Chapter 7
'You see. This is why I didn't want to tell you.' Lioness said as she walked fast away from Axel.
'Wait.' Axel said as he held her hand. 'Why?' He whispered to her and she looked at him knowing that she had to tell the story.
'Before my mama had gotten her job at Banca Brasilia, we were struggling a lot. She didn't want to tell my dad so she worked three jobs. That still wasn't bringing in enough money. I was walking home from school and a guy approached me saying he had a job that I could work.'So I was working with him for a couple of days until one of the guys said I could make more money If I worked the pole.' Lioness paused when Axel finally spoke.
'How old were you?' Axel asked as they continued to walk home.
'14.' Lioness said and Axel stopped.
'I just worked until my mother got into Banca Brasilia. Thats when she found out how I was paying the bills, food shopping and to buy things for the house. I stopped when I got to Landmark city.' Lioness said.
'I don't know what to say.' Axel said to her. Lioness sat down on the bench blocks from her house, she looked away from him and spoke up.
'There is nothing to say. I took of my clothes to get money.' Lioness stated not turning her head away from him.
'To help support your family, that is nothing to feel a shamed off. I'm just upset that you were fourteen.' Axel said and sat next Lioness.
'It's fine.' Lioness said quickly.
'No. Its not. Look at me.' Axel shouted in front of Lioness who had tears in her eyes.
'None. I mean none should have to go through that. Lioness I am so sorry.' Axel said and held her face.
'Axel, I don't need your sympathy.' Lioness told him still looking at him.
'Shut up. I am saying this because I love you. Not to give you sympathy.' Axel said to her. Lioness looked at him when he formed those three words.
'Love me?' Lioness asked him. He looked at her and nodded.
'I love you.' Axel said and looked at her face.
'How can you love a stripper?' Lioness asked him as his thumb wipped her tears. He quatted in front of her face and moved his head slowly towards her head. She didnt react to what he was doing, only when his lips pressed aganst hers. She closed her eyes gently placed her hand on his cheek. He slowly moved his face away from her.
'You were strippering to help. I can't never hate you. I love you Lioness. All of you.' Axel said and looked at Lioness who gave a small smirk.
'I love you too.' Lioness said and kissed him slowly. Axel got up and took Lioness' hand.
'Let's go home and get you warm.' Axel said with a smile. Lioness followed him and held his hand on their way back. They soon met King, Hawk and Shark and walked back home. Shark, King and Hawk looked at Axel and Lioness and question if they finally got together. As they reached home they met they all sat down with Lioness who explained the story to Shark and Hawk. They both were supportive and shocked tih Lioness story.
'Lioness, I am sorry that I was so eager togo to the club-' Hawk said but was apology was cutt off.
'It's not your fault. You guys can still go there. I just can't.' Lioness told him but made it aware for all of the guys.
'No way.' Shark said but Lioness cut him off.
'You guys can enjoy yourself. That club has made some changes according to Santi. I dont want you to guys to have a boring time in one of the best cities in the world.' Lioness said with a bit of humour at the end.
'We are a team Li.' King said and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
'Yeah dude. We can do more things in your great city.' Shark added and rubbed her shoulder.
'Yeah Li. Plus we can always stay in your luxurious house.' Hawk said and sat next her.
'Hawk. You came here to pursue your acting. Believe it or not, I do not want to get in the way of your dream. That club has all the connection for acting, many hollywood actors and actress go there' Lioness said.
'You guys can quit babying me. I am fine. Let's just forget what hapened and enjoy my city.' Lioness said to all of them .
'Li.' Axel said as she got up from the couch.
'Stay seated.' Lioness' mother said with Nanny entering the room after her.
'Mama. Nanny. I thought you were asleep?' Lioness said confused
'Nope. Your friends are right Cat. They have every reason to feel this way.' Her mother said and sat down next Lioness.
'I know you want to get on with your life.' Her mother continued and looked at Nanny.
'Just understand that they love you. One in a differnt way.' Nanny added and looked at Axel whocouldnt stop looking at Lioness.
