7. River
Chapter Seven
RIVER
My time inside has stretched longer than I thought it would. Andrea dropped off a computer on behalf of Theodore, and I’ve picked some of my classes back up. After that episode from his wife a week ago, I told myself to steer clear of contacting him for any reason other than the club being on fire. Since that hasn’t happened, I have no need to talk to him. It feels odd that part of me misses him although we haven’t really talked beyond that one dinner. I think it’s because I got a glimpse of the man on the inside and not the hardened boss he’s been this entire time.
Their relationship is very problematic, and I don’t know him well enough to know if he enjoys this on again and off again push and pull. He seemed tired that night he was over here, but it sounds like he’s signed up for more torture. Love is a bitch. It’s the biggest prison with no clear escape.
I finish my second coat of polish on my toes as I recite wine facts to myself. The pending exam is stressing me out, but it’s a good distraction from this mess with Mario. For my safety, Mr. Kelly has cut my work week in half but is still paying me the same. I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s a saint, but he really does take care of his subordinates.
When he dropped off the laptop, Andrea told me that the Kellys decided to work it out. I think he wanted to see my reaction. They found Mario in another state but are looking for the least suspicious way to grab him. The plan is to bring him back and let him deal with his own mess. I’d love being able to go outside without looking over my shoulder.
Pausing the music on the laptop, I look around the space. I thought I heard the elevator, but it must be my imagination. Shaking my head, I mumble to myself to get my shit together.
“He went back to his crazy wife. He’s not thinking about you.”
I don’t want him thinking about me. I think? It’s been a confusing week and a half. Maybe I’m just stir crazy and the little time I spend working isn’t enough interaction with other people. Theodore’s desire to be a dad sticks with me more than anything. I don’t need to spend much time around his wife to know she’s full of shit. As someone who’d love to have children, I can tell she doesn’t have that desire. I couldn’t just tell him that, which is why I gave him reasons she may feel that way.
I hope for his sake, it’s just the career angle. It’s okay for a woman to decide she doesn’t want to be a mother, but it’s not okay for her to string along a man who clearly wants to be a father. It’s not fair to either of them and, if I had to guess, it’s the cause of the resentment growing between them.
“That’s not my business,” I tell myself as I waddle to the kitchen for my smoothie. I don’t want to mess up my paint, but I’m going to waste away because of it either. My loaner phone buzzes with a text.
Kelly: There is a dance studio if you’re getting antsy. It has yoga mats and other things for workouts.
I frown once I realize that I’m smiling too big for a simple text. It’s information and nothing else.
Me: Thank you.
Dropping the phone, I move away from it because I don’t want to be tempted to talk to him or reach out. They have things to settle. It was surprising to see the couple that people call ‘couple goals’ unfiltered. Helena is not who the world thinks she is. The problem with all of it is I don’t know if she really was the gentle person she presents to the world, or if she’s the crazy lady I see now. Did love do this to her, or was she always bat-shit crazy. I wouldn’t be surprised either way. I’m leaning toward the theory that her persona is a fraud, because there is nothing about the way he loves her and speak highly of her, even in the middle of her crazy that would make her this way.
I plop back on the couch, sighing at the sure luxury of it, and rub my chin since I’m not minding my business at the moment.
Did Helena fool Theodore too and he didn't figure it out until it was too late?
“Enough of that,” I tell myself, then cuss when I realize the phone distracted me from getting my drink.
I wake up the laptop to check a wine fact but see the date and time.
“Shit. Shit. Shit!” I’m supposed to report to work in ten minutes, but the days have run together.
After a superman change, I’m power walking to my station eight minutes later and swipe my card just in time. I guess there is a perk to living above the bar. At least now, the crazy and powerful men of the night will distract me from my problems and my now very unnecessary crush.
“River, the gentleman over there wants a Baileys with coffee and your phone number,” Donnovan tells me with a wink.
I smile because I know my admirer is watching and start making the drink. I’m not surprised that a man is trying to get my phone number. There’s at least one every night, but Mr. Kelly has a strict policy forbidding such things. They know it and we know it.
“Tell him I have to decline, but I’ve given him an extra shot for his troubles.”
I’ve learned quickly that you have to turn down this caliber of men with a counteroffer. A simple ‘no, thank you’ doesn’t work for them. They’re used to buying what they want and bullying their way into the rest.
The night is coming to a close and my tips look pretty good for a Monday night. There are usually more people when there is business to be had, but I guess those dealings aren’t happening tonight.
Donnovan comes back to close out his clients’ tabs and this is the time where he hits me with the latest information he’s heard.
“So, apparently, the Kellys were on rocky ground, but now they’re on a little getaway. Honeymoon style.” He leans in with his hazel eyes sparkling. “Imagine being a fly on that wall.”
I laugh with him like I always do instead of telling him I am that fly and it’s not fun. A getaway would explain his absence. Not that it’s any of my business.
I have most of the bar clean when I realize the trash is backing up. “Have you seen Ian? He's not helping like he usually does.”
Donnovan nods. “I heard he’s sick. Looks like you’re on your own for now. I’ll be able to help once I’m done with this.”
He’s my favorite coworker because he’s so happy to be gainfully employed that he’s always pleasant and doesn’t mind chipping in, even if it’s not his job.
“Thanks, Donny. Since the bar is closed, I’m going to take this trash out so I can continue shutting down.”
“Okay, I should be ready to help you in ten.”
He flashes me a dimpled smile. Donnovan isn’t flirting, but when you’re six-two with waves, dimples, a beautiful smile, and dark brown skin, it always looks like you’re flirting.
I drag out two of the bags and throw one into the dumpster and then the other. When I turn to go back inside, one of the guys who chased me last week pushes me against the wall. My stomach drops as my fear kicks in, making me struggle to get away from him.
