A/N: Sorry, aside from writer's block, I am going back to school and (after getting fired) going back to work. Hope you like the chapter, a bit short, but a little more information on Essence background, as well as the emotions between Essence and Atley. Luka Cacuzza and Paulo belong to Chaosia Guadimus, I hope I did them justice. Please review! :)
Healing Hands
Chapter 7
Atley was in a soured mood…okay, sour mood was an understatement, he was just a bitter grouchy old man who glowered at everyone and everything. Almost like a child having a tantrum after not getting his way. Everyone kept out of his way, except Sphinx and Ripley since neither of them would take his crap. Of course it was his own fault, he let Essence slip from his fingers and into the GRAB detective's arms! He kept his distance from Essence, not wanting to scare her with his bad mood in the two and a half weeks since she hooked up with the detective–and she couldn't stop smiling.
Even the bruises on her face and neck–which were fading now, thank God–didn't even dampened her mood anymore. She wore darker eyeliner as her lashes seemed to look longer, making her eyes stand out more, and now kept her hair pulled back into a ponytail or a braid. The detective almost always came at lunch time to pick Essence up, but apparently the woman noticed how uncomfortable the boosts were of seeing him in their turf and had decided to meet him at wherever they went to eat–much to everyone's relief.
The woman was happy, Atley noted, and it only made him angrier at the thought of Essence with the other man. Actually she was more than happy. The one time when it was a very slow day for the garage all the boosts were outside hanging around when the detective–before Essence had him stop coming around–had come for Essence, bringing flowers, which earned him a kiss. Atley was tempted to beat the man but had instead glared at them and went inside to hide up at the private office. Til this day he didn't know why he continued to go to the garage if seeing Essence happy made him angry because it was another man that was doing it. It didn't help any when both Ripley and Sway gushed with Essence over her dates and gave her pointers of making the man want her more.
"If I didn't know any better, you look ready to bash someone's head in."
Atley grunted in answer, flicking his cigarette away. "Is everyone here?"
Ripley shook her head, her blonde/purple curls tamed and pulled up for the night. "We're just waiting on Donnie, Kip, and Toby." she told him, looking at all the ships either ready or waiting to leave Long Beach. "If you wanted you could've had her you know."
Atley glared at the shorter woman. "It's none of your business Ripley, stay out of it."
"I'm just saying," she sing-songed with a grin that rival Sphinx.
"I'm just concern for her getting hurt if that damn detective is only using her to get close to us." Atley grumbled, desperately wanting another cigarette.
Ripley merely hummed amused at the other man, shaking her head with disbelief. He was in complete denial and was taking it out on the group with his moodiness. Ripley would have pushed Essence to Atley if the other woman didn't like the detective too much and if she didn't get much amusement watching Atley be miserable being around a dating Essence.
"Why do you think you're too old for her?" Ripley suddenly asked curiously, but she already knew the answer.
Hell, it was just like her and Sphinx first started, and the two being best friends meant they had a lot in common. One of them being they didn't want to put the person they were crushing on in danger–though with her and Sphinx it was more or less he was afraid of being committed since he's been alone for a very long time.
"Because I'm an old man!"
Ripley frowned at him with disbelief, "You're only ten years older than Essence!"
"A century, really." Atley muttered as he thought of Mars being closer to her age. "Besides I live a dangerous life–we all do. I don't want to jeopardizes or corrupt her innocence if we ever get caught again."
Ripley snorted, crossing her arms. "Essence could use a bit of corruption."
Atley sighed exhausted, Ripley seeing the hard years of being a boost and the middle man in his face. "You deserve a bit of happiness, Atley, and if Essence was the reason you shouldn't let her go so easily." Ripley turned to walk away but stopped and looked over her shoulder. "You should also pay attention to the way she stares at you. Looks speak a lot louder than words."
With that said she walked back inside the building, leaving a frowning, and thoughtful, Atley behind. Maybe another cigarette won't kill him. He stopped his hand form reaching back inside his inner pocket when a movement caught his eye. He turned and sighed at the two men walking into the light, wondering why they came out tonight. Though he suspected that the older man wanted to be more involve in his business and with the people doing the job. Still the younger bloods would probably get nervous with him being around.
"Those damn things will kill you a lot faster, my friend." the smooth Italian accent was filled with much teasing and knowing, "Start smoking cigars, you'll live a few years more."
Atley felt one of his lips going up in amusement. "Cacuzza, what brings you out of hiding?"
"It's been over a year since Calitri, it was time to start showing my face again."
Luka Cacuzza grimaced, his tanned face scrunching up, showing every wrinkle. Despite his age the Italian man looked and acted like a man years younger than what he was, even with the stress this job took on all of them. Maybe it was for the best as many people under estimate him and he proves them wrong–either in smartness or violence, depending on the situation. Sometimes even the man scared Atley with how smart he was.
