Chapter 5
Café Crème
A/N – Thanks for all the nice words you guys leave!
So, here we are back in Edward's head!
It's still dark outside when I wake up on the couch and find myself covered in a blanket of mahogany hair. Still asleep, she turns bringing her warm body closer to me. Her soft body is now flush against mine and…fuck… the feel of her soft curves pressing into my chest begins to ignite a burning fire of need. She presses her head against my chest with a quiet sigh that just barely escapes her parted lips. With my arms wrapped securely around her and ignoring the growing ache against my jeans, I watch her sleep.
Jesus, I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing.
Her t-shirt has ridden up and my thumb has found purchase on a sliver of skin at the small of her back. Mother Fucking Christ! She feels so fucking good; her creamy skin is so soft and this alone has my dick aching.
Her breathing accelerates and like a hammer I can feel her quickened heartbeat pounding against my chest as she presses the swells of her tits against my body. Mother Fuck! I can't seem to stop touching her and I find myself wanting more. I watch as my hand slides over the curve of her hip and I let my thumb dip just below the waistline of her pajama pants and gently trace the smoothness of her hip bone. Fuck me…so fucking soft and what I wouldn't give to lick this sweet spot right fucking now.
My attention is brought back to her eyes as her body becomes rigid and her small hands push against my chest. I freeze my movements thinking that she's awake and I'm fucking busted like some pervert with my hands on her; but when I look down her eyes are still closed and a deep 'v' is etched across her forehead. Her full and pouty lips part and let out a small whimper.
It doesn't take much of an imagination to know what has her whimpering like a frightened kitten and instinctively I pull her closer – it's funny I even want to protect her from her dreams.
The fact that he comes to her in her dreams pisses me off. Dream or no fucking dream - I don't like that he can slip in like some fucking coward and torment her like this. It doesn't sit well that there isn't a god damned thing I can do about it either; they're just fucking dreams and as much as it fucking kills me, she has to fight the monsters alone…this time.
This whole notion is fucking new to me and I don't know how I feel about it. It's fucked up. I've never had to worry about someone else…and for the first time I find myself feeling fucking scared. Scared of not being enough. For me it's always been about 'getting mine and getting out'. But for some crazy fucked up reason, all I can think about is Bella. From her innocent blush to her perfectly heart shaped ass; fuck she doesn't have to be doing shit and my dick still gets hard. My thumb traces her forehead, smoothing the angry creases and for reasons I can't explain I press my lips to the crown of her head and inhale deeply. My eyes roll to the back of my head when she whimpers my name. Marron! And Jesus Fuck if the sound of my name on her pouty lips doesn't go straight to my already hard dick and fuck if I don't want to be the mother fucker whose name she screams…again and again.
My raging dick is begging for release and my jeans are now as uncomfortable as fuck. I'm unable to stifle the groan that rumbles deep in my chest when she shifts her hips and swings her leg over my hip.
Fucking Christ!
My teeth are tightly clenched as I fight the burning urge to rock into her. I have to use all my fucking strength to be still. She still smells like honeyed vanilla and it does not do a god damned thing to strengthen my weakening control. Fighting the urge to sink my fingers into her flesh and grab her hips for friction, I shut my eyes and put some distance between us by resting my head against the back of the couch.
At 25 years old, I figured I had all my fucking firsts out of the way. It's funny how you mark your life by the milestones of firsts. Things that happened so long ago they're fucking meaningless but unforgettable all the same. Thirteen I got my dick sucked off for the first time; fifteen I shot two birds with one fucking stone….got my first taste of pussy and my dick wet…right in the back of Michelle's cramped eclipse; seventeen brought endless entertainment at the local tit shack and my first lines of coke; nineteen I pulled off my first hit… I aimed my gun and pulled off two shots at a range of about 10 feet ... back to back pumps. Some firsts were just rites of passage others….are just part of the job description. I've done a lot of shit. A lot of shit I'm not fucking proud of but I'm not ashamed of a god damned thing. Not proud but definitely not ashamed –but that's neither here nor there cuz I am what I am and I don't give a damn about it - that's just how it is. I don't have time for fucking regrets – that's not how this shit works and even if I could turn back time I wouldn't change a fucking thing.
I'd also say that nothing fucking shakes me, I've seen enough…fuck …. I've seen it all and there ain't nothing that surprises me anymore. Then comes Bella… and just like that within a span of twelve hours she has shocked the hell out of me and added not one but two firsts. They may not be so called rights of passages or even part of my job…but unforgettable just the same.
I have never had a girl offer to give me a massage; not unless there was something in it for them or I was fucking paying for it. Biting that bottom lip with those cherry red cheeks she looked so fucking adorable asking too….like I'd fucking say no.
Seeing a pissed Bella looking something like a hell cat with those fiery eyes is hot. But angry Bella ain't got nothing on the shy kitten. The innocence written in those wide chocolate eyes and sweet red cheeks is fucking sexy as hell and could bring a grown man down to his fucking knees.
Her hands felt fuck-awesome as she worked out the knots too and I instantly regretted asking her how she knew how to do this shit. Picturing her pleasing him with her hands or any other part of her body just pissed me off. Fucking greasy prick didn't deserve her fucking affection and I sure as fuck didn't like thinking about it.
I pretend to be asleep and instantly miss the warmth of her body when Bella gets up to start her morning routines. I can feel a smile spread across my face as I listen to her clumsy footsteps stumbling across the carpet and I don't even have to open my eyes to know that her cheeks are fucking cherry red.
