Chapter 10 Luca #2
I’m too on edge to lie back down and go back to sleep.
I throw on a pair of sweats and grab River before his happy mood turns to shit and he wakes Tor.
We head down to the bar and find no one is up.
Stood behind the bar, I watch the security screens.
The street is empty apart from a fox lingering around.
If someone was lurking it would spook the fox.
Out back is still and I spend ten minutes flitting my eyes from one screen to another.
“Gotta be sure, son. Now we’ve got the Mayor’s daughter here, we’ve gotta be extra vigilant.”
His beady little eyes pierce through mine and I wonder if he takes in any of what I say. As long as he knows my voice, that’s good enough for now.
He slaps at my face and begins kicking his legs.
“You hungry, my boy? Let’s get you some milk.”
Sitting River in his bouncy chair, it doesn’t take me long to prepare his bottle.
I go to turn when Annabel is stood in the doorway.
I don’t like the fact I didn’t hear her approach, and I don’t like the way her gaze is locked on my chest. I clear my throat, and it snaps her out of her trance, if that’s what it was.
I cross the kitchen and settle my son in my arms and tip the bottle to his lips.
“You have a baby living here?” she blurts out still stood frozen in the doorway.
“He’s my son, where else would he live?” I tell her, going on to ask, “Why are you up in the middle of the night?”
“I stayed up to finish my book. I was thirsty.”
“There’s plenty to choose from in the fridge. Help yourself.”
I watch my son get his full of his milk and then internally sigh when Annabel sits at the table.
“This place of yours is like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” she remarks.
“Once your father wins the election, you never will again.”
“I’ve been thinking,” she starts.
I don’t like it when people think, because then they talk, and it just out right annoys the shit out of me. “How does my father know someone like you?”
“He doesn’t know me.” I make that shit clear as fucking day.
“He must do for me to be here.”
“This is a favor to someone else. As far as I’m concerned, your father doesn’t even exist.”
She laughs sadly. “Funny, I’ve always thought I didn’t exist to him.”
I keep my mouth shut. I’m not chit-chatting with her. I watch my son, stroking his chubby cheek as he drinks.
I enjoy the silence that fills the kitchen wondering when she’s going to take her ass back to her room when she says, “You look real good with a baby in your arms.”
For the briefest moment I have no idea what to say so I say fuck all.
“How long have you been married?”
“Not long enough,” I grunt.
“You seem too young to be married. Don’t you miss the single life?”
What a stupid fucking question. It doesn’t warrant an answer, so I don’t. Yet it doesn’t seem to bother her.
“I don’t see your wife around much, she stays upstairs a lot.”
The implication in her tone angers me.
“Cut that shit out.”
“What?” She smirks, holding her hand to her chest feigning innocence.
She stands, taking her bottle of water with her. “I think I’m going to enjoy staying here.”
“You should know that my wife is my whole fuckin’ world. I would burn you, your father… fuck, I’d burn my own father down with this world for her. Whatever you’re imagining, don’t. I’ll steal your last breath, but I’d never steal a kiss or anything from you.”
Her reply is a cock-sure grin. Then she’s gone. I listen out and wait till I hear her creeping along the landing above us, then silence.
“You’ve gotta watch out for trash like that. Can’t trust a woman who smiles at the wife and then flirts with the husband.”
It doesn’t bother me but if this shit makes Tor feel any kind of way, then the Mayor won’t be receiving threats, I’ll just deliver his daughter home minus the breath in her body and fuck the consequences.
I huff out a laugh to myself. It grates on me when people bang on about consequences.
At the end of the day, I’m a criminal. There’s no dressing it up to make it look like anything else.
If consequences bothered me, I wouldn’t be wearing the patch.
I’d be stuck in some office job contemplating suicide on a daily basis.
I head upstairs when River’s settled and climb into bed, pulling Tor against me. She stirs and murmurs, “River?”
Kissing her shoulder, I tell her, “Fed and drifting off to sleep.”
“Good.”
Holding her close to me, I tell her, “Keep a close eye on the Mayor’s daughter. There’s something off about her.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think she has a death wish.”
“What makes you think that?”
“She continued flirting with me after I told her to cut it out.”
Tor’s chest rumbles with silent laughter.
“She’ll survive or she’ll find out how much I truly take after my grandpa.”
That’s my fucking woman.
My dick is rock hard in seconds.
Not a soul on this earth or any other will come between me and the best part of my life.
If they try, I’ll fuck the shit out of my old lady while their blood rains down over us.