Chapter 11- Everybody's Got A Price

Mandi couldn't speed back to work from uptown Tampa quick enough. Her heart was racing; a million things running through her head. She gripped tightly onto the steering wheel, her fingers nervously tapping against the warm leather. She glanced up in the rear-view mirror; she didn't recognise the woman staring back at her. She ran a hand through her hair, eventually pulling up outside work. She grabbed her bag and stepped out into the Florida heat, she felt her phone buzzing in her bag, reaching for it she checked the caller ID.

"Hi Fran." She pulled her keys out of her bag as her phone was squashed between her face and shoulder; she pushed the door to the shop open and stepped inside turning off the alarm.

"Hey Mands, are you okay?"Fran's cheerful tone floated down the phone, music to Mandi's ears.

"I'm good, I think. Are you?" She frowned and dropped her bad onto the desk sensing something was up.

"Yeah, I stopped by last night and you weren't in."

"Stu took me to the game, a bit impromptu. Sorry chick, did you need me for something?"

"No, did you have fun with Stu."

"If you call taking care of me when I'm drunk fun, then Stu had a fun time."

"Oh dear, and how are you feeling this morning?"

"Let's just say I've been better." Mandi chuckled remembering waking up to the horrible alarm them Stu's deep voice.

"Come over after work, I will cook you something that will cure your hangover."

"You would do that for me?" Mandi smiled, Fran was one hell of a cook. Her Italian roots left her always wanting to over feed all of her friends.

"You know it, I will rustle up something that will make you feel like a million bucks." Mani sighed, oh how she could use a million bucks.

"Thank you, I will be round later." She hung up after saying bye and shoved her phone back in her bag. She busied herself with updating the shops website and packing an order that would fetch her a few grand profit, sadly not enough. A few hours later she had made another sale to a young couple who were moving into their first house together, she said goodbye and wished them well as she watched them leave. A moment after they left the door opened again; Mandi held her breath at the man walking through the door, the man she had seen just hours previous. It wasn't the man she wanted to see though.

"Luke, how can I help you?" She figured she best be pleasant to the man, not knowing what he wanted with her.

"Just stopping by to see what you have to lose." Mandi frowned, the urge to punch him in the face creeping through her body, "I'm kidding. I was driving past, thought I would personally tell you the money is in your bank."

"Well, thank you." He took a few steps closer to her, admiring some of the pieces of art on the wall, "Is there something I can do for you?"

"There is actually. I have a proposition for you." He turned to face her, pushing his hand into the pocket of his dress trousers; he took another step in her direction, "Maybe we could work something else out."

"Like what?" She took a step towards her desk, picking up a few papers. Another step towards her and he was inches away, he took the papers from her and set them back down on the desk. She took a step back, the top of her thighs hitting the back of the desk.

"You're a beautiful woman Mandi." Luke reached out for her arm, his hand wrapping around her flesh tightly, "And I'm a guy with needs."

"I know where this is going," Mandi interrupted him, "That isn't going to happen."

He smirked slightly, sending chills through her body; "As you wish." He leant forward, his soft lips grazing her cheek gently. As he moved away from her she noticed the gun nestled in its holster under his jacket again and swallowed hard. She wasn't sure what she had gotten herself into.

Mid afternoon Mandi was sick of work, she couldn't concentrate on anything. She shut shop early and drove down to Fran's condo. She knocked rapidly on the wooden door, silently begging for her friend to answer quicker. As soon as the door clicked open Mandi stepped inside, wrapping her arms around the petite brunette and squeezing the life out of her.

"Whoa, Mands are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just miss you." She smiled sheepishly, "And your cooking."

"Well it's your lucky day. I've just made some maple pecan ice cream." Fran closed the front door behind Mandi and followed her through to the kitchen. She pulled out the tub of homemade ice cream from the freezer and grabbed two spoons, handing one to Mandi. They both dug in, eating an excessive amount of the sweet frozen dessert.

"So you and Stu are getting on well."

"Yeah, I doubt we will be seeing each other again." Mandi shoved the spoon into what little remained of the ice cream.

"Now why would you think that?"

"My stupid drunken state last night. He didn't seem that impressed with me this morning."

"I should think not, I've seen what you look like in the morning." Mandis mouth hung open, "I'm joking. He's a busy guy Mands, I'm sure he's still interested in you."

"What about the Irish hunk?" Mandi inquired, raising her eyebrows.

"He's a hunk alright." Fran winked as the girls giggled, "We've text a bit, I think we might just hook up when he's in Tampa."

"Be careful Fran, I don't want you getting hurt." She knew she shouldn't be preaching considering the situation she was in herself, but she found it easier to give advice than take it. They spent the evening laughing and joking, Fran made her famous mushroom risotto much to Mandi's delight. They had arranged to go shopping at the weekend, though window shopping would have to suffice for Mandi.

Later that night Mandi pulled her car into the driveway, prepared for another sleepless night. She turned around hearing a car pull up beside the house. An Audi with blacked out windows sat with the engine still humming. She turned to the house and started quickly walking up the path. She heard the engine cut off then the car door slam shut. Glancing over her shoulder her eyes settled on Luke approaching her. He was making a habit out of turning up out of nowhere. He followed her down the path, his long strides catching up with her, he gripped onto her arm to stop her from getting any further away from him, "Mandi-"

"You didn't need to come here, you're going to get the money back."

"I don't doubt that, we always get paid. In one form or another." He turned her around, stopping her from opening the door.

He pushed her back against the cold door, his hands either side of her face, "You have a week to get the money back to me."

"A week? I can't do that." Mandi daren't blink; she stared into his brown eyes, unusually soft compared to his firm set jaw.

"You should have thought about that earlier."

"But we signed, you can't change it now." Her voice pleaded with him as he inched closer to her face, one hand moved down to her arm, his fingers digging into her soft skin.

"I can do whatever the hell I want, sweetheart. Next week, come back to the office by 8pm with the money or I'll be back here." He squeezed her arm a little tighter before leaving her shocked and bewildered as he left in his black Audi. She quickly hurried inside the house; she needed to formulate a plan to get some money quick.

A/N – Thank you xFindTheEnigmaWithinx, DefinitelyProbablyMaybe, nefertina-shanf, celticfighter, wades wife, miamitravel, poisenousprincess and Tiffyxox for the awesome reviews. This is kind of an in between chapter so I've kept it short. Stu will be back in the next chapter; be prepared ;D! Lou x