Fucking adorable
Waking up with my arms wrapped around Bella was my second first. I've never made it a habit to spend the night with girls. They get clingy and things get awkward. I keep it simple. We have our fun and I go home. Alone. With Bella, I can't get enough. Like some fucking pervert I'm just laying here watching her sleep like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. She's dead to the fucking world and like some pussy - I'm counting the fucking freckles on her nose. What the fuck?
Little Boy Blue was a fucking problem and until last night, I had no idea how big a problem. When Jake called and said he picked up a fucking pigtail, I figured it was some nosey fucking pig looking for a fucking handout or some shit. Wasn't till Bella filled in the missing pieces that I connected the fucking dots. James was Officer James fucking Mancini. Fucking meat eater.
James was as crooked as a fucking corkscrew. He and his idiot crew of four confiscate tens of thousands in cash and swag on their 'routine drug raids' that never get recorded on police property receipts. Shit just disappears like a fucking phantom ghost and no one's the wiser.
Cop or not he knows better than to fuck with my shit. You don't get to be where I'm at without friends. And I have friends in far greater places than James fucking Mancini.
"Hey, Skip." Jake walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. It didn't take long before a small blur of blonde raced across the floor and wrapped her arms around Jake's leg. "Jakey's here!" "Hey, Squirt!" Jake easily pulled the giggling little girl up in one swift motion.
Jake turned to face me. "You sticking around?"
"No. I got some things to take care of."
The small hands tapping Jake's shoulder diverted his attention. When the little girl was satisfied she had Jake's complete attention her curious eyes chanced a glanced in my direction. "Who's dhat?"
"Adrianna! It's not polite to interrupt people like that."
Adrianna's face fell at Bella's scolding. "Sorry, Mommy."
Bella reached up and ruffled the top of her hair before standing on her tip toes to bring herself closer to Adrianna's eye level. "You just make sure you're not bothering Jake and Edward."
Jake smiled at her before looking back over at me. "That's the Skip."
Her small voice was barely above a whisper. "Is Skippy good?"
I went from being The Skip to fucking Skippy…what do ya' know add to fucking letters and I went from fierce Mafioso to a jar of fucking peanut butter. Although I won't argue that it's adorable.
Jake looked over at me with narrowed eyes and scratched his chin as he pretended to think her question over. Although Jake was playing around I could see by the way the little girl stiffened in his arms she took him seriously. Jake looked remorseful when he saw her frightened eyes had widened into two saucers and made quick work of dispelling her fear. "Yeah, the Skip's alright."
"Adrianna, did you say hello?"
I noticed she pulled herself closer to Jake before hesitantly raising a small hand with wiggling fingers.
I said hello to the kid and when she smiled at me I was taken aback by how much her smile reminded me of Bella.
"Jakey, Mommy's making pancakes. You wanna have some to?" Setting a squirmy Adrianna down Jake laughs and ruffles her hair. "You bet, shortie!" She looked fucking cute clapping her hands together and smiling back at Jake like he just gave her the world's biggest lollipop or some shit.
"Skippy, you want t a pancake, too?"
The funny thing was that I did. Being here like this – being just Edward was fucking nice. And, there it is…I officially sound like a fucking pussy.
"I can't stay." As soon as I said it I knew I fucked up. Hind sight is 20-20 and I definitely didn't need bifocals to see that I took the wind outta this kid's sails. Jesus, she looked like a flat tire, all deflated and shit. But I gotta admit that's the cutest damn flat tire I'd ever seen, and if I could I'd take it back in a heartbeat. Her little chubby face , staring at me all sulky was making me feel like the biggest killjoy mother fucker on this planet. Shit, I gotta think quick.
I have zero fucking experience talking to kids. Truth is they make me fucking nervous as shit. Which makes no fucking sense. I've shit stomped guys so fucking big they looked like they fell out of some damn beanstalk or some shit. Yet this kid that barely comes up to my knees has me quaking in my fucking shoes. Maybe it's because all those jumbo size wackadoos that cross my path in previous days were easier to handle; it was cut and dry. If a fist in the face didn't get his attention, a knee to the gut would definitely say good morning. If that route looked less than promising the situation could always be extinguished by pulling out the exclamation point. And by that I mean the old fashioned peace maker; cold steel and some lead in the head. Conversation over.
With kids it wasn't so simple. Kids are interested in an honest and genuine fun experience. That brings two problems to the table. Number one - I have zero experience with honesty. Number two - I don't think that my ideas of fun are a 'G' rated fucking movie. But if there's one talent that my less than savory lifestyle has instilled in me - it's the art of negotiation. Everyone has their price. Kids from what I know are like miniature crack addicts…always running around screaming about crap that usually requires some kind of decoder ring to interpret. The only difference is the driving force… and with kids sugar is key. Let the negotiation begin.
"How's about this? I'll make you an offer you can't refuse. Now I know a place in town where they sell the best ice cream you ever tasted. You like ice cream?" I could see this sweet little flat tire puff up a bit and I knew I was on the right track. Her eyes flickered a little glow that I recognize from the runs I used to do down on Independence Ave when I was getting started. My truck would roll through and every coke head on the block would shine like a fucking Christmas bulb. Her little cherub face nodded and I could see the corners of her pouted mouth start to curl up in a grin she refused to let loose. "See I love ice cream - but I never like to eat alone." Shit, that's true. Eating alone wasn't ever a wise practice. So far so good on the honesty part. "So I was hoping that if I come back over that you and you're mom would want to go with me and we could get some of this fine ice cream together. What's your favorite flavor?"
That stubborn grin finally exploded and I felt a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. This kid's smile literally made me feel like a million bucks. In a high pitch squeal of excitement she screamed "Phishy Fooooood!" Alright, she lost me. I was doing good but I just lost some ground here with the fish food. I looked at Bella hoping I could catch a clue as to what the hell we were talking about at this point. For a moment I felt like a panicky fanook waiting to be made a fool of or some shit. Bella must have read the desperation on my face cuz she giggled a little before she replied.
"It's a Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor called Phish-Food. Adrianna absolutely loves fish and so every time we're talking ice cream… she gets stuck on the Phish-Food."
I felt eager to regain my ground and before thinking I blurted out "Oh no, short stuff this isn't that sh—tuff in a can." Come to find out that sensoring my verbal style is fucking tough but I covered my tracks and pressed on. "This is homemade, you're gonna love it, I promise."
"But Skippy I like Phishy-Food." The pout returned.
"You like Phish-Food, Phish-Food you got. They'll make anything you want. That's a promise. What d'ya say? Deal?"
"Will they put the bwownies on it too?"
I almost laughed out loud at the irony of having a three foot tall kid becoming the most memorable negotiator I've ever encountered. Fucking adorable.
"Only if you promise we can do it again next week."
"I pwomise Skippy!" Did I mention that smile makes me feel like a million bucks?
When I stand back up, I see Bella leaning against the door watching us with a grin…that somehow doesn't quite reach her eyes. My hand rubs the back of my neck and I walk over to her thinking that I pissed her off.
"Bella…I –"
Bella stops me before I can finish. "You know you don't have to do that, Edward." Her voice is soft and her eyes look watery like she might start fucking crying or some shit. Fuck – no more tears.
I know what she means but I don't know what the fuck to say. I don't know why I want to do this? For some reason, I just fucking wanted to do it…that's all I got. Period. "What? You don't like ice cream?"
She frowns and blinks her eyes with a look of confusion. "No – I like ice cream. It's just - "
"Good - so do I. I'll be back about three. Have the baby ready and we'll go." I casually slip my arms in my jacket and head towards the door.
Carlisle sits back in his chair. "Did you see Joe?"
I shouldn't have to see Joe and I wouldn't be if it wasn't for Tyler's fuck up. "Not yet." Taking a quick look at my watch I add, "Jake's bringing his fat ass in later."
Marcus walks over and puts his hand on my shoulder. "Edward, you do this right. I don't want no fuck-ups." He leans low and looks me square in the eyes. "You hear me?"
"Fuck." I laugh. "Shit don't get any easier than this." I reach for my drink, smirking at Marcus over the rim. "Easier than fucking a two dollar whore."
Marcus slaps my cheek and holds the back of my neck. "You? I don't fucking worry about."
"This thing with your brother – " Marcus stops mid-sentence and looks up over my shoulder smiling at Emmett. "Well, well look who decided to join us?"
Frowning at the table and gesturing to the empty plates, "You fucking ate without me?"
Setting his napkin on the table, Carlisle raises an eyebrow at Emmett. "What? We're gonna sit here for two hours waiting for you?"
"Yeah, sorry I'm late."
"Listen to this one." Laughing Marcus mimics Emmett, " 'Sorry I'm late'. Who the fuck are you supposed to be… Little Mary Sunshine? What the fuck has gotton into you?"
I even have to do a double take on that one.
"Nothing. Just been getting laid more. Does a lot for your disposition." With a shit eating grin plastered across his face he holds out his hands – palms up. "What? Am I right or am I right?"
"I'm fucking starving…" Giving us a smirk he adds, "…gotta keep up my sustenance." Emmett accepts the menu the waitress brought him. "Thanks, Sweetheart."
"Sustenance?" This cracks me up.
"Yeah, you know strength…don't want to over exert myself."
"Yeah, I know what it fucking means. I'm just surprised that you do. The only three syllable words that come out of your mouth are of the food sort." This is true too. Spaghetti, lasagna, linguine, risotto, cannoli, and sometimes Emmett pulls out the big guns – mostacolli.
"Fuck you."
Marcus raises his eyebrows in surprise. "Doesn't your wife cook?"
"Fuck! Rose don't cook. She's too busy spending my money and I ain't gonna cook no fucking hungry man dinner!"
Marcus laughs, then looking over at Carlisle he jerks a thumb in Emmett's direction. "I like this one." Still laughing he looks back at Emmett. "You're a funny fucker."
Ignoring Marcus he sits back and checks out the blonde waitress pouring coffee refills. "Mmm, look at that broad. Those are some nice looking legs."
"Yeah? You gonna woo her?"
"What woo her? Roses are red, lemons are sour, open up those legs baby…" Emmett fists his hands in the air and thrusts his hips up for emphasis, "…and I'll show you some power."
Raising his hand palm up, Marcus frowns at Emmett. "You talk to girls this way?"
"They don't complain…yeah I have a dirty mouth…" Emmett wags his eyebrows, "…but they can't get enough…they love the things I do with it. By the time I'm done they're panting for my dick."
Marcus looks over and nods his head at me, "And what about you?"
Emmett laughs and quirks his thumb in my direction. "Eddy over here is too busy drinking foo-foo coffee and playing house with Bella." Fucking Emmett.
Smiling, Carlisle looks at me with curious eyes. Too fucking curious for my liking. "Bella?"
I shrug, not really sure what he expects me to say. Truth? I don't even know myself.
"Who's this?"
"It's nothing." Marcus and Carlisle exchange a look. Who knows what the fuck that's supposed to mean. They're a real pair…sitting around all day like two gossiping old ladies.
"What? Can't a father ask his son a question?"
"What the fuck you want me to say? Stop busting my balls."
Checking my watch again I begin to stand.
Carlisle asks, "Where are you going?"