"And this client is very particular about getting his cars. But tell me, who is this woman that has you stressed out? It cannot be a common whore for you do not look satisfied."
Atley blushed at how transparent he was but glowered to cover it up. "There's no woman," he told him, his look darkening even more.
The two men chuckled as another voice spoke up. Seriously Atley should just kill them all, no one will miss the young blood or the Italian…but his mother would probably kill him, bring him back and kill him again if anything happened to her youngest child. And Cacuzza's body guard will probably bury him out in the desert to let the vultures and ants pick him alive
"Otto hired a new secretary a couple of months ago and Atley's been pining for her ever since. Only now she's dating one of the GRAB detectives." Kip tells them with a mischievous grin.
Cacuzza frowned, "Does she–?"
"No, and she's asked the detective not to come around either because of how uncomfortable it was for us to have him around." Kip confirmed, but gave a pointed look at Atley.
Before the conversion can come back to him, Atley spoke up. "Did the others finally get here?"
Kip grinned at the other man who was like an uncle. "Yeah they did."
"All right, let's get this done tonight."
Kip and Cacuzza grinned at each other before walking after Atley. The Italian, however, slowed down and looked to his bodyguard and trusted friend, Paulo. Not that he didn't trust Memphis, Atley, or even Otto's judgment, he just couldn't be too careful about who all work in this garage where his business is worked out of most of the time.
"Find out what you can about this woman, make sure she's a friend." he whispered so the younger Rains doesn't hear. "I'm sure Ripley will supply you with the name."
Essence was in a good mood, despite not having more than three hours of sleep. Even though it was supposed to be her day off because she had just worked the night shift at the hospital, Chaosia sounded horrible on the phone. She felt bad for the other woman–though was grateful that even sick she sounded like Essence would if she ever got sick. Besides, it's not like she can't use the extra money. She sighed with content, grinning like a mad woman. Troy had called her that morning to let her know that, with the judge's permission, he was coming down with Ana for a weekend visit. The judge even warned her ex that if he didn't follow the rules again then he was to pay with the consequences–despite the court favoring him and the evidence.
Essence hoped the asshole misses up again, but she knew that it was wishful thinking.
Tomorrow her brother would be in California, taking the corporate jet as it would be faster, but he never said what time. Essence was excited to see her brother and Ana, too long has it been since she last seen them. She prayed that Otto wouldn't have any mind asking off at last minute, if needed she will tell them the truth about the secret she's kept hidden. Not that she didn't trust them anymore–because she does– but Essence never felt like it was the right time for her to let Otto and the others know about Ana. Until now.
With a sigh and a mental shake of her head Essence parked in her usual spot next to the Shelby and quickly got out, a few minutes late. However when it seemed that there was nothing to dampen her mood the scene before her takes her aback by surprise. She inhaled sharply, her heart breaking just a bit–though Essence couldn't think of why it would when it was only friendship, nothing more, that she felt for this person. A few cars down were Atley and a voluptuous woman kissing. Holding back tears–which she didn't know why she was even tearing up for a man she barely knew–Essence walked away, placing the alarm upon her car.
She ignored the couple–who no doubt heard her alarm beeping–quickly walking towards the entrance. Her heart was beating fast, nodding tiredly to Kip, Donnie, and Sway as she walked towards the stairs for the offices. They all frowned when they saw her, but Essence ignored the looks, just wanting to be alone and do her work in peace and try to get her bearings again. She was dating Mars, he made her feel things that she hasn't felt in a very long time…just like Atley when he was being nice to her and not really in his own world.
Essence sighed. Who was she kidding? Atley made her feel completely different then what Mars has made her feel. Why was her life so complicated when it came to feelings and men? All she wanted at the moment was her big brother and her treasure. They were the only ones who can ease this pain, this confusion, and simply make her feel like herself. She grinned just the slightest as she entered the office, Angel too, of course. She couldn't forget her crazy ass dog that seemed to like to act like a human more than an animal.
Putting her purse on the floor Essence quickly boot up the dinosaurs and went around opening the blinds and windows, letting in the fresh air and the sun inside. When she turned back she smiled at Toby, Kip, and Tumbler walking in. She smiled at them gratefully. She knew that they knew she needed a pick-me-up–Essence was never good at keeping her emotions from them–and was all too glad that they came.
Atley angrily pushed away from the woman he had a one-night stand nearly a few months ago and looked over to his left. He felt his heart beat quicken at the sight of Essence quickly walking inside the garage, but not before looking back at him with both surprise and sadness before quickly walking away. An angry scowl descended upon his face and turned to the woman before him, holding her at arm length. The woman pouted her red lips, giving him a seductive look in hopes of pursuing him. Glaring at her lips, Atley mentally reminded himself to scrub off the make-up from his own before going to find Essence.
