastonishment.
Because if Tucker really believes that, I am totallyfucked.
Damn.
Embarrassing how fucking slow I am picking her lock. Which I can’t believe she fucking changed. Like she actually thought installing a new deadbolt could really keep me away fromher.
I step inside and flip the switch, flooding the narrow living room in soft light from the bronze and glass lamp that she bought when I took her to Costa Rica. An impromptu trip to tie up loose ends with one of our best suppliers that ended up turning into the best fucking vacation of my life. Because ofher.
Not much has changed. Still neat and tidy like always. All four walls lined with black shelves. Cheap plywood straining from the weight of her treasured books. I draw in a deep breath filled with her essence. Soft roses and sweet honeysuckle. Not the old lady grandma kind of perfume. But an intoxicating scent flowing with happiness and sunshine andjoy.
Like a fucking stalker, I wander around her freezing apartment. That I was going to move her out of and into my place. That I was going to make her leave this dump behind and make her mine. With my ring. My name. My baby. I was going to do a lot of fucking things. Until motherfucking Savage ruined my plans for her. Forus.
The tiny kitchen remains spotless as usual. Nothing on the butcher block counter top except for two slender flutes. Pissing me off more than I can fucking stand. What the fuck is she celebrating? And with whom? Better not be with that pussy assmotherfucker.
Proof of my suspicion sits on the bottom shelf of her refrigerator. A tall green bottle nestles between a bowl heaped with chocolate covered strawberries and a blue checked platter of almonds, olives, and thinly sliced Gouda cheese. Son of a fuckingbitch.
I fucking know exactly what she intended. An indoor picnic in front of the huge stone fireplace filling the corner of her bedroom. Just like I use to enjoy with her when I'd end up here after a long, shitty day. When all it took to instantly eliminate my bad mood was her sweet smile and the gentle touch of her fingers brushing my cheek. Welcoming me into her humble home. Into her enormous heart. Giving me everything she has. Sharing with me all that sheis.