"I've got some things – "
"You don't eat and run. Sit." Marcus gestures to my chair. "Sit. Sit. Come on sit down."
"Yeah, sit down already." Smirking across the table Emmett adds, "Relax. Have a cup of coffee."
My brother's my brother and yeah I love him but sometimes I just want to beat the ever loving shit out of him.
Returning to the club I wait in my office for Jake to deliver Joe.
I already had Jake on assignment and against my better judgment I sent Tyler to talk to this prick.
"I wanna know why I'm still hearing about this?"
"Hey…" Tyler shrugs his shoulders. "man, fuck if I know. I went - "
Cutting him off, I point my finger at Tyler, "You better remember who the fuck you're talking to…watch that fucking mouth."
"Look, I – "
"Shut the fuck up." I could give a fuck about his excuses. Anything he could say is unacceptable.
"I send you in there to take care of this and you come back here empty handed? How the fuck do you think that makes me look?"
"He said he – " I raise my hand up in the air and silence him. "Shut your mouth."
"What the fuck do I pay you for?"
Tyler mumbles some shit. "What was that?" Crossing my arms over my chest I walk towards Tyler, "Hmm? " I step closer and lean down to look in his face. "You got something to say?" He stands there staring at my shoes like a fucking mute. "I didn't think so." I raise my hand in the air and dismiss him. "Get the fuck outta my sight."
This is a fucking waste of my time – but I gave my word to Carlisle and Marcus that I'd take care of it.
Jake walks this piece of shit in. No fucking introductions are needed. He knows who I am and he knows why he's here. "Sit," I order and gesture to the chair.
I tap the manila envelope I'm holding on the desk and study his features. I can tell by the way he's uncomfortably shifting in his chair he's ready to piss himself and I don't do a god damned thing to ease the tension.
His eyes nervously shift between Jake and me with an occasional glance at the door. Internally I laugh. Who's he think is gonna come through my fucking door to save his ass?
My hand continues to tap the envelope on the desk – and with curious eyes he watches my movements. Fucking predictable. I know he's waiting for me to say something – but I don't. My silence is fucking with him.
He puts his hands in the air like I've got my piece to his head, "Look I don't want any trouble…"
Ignoring him I reach for my cigarettes. I'm in no fucking hurry and my movements are slow. "Smoke?" My tone is causal in its taunting.
He blinks a few times then shakes his head, "Uh… no. I'm good. Thanks." He sits back and crosses his leg, resting his foot on his knee. He's trying to play it cool when he's anything but. The tapping foot and sweaty brow say otherwise. His nerves are getting the better of him.
I shrug. "Suit yourself." Leaning back in my chair, I take my time lighting up, making sure to blow the smoke in his direction. His rapidly blinking eyes squint through the smoke and I smirk at his obvious discomfort.
I nod Jake towards the door and without a sound he walks out. Joe cautiously watches Jake's movements and continues to stare at the closed door. I laugh cuz I know he ain't going nowhere. He looks back at me and I quirk my eye over at the door. Yeah, I know what you're fucking thinking. I watch as his shoulders tense and he swallows hard.
I continue to watch him squirm under my stare. The door opens again and this time Jake holds it in place as Bree brushes her body past him, shaking her ass as she walks in wearing nothing more than a flimsy scrap of lace around her pussy. And as if on cue, a suddenly flustered looking Joe looks like he just got his hand caught in the fucking forbidden cookie jar.
Bree suggestively swivels her hips as she crosses the short distance to my desk and sets a drink down. "Thanks, hun." I show my appreciation by slipping a fifty in her g-string and sliding my hand down her hip giving her ass a firm squeeze and a playful swat. I nod her in the direction of Joe and with a smug smile on her painted lips, she moves to him and bends low – putting her big fucking tits right in his face. I watch as she moves closer to his ear and whispers, "Is there something I can get for you?"
He has barely looked at Bree…not her tits not her ass – nothing. His nervous eyes are fixed low as he swallows hard and stammers out a, "No." I watch in amusement as the sweaty fucking bastard nervously picks at his thumb. His eyes remain focused on his own hand and never once look up to check out the goods…even as Bree slowly straightens in front of him and turns on her red 'knock me down and fuck me' heels and heads for the door.
Now Bree is fucking sexy; I have seen her make men literally walk into walls as they gawk at the woman coming and going. It worked to my advantage that Bree moonlighted on the side – whore or not she was a piece that few could resist. I meant that shit when I told Marcus this would be 'easier than fucking a two dollar whore'.
I purposely wait for Joe to look back at me before swirling my glass and throwing back the Jack and Coke Bree brought in.
Smiling in my amusement, "You don't like pussy or what?"
He wipes his brow with the back of his hand and barely makes eye contact. "What?"
"You. Bree comes in puts her tits in your face and you sit there like some meza fanook. What's that?"
"I'm married." He lifts up his left hand to show off his wedding band when he adds, "Happily."
"So that means you can't enjoy the fucking view? Keep your dick in your pants and your hands in your pocket – looking is not the same as tasting."
"Yeah, well like I said I'm married and I don't – "
"Oh, no?" His eyes follow mine as I look down and play with the manila envelope again; my hand is just sliding it back and forth taunting him. The blood drains from his face as the realization hits him and in all honesty at this point I think I've seen corpses with better complexions. He knows the punch line here – but I take my time and draw it out anyway.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding. You're a gambling man right?" Obviously - he wouldn't be sitting here otherwise. I did my homework – I know that he is a compulsive gambler that prefers dice to cards and I know that's the reason he's in so deep to the Volturi. I also happen to know that he likes to celebrate the rare chance he does win. Fuck, he celebrates when he loses too – drowning out his sorrows by throwing cash around on drugs and donnine like there's no tomorrow.
