Page 71 of Play of Love
Josh knocked on the door with so much power the wood shook. The music died down and I could now hear mutterings. They probably thought the police had come.
Josh knocked again with the same intensity. Dom opened the door.
“Is this him?” Josh asked me.
“Yes.”
Before Dom had the chance to even move and process what was going on, Josh head butted him, sending him straight to the floor in an unconscious heap.
“Stay back, Amy,” Josh warned.
I did as he instructed. As he walked into the apartment, two guys rushed him but Josh effortlessly sent them to the ground with his fist. With his height and build they were no match for Josh. I could see why he was called the Mancini Machine, and why he played defense for his team. Nothing and no one could get past him, unless he allowed them to. One guy tried to escape but Josh caught him and lifted him off the ground, holding him by his throat.
“You and your friends messed with my girl,” Josh balked, squeezing the man’s throat. I stood back and watched. It didn’t escape me that Josh just called mehis girl, but I was too shaken to think. “I’ll show you a bit of mercy because you weren’t dumb enough to attack me. Give me her things if you want to live.”
The guy coughed as he tried to speak. “Okay,” he managed.
Josh dropped him on the ground.
I looked at Josh, impressed with his strength, and impressed that he would defend me. As if I really was his girl.
The man scrambled off the ground and ran into the backroom. Josh waited for him with asserted dominance. The man brought the sewing machine first. It seemed like it was intact, probably because they wanted to sell it. He then went back to retrieve my other things and I could see that my mannequin was broken in half and my dress was ruined. All the stones were gone. The material was cut in places and filthy with what looked like grease on it.
“Is that all of it?” Josh asked.
“Yes, we sold the rhinestones.”
A tear ran down my cheeks when I heard that. I spent a whole month’s salary on those stones.
While Josh picked up the heavy stuff, I took the bags with my clothes and held my dress.
“You better hope like hell I don’t see you again,” Josh cautioned the guy who nodded vigorously. “I know you know who I am, you look like you recognize me, and must know I’m bat shit crazy. So don’t fuck with me. Pass the message on.” Josh motioned to Dom and the other men on the floor.
I followed him as he walked out; I tried to stop myself from crying but I couldn’t. The showcase was a month away and this dress had taken me months to make. Not because I couldn’t sew fast or put a dress together quickly. It was simply down to the fact that it was my winning ticket. It was the dress that was supposed to land me the job. I’d spent time designing it with all its intricacies. I didn’t know what I’d do.
Josh put the stuff in his car then took me into his arms again where I broke down.
I’d reached that point, that breaking point where I couldn’t take it anymore. It was all too much.
