Chapter Ten-Angel
CHAPTER TEN-ANGEL
F or some reason, September always reminds me of fall even though it doesn’t start till the end of the month.
Still, I’m over here wanting pumpkin spice and apple cider donuts, but Koukla is dressed like she’s going to the fucking beach.
She’s wearing this bright white halter top that stops about two inches of skin above the long, gauzy, patchwork skirt she’s wearing in a myriad of patterns, all with white, gold, and burgundy in them.
She looks good. Really good.
The skirt is long and flowy, so it should be more than decent. But the tantalizing glimpses of leg that peek through the slits in both sides make it sexy instead of Sunday school.
With her tits propped up by the top and that skirt hanging low on her hips, revealing her sexy as fuck belly button, I don’t know where to look first.
Giselle’s fashion sense is something between wild child and sex siren, and it has me all but panting for her.
The women I typically date don’t ever look that soft or comfortable in their skin. They don’t look free. They look hard and put together. Like they put in work to cover up what they see as flaws.
All plastic and cosmetics. Fake.
But not her. My Koukla is real. She is authentic.
She just is . And that is more than enough for me.
She’s perfect.
She has this thin chain around her waist, and there are tiny beads dangling from it. Every time she moves the light catches it and my pulse starts to race.
I want to see her in nothing but that.
Wanna feel the cool metal against her warm skin.
Taste it, too.
I grind my teeth as we walk past a group of assholes who don’t know better than to stare at my girl like she’s a juicy fucking cheeseburger, and it’s lunchtime.
I growl at them, and they jump where they stand, each of them looking away just before I lose my shit.
We’re at some mall she found on the way to Nico and Anna’s house. I don’t want to be here, but she does, so here we are.
Giselle is busy picking out a gift for Junior. I already told her the kid has everything, but she insists she can’t go empty-handed.
So, yeah, here I am, in a fucking shopping mall in the suburbs at eleven AM. The place is crawling with people, which I think is odd for a weekday.
But it’s not. She reminds me folks are still school shopping.
It’s late because we stopped by her old apartment. Little Doll insisted on going there first, and sucker that I am, I oblige her.
For the first time in my life, I want to make someone else happy, and when I say yes, she smiles. She’s happy. So, yeah, I do what she wants.
“Put it on here,” I hand my platinum card to the cashier after she rings everything up.
“Oh, but I wanted to pay,” Giselle starts, but I just stare at her, and she gives in.
I put my card back in my wallet and take the bag from the cashier, then I turn to Giselle.
“Okay, I just have to stop at one more store. You don’t have to come with me.”
I look at her like she’s nuts.
“Of course, I am coming with you.”
“But I, uh, need some personal things,” she murmurs, and her cheeks go pink.
“That’s fine. Let’s go,” I tell her and gesture for her to lead the way.
We stop at a lingerie store, and I should wait outside. Really, I should. I mean it’s kind of pushy of me to just follow her inside while she’s picking out panties and shit, but I already know Victoria’s Secret .
Plus, I don’t want her out of my sight. Besides, I see a few men inside the store, so it’s not like I’ll stand out. There are boyfriends and husbands carrying their girls’ shit and I grin.
Once upon a time, I’d have called them suckers. Now I want to be them. I want my woman to claim me like theirs did. She just needs a little convincing, and I can do that.
I frown when a guy with a measuring tape around his neck approaches Giselle while she’s looking at bras.
The fuck?
He steps up to Giselle, grinning like a stupid fuck as he checks out her big tits in her tight little top.
“Hi there, I bet you haven’t been measured in a while,” he says still not noticing me.
“Oh, I’m okay. I know my size,” she tells him, and goes back to looking through a drawer filled with bras.
I step back, giving this asshole the chance to do the right thing. But he don’t stop.
“You know the wrong size bra can lead to all kinds of physical ailments. Back pain. Sore nipples. I can help with that if you step into this dressing room,” he says, leering at her, and now I know I’m gonna fuck him up.
“Excuse me?” Giselle narrows her eyes, but I don’t give her a chance to tell this prick off.
Yes, he has a lesson coming. But that’s my job.
I grab this fucker’s neck.
“Eep!” he squeaks, but he can’t talk.