Even though I already know the answer, I ask, "Craps?" He nods a confirmation.
"Here's something you should know then. If you're gonna play you need to decide on three things from the get go…" using my right hand to count off my points, I proceed, "..the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time. Seems to me you fucked the rules and the stakes are pretty fucking high. Looks like your O for three pal…I'd say it's about quitting time."
"Now…you want to reconsider our offer?"
"Look, I…" I hold up my index and middle fingers to silence him.
"The stakes just got a little higher. Maybe you want to reconsider our offer?" As I repeat myself I slide the manila envelope across the desk.
He clears his throat. "What's this?" The anxious look in his eyes tells me he knows what it is and I know I fucking have him.
I shrug. "A little motivation…"
Hesitantly he reaches for the envelope and opens it. I watch him pale as he slides the glossy 8X10s out and looks them over one by one.
"Where - " He clears his throat again and swallows, "Where did you – "
I cut him off. "You need me to repeat the question?"
"Shit." He brings his sweaty palm up and squeezes his temples. "These will ruin me." He closes his eyes in defeat and shakes his head. "My wife…my job…they can't…this is…they can't know."
"That's up to you. You're a gambler – is that a chance you're willing to take?"
He sits in silence. He knows he's fucked. Literally. His wife sees him snorting lines off Bree's ass and fucking her face he'll be sleeping with the fucking dog permanently. Stupid bastard. His wife? She holds the fucking cards here – he works for his wife's father and lives in the house her father bought, gambling away money he don't even have.
To sum it up he don't have shit – and that includes his fucking balls; he signed those away when he said 'I do'…and that was his first mistake. He sold his fucking independence. Handing your balls over to your wife for financial success will eventually come back to fuck you. You don't put that kind of power in someone else's hands. It's fucking suicide.
He's desperate and I'm not fucking worried – I know he'll see it my way. This fat piece of shit has no idea how to make it without his wife and he has become more than accustom to the comfortable living accommodations his father-in-law provides – he'd sell his soul to the devil himself to keep his dirty secret. And I'm more than happy to collect. I sit back with a satisfied smile.
His shoulders sag and he runs his hand over his face. His voice is detached when he speaks, "Yeah, fine…what do you need?"
"The Volturi charge a 30% vig…we'll take your debt…" Smiling I rock my head back and forth like I'm trying to come up with a fair figure. Really the two million dollar contract – plus the information on future contracts he will be supplying tips the scales in our favor regardless. You gotta give a little to get a little – that's how the world works. "and lucky for you I'm feeling generous today…we get the contract…we waive our usual fee. You pay back the 350 G's flat." I lean forward and rest my arms on my desk. "Plus you provide the information on competitor's bids."
He reluctantly agrees and as he heads for the door I decide to throw him a fucking bone. "You want a piece of advice…" I smirk. "…and cuz I'm in a good mood– free of charge?" With his hand on the door knob, he turns to face me. "The best throw of the dice is to throw them away. That's the best advice anyone can give you. Stay the fuck out of the casinos."
I'm late when I get back to Bella's and the look on Adrianna's tiny face tells me she thought I wasn't coming. I felt like a piece of shit. But it's not like I work a nine to five job and shit. Another reason why it's easier to just leave things simple and leave the 'playing house' to the fuckers who get up in the morning and go to their desk job and come home by six for dinner. Attachments just make unnecessary complications. Fuck, I have no idea what I'm doing here.
"Hey, it's ok. We don't have to go." She looks down at her feet and sucks back on that lip again. Christ! Watching her pull that pouty lip back and forth between her teeth has me all fucked up.
She gave me an out and I didn't fucking take it. "We're going…get your jacket."
"You really want to?" I watch as Bella turns to put her jacket on. Her jeans hug her heart shaped ass perfectly and her hair has these loose fucking curls that fall down her back like waves…I fight every instinct I have to show her exactly what she does to me by pinning her against the wall and driving my fucking dick straight up that pussy.
Everything about her makes my inner beast want to come out and play and I kept wondering if maybe I got whacked and was in some crazy fucked up version of hell. A version where hell isn't a fucking place filled with horned demons with forked tails. A version where hell isn't even a place – but one single person who is created in heaven and fucking sin solely for you…to drive you over the brink of sanity over and over again. Damned if I do and damned if I don't. Fuck me!
I clear my throat before answering and notice the tightness to my voice when I respond. "Yeah, I do. Now get the baby and let's go."
Sal's Ice Cream Shop has been in the neighborhood longer than I can remember and has the best fucking ice cream in the city. It's family owned and one of the few that still make handmade ice cream and not that frozen whip creamed shit you scoop out of a fucking can. Walking into Sal's is like a blast from the past, as I hold the door for Bella and Adrianna the sound of the Big Bopper singing 'Helloooo Baby' crackles on the old fashioned juke box. I smile to myself seeing Sal's list of top forty hits hasn't changed.
Sal sets his paper on the counter and walks over. "Whoa – long time no see, kid!"
"Hey, Sal." Sal takes the hand I've offered and pats my shoulder. "How ya been?"
"Ah - Can't complain. What brings you here…" Smiling, Sal looks over at Bella and gives her a playful wink. "…looks like you already got something sweet on your arm?" I turn to introduce a now very pink cheeked Bella as she bends down to fumble around with Adrianna's jacket.
"This is Bella and her daughter Adrianna – who just happens to be a pretty tough little negotiator."
"Is that so," he asks through a hardy laugh that has Adrianna in an ear to ear grin.