"This was a one-night stand, Shirley; it means you forget the person you slept with and go on as though nothing happened." he growled angrily. "You need to stop calling me and coming around where I work!"
Shirley merely pouted even more, pushing her C-cup breasts towards him, trying to get closer as she trailed a manicured finger down his chest. "But we were so good together; I thought one more night would be all right."
Atley merely growled, glaring at the woman and pushing her even further away. "No! Leave me alone and don't you ever come near this place again. I mean it!"
With that said, he turned and walked as quickly as he could towards the garage, trying to figure out how he can convince Essence that what she saw was truly nothing. Then again, why did he have to explain anything to her? They were only friends–if that–nothing more. What he did outside of the garage and in his life was just that, his life. Just like what she did was just her own thing. Of course, he would like to make the GRAB detective take a hike and keep away from Essence so long as she worked at the garage. That, however, was more for her protection, nothing more.
Nodding to Memphis and Sway–both whom raised a curious eyebrow at him–moved towards the stairs with as much quickness as his leg would let him. He entered the office to see the woman sitting on her desk and laughing with Kip, Tumbler, and Toby. Once again the young tech was leaning against Essence, only this time his arm was wrapped around her waist, keeping her close. Atley almost lost it. He had to calm down and remind himself that they were only friends, nothing more, and Essence was dating that GRAB detective, she wasn't that kind of woman.
Not wanting to interrupt them Atley continued on to the private office, maybe getting more information on the cars they were to steal in the next couple of days will help ease his mind off the jealousy he knew he was feeling at seeing Toby and Essence. Then again nothing will satisfy him more than to see Essence free of any male presences, but knew that it wasn't going to happen any time soon. But his conscious tells him, not for the last time it seems, that he had no say in her life. Essence wasn't his, not that she was a piece of property to be had, but it still stands with him not saying what she should do or not in her life.
Paulo closed the door to the office that held shelves full of books and vintage paintings that cost more than most of the cars that are stolen. Cacuzza looked away from the windows, nodding to him as he neared the desk. Many years the two have known each other, despite the age difference they were great friends. It was Paulo's uncle who had introduced him to Cacuzza when he was a teenager, days only before he died. The reason was because Paulo's parents had died when he was a child and his uncle was the last of his relatives. With nowhere to go Cacuzza promised his uncle to take care of him.
The older man didn't want to bring Paulo into the organization but he had intervened when one of Cacuzza's most trusted men were about turn on him. Cacuzza was grateful and had asked him what it was that he wanted in return. Paulo didn't hesitate when he told him he wanted to work in his organization. He knew the older man had promised his uncle to take care of him and to lead him on the right path, but Paulo wanted to make his own choices. From what he's seen and heard around Cacuzza he wanted in, and now was his chance. Granted Cacuzza had him as a runner because he was a teenager, but once he hit eighteen he was his bodyguard and right hand man. Especially after bringing down several rats.
"What did you find about Atley's mysterious woman?" Cacuzza asked with a grin
"Essence Morgan, twenty-three, single, and also works third shift at St. Catherine. She moved out here about a month ago, the only family member she has is an older brother, Troy Morgan. He's thirty-eight, also single, and works as a high end attorney for a multibillion dollar conglomerate. Their parents did when she was fifteen in a car accident a few hours north of here, which she then had to live with her brother in Chicago. They both have clean records–minus Miss Morgan's speeding tickets as a teenager. From what Ripley has told me about the woman she is a shy little thing that doesn't go noising around other people's business and respects the other's privacy."
Cacuzza raises an eyebrow at Paulo when he hesitated. Usually when he did this it meant that he had assessed the situation at hand but didn't know how to go about the situation. Doesn't mean that it was something horrible, but it wasn't good either. The Italian wondered if the situation had anything to do with them and their operation.
"What is it Paulo? What else did you find about this woman?"
Paulo frowned, continuing to think over the information but sighed quietly. "There is one thing about Miss Morgan's past. She is linked to a criminal who doesn't get his hands dirty…"
Cacuzza raises an eyebrow, "And?"
"She bore him a child that he took from her. Her brother had tried to fight it, but the court found her to be an unfit mother and gave sole custody to the father. But it didn't look right so I asked a friend out there to see if he can send me the court transactions and find out more information on this guy."
Cacuzza frowns, leaning forward on his desk, his lips pressed against his fists. From what Paulo has said it didn't sound right to him either. Something told him that the situation this woman was in was not right and if they can find something to help this woman get her daughter then they will do whatever they can. And maybe help her see the connection she and Atley could possibly have?