I have my thumb pressing over his vocal cords.
Her eyes go wide, and she bites her lip, looking around to see if anyone notices. They don’t. I make sure I smile so it looks like me and assface are friends.
“Make sure you use this when you’re ready to pay. Me and Jimmy here are gonna go have a chat.”
“Oh, um, Angel you don’t have to?—”
I drop a quick kiss on her lips and wink.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Koukla. And don’t leave this store without me.”
“Okay, Angel,” she complies, and I fucking love it.
I tighten the hand I have wrapped around Jimmy’s skinny neck.
“Um, sir, you can’t do this. I am just doing my job,” Jimmy whines and tries to explain as I walk him towards the back of the store.
I shove him inside the employee restroom, and I lock it, blocking the exit.
“You always so fucking creepy with women customers, Jimmy?”
“No! I swear it.”
“I see, so it’s just my girl you thought it would be alright to get creepy with. Is that it?”
“No! No! I am creepy with everyone, I swear.”
I frown harder. And I growl.
“Oh God, Don’t hurt me,” Jimmy drops to his knees, and I can see a wet spot spreading across the front of his khaki slacks.
“Fucking gross,” I growl, then I slap him across the face. “Get up, you slimy fucking weasel,” I tell him, and he obeys, still sniveling.
“Now, what you’re gonna do is you’re gonna quit this job.”
“But I need my job?—”
“You need your life more, right?” I ask and he whimpers.
What a piece of shit.
“I don’t like you, Jimmy. You’re a lowlife, hitting on women who are way out of your league, making them uncomfortable, and hiding behind your job to do it.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”
“Don’t be sorry, Jimmy. Be fucking better. Now, I’m gonna let you walk out of here, but if I ever catch you making comments like that to another woman, you won’t be able to walk anymore, understand?”
“I understand! I understand!”
“Good. Now get the fuck out of here. And don’t come back to this mall again.”
“Thank you. Thank you!”
I open the door and step through it, finding Giselle on the other side, looking worried. Her eyes widen as a pee-stained Jimmy comes running out after me, his face a little flushed from his crying and the place I smacked him, but he’s no worse for wear.
“Excuse me, s-sorry,” he mumbles and mutters as he races out of the store,
Giselle turns to me.
“What happened there?”
“Nothing. Jimmy needed some job counseling,” I tell her, shrugging my shoulders.
“I see,” she replies, and she looks like she’s fighting a grin.
So fucking perfect.
“Are you ready?” I ask, moving closer, breathing her in.
She always smells so good.
“Yeah, um, thanks,” she says, handing me back my credit card, and I take the shopping bag from her.
“You didn’t have to do that. I have my own money,” she says, probably for the tenth time.
“I know you do.”
“Then why’d you pay for that?”
“Cause I wanted to,” I answer, placing my hand on the small of her back as we walk to the parking garage.
The trip to Nico’s house takes another fifteen minutes, and Giselle sits quietly. I wonder if I did something wrong, but I push that thought away.
Doubting myself won’t help me get her, so I need to focus on what I know and what I can control. I want Giselle. I need this woman in my life. And I want her to know I’m serious.
Whatever she needs to get there, I am going to provide it.
“Wow! Is this it?” she says, her eyes going wide.
The house is big, and yeah, it’s nice. The cul de sac is quiet and safe, and I should know, I mean, I did all the security myself.
“Yeah. Wait for me.”
I open the door for her. Her eyes are still on the house as I take her hand and pull her until she is standing. Her soft body meets mine in a whisper of a touch that sends shivers down my spine.
Visions of her by my side, us returning from some trip to our house, our home, fill my head, and fuck, I have never wanted anything as badly as I want that.
That vision, That dream. Me and her, together.
“Come on, Koukla,” I whisper, taking her hand and leading her to the door.
Inside, she’s whisked away from me in a frenzy of womanly squeals, hugs, and tears.
“’Sup,” Luc greets me with a nod.
Apparently, Maria had to be a part of this reunion of friends. They’re set up in the living room, and Mrs. Pirillo, Nico’s longtime housekeeper walks in with the man of the hour, Junior, in her arms.
“Oh my God, Anna! He is perfect!”