"Yeah, that's how it is. Her negotiations not only got the three of us out for ice cream but we're on the hunt for something called fish food."
"What? Are you pulling my leg, kid?"
"Nope." I shake my head smiling and feeling better that I wasn't the only clueless mother fucker in the room.
"Did you read the sign?" Sal gestures to the front of the shop. "It says ice cream. Do you see a sea food sign out there?"
Bella reaches out, putting her hand on my arm. "Oh, no. Edward please don't make them do that – it's too much trouble. Plain chocolate is just fine."
"No. She wanted fish food…she's getting fish food – it's no problem."
Sal leans over putting him eye level with Adrianna. "Alright so, whatcha want in this…uh… fish food, sweetheart?"
"Bwownies!" I can't hold back the smile…watching Adrianna clap her hands and bounce up and down is some funny shit.
Jokingly I smack the silver formica counter with my hand. "Sal – you waiting for them to get crispy or what? Go cut those brownies."
"What?" Sal holds his hands out then gestures to himself, "You want me to pull a lobster outta my ass too?"
Adrianna puts her tiny fists to her mouth and giggles.
I don't know how he does it but he puts it together – making fish food… Sal style. "There you go. Look at that, sweetheart." He leans over the counter and gestures for Adrianna to come closer. "Come here now." Bella helps her balance as she kneels on the stool to close the distance. "Now this looks pretty good – no? But I was thinking yous and me… we could make it even better. What do ya say we put a little whip cream on the top?"
"I like whip cweem!"
"Hey – so do I. Now I could use a little help…come on now - put your finger here and press." Sal helps an elated Adrianna squirt whip cream over her ice cream. "There ya go. Perfect." Sal sets the whip cream down and picks up a bowl of cherries. "Now I also like cherries – you like 'em too?"
"I like chairwees!"
"Hey yous and me – we make a good team here. How many cherries do ya want, sweetheart?"
Bella smiles and nods her head in encouragement as a very shy looking Adrianna looks over to her.
"Myself? I can never eat just one – but I'm just funny like that. I'm willing to bet we have a lot in common, yous and me. You want two?"
Adrianna nods her head enthusiastically and lets out a soft, "pwease" .
Sal steps back to admire his work. "There now…that looks pretty good. You're a natural. You know - I could use a good helper like you. You looking for work?"
Through a string of giggles, Adrianna shakes her head at Sal. Stepping closer, I ruffle her soft hair and answer for her. "Maybe in a few more years. Right Shortcakes?" I was surprised when she held her arms out to me and bent down to pick her up. She felt so fucking tiny I was afraid I'd break her.
Sal set Adrianna's ice cream aside and moved on to Bella. "How bout you, sweetheart. You want some fish food too?"
Bella chuckles and shakes her head. "No, thank you. Um…" Biting on her bottom lip she peaks through the refrigerated glass tilting her head as she considers her choice. "… how about strawberry?"
"Beauty and good taste…" Sal looks over at me, his hand gesturing in my direction, "…how'd you get so lucky?"
He hands Bella her ice cream cone. "Here ya go sweetheart. Here's your strawberry. And one cookie dough coming up."
"What you think I don't remember?" Sal looks over at Bella and quirks his thumb in my direction, "Always with the cookie dough, this one."
I caught a soft giggle out of Bella. And then like monkey see monkey do…another giggle from Adrianna. "What? I like cookie dough?"
"Ya wanna hear a story? Come on amuse me…sit, sit." His hand gestures to the stool and Bella takes a seat. "This kid here was always up to no good. His family lived in the neighborhood back then – over on…uh," Sal holds his index finger up then tilts his head to the side and scratches the back of his head, "on…now give me a minute." When it comes to him he snaps his fingers. "Over on Bishop."
Narrowing his eyes, Sal taps his head with his index finger, "I gotta good memory. Now as I was saying he's always outback hanging around with those punks in the ally." Sal looks back at me. "How old were you…eleven, twelve?"
"Sal come on – "
"Hey, she ain't complaining." Bella shakes her head agreeing with Sal.
"Twelve. I was twelve."
"So - one day they're all out there playing ball – causing all kinds of racket too - and their baseball comes flying right through my window." Sal points to the window. "See this one, sweetheart? This one right here. Glass goes shattering all over the place. Would you believe not one of those punks stuck around – they scattered like a bunch of cockroaches and headed for the hills." Sal pats my back and grabs my shoulder giving it a firm squeeze. "Now this guy – he's a standup guy. I knew his father from…" Sal looks over to me before tilting his head with a shrug and amending his thoughts on that, "…from around. His father made him work the window off here in the shop. The kid came too. He came every day. Washing dishes, sweeping the floors – you know odds and ends here and there. But I think he ate more in ice cream than he actually worked. Every day – always the same – 2 scoops of cookie dough ice cream on a sugar come." Sal gets a wistful look in his eyes and squeezes my shoulder once more. "It's good to see ya kid."
After setting Adrianna on her feet and nodding Bella to the shiny red booth near the window, I turn to pay Sal for the ice cream; slipping him a few extra bills for his hospitality.
"Hey, you done good for yourself kid. She's a real sweetheart." At this point I realize that Sal must have gotton the wrong impression – but I don't correct him. Even though she's not mine, my insides burst with an immediate and overwhelming sense of pride. I can't explain it but I knew that the smile that suddenly appeared on my face would last for hours. So, no I don't correct him; Instead I turn to see Bella giving a giggling Adrianna a gentle bump with her hip and twisting along to Chubby Checker… her sweetness really is undeniable and I tell him so.
"Yeah, she is."
