Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Riley
Knowing that Fionn feels the same way I do is crazy to me.
I was ready to give up on finding someone and then poof.
Here he is, telling me the things I want to hear.
But I don’t want him or any of the family getting hurt from dealing with Playboy.
I wish I’d never met him. There should be a way to see someone’s asshole meter when you meet them.
“Riley?”
I look up at Fionn and he’s smiling.
“So is that a yes? You’ll come and stay with me?”
“I’m just worried you’ll change your mind.”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out. Come live with me and see.”
“Okay. But I have to bring Daphne.”
“I can hear you both and you’re making me sound like a puppy,” Daphne whispers as she giggles.
Fionn and I laugh as we hear someone bark. Daphne squints as she looks around the room. Not even I can tell who did it. But it’s fucking funny.
“We’ll help you get all your stuff to the property after you close up for the day.”
“Who are you?” Daphne frowns at the guy who walks into the coffee shop and pokes him in the stomach. I think she would’ve poked his chest, but the guys so big that that’s all she can reach. “What the fuck? Are you made of stone? And holy shit, your mama made you eat your veggies growing up.”
Everyone laughs.
“I’m Ares Athanasiou, that’s Kostas Nikolaidis and that one coming in is my brother Eros.”
“So you’re Greek gods?”
“I might be one to my wife.” Ares laughs.
“Might be what to your wife?” a woman asks as she comes into the shop.
“A Greek god.” He smiles as he kisses her.
“Um. Okay. I’m Sakura, Ares’ wife.” She chuckles as she shakes mine and Daphne’s hands.
“I poked your husband in the stomach. Are you sure he’s real? I’m pretty sure I broke my finger.”
Sakura laughs. “The Athanasious are…special.”
“That’s one way to put it.” Celestino laughs.
Everyone that stayed with us at Espresso Joy orders different coffees.
Graínne comes back over with a tray of sandwiches and pastries.
I love how everyone comes to help with no questions, and no one grumbles about being here.
I love my siblings, but they like to grumble. At me…at our dad…at each other.
“Why don’t you go up and pack your stuff. When you’re done, I’ll pack mine,” I say to Daphne.
“Okay, are you sure?”
“Yeah, I think I can handle whoever comes in. If not, I’ll let you know.”
“I’m so glad you found Fionn,” Daphne says as she hugs me.
“Now it’s your turn, you know you deserve to be happy, right?”
“I had my chance and I lost him. I’m okay being alone. I promise.”
I know she’s lying, but this isn’t the time to push her.
When she lost Adrian, I honestly didn’t know if she would survive.
He was her person and he treated her like a queen.
I hope one day she finds someone again. If anyone deserves love, it’s my bestie.
I watch her go upstairs to pack. Fionn comes over and hugs me.
“Thank you for not fighting me on coming to live with me,” he says softly as he kisses my neck.
I turn and face him. “Thank you for wanting to take care of me.”
“I plan on taking care of you for the rest of our lives.”
“When I met Playboy, I just thought he was a narcissistic asshole and I knew I never wanted to see him again. I also assumed that he would be going back to England. So I wouldn’t have any problems. Apparently, I was wrong.”
I hug him tightly. This is where I’m supposed to be, and Fionn’s my home.
I’m surprised to see more customers coming into the coffee shop.
I didn’t expect to have many customers since our grand opening is tomorrow.
Today was just to make sure we have everything we need.
And to make sure the equipment is working.
I look around and see Fionn’s family and people that are here visiting Lake Renegade.
I wipe the tears that are rolling down my face.
When I told Daphne about my dream of owning a coffee shop, she never laughed or told me I shouldn’t leave my job for it.
She said I’d know when the time was right. And that’s exactly how it happened.
I don’t know if I’ll miss being a lawyer, but I think that even if I do?
Espresso Joy will remind me of what I have now.
The freedom to live more stress-free and be happy.
I loved being a lawyer, but the stress of everyday life was a lot.
And now that Daphne will be working with me? It’s an even better decision.
I can’t believe my dream has finally come true.
I see Daphne coming back down with her suitcases.
“I’m going to head upstairs to pack my stuff. I don’t have a lot, so it won’t take a lot of time,” I say to Fionn.
“Do you need me to help?” he asks.
“I might when I’m done. Your muscles will come in handy to bring all my stuff down.”
“I’ll come up in thirty minutes.” He laughs.
“You think I can pack in thirty minutes?”
“Yep.”
I laugh as I head upstairs. I look around at the apartment I only got to live in for a month. It was the perfect place for me. And part of me wishes I had more time here. But I also know that if Playboy were to come after me? I wouldn’t be able to really defend myself here.
“You were a great first apartment for me,” I say to the apartment.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I hear a voice say from my bedroom.
I turn and see Playboy standing in the doorway, smirking at me.
