I stared at the box for a few minutes, letting the music flow all around me. I decided now was not a good time to open it and stood up. I sighed and thought about throwing it away, who knows what it was. I looked around, searching for him, but there were too many people and the lights were good enough to see all the different masks. I pushed my hair off of my shoulders and walked over to the bar again.
The man nodded at me and brought me the same thing I got earlier. "Can I get a beer as well?" he nodded and poured it. I pushed the shot of Whiskey at him. "A gift." I smirked and he smiled, taking his shot when I took mine. I grabbed the beer and chugged most of it. "Rough night?" he asked and nodded. "You have no idea." I replied and finished the beer off. I paid him and waved Bye as I left the club. I was welcomed by a fresh cool breeze as I walked down the street.
I felt a tap and turned to see Conner blinking at me. "Oh I thought you were someone else." He said with a sigh. "Who were ya looking for?" I asked and he glanced around. "This girl" I smiled at him and he took a drag off his cigarette. "You look kinda like her from behind." I started to laugh. "Conner." I whispered and he jerked his head at me and looked closely at my face. "It is you." I nodded and slipped the mask off my face.
"What do you want?" I asked, all jokes aside. He shrugged his shoulder and rubbed his hands together like he was cold. "Murphy said you were acting strange when you left earlier. Asked me to come talk to ya." I sighed and shook my head at him. "I'm fine, he shouldn't have said anything." I started to walk away when he fell in step beside me. "Listen, about everything that has been happening. I know you might be involved, but we don't want you to be. I mean you have enough problems without having to deal with ours too."
"I know that Conner, but I tried to do the same thing with you two. I mean after the Mario thing, this new guy that my father has sent is better and has seen me with you guy, including Rocco. I don't want you guys to get caught up in my family shit. So please, just stay away from me, for your own safety." I said and he touched my shoulder, making me stop and face him. "Marietta, maybe we can help. We can take care of ourselves and help you stop this new guy. He cut you without you even knowing, so he must be good. We can help you." I shook my head again.
"I can handle him myself. I want to handle him myself." He blew out smoke and dropped his cigarette, then stepped on it. "Jeez woman, can't ya see I'm trying to apologize!" he said and shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground. I smiled at him and placed my hand on his forearm. "Conner, I understand. I was angry before because you guys didn't trust me, but I do understand it. I mean it's not like I have told you everything about me." he nodded and we started walking again.
"So why did Murphy send you? I would have guessed he would have come searching for me himself." He laughed. "Aye, I was surprised when he asked me. He seemed kinda down; maybe I'll have to talk to him next." I smiled and nodded. "Maybe I will too." He paused and looked at me. "Marietta, maybe-" "Don't worry, I know you don't trust me, hell if I was you I wouldn't trust me either. I know you only want to protect your brother and so far, all I have brought you guys is trouble and some pain and for that I truly am sorry." I said and started walking again, but didn't hear his footsteps following me. I sighed and continued to walk, letting him know that I understand everything.
I rubbed my arms, the cold finally getting to me. I started to walk faster, trying to hurry back to my warm bed. I figured he had decided to leave me alone and head home as well. Then I heard heavy footsteps, someone was running toward me. I didn't stop walking, but I did slow down. The footsteps slowed down and I heard the person breathing hard. I shuddered when a cold wind blew against me as I walked. I pushed my hair behind my ear and out of my face when something fell against my shoulders. I blinked and saw a jacket on me, I looked up and saw Conner walking beside me, not looking at me, but staring at the ground.
I started to take it off when he finally spoke. "Keep it on until we get back to the bar. I mean I would feel like an ass if I let you get sick." I nodded and took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. "Thank you." I mumbled and he nodded. We walked in silence and he finally held out a cigarette to me. "Nah." I said and he lit him one. "Marietta, I know it's not my business, but what are ya going to do about that guy?" I blinked, confused about which one he meant. "The guy that's after ya, not the one night stand." I nodded.
"He has been watching me, he's is really sneaky and good at hiding himself. He probably is watching us now, who knows. This is another reason I tried to get you guys to stay away." He sighed and blew out smoke. I paused, and then turned to Conner. "Conner, how did you know I was in that club?" I asked, remembering how I made sure no one was following me, and then noticed he kinda tensed up.
"What do you mean? I was looking around for ya and saw ya walking away from the club. I figured you were there because of the mask ya wearing." I shook my head and saw he never met my eyes. "It's you!" I said and backed away from him, stepping into the street. "Marietta, what are ya talkin' about?" he said, and took a step toward me. I shook my head and turned and hurried across the street and ran up the sidewalk. I ran until my lung ached for me to stop. I noticed I was almost home, but it had taken me so long to get here that I must have circled the block a few times.
"It's Conner." I whispered to myself, taking a breather. I looked around, making sure he wasn't around, but of course he could be and I wouldn't even know it. I sat on some steps, still catching my breath when I heard footsteps. I jumped over the banister and hid in a small space. He stopped and looked around. "Damnit, where is she?" he said and then noticed the jacket he gave me was on the steps. "Marietta! Where are you?" he said and I held my breath, and reached for a knife.
I was ready and his back was turned to me, I slipped out and held the knife to his throat. "Why you?" I hissed in his ear and he sighed a breath of relief. "I thought I'd lost ya woman. What are you talking about?" "You tensed up the moment I asked how you knew I was at the club, and you refused to look in my eyes, that means it must be you. You're the guy my father sent after me." he chuckled nervously and tried to turn to face me. "Marietta, let me explain, please?" I took the blade away from his neck, but held it close incase he tried something.
"I'm not the guy, trust me. Alright, you were right, I did tense up and didn't want to look you in the eyes, but not for the reason you think." He motioned for me to sit down and I shook my head. "Just tell me." he rubbed his head and then blew out air. "After Murph told me that you were acting strange, he asked me to come find you and talk to you. I gave in and agreed, then left the bar and saw you walking, so I kinda followed you. I saw you pause at the entrance and had to hide from you. I felt you would be mad if you knew I had followed you, but I didn't know if you were going to try to hit me or something." I watched him closely and he held out the jacket.
"Here, you must be cold after running so far." I put my knife away and took the jacket, putting it on. "I'm sorry for jumping like that and not even letting you explain yourself." I smiled at him and he grinned back. "Now, let's get out of this cold air and get you home." I nodded and we talked about different stuff as we headed toward the bar. Suddenly it started raining and we laughed as we ran through it, trying to find a place to stop. We found a small roof and paused under it. "We were almost there and now it's raining." I laughed and he nodded. "Aye, so close." I noticed we were closer than we had ever been before and I suddenly felt nervous and shy. He noticed as well and cleared his throat.
"I'm ready when you are, time for the home stretch." I nodded and he held out his hand. I slowly took it and then we took off running again. We slowed down as we came to the bar and stopped at the door. "I'm sorry again for accusing you like that." He brushed a wet hair strand from my cheek and shook his head. "Don't worry about it." I nodded and smiled, then opened the door. We hurried into the warm bar and I took off his jacket and handed it to him. "Thanks again." I mumbled and kissed his cheek, then hurried up the stairs.
Maybe he will trust me now, I mean we cleared a lot of stuff.