When Adrianna has finished her ice cream, Bella takes her dish to the counter and putting her small hand over his larger one, thanks Sal for being so kind to Adrianna - and I swear to Christ the fucker blushed.
"My pleasure, sweetheart. You don't be a stranger now." Shaking his index finger at Bella, "And you make sure he's treating you right. He gives you any lip service you just send him to me."
"Ready, shortcakes?" Adrianna held her arms up and I easily scooped her up. "Higher Skippy!"
"Higher?"
Bella rolls her eyes to the ceiling and shakes her head. "Thank Jake for that one. He um…" She gestures to my shoulders, "puts her on his shoulders – she gets a big kick out of it."
I easily lift her over my shoulders and head for the door. "Like this?"
"Yeah!"
I hold the door open for Bella and as she passes she stops in front of me and looks up. "Thank you." She reaches for my arm for balance as she lifts up on her tip toes and kisses my cheek. She walks past me and as I look up Sal gives me a wink.
Should have known the easiness wouldn't last. Life's just fucked up like that.
We weren't back at Bella's for more than a half hour before Jake headed in and the other shoe came down. "Stopped by to see a friend today."
I nod in understanding. "I need to smoke. Let's go outside."
I shut the door and lit a smoke as we walked in silence to the parking lot.
"So?"
"So, this fucker's a real winner." Jake paused and lit his own smoke.
"Thought you were quitting?" Jake shrugs and takes a deep drag in response. I laugh because Jake's idea of quitting is just bumming smokes from everyone else. This clown thinks as long as he's not buying the smokes – he's not a smoker. "Not that fucking easy is it?"
"Shit quitting ain't nothing…I've done it a hundred fucking times already."
"How does that fucking thing go…the first time don't work you try again and do a three peat or some shit?"
"Three times is a charm?"
"Yeah, that's it…" Taking another drag, "…well maybe your fucking lucky number is 101."
"So you saw this…" I take a drag and circle my index and middle fingers in the air indicating that Jake should get on with it. "…friend."
"Yeah, so James shot some fucking drug dealer a few months back. Pulled him over for some bull shit traffic violation and tossed his car. Story on the books says the kid pulled a gun."
I wasn't stupid enough to believe the books. The district dicks can write out those fucking pages however they fucking wanted. Sure the ending will be the same…not much you can change about a fucking corpse full of holes but the cold hearted truth about it is the story behind the corpse has just as many if not more holes. Fuck the records.
"Now get this – turned out the kid was wanted for murder. He was doing some after-hours shopping, when the owner's woke up…" Jake mocks a gunshot to the head with his hand. "…he popped 'em both." Rubbing his hand down his face he continues, "Now here's the interesting part. This couple he pops? Turns out they were witnesses in that big racketeering case that went down in Melrose."
With serious eyes Jake quirks his eyebrow, "Where James's uncle is…" Shrugging his shoulder he amends his words, "…was police chief. He's serving a nickel at Vienna."
"No shit. Yeah, I remember hearing bout that shit. What's that pig's name…something Scarzetti?"
"Sonny Scarzetti."
"Vienna? Who's fucking dick did he lick? Some other mother fucker…he'd be sent to Statesville taking it up the ass by some fat piece of shit and getting fucked seven ways from Sunday."
"So another name pops up you might be interested in."
"Cut the shit already."
"Swan. Officer Charlie Swan."
"Was indicted for threatening witnesses; pled not guilty to all charges. Stupid bastard used his house as collateral then lost it when he skipped town…leaving his only daughter."
"Bella." I finished for him.
She fucking lied.
"This could bring a lot of fucking heat." Nodding his head in the direction of Bella's apartment he adds, "You sure 'bout this, Skip?"
I didn't like him questioning me but I could respect his concern.
"You let me worry about that. You just stick around till I tell you otherwise."
Jake knew his place and would never say it but I knew he was fucking pissed that he had been assigned to Bella or as he puts it 'babysitting duty'. What Jake didn't know was that I picked him because he was the fucking best. With Jake I had no fucking worries; Jake isn't trigger happy but he isn't trigger shy either. He has a good head on his shoulders and I knew he could handle himself in any given situation.
Jake and I return to the apartment and I find Bella rummaging about the kitchen with her back to me. I nod Jake towards the living room and wait until I hear the TV to speak. She's oblivious to my presence and jumps when my voice breaks the silence.
"It's funny, I'm usually pretty good at reading people." I pause, crossing my arms over my chest and wait for her attention. "Most times I know what a person is gonna do before the thought ever crosses their mind. The mistake most people make is watching the hands. It's in the eyes. Always the eyes."
She still has said nothing, so I continue speaking to her back, "You know they say there are seven signs a person is lying." "One – eye contact or lack of…" A deep v forms between her brows as she turns to face me. Ah, now that got your attention? " Two – the use of humor or sarcasm…"
Her wavering voice is nothing more than a squeak. "Edward, I don't understand. What are you talking about?"
My eyes burn through hers as I raise my eyebrow emphasizing my next point. "Three – a change in voice…"
I let my eyes travel down her body and watch as it stiffens with understanding. "What?"
Really, Bella you're making this too easy. "Four – body language…."
Anger flashes across her dark eyes and her growing irritation is apparent in her voice when she answers. "Are you calling me a liar?"
Yes, I am.
I shrug. "Four – overly defensive, Five – changes the subject…"
She holds her hand up and shakes her head. "Just stop. Edward, what are you talking about?"
"Chief Swan."
"My father?" Her confusion is marked by the frown that sets across her face. "What about him?"
"It's kind of hard to send flowers to a grave that don't exist. Don't you think?"
"It's what?" She knows what I said and I don't fucking repeat myself.