“How the fuck did you get in here?”
The look on his face as he’s walking towards me, scares me. And that fear doubles when he pulls out a gun. I open my mouth to scream.
“If you scream, I’ll make sure that’s the last sound you make,” he says as he points the gun at me.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask as I try to look around for something to defend myself with.
“I told you earlier, you’re mine and I don’t like having to repeat myself. I’m glad you’re already packing up. We can head back to my place when you’re done.”
Does he really think I’m just going to leave with him?
What fucking twilight zone have I fallen into?
I look at the clock. Fionn said he’d come up in thirty minutes.
It’s been fifteen now. But I don’t want him to come up, I have no doubt Playboy will shoot him.
I still don’t know how he got up here and how Daphne didn’t see him.
There’s only one way in and that’s the door that connects the apartment to the coffee shop.
“If you’re hoping that pretty boy will come and save you, you’re stupid. If he comes up, I’ll just shoot him and you’ll still be mine. So don’t be dumb.”
He shoots a bullet into my couch. I’m not sure why it didn’t make a loud noise, but it didn’t.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Just making sure you know this is a real gun. Don’t want you thinking it’s fake. And in case you’re wondering, your bedroom window was open and the fire escape was the perfect way in.”
Holy fuck, he’s more unhinged than I originally thought.
Fucking fire escape. It’s supposed to be there to help me escape from a fire.
Not to let in psychopaths. I’m still trying to figure out a way to escape when I see some smoke coming from the couch.
All of a sudden, the couch bursts into flames.
I take advantage of the fact that it startles Playboy and I lunge for the front door.
I hear him swearing and calling me names as I run down the stairs, slamming into whoever it is on the other side of the door to the shop.
“Whoa. Where’s the fire?” Eros laughs. The smile on his face disappears when he looks at my face.
“P-Playboy is upstairs in the apartment. A-and the couch caught fire after he shot his gun at it,” I stutter out.
Eros hands me over to Fionn who holds me tight. I watch Eros, Ares and Celestino head upstairs.
“He has a gun,” I remind them as I sob.
“You’re okay, love,” Fionn whispers as he holds me tighter.
“I swear I didn’t see or hear him when I was up there,” Daphne cries as she comes over to me.
“He was waiting in my room. He said he came up the fire escape.” I sob as we hold each other.
“I’m so sorry.” She sobs and hugs me tighter.
“I’m just glad that he didn’t attack you.” I sniffle.
We hear footsteps coming back down.
“The fire did some damage to the living room and into one of the bedrooms. But Playboy wasn’t up there. The window by the fire escape was open. You can’t stay here anymore,” Ares says as he rejoins us.
“She’s coming to stay with me. Daphne too,” Fionn says.
“Good. I don’t like the fact that fucktard actually got into the apartment. We need to start looking at the security in all our buildings in town,” Celestino says to everyone.
I watch everyone in the coffee shop, it amazes me how they all work together.
Sometimes without even saying anything to each other.
They’re getting more guys to come into town to check all the entrances, exits and windows of the buildings anyone in the family occupies.
Listening to them, I realize that the family owns most of the businesses around me.
“I’m going to check on Fiorella. She said she was going to be in her shop today,” Celestino says.
“Is he talking about Fiorella Mancini? The fashion designer?” I ask Fionn.
“Yes, she owns Fi’s Boutique and she’s part of the family. Have you heard of her?”
“Oh my god, yes. I didn’t realize she was part of your family too. I have some of her designs, in fact Daphne and I both wear her clothes. We went into Fluff Stitch when we first came to Lake Renegade. How did I not know it was her shop?”
I can’t believe that one of my favorite designers has her shop a few doors down from me. I need to go back in there today.
“She’s open till seven I think, maybe eight? We can go there whenever you want.” Fionn chuckles.
“Time to close up, then.” I chuckle.
I’m only half joking—after what happened with Playboy, I kind of want to leave and just start over tomorrow.
“If you want, we can close up. Especially after what just happened, why don’t we go up and pack your things.”
I don’t know how he does it, but it’s like he can read my mind. I really do want to get all my stuff out, I’m worried that Playboy will come back. I watch Fionn go over to the others, then Ares and Eros come upstairs with us. They clear the apartment before they let me in.
“I don’t think he’ll come back today, but he’s not a very bright fucker. So I’d rather be safe,” Fionn says to me as we wait.
I don’t like having to look over my shoulder because of Playboy.
How could I have been so wrong about someone?
I mean the guy fucking shot my couch. Why?
I hear the guys talking about the Cimaruta MC.
I don’t know a lot about MCs, but I have heard of the Cimaruta.
But lately, the things I’ve been hearing is that they’re trying to do good.
And I know they’re connected to the Mancini mafia.
I wonder if Fionn knows that? And holy shit. Is Fiorella part of the mafia?