Chapter 10 #2
“Oh, shut up.” Melissa waves her free hand in a dismissive gesture.
“You’re my best friend, and you’ve always handled situations like a badass.
The doctor assured me my face will heal up just fine.
You won’t even be able to tell anything ever happened.
I’m more worried about your condition.” She points at my stomach meaningfully.
“You haven’t had any issues with your little passenger, have you?
Does Maximo know yet?” she adds in a hushed voice.
“Everything there seems to be fine, and no, I haven’t told him yet. The timing just hasn’t been right. Our current situation with these Russians causing all these issues doesn’t really lend itself to celebration, you know?”
“Is that really why you haven’t told him?” she prods me.
“That’s certainly part of it. But between you and me, yeah, I’m still…
I guess I’m worried that despite everything he says, and everything he does, that Maximo isn’t really as serious about me as he seems. I mean, we’ve known each other for a couple of months, and he’s asked me to marry him. Who does that?”
“Crazy people. Intense people.” Melissa starts counting them on the fingers of her free hand. “Soldiers heading off to war, my parents…”
“Wait, what?” I interrupt her.
“Did I never tell you that? Yeah, my parents eloped after knowing each other for three months. They both said they just knew they were meant to be together forever.”
“When my dad would talk about his memories of my mother, he said the same thing. I mean, they were together for a couple of years before they got married, but he says he knew early on and he was just waiting because he didn’t want to overwhelm her.”
“When I told you before that Maximo might just be love-bombing you, I might…I might have just been talking about my own experience with men,” Melissa admits.
“You know how hard I fell for Mike our sophomore year of college and what it did to me when he dumped me. I hope that you and Maximo are like my parents and not like me and Mike.”
“I love him,” I assure her. “I mean, I’m in deep, Mel. I fucking adore him. It’s not just his lifestyle or his character or his body…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Melissa scoffs.
“Sure, the physical part can be overwhelming. He’s the first man who seems to know my body better than I do. That’s how I got into this situation.” I smile as I place my free hand on my stomach. “I get so eager when I’m with him and my good sense flies right out the window.
“But it’s more than all that,” I continue.
“I like… no, I love who I am with him. Maybe it’s because my background has been in the service industry helping my dad with Monroe’s, but I’ve been treated like a servant my entire life.
Not by my father. I mean, he was nothing but wonderful.
I mean the customers. It didn’t matter if I was hosting, or serving, or running back of house, I always felt looked down on. Does that make sense?”
“Connie, I’ve waited tables. I know exactly how it makes you feel.”
“I know you do. You’ve definitely lived it, too.
I’ve always admired you, though,” I explain to her.
“Because you have this presence in every room you’ve walked into ever since high school.
I think it’s because you were one of the top students, and you always knew you were the smartest person in the room.
You always outscored me on every test we took. ”
“That’s not true, Connie. You would’ve done just as well as me if you hadn’t spent so much time running Monroe’s with your father. I had advantages you didn’t have, like rich parents and free time for extra-curriculars.”
“I would hardly call your parents rich.” I roll my eyes. “I used to think they were until I saw how Maximo lives…”
“Well, not rich, but well enough off that I didn’t have to work until my hands bled.”
“That was just in the winter when I had to fill in for the dishwasher.” Even as I protest, though, Melissa pulls the hand she’s holding up to eye level and then rubs her thumb over the scars on my knuckles.
“I’m glad he makes you feel special, Connie. You are, and you deserve a man that loves you like this one does. I mean, look at the bodyguards he’s assigned to you. How does he even pay these guys? Are they just always with him somehow?”
“You know I never actually asked,” I say with a laugh. “Maximo runs an investment firm. I suppose he just has his crews on salary somehow. Maybe they are just security?”
“I wonder if their benefits are any good.” Melissa sighs.
“I might have to take Trenton up on his dinner offer. I doubt I’ll be getting many more for a while.
” Melissa waves her free hand at her swollen eye and nose, as a tear trickles down from her good eye.
She wipes it away quickly, then forces a smile.
“I’m getting weepy. Don’t mind me. It’s just the pain medicine. ”
“Oh, Mel. You’re beautiful and you’re going to be fine. You said the doctor told you that you would be good as new. You’ll shake this off in no time, and you and I can go out dancing when you feel up to it. I’ll bring Maximo. Maybe he can introduce you to someone…”
“I saw how Trenton looked at me,” Melissa sniffs. “And my parents. Even you, when you came in the door. The pity, the disgust…”
“There was no disgust. If there was pity, it’s only because we love you and I feel responsible for your pain and suffering.
Your parents and I can’t stand seeing you hurting.
But think about it, Trenton doesn’t know you.
If he was hitting on you in your hospital bed, you can’t look all that bad, right? ”
“I haven’t looked in the mirror since I woke up from the surgery,” she admits. “But I did last night. With my nose all flattened I looked like my mom’s Persian cat!”
“Mr. Bungle? The black one with the weird weepy eye?” I clarify before I burst out laughing. “Oh Mel, it’s not that bad. I didn’t see you last night, but I’m sure since they’ve set your nose, you don’t look like that wonky-eyed cat!”
“God, I hope not. It’s all I could think of last night, when I wasn’t worrying about you.
Before they took me in for surgery, I looked just like Sloth from the Goonies.
I actually tried yelling, ‘Hey you guys,’ at my reflection in the mirror.
I thought about doing it to you when you came in, but I figured you would just think I had gone crazy. ”
“I already knew you were crazy.” I squeeze her hand. “I would’ve lost it if you had hit us with that when we came in to see you.”
“Now I wish I had done it,” she says with a heavy sigh. Her grip on my hand loosens, and I lay her hand down on top of the sheets.
“Are you getting tired?” I ask her. “When did they get you into the room? Just a few hours ago?”
“It’s hard to remember.” Her good eye flutters at me.
“I am sleepy. Whatever they’re giving me for pain is knocking me on my ass.
Oh! Before I fall asleep or forget, reach in that little closet there behind you.
” She raises her hand and points. “When the ambulance guys picked me up, I grabbed your purse and phone too. I probably should’ve given them to the police, but I was in rough shape and wasn’t thinking clearly.
I just knew I had to give them back to you as soon as I saw you. ”
“Thank you! Last night the thought crossed my mind that I needed to cancel my debit card. I had no idea where my purse had gone. I was sure someone had run off with it. I can’t believe after everything you still had the presence of mind to grab this for me. You’re the best.”
“It was the least I could do,” Melissa replies faintly. When I turn to her, I see that her good eye has given up its fluttering and is completely closed. “If I pass out, I’m sorry,” she mumbles.
“I’ll leave you to rest for now but call me when you wake up and let me know when they’re going to let you go home. If you need anything, I’ll be right here, okay?” When her only reply is the soft sigh, I pull my phone out of my purse and send her a text.
I left to let you rest. Text or call me when you wake up. Let me know when you can leave, or if you need anything at all. I’ll see you soon.
I hear her phone “ding” from the little table by her bed, then I stand up and make my way to the door as quietly as I can. When I crack it open and step outside, Joey and Tony both turn to nod at me. Trenton is standing nearby, talking to Melissa’s parents.
“Everything okay out here?” I ask them.
“Yeah,” Trenton drawls. “Just shooting the shit while you ladies have a chance to catch up. Maximo’s been sending some messages, but everything is fine on his end. You about ready to head out?”
“Almost.” I look around the hallway before turning to Mr. and Mrs. Neilan. “She was really sleepy, so she’s napping now. She mentioned that a detective came to get her statement last night. Did he mention leaving an officer?”
Mr. Neilan nods. “They said that we should call if we had any concerns at all, but that they didn’t think there was any further danger to Melissa. They thought…they said that you seemed to be the primary target. Mel just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“At least one of us is staying with her at all times, though,” Mrs. Neilan adds. “We’ll keep a good eye on her and make sure nothing happens to our little girl.”
“We’re glad to see that you have some security taking care of you,” Mr. Neilan says as he waves a hand at the men gathered around me.
“You boys take good care of her. She’s like a daughter to us as well,” Mrs. Neilan tells them.
“We will,” Trenton reassures her. “The police are probably right that there’s no threat to Melissa, but out of an abundance of caution I just made a phone call to an associate of mine, a guy named Jamie Nicolo.
He’s going to have a couple of his boys come over and stand guard in shifts until Melissa gets released. ”
“Jamie Nicolo.” I try to remember where I’ve heard that name before. “Isn’t he another one of the men Maximo called in to watch the mansion after…” I started to say, “after it was shot up,” but decided to keep that to myself rather than scare Mr. and Mrs. Neilan any further.
“He works under me,” Trenton says, sidestepping the question.
“And he’s got a group of fellows that work under him.
I’m not as confident as the police that no one will fuck with Melissa.
Pardon my language,” he adds as an aside to her parents.
“The people that tried to take you might think she’s a good way to get to you. ”
“You don’t really think anyone would try to use Melissa to get to Constance, do you?” Mrs. Neilan gasps as Mr. Neilan’s brow furrows.
“I would, if it were me.” Trenton shrugs. “She’s a friend to Constance, and that makes her a friend to me. Tony, you stay here until Jamie’s crew gets here. I’ll have them bring two cars, so you’ll have a ride home. Sound good?”
“I’ve got it covered,” Tony agrees. “I won’t budge from this door until I get relieved.”
Trenton pats his arm. “I doubt there will be any trouble here, but I’m not taking any chances.”
Joey snorts and shakes his head but doesn’t say anything.
“What’s that about?” I ask him directly.
“Trenton just likes her,” Joey replies, jerking his head toward the door to Melissa’s room.
“That’s none of your fucking business,” Trenton practically snarls. “I don’t like loose ends or taking unnecessary risks. That all right with you?” he presses Joey.
Joey holds up both his hands with just a hint of a mocking grin but doesn’t actually apologize.
“You’re a mouthy bastard for a guy who rarely talks,” Trenton huffs at him before turning back to Melissa’s parents. “If you guys need anything, just have Melissa let Constance know. We’ll take care of anything she needs.”
“Thank you, Trenton,” Mrs. Neilan says as Mr. Neilan holds out his hand and shakes Trenton’s. “And you, Connie…” She turns her attention to me and gathers me into a hug. “Thank you for coming. Your friendship means the world to her. You were all she talked about last night.”
“Take care of yourself,” Mr. Neilan tells me as he sticks out his hand to shake mine as well.
“If you need anything, text Melissa to let us know, you understand?” He gives a meaningful look to the men with me.
“I know this Maximo Luciani that you’ve taken up with.
From everything I’ve heard, he’s an upstanding businessman and a class act.
But I don’t know about all the company he keeps. ”
With that pronouncement, Melissa’s parents walk back into her room and close the door behind them.
Tony takes up a position with his arms crossed in front of him just beside the door, looking for all the world like a bouncer outside a high-class nightclub.
Trenton backhands Joey lightly on his arm and then turns to address me.
“You ready to head out? Maximo should be done with his meetings soon. We can pick him up and then figure out dinner.”
“That sounds good. Thank you for setting up a guard for Melissa. It should have occurred to me to ask Maximo about that last night, but with everything going on…”
“Don’t beat yourself up.” Trenton laughs. “The cops dropped the ball, and Maximo has a lot of help keeping things running. Nobody thinks of everything on their own. I’m here to help you, too.”
“You sure this isn’t just because you like her?” I tease him.
“That’s part of it,” he freely admits. “Maybe I’m a big softie where women are concerned.
Or maybe it’s like I said, and if I was trying to get to you, I would go after your friend.
Maximo seems to think that kidnapping you was to get to him, but I’m not so sure.
If you ask me, it’s you they’re after, and you that they want to hurt. ”
“You might be right.” I shrug. “It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other, though, isn’t it? Whether they’re after me or Maximo, hurting one of us hurts us both.”
“Yeah, which is why we need to get back to the office and pick him up. I’m sure he’s safe there, but I’ll feel better when I can keep my eyes on both of you at the same time. Come on, let’s go,” he adds as we get to the elevators and he hits the button to summon it to our floor.
I can feel his paranoia seeping into me as we wait for the elevator doors to open. Joey and Trenton move to stand in front of me when it dings and arrives at our floor, as though they’re worried an ambush might spring out at us.
They continue being overly cautious all the way back to the parking deck, neither of them relaxing until we’re on the streets heading towards the Luciani Financial offices.