"Why did you lie?"
"Why is the whereabouts of my father so important?"
"Bella, answer the question."
"I'm not a liar." I hold her eyes to mine as I cross the kitchen and stand in front of her.
"I didn't ask you what, I asked why…now damn it Bella, answer the question."
"My father is gone. That's what I said, Edward. He's gone." T
I don't like being lied to. Ever. But the worst part about her lying to me was that she didn't fucking trust me enough to tell the truth.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth, Bella?"
"I didn't lie."
"Bella-"
"Look I didn't lie. Why I didn't tell you about it? I don't know…I guess I was ashamed, Edward. It's not something I'm proud of. Is that so difficult for you to understand?"
I offer no response and continue to stand in silence. No, it wasn't difficult to understand but I wanted to hear what the fuck she had to say.
"Growing up my father was my hero. Come to find out the joke is on me, Edward. That kind of disappointment, that type of betrayal…it doesn't just go away. No, it lingers and people remember, Edward. He's long gone and it's me…me alone that has to walk in his shame and stand like a fool in the eyes of judgment." Her quivering voice is barely audible now. "I feel like a fool…" She angrily wipes at the tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. "…a fool for believing…"
Her liquid brown eyes look up at me, "Is that what you want to hear?"
"That's bull shit."
"What?"
"You aren't your father. These people you talk about…it's not theirs to judge."
"It's not that easy Edward."
"They don't know shit, Bella."
"You want some advice? Accept no one's definition of your life. Define yourself."
She laughs darkly, "Define my own life?" With her hand she gestures to the small confines of the apartment. "Take a look around, Edward. There isn't anything to define."
It blows my mind how little she thinks of herself. She has no fucking idea how selfless she really is and considering the bull shit she came from I know she's a lot stronger than she gives herself credit for.
"You wanna know what I see?" She doesn't answer and I don't fucking care.
"Despite all the shit… you fucking rose above it." I can't help it and step closer to her, reaching up to tuck a wavy lock behind her ear. "How much easier would it be to just say fuck it?" She stands still with her eyes cast down. "Someone else in your situation…no family, no help would sit with their hand out waiting for a government handout – and you know what they do with it?" She silently looks up and meets my eyes. "Fuck their kids, fuck food or rent – they turn right around and spend every last red cent on drugs." Her watery eyes follow my hand as I gesture to the cupcakes on the counter. "Fuck cupcakes. You know what kind of cakes their kids see? The kind their moms score from their crack dealer and bring home to smoke."
It pisses me off that her eyes are still cast down. I need to see her fucking eyes so I reach for her chin. When her eyes meet mine, I lean low and whisper my next words. "That's what I see."
She stares back at me sucking back on her bottom lip and like it has a fucking mind of its own, my hand cups her soft cheek and my thumb slides across her moist bottom lip, loosening it from her teeth. She closes her eyes and I watch my thumb softly brush against her glistening lips before I let my hand slide up into her soft wavy hair. My hand guides her closer and when I can feel the warmth of her body against my chest I place a soft kiss on her temple. Her body stiffens but she doesn't pull away.
The combination of her soft curves pressing against me and the innocent scent on her creamy skin has every single nerve ending crackling like a fucking live wire. It's like experiencing fucking heaven and hell all at once. I bury my nose in her mahogany hair breathing her in and that honeyed vanilla scent hits me tenfold. I feel like I'm drugged and like some fucking junkie I need more. I feel like a god damned coil wound so tight I'm about ready to fucking snap. My voice is strained, as I desperately try to hold on to the little control I have left. "Christ, Bella. I need to fucking kiss you."
Without a word, she turns to face me her wide chocolate eyes searching for something in my own. The sweetness of her breath washes over my face and has my thinking all fucked. Her eyes flutter shut as I softly brush her lips with my own, parting them slightly. I kiss her bottom lip and pull it into my mouth gently sucking at the sweetness left over from the strawberry ice cream. Christ, she tastes so fucking good.
She stiffens again but lets me pull her closer, her rapid heartbeat thrums against my chest urging me on as I again take her bottom lip into my mouth and gently suck in its sugary sweetness. Mother Fuck! Her scent and Christ, her fucking taste has my senses on sensory over load… She moves closer, molding her small body into mine and when her small hands come to my hair I groan rolling my tongue over her soft lips, begging for entrance. She opens her mouth welcoming my tongue and I let my hands slide down her sides to her waist where my thumbs make small circles before moving lower and resting on her hips. Her soft moan leaves a burning need for more and sears a red-hot trail straight to my groin. My breathing is heavy with fucking need as my hands knead her hips and very soon I was gonna lose it. It's like opening fucking Pandora's Box – and unleashing fucking hell.
My forehead presses against hers and I squeeze my eyes shut in an effort to regain some fucking control. "Fuck, Bella…," I breath against her skin in a raspy voice that I barely recognize as my own. Taking a step back I hold her face in my hands and place a softer kiss over her swollen lips.
Remembering where I'm at – I feel like I should say something…something other than 'get naked and spread those fucking legs.'
"I think Sal's gonna be surprised."
Her dazed eyes look at me with question. "Hmm?"
I laugh and suck back my own lips, "Fuck cookie dough," then smacking them loudly as I savor the last remnants of the strawberry sweetness, "My new favorite flavor – strawberry." And cue the blush. Fucking adorable.
A/N
Glossary:
Meat eater – a dirty cop
Donnine – good time girl of loose virtue
Vig – the interest on a shark's loan
I love Emmett...he cracks me up! I liked Sal a lot too…everyone should know a Sal. Have a Happy Week, Everyone!