Giselle covers her mouth, big tears running down her face. All three women are crying, and Nico and Luc look just as alarmed as I do. But then Sisi turns her head, catching me staring, and she does something I don’t expect.
She smiles. It’s wide and bright and it’s all for me. Then she mouths thank you as she moves to take the baby.
Thank you.
It’s a fucking first, and I feel it down to my toes. I mean, I’m not the one people say thank you to. Usually, when I’m around, it means someone is about to get hurt or worse.
But here she is. Thanking me. And I feel another chunk in the armor I have around my heart give way.
To her. Only to her. All to her.
I am what I am out of necessity. And after the guys are convinced there will be no more tears forthcoming, we retreat to Nico’s office to discuss business.
“Well, what have you found out?” Nico asks.
“The explosion was deliberate,” Luc answers, and I grit my teeth.
“We sure?” I ask.
He nods and anger rises inside me like the tide.
“Who?”
“That’s not so certain. We have a lot of enemies to begin with, but closing the ports, and the aftermath of taking down the Sanchez cartel, well, it left a lot of people feeling salty,” the Council explains.
“Give me a fucking target,” I snarl.
“Easy,” Nico says. “I know you want answers, but for right now we need everyone on high alert. Tell all your men. I want double the guards on our private homes, on our women at all times, and at the Den.”
“Done,” I reply, and I am already texting my top guys to see it done.
I’d sent two teams to train at Sigma International Security under Josef Aziz and I know they are the men for the job. I spend the next ten minutes creating alpha and beta teams and assigning them to Anna, Maria, and Giselle.
I need to explain this to her. To let her know what’s happening.
It’s not the only surprise I have for her today, and it’s probably not the one that will freak her out the most.
Baby steps.
Nico is saying something about Margaret O’Doyle, and I am barely listening until he snaps his fingers at me.
“Yo, I need you to go up there and represent us at this party in a few weeks. Luc is tied up with some legislation we’re trying to get passed for our new real estate project. We’re teaming up with Volkov Industries to develop some land over in Bayonne. He can’t spare the time.”
My glance flicks to Luc, and he dips his chin, confirming what Nico said. I knew it was true, but still.
“Why can’t you go?” I ask.
Nico raises his eyebrows. I don’t usually question the king. But he also knows I hate black tie events.
True, my cousin wouldn’t ask me unless he needed me. But still. I have to at least try to get out of it.
“Anna doesn’t want to travel away from the baby just yet and I am not bringing him there. We need to show people the O’Doyles are our allies. Now, you can bring your girl or don’t, I don’t give a fuck. I can tell you, it’s gonna be quite the affair. Margaret has a taste for both men and women, and she is all about celebrating her uprising. So, plenty of willing women if you’re looking for something new?—”
He's trying to goad me. And it works.
“Fuck you,” I snap at him.
“Uh oh. Things not good on that front?” Nico asks.
“Yeah, bro, I thought you were going to Florida to bring her back to get her out of your system. Business as usual, right?” Luc asks.
These two pricks are trying to provoke me into giving something away. I know they are. And I know why. But it doesn’t make me any less pissed at them.
Douchebags.
I’ve always been a keep it casual kind of guy when it comes to the ladies. But casual doesn’t work with her.
Fucking my Koukla didn’t get her out of my system. In fact, it only worked her deeper into it. I’m a fucking addict, and right now, I’m jonesing for a fix.
“You want me to say it? Fine. My looking days have been over since the moment that woman tossed a pint of beer in my face.”
“Well, then I guess congratulations are in order, cousin,” he says, and the motherfucker grins.
I sigh and accept the drink Luc pours and hands to me. The three of us raise our glasses and we toss them back.
I feel amped up after we finish up talking and walk into the living room where the three women, and one cute baby, are all chatting.
Like I’m getting ready to step into the ring.
When Koukla turns her head, and those celery green eyes of hers sparkle up at me. They are full of emotion, and I feel it echo deep inside me.
Now, I understand why I feel like this.
Like a gladiator entering the circle.
This is life or death. It’s the one fight I can’t lose.
She might try to deny it, but there is no getting away from me. All those pitiful excuses are meaningless. They are nothing.
Giselle Vega is mine. Now it’s time I let her know.