Seth showed up at Petrina's place a couple of minutes before 8 AM. Damian wasn't outside but other men were. One of them waved at him and pointed inside.
"She's waiting for you," he said. "I'm Kevin, by the way."
Seth walked over to Kevin and nodded at the man.
"Seth," Seth said.
"I know," Kevin said. "Go ahead. She has breakfast ready."
Seth walked inside and found Petrina in her usual chair with breakfast waiting for him. He sat down and accepted a cup of coffee and a slice of toast. He had already eaten from home so he couldn't eat much. She devoured her own breakfast while he just watched her eat.
"So," she finally said. "You made up your mind."
"What happens if I get caught?" He asked.
"Don't worry. I have cops on my payroll. No one working for me ever does time unless I want them to," she said.
"How often does that happen?" He asked.
"Only once. And that was only because there was someone already serving life that I had promised the kill to. A revenge thing. I didn't ask. He got his revenge and continues to serve life, and I got a visit from his girlfriend with the payment. Poor thing will never be with him again but she remains faithful and hopeful," she said.
He couldn't help but chuckle. She was serving her own type of justice that probably didn't make sense to a lot of people, but for some reason he understood her. He understood things weren't as black and white with her as he had been led to believe. There were many nuances to her and he was excited to get to know them all.
"Alright, follow me for a house tour," she said.
He followed her around the place and tried memorizing everything. It was a big place and he needed to know where everything was. Several rooms were private because a lot of the people lived there too. The first floor was hers alone. No one else had a key and she wasn't going to show him around in her private chambers.
"Do you know how to shoot a gun?" She asked.
"No," he answered.
"I'll teach you," she said.
She took him into a room full of weapons and had him pick one he felt fitted his hand best. They walked outside and she lined up cans for him to shoot at. She stood behind him and helped him aim. For a second he forgot how to breathe. It felt so intimate with her that close. She took a step back and he fired the gun.
"You're horrible!" She laughed. "You gotta aim, Seth. Not just fire it wildly."
He tried again but missed the can once more.
"Keep practicing. That gun is now yours," she said.
"Maybe guns aren't my thing," he said.
"Is a knife better?" She asked.
She took out a knife from behind her and handed it to him.
"Where did you hide that?" He asked.
"All woman have secrets," she winked. "Attack me."
"What?" He asked.
"Attack me," she repeated.
"I don't wanna hurt you," he said.
"You're not going to," she said. "Attack me or leave, Seth."
He attacked her and felt himself flying through the air. He landed on his back and had the air knocked out of him. He felt a knife against his throat and froze.
"You're dead," she said.
She stood up and held a hand down to yank him up.
"One more time," she said. "We're gonna keep going until you either give up completely or I'm dead. Figurately, of course. I don't want you to actually kill me."
They went back and forward several times until he finally managed to sidestep her. He grabbed her from behind, pushed her head first up against a tree, and placed the knife in her side.
"You're dead," he said.
"Very well," she said. "You better let go since this is making me horny."
He took a step backwards and blushed. She turned around and laughed.
"You're cute when you're shy," she said. "Don't worry, Seth. I might have a perverted mouth sometimes but I'm never gonna assault you. I only fuck people that actually want to fuck me. There's no fun in taking what isn't offered."
She put the knife away and pointed at the one in his hand.
"Keep it," she said. "Keep practicing. I got a feeling you might save my life in the field one day."
"I won't let anyone hurt you," he said.
"I know. That's why I chose you. You're trustworthy," she said.
She stepped closer to him and placed a hand on his upper arm.
"There might come a time where people will whisper in your ear or you will see people try to betray me. I choose to put my faith in you. I feel like you'll be able to see through the bullshit and not take their side. Even if I die, don't ever take any of those assholes' side. If they get me, run as far away as you can and don't ever look back," she said.
"No one can take you down, Petrina. You're on top for a reason. They all admire and fear you," he said.
"And that's a dangerous combination because it makes people jealous," she said.
She gave his arm a squeeze and let go. He stepped closer but she didn't move away.
"I'll protect you," he said.
"How?" She asked.
"With my body," he answered.
"On top of me?" She asked.
He smirked and leaned down to her ear.
"You wish," he said.
He stepped aside and grinned at her. She started laughing and shook her head.
"You're supposed to work for me. Not make me horny," she said.
"You started the conversation. I'm just finishing it," he said.
"You're gonna be the death of me," she said.
"Nah, I'm gonna make you feel alive," he laughed.
She shook her head again and walked past him. He followed behind her back inside the place.
"I think I'm gonna enjoy having you work here," she said.
"I think I'm gonna enjoy working here," he said.
They looked at each other and started laughing again. He saw her colors even more clearly now. There was a fun, kind, smart and somewhat perverted woman hiding behind the criminal lifestyle, and so far he liked everything he was seeing.