'I do understand. However, this is my problem. Not theirs. If you really want me to get better just do what I say please.' Lioness said in a wimper.
'i can't when you think like this. We are a team. We love.' Axel said and squatted down to her face.
'I love you.' Axel said and looked at her face,
'Its' about time.' Shark said as everyone heard Axel's confession.
'I love you, I love you all.' Lioness replied and gave him a short kiss on the lips.
'Well. No need to hid this from your mother.' Ms Leone said and giggled with Nanny.
'At least we all like him.' Nanny added as the Lioness was still holding Axel's face.
'Is he gone?' Santi asked one of the bartenders
'Yeah. Sorry dude, I was certain he wouldnt turn up till later.' The bartender replied to him.
'She will never come back now.' Santi said and sat down on the chair.
'So. How long did you know that she was back?' A voice said a merged from the shadow.
'Just saw her today. She wont be back so you cant get her Gray.' Santi replied. Gray stepped out of the shadow. He was a slim bulit man, similar to Axel with black hair. His eyes were emerald green that sparkled everytime the light hit. He walked towards Santi and drank Santi's cocktail.
'I think I will be seeing her a lot more. Hopefully with a little less clothing.' Gray told Santi and gave a smirk.
'Not if I warn her.' Santi told him.
'You can warn her but it won't help her.' Gray replied to him while walking away. He spoke for one finally time before he left Santi.
'She will come back here. This time she will stay and she will be mine. She will pick up this place like old times. Get out of my club, the stripper show will start in less than a half hour.' Gray announced and left Santi.
'What you going to do bro?' The same bartender asked him.
'I need to tell her.' Santi said dialling Lioness' number.
The guys were watching tv when Lioness' phone rang.
'Hello.' Lioness picked up and heard Santi informing her the conversation he had with Gray.
'He does have anything on me. He can try but I will not go back. ' Lioness told him on the phone.
'Look Li. Just be careful. He really wants you. I have go he is coming back.' Santi told her and quickly dropped the phone.
'Who was that?' Axel asked as Lioness slowly removed the phone from her ear.
'Santi. Just telling me about Gray.' Lioness said and looked at King.
'Is that the guy you saw at the club?' Axel asked and looked at her face nodding to his question.
'Don't worry. He cant hurt you.' King said and comforted her.
'Yeah dude. Plus, we are not going back that.' Shark added.
'It's not me I am worried about.' Lioness said as she rang Santi's phone,
'You think he is going to get Santi?' Hawk asked her.
'Santi is family.' Lioness said as she didnt get an answer on Santi's phone.
'He's not picking up.' Lioness said and got uo from the couch.
'Hey. Where are you going?' Axel asked her.
'To see Santi.' Lioness said as she picked up her coat.
'No you are not.' Hawk added and bloxked her exit.
'Haek. Move it.' Lioness ordered but Hawk didn't budge.
'A guy that was your pimp is after you and you want to walk in the club that he owns?' Hawk told her.
'Have you thought this our properly?' Shark added after hearing Hawk's suggestion.
'Listen. Santi might need my help.' Lioness said.
'He is fine. Look he just texted me.' King said and held his phone.
'Stop thinking so quickly.' Axel added and took her hand.
'Go to bed. We will message and check on Santi.' Axel said. Lioness didnt argue, she just looked into his eyes and knew that she could trust him on this one.
'Okay.' She said and laid her head against his chest. Axe wrapped his arms her shoukders and held her. He gave a small kiss on her forehead and let her go.
'Good night. Wake me up if anything happens.' Lioness said and walked to her room.
'We will.' Hawk added and saw her go to her room.
'At least something positive happened in this situtaion.' Shark said.
'What?' Axel asked him.
'You and Lioness got it going on.' King said and all the guys cheered.
'When we leave this house I am pretty sure it will get a bit more than just kissing and hand holding.' Hawk added and Shark laughed.
'We are still in her families' house.' Axel said making sure that no Leone heard Hawk's comment.
'Come on lover boy. Let's go see Santi.' King added and took his best friend under his headlock.
Lioness watched as they left her mansion. She put on her mission suit and went night ops.