Give Me Something (20 page)

She moved her hand directing me to follow. “Right this way.”  I followed her back to the last alcove.  Marco was seated, along with two of his associates, in three of the four chairs that surround a low table in the center.  A box of cigars and snifter glasses covered the table top.

“Miss Lila Rae,” He stood up and extended his hand.  I offered mine and he quickly pulled it to his lips.   “To what do I owe the pleasure of you tracking me down?”  He graciously pointed to the empty chair. “Sit, please.”

Marco's eyes wandered my body as I slipped into the chair.  He wasn't making any attempt to be sly in his ogling.  He was such a creep.  Nick suggested once that we take on Marco.  He actually wanted me to pretend to like him.  I was good at my job, but I was not about to subject myself to spending any time with Marco Belletti, even if he did have more money than he knew what to do with.  Though he'd never admit it, he was a big deal in organized crime.

I observed the other two gentlemen, wondering if what I had to discuss with them was appropriate.  I knew big sums of money were usually kept private.  Marco must have observed my behavior because he spoke up. “They're okay.”

I gave an uncomfortable smile. “Okay.”  I grabbed my bag, pulled out the oversized manila envelope and handed it to Marco.  “I just wanted to drop this off to take care of Nick's debt.”

He eyed me suspiciously, as he opened the envelope to peer inside.  His eyes widened when he saw the contents.  “I have to be honest,” he began and closed the envelope.  “I love nothing more than being repaid, but for once in his life, Nick doesn't owe me anything.”  He handed the envelope back to me and grinned, “I'd feel bad taking money from such a pretty girl.”

“
Are you sure?” I was flustered.  “He told me that he owed you.  Something about a big card game a few months ago.”

“
I'm sure.  I never forget when someone owes me,” he chuckled.  “In fact, I can't remember the last time Nick played.  I'd say almost a year ago.”  I shouldn't have been surprised that Nick told me another lie.  If he didn't owe Belletti, what in the hell had he done with the money that I given him already?

“
Well thank you for your honesty,” I said, tucking the money back in my bag.  “I appreciate it.”  I quickly stood up, wanting to get out of there.  The entire situation made me uncomfortable.  Even though Marco and his goons had been professional and polite, I knew it was only a matter of time before he let his chauvinistic side out.  “Have a nice night,” I concluded as I started to walk away.  I'd made it about three steps, when I felt a hand on my elbow.

“
Before you go...” I turned to see that Marco had quickly caught up to me.  “Are you sure I can't entice you to stay around a little longer?” he offered an eerily familiar grin – he kind that made my skin crawl.  “I remember what kind of girl you are, Lila Rae.  I'd be inclined to buy you a few pretty things for a memorable night or two.”

I calmly removed my arm from his grasp.  This was exactly what I wanted to avoid.  “With all due respect,” I forced as pleasantly as I could.  “I'm not that kind of girl anymore.”  I continued to exit the club, leaving one stunned gangster in a cloud of cigar smoke.

$ $ $

When I made it safely out the club, and away from Belletti's indecent proposal, my cab was gone.  Apparently, I'd taken more than ten minutes.  The street was jarringly quite.  There were only a few parked cars and not another cab in sight.  The only other person I saw was a scraggly looking homeless man pushing his shopping cart and talking to the stuffed teddy bear that was riding shotgun.
Perfect
.  I looked down at my heeled boots, dreading the walk back to my hotel.  In the right context, these boots were amazing.  On a deserted city street on Saturday night, the context changed from fashion forward to hooker chic.  Oh, and I couldn't forget the large sum of cash I was carrying.  I may as well have had a sign on my head that said, “Please mug and murder me!”

I held my bag to my chest and started walking.  Keeping my head down, I put one foot in front of the other as quickly as I could, hoping that somewhere in this city a cab driver heard my prayers and was on his way to rescue me.  I told myself that a cab would be turning on my street at any second. 

As I walked, I contemplated all of the scenarios Nick could be in.  He'd lied to me about owing Belletti, but there was still twelve grand unaccounted for.  What if was on drugs?  What if he owed someone worse than Belletti?  I'd find out as soon as I got back to school.  I was going to make him tell me the truth, one way or another.

I heard a vehicle rumble behind me.  It wasn't a cab.  The exhaust was to loud.  It had to be a truck or van of some kind.  I didn't look back.  It started to slow down.  My heart jumped into my throat as I wrapped my arms tighter around my purse and body and increased my stride to the closest thing to a run as I could muster in three inch heels.  This was it.  Someone was going to stop and grab me.  I'd never be heard from again. My imagination was in overdrive.  I thought about how jacked up my life was a that very moment.  I was about to be kidnapped, raped, murdered, whatever, and all I could think about was the bad decisions I'd made up until this point.  My best friend, who I thought I loved, had lied to me in more ways than one.  The guy I actually loved, lied to me, but I'd also lied to him, so we'd never be able to trust each other.  I had no real direction in life and the only thing I had to show for myself was an envelope full of money and a killer wardrobe, which Brynn would undoubtedly transfