Chapter 2: Before It's Too Late

When mass ended Amara approached the Priest at the front of the Church. "Father Michaels?" She called out quietly and the man turned around. He gave a warm, welcoming smile. The kind that surrounds and wraps you in it and comforts you.

"You must be Amara." He spoke. "Sister Rita told me to keep my eye out for you this morning. She'll be glad to know you made it safely." He motioned for her to follow him into the back of the Church.

"She told me to come see you about finding a place to stay?" Amara questioned. She hadn't even thought about lodging at all since she made her decision to move. She figured either she would never go through with it or she would just live in a run down, flea infested motel.

"Aye. I know of some apartments around here. They are a bit run down, but the sisters can help you out." She noted his fading Irish accent, more American than his native tongue.

Amara breathed a sigh of relief, "I'll take anything...thank you so much Father." She couldn't contain her gratitude. Father Michaels wrote down the address on a piece of paper.

"Get your items in first. Then go see the sisters about bigger necessities like a mattress for you to rest your head on." He explained. "I'll give Sister Rita a call and let you know where you are staying and that you are here in one piece."

Amara grinned from ear to ear, "This is so wonderful of you. Thank you again." She took the keys from his desk which read 306 on the tag. She left the office and practically ran down the aisles to the Church doors. When she was about to shove them open, she stopped and remembered her little fiasco earlier. She took caution and opened them slowly and slinked outside. She ran to her car and unlocked it, jumping inside quickly.

When she opened the paper she noted a few landmarks he had noted that were close to her new apartment building. "McGinty's Pub...Move in and get a drink later on I think." She spoke proudly to herself. She started her car and sputtered off towards the address on the paper.

Amara pulled up in front of the building and groaned. "A bit run down?" She quoted the Father. She noted a homeless man taking a piss close to the front of the building. "Beautiful." She uttered to herself.

She sat in her car for several minutes trying to figure out how she was going to move stuff in and upstairs. If she kept her car door open she was surely going to get robbed, but locking it every time was going to take forever. She had no choice though to accept the latter decision.

She grabbed a couple boxes from the trunk and then locked her car, stumbled towards the door. A scruffier man came out of the door, "Whoa! Hey there Miss! Need some help?" She looked him up and down. It was coin toss whether she was going to trust him or not.

"That would be wonderful." She caved. "My name is Amara." She introduced. "I was just told about this place, I have been driving for 14 hours and am extremely exhausted." She explained.

He grabbed one of the boxes from her. "No problem at all. My name is Rocco, I gotta couple great friends that live in here too. It looks sketchy from the outside and to be honest sketchy from the inside…" He held the door open and they started to climb the stairs, "But with those two fuckheads living here, you'll never be safer." He finished.

"Good to know." Amara chuckled. They reached her floor and she opened the door, "I'm in 306." She commented.

"No shit eh? Those boys live right above ya then." Rocco laughed, "You're gonna be the safest person in this place." He placed the box down and took hers from her arms so she could open the door.

They both took a step in and Rocco whistled, "Got your work cut out for ya here…" He looked at the peeling wallpaper, cobwebs and dingy smelling tiles all around the place. Rocco walked over to the sink and turned on the water. "Hot water works though." He added positively.

"I'll have it cleaned by the end of the weekend." She stated confidently. "Care to help me move the rest of the stuff up?" She pleaded.

"Only if you'll come have a drink with me at McGinty's later?" He grinned.

"How could I resist?" She laughed. They moved back downstairs to get the rest of her boxes and bags. It took only about an hour until her car was cleared out. As Rocco grabbed the last box he looked at all the empty energy drinks and coffee cups, "Are you like a trucker or something?" He joked.

"Yeah, I got some pep pills in the glovebox and some piss jugs in the trunk." She quipped and Rocco bursted out in laughter, "You're a funny girl! I think I'm gonna like hangin' with you." He added in hopefully.

"Sounds good to me. Now I just need to get a bed." Amara looked at a little list on her phone and deleted lines off of her to-do list.

"There is like a factory that sells mattresses like three minutes from here. Little Italian man, family friend of mine, come with me and we'll get you hooked up with a really nice one!" He offered. How could she refuse?

She shut her car door and locked it then took off with Rocco down the road to hopefully find a bed. When they got to the small sized factory an old man rushed towards Rocco and gave him a big hug.

"Come stai Rocco?" The man asked and Rocco patted him on the back.

"Sono buono. Ho bisogno di un favore per il mio amico bello qui." Rocco spoke back in fluent Italian. Amara was impressed, she thought he was just another Boston boy. The old man looked over at Amara, she smiled sheepishly.

"Lei è incinta?" He inquired.

"No, no, no, no. Lei appena spostato dal Michigan. Ha bisogno di un letto. Non penso che lei ha dormito in un istante." Rocco defended Amara as she stood there completely confused. Lost in the Italian flying back and forth.

"I am willing to pay." Amara added in, holding out what crumpled cash she had left in her purse. "I have my job starting on Monday…maybe a payment plan?" She begged. The old man gave her a small smile.

"My dear. Do not worry about money. I shall find you something here and we can deliver it to your place. It would be my pleasure bella." He linked his arm with her, "Now help an old man walk and we will find you something comfortable."

They walked around the factory for what seemed like a couple hours before Amara realized the time. "Oh crap! I have to get to the store to get stuff to clean with. I gotta get going!" She pulled out her apartment key and handed it to Rocco.

The old man laughed, "By the time you get back from the store, the bed will be there for you to take a rest in. Ciao belle."

"Goodbye, thanks again." She was about to run out when she turned around, "Rocco...what time did you want me to meet you at McGinty's?" She asked, almost forgetting.

"Um...7:00pm?"

"Perfect!" Amara beamed and ran out the door.

"She must have had an abusive boyfriend. Did you see the bruise on her forehead?" The man pointed out to Rocco.

Rocco laughed, "Nah, she told me some Irish asshole busted open a Church door on her this morning." He explained to his friend. "Let's get this mattress to her place though."

Amara looked in her purse and found the rest of her cash. She had $80 dollars left to last her the entire weekend and had no food on top of it all. She walked slowly up and down the aisles and grabbed the cheapest cleaning supplies and canned foods to make her at least survive a little bit longer than just Monday.

When she got to the cashier she added up all the items prices in her head, panic set in as she worried about it being too much for her to afford.

"34.58." The cashier stated.

Amara breathed a large sigh of relief. Thank God, she thought. She handed the cashier $35.00 and collected her change and her bags and walked out to her car. She placed the bags in the backseat then checked the time, it was almost 4:00pm. She figured that if she got home in the next fifteen minutes she would be able to get at least a couple hours of sleep.

She pulled in across the street from her apartment and saw that Rocco was just leaving with his older friend. She grabbed the bags from the backseat and smiled to him, "Hey stranger." She greeted.

"Want some help?" He offered, grabbing one of the bags anyways.

"Looks like I don't have a choice." She chuckled. Rocco gave a faint smile, "My friend spoiled you." He mentioned.

"Spoiled?" She questioned.

They reached the top of the stairs and walked towards her door. He handed her the key. "We can to drop off the bed. He saw that there was barely any furniture…" He started. Amara hesitantly opened the door then gasped when she saw it.

Her groceries dropped to the floor with a bang. Coffee tables, a couch, a kitchen table and chairs...the man had given her an entire apartment full of furniture. "I...I can't afford this Rocco." She mumbled.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, "You don't have to worry about that. Consider it gratis." Rocco quoted his friend. "Means it's free." He finished. "I gotta get going, have to meet with some people. I'll see you later at McGinty's." With that Rocco left her alone in her apartment with all her new furniture.

Amara walked into the bedroom at the back of the apartment and had to catch her breath. They had given her a Queen sized bed and sheets to put on the bed. She had spent her whole life in a twin sized bed, what was she going to do with all that...space.

She crawled onto the centre of the bed and moaned, "Oh my...sweet Jesus does this ever feel like Heaven…" She sighed and curled into the sheets. Before dozing off she set an alarm on her phone for 6:00pm.

"Still thinkin' of ta lass you hit with ta door?" Murphy questioned his brother as they punched their timecards and headed towards the door to go home.

Connor gave a small crooked smile, "A little bit aye. Was weird how flustered she got…like she saw a ghost." He tried to explain. He shook off the feeling then patted his brother on the back, "Let's get home, den go to tha Pub, aye?"

Murphy nodded his head, "Aye."

The two walked in silence with each other then climbed the stairs to their apartment. They saw footprints in the dust on the stairs and looked to each other, "Someone musta moved in ta'day." Murphy suggested.

"In this dump? Lord have mercy on dem." Connor joked.

When they got inside they saw a note on the kitchen table from their friend Rocco,

Sup Fuckers?

I just wanted to let you guys know that there is a new hot little number living below you fucks. Don't go putting an European moves on her either because I'm claiming her for myself.

Bringing her to McGinty's tonight.

Bye assholes.

"Asshole didn't even sign his name." Murphy laughed. "Not like we can't tell it was him though." He finished.

"Let's just get changed, it's almost quarter ta seven. I want ta get good and hammered tonight." Connor slipped his shirt over his head and replaced it with a brown fitting long sleeved shirt. He switched from one pair of jeans to another pair then sat back and lit a cigarette while he waited for Murphy to get changed.

"Do ya hear singin'?" Murphy asked his brother. Their eyes narrowed at each other as they tried to figure out where it was coming from. "Sounds like da Pixies?" Murphy identified.

The two grabbed their jackets and left their apartment and walked down the stairs to the third floor. They walked closer to the music and found it coming from the 'new girls' apartment that Rocco was talking about.

"Wonder what she looks like.." Murphy started.

Connor shrugged, "Don't matter anyway. Rocco said she's all his."

Amara had just gotten out of the shower and had blow dried her curly hair and straightened it. She put on her make up then ran to the boxes of clothes in her bedroom. She wasn't romantically interested in Rocco but she still wanted to look nice. She had been wearing bum around clothes for too long it seemed.

She found black fit and flare like dress and slipped it on overtop an jade coloured bra and underwear. She searched the box of her black heeled boots and shoved her feet into them.

Amara grabbed her purse and slipped into her jacket. She looked at the direction to McGinty's and noted that going through the ally ways was the quickest way to get there. She looked out the window and saw that it was raining.

She grabbed her umbrella and left her apartment behind. Her stomach turned and her heart raced once again, just like when she left her home in Grand Rapids.

Once she exited the building she turned into the back ally and started her venture towards the Pub. She figured the walk should only take about ten minutes at the most. Amara was too busy focused on how nervous she was to meet up again with Rocco that she didn't take note of the large man following behind her now.

The wind blew a large gust and her umbrella slipped from her grip. "Shit!" She yelled, rain was down pouring on her. As she turned to go after it her body slammed into what felt like a brick wall. She stumbled backwards then looked up at a man, not a wall.

"I'm sorry." She apologized nervously. She tried to move past him but he blocked her. "Very cute. But I'm running late." She brushed him off and he grabbed her arm violently and twisted it.

Amara screamed out in pain, "Let me go!" She shouted. "Someone help!"

She fell to the ground and cut her knees in the struggle. The large man then shoved her against the wall forcefully and wrapped his hand around her neck. He tugged at her straps on her dress and pushed the hem of her dress up her thighs.

"P-please don't." She choked out to the man. "I've never-"

"I know where you live now girl. I am going to have so much fun with you." He grunted in her ear.

Thwak

The man's grip loosened and he fell down to the ground in front of her. She fell to her knees again and sobbed. Rita was right, she thought. She didn't even notice the person who just saved her from the monster on the ground.

"Are ya alright lass?" The soft Irish voice called to her. Her eyes widened again and she looked up to see the man from her dream, the man from the Church holding his hand out for her to take.

"Well, hey there." He grinned when he recognized her face. He saw a small bruise on her forehead, "Dat from him or me?" He gestured to her head. Amara grabbed his hand and rose to her feet slowly.

"You." She answered flatly. "Thank you. I'm...I'm going to go home now." Amara attempted to walk away and collapsed into a metal garbage can, "Mother fuck!" She shouted loudly.

The man walked over to her again and extended his hand, "Come lass, let me take care of ye. I won't let anyting bad 'appen." Amara looked up at him, overcome with trust she reached up for his hand and he helped her to her feet again. I guess that was the answer to her dream. The part where she always woke up.

"My name is Connor." He introduced himself.

"Amara. Or Amy. Doesn't matter." She groaned, her knees were throbbing with pain.

"We'll get ya in ta Pub, clean up yer knees. Make sure no broken glass got in there." He opened the door to the Pub and wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her supported.

"Amara!" A familiar voice shouted. Rocco rushed over to her, "What are ya doing with this fucker?" He looked down at her knees then at Connor.

"Relax Rocco, wasn't me. Some thug attacked her in ta ally." He explained, "Doc probably has a first aid kit we could use ta clean her up." They helped her over to a booth and sat her down.

"Stay here. We'll get some bandages for you." Rocco ordered politely and left with Connor to go find the first aid kid.

"That's the girl I left the note about." Rocco started, "She's cute eh?" He nudged Connor. He gave a small smirk, "You win Rocco. She's gorgeous."

He pulled out a dusty old kit from a cupboard in the back room and handed it to Rocco, "If ye want to score points wit her, you should bandage her up." Rocco pushed it back onto Connor, "Nah man. I don't handle blood too well." He chuckled. "Just don't be putting any moves on her."

"A man can only try for so long." Connor quipped.

He walked back out to the bar and found Amara still sitting in the booth. Connor knelt in front of her and brushed his hand against her leg, motioning for her to turn and face him. She felt a rush of energy shoot up her spine at his touch.

He examined her knees closely, she could feel his breath, hot, colliding against her cold skin. "I don't see any glass. Dat's a good thing. I'll jus' clean ya up with some alcohol and bandages. Aye?"