“Can’t run now. Can you?” he taunts as he twists my arm.
“What do you want?” I cry out in pain. He frowns, showing his crooked teeth as he slams me against the wall.
“You know what we want, bitch.”
“I’m not Mario. Go find him.”
He punches me in the stomach, knocking the air from my lungs. My urge to run is doused by the way he’s holding me. I’m coughing, trying to catch my breath when he slams my head back against the wall. Tears sting my eyes. I hate being helpless.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.” He gets in my face, smelling like cigarettes and cologne and squeezes my jaw until I’m scared he’ll break it.
“You know.”
“Stop messing around, Von. Let’s just take her as collateral like Surly said,” his shorter but more pleasant looking partner says.
“Let her go, now.”
Relief hits me so hard that the sound of Theodore’s voice has me close to tears. Even with the steel in it, it’s the best thing I’ve heard.
Von pulls out a gun and aims it at Theodore. He doesn’t flinch, fear doesn’t register for not even a second, but his anger intensifies. He’s in Von’s space in two steps.
“If you’re going to pull a gun, be a man and use it. He grabs it by the barrel and brings it up to his head. But you better fucking kill me!”
Von turns whiter than he already was but tries to stand his ground. “Surly wants us to take her, so that’s what we’ll do.”
Theodore twists the gun out of Von’s grip and uses the butt to hit the friend who tried to jump him. Von shakes himself out of his stupor and swings at Theodore but misses. Theodore squares his shoulders and something in his demeanor changes. His eyes are darker and the look in them is not anything I’ve seen before. This must be Trunk .
His lips tip up in a partial smirk as he dodges Von’s blows. “Do you know why they called me Trunk?”
“I don’t give a shit, old man.”
This time, when Von swings, Theodore catches it and twists his arm in a weird way until bone cracks and Von’s scream echoes in the alley.
“Because an elephant’s trunk is so sensitive that it can pick up tiny items with precision…” His elephant ring shines in the low-light when he bends to avoid another attacker’s advance. He rises with hard body blows to the new guy that make him look like a heavyweight trying to win a championship. The guy passes out after a knockout hit and Theodore cracks his neck to focus on Von. “It’s a useful tool.” When Von tries to run, Theodore wraps his arm around his neck, holding him from behind. Von drops to his knees as the tears flow and his hand hangs grossly from his broken wrist. Theodore’s knee adds pressure to Von’s spine, making him yelp. “When necessary, it can be a dangerous weapon.”
The last words come out in a near growl and damn near scares me although I’m the person he’s defending.
His dark blue eyes find me in the low light. “Go inside, River.”
My mama didn’t raise me to be an idiot, so I turn abruptly and run inside. The smile on Donnovan’s face drops once he sees me. His hands fall to my shoulders as he studies me with concern. His sweet demeanor pulls a few tears out of me.
“Are you okay?” he asks. “It wasn’t that guy…”
I shake my head. “Surly’s men.”
He shakes his head in disgust, but we both know the only thing he can do about it. He pulls out his phone, and I allow him since I don’t want to admit I’ve already seen him.
“Mr. Kelly? River was attacked…” He stops talking to listen to the other end. “Got it. He’s on his way. He told me to leave you in his office. Don’t worry about the bar, Riv. I got it. I hate what that man is doing to this town.”
Donnovan leaves me in the office with the door closed and a glass of whiskey like he was instructed. My hand shakes as I bring the glass to my lips. A few sips warm my body and I begin to worry something happened to him. The back doorknob jingles as it’s being unlocked. Just in case, I scurry to the front door, ready to run if anyone other than Theodore or Andrea appears from the other side.
Theodore comes in, his hair is disheveled, and his white t-shirt and light jeans have blood on them. I open my mouth to speak, but he shakes his head.
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want me to answer.” Clamping my mouth shut, I nod and attempt to take another sip of whiskey. “Come here,” he orders, and I follow said order without rebuttal.
He doesn’t touch me, but his eyes survey my face and exposed skin, looking for major damage. I’m assuming I have a little bruising, that's it. His jaw is still set firm like he’s permanently pissed off and it’s not changing.
“Go to the elevator and type in 3675433.” I do what he says, and the doors open. He steps inside and jerks his head to the right. “Let’s go.”
This elevator is smaller than the one I use, and it requires me to stand a little closer to him. Silence stretches between us as both relive our own versions of what the fuck just happened. I don’t care that he was supposed to be on a getaway with his wife. I’m just happy he showed up in time to keep me from being kidnapped.
“The building is your safe haven. You’re supposed to stay inside at all fucking times until we tell you otherwise.”
“I just didn’t think…”
“You’re fucking correct. You didn’t think.”
The door opens, and I step out first. “Look. I’m sure your irritation is justified, but can you just…not.” I hug myself, still chilled from the possibilities of what could have happened.
“Seeing you in danger scared the shit out of me. I don’t like that feeling.”
Tears sting my eyes again as I relive being grabbed. “Yeah, me either, especially since it was happening to me!”
“I understand that, River, but I’m allowed to fucking care!” The tears I was fighting spill, and he runs his fingers through his hair. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You don’t need a lecture right now.” He reaches for me. “Did they try anything sexual?” I shake my head. “Are you okay? I mean, physically.”
“I-I think so?” I respond through sobs. “Are you okay?”
I reach for his hands and study them while he looks at my face. There is a weird look in his gaze, but he drops it, and we both laugh a little.
“We can’t check each other for injuries at the same time. Go take a shower, then meet me out here so I can get a better look at the damage.”
“Okay.” I accept the order and turn towards my room. I’ll be more than happy to wash away any touch from Von.