"That man said he knew where I lived." Amara shook a bit with fear. Connor noted how scared she looked, "Rocco tells me that you live below me brudder and I." He started, "I wouldn't worry 'bout anything happenin' with us around."

"Why's that?" She asked. He applied the rubbing alcohol to her knees and she winced from the pain.

"We could hear ya singin' earlier…" He admitted, when he looked up he saw her face go bright red. "Relax love, I thought ya had a lovely singin' voice." As if it seemed impossible, he face became even redder.

As he began to wrap her first knee, his soft hand glided up the back of her thigh to help straighten out her knee. She felt an heat in her core, like someone had thrown a match into a furnace she never used. Once he finished she let out a long sigh.

"Would ya like me to kiss it better too?" He joked.

"No, just don't hit me in the face with doors anymore." She grinned. Connor buried his face in his hands and laughed, "I feel awful about dat, let me buy ye a drink." He helped her up and placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her towards the bar.

He helped her up on a chair in between himself and Rocco. "This is me brudder Murphy." Connor introduced.

"Hi." She smiled and gave a quick wave. "I'm Amara."

"You're da lass me brudder hit with a Church door this mornin'!" He laughed and smacked his brothers back. "What are da odds of this happenin'?" Murphy took a long drink of his pint.

"That was you assholes?" Rocco asked.

"Aye." Connor shamefully admitted. He passed Amara a pint and she instantly began to down it.

"My friend thought that you had an abusive ex." Rocco laughed.

"I've never dated." She admitted. They all stopped to take a drink of their beers when they heard three large men walk into the bar.

"Well, what's this then?" Murphy asked.

"I am Ivan Chekov, and you will be closing now." He took off his gloves and him and his goons stared intensely at everyone.

"Chekov? Well...this here is McCoy, we just got to find us a Spock and we got us an away team!" Murphy joked and Rocco bursted out into laughter. Connor stayed close to Amara at the bar.

"I am in no mood for discussion. You stay, all of the rest of you must go now!" He shouted and pointed at the door.

Then men all set their drinks on the bar, except for Connor and Murphy.

"Why don't cha make like a tree...and get the fuck outta here!" Doc sputtered out. Everyone groaned at his mix-n-match proverb.

"You know it's weeks end boys, you don't have ta be such hard asses do ya?" Connor asked.

"Yeah, it's St. Patty's day! Everyone's Irish tonight!" Murphy added. The two both took a long drink of their beers. The Russian lost his temper and knocked the glasses out of both their hands.

Amara jumped out of surprise and Connor moved back to stand in front of her. Rocco looked over and saw a small connection between Connor and the woman he had been after all day and spoke up.

"What if I told you, your Commie mother sucked so much dick...her face looked like-" The Russian leaned forward and punched Rocco square in the face, knocking him into Amara's lap.

"You ok?" She mouthed to him. Rocco nodded and rose to his feet.

Connor looked at the man and spoke up, "Now that wasn't too polite was it?" He said in fluent Russian.

"I'm afraid we can't let that one go, Ivan!" Murphy joined in, in Russian as well. The mob looked at the two boys completely confused. The brother eyed each other then each took a shot of whiskey then nodded.

Amara watched in shock with Doc as the boys tackled Ivan to the floor and the rest of the men charged at the other two goons. Connor smashed the one man against a glass fixture and Murphy threw another man to the booth she was sitting at earlier.

They finally brought Ivan to the bar and tied him down, pouring whiskey on his ass. Connor moved over to Amara and brought her away from the bar, "C'mere love." He whispered softly.

He lit his smoke,then tossed the match on Ivan's behind, setting it on fire. Amara instinctively grabbed at Connor's hand and grasped it tight. He tilted his head so that his lips were at her ear, "Relax, we'll put it out soon. Jus' want ta teach him a lesson."

"I think I should go home now." She said quietly, watching as Doc sprayed the flames out with the bar water. The Russians then rushed out of McGinty's without looking back once.

"We'll walk ya home." Murphy offered. Rocco took one last shot before leaving and the four of them then walked back to the apartment complex.

Author's Note:

Long Chapter, find the Italian translations below for the conversation between Rocco and his friend.

Come stai Rocco - How are you Rocco?

Sono buono. Ho bisogno di un favore per il mio amico bello qui. - I am good. I need you to do a favour for my beautiful friend here.

Lei è incinta - Is she pregnant?

No, no, no, no. Lei appena spostato dal Michigan. Ha bisogno di un letto. Non penso che lei ha dormito in un istante. - No, no, no, no. She just moved from Michigan. She needs a bed. I don't think she has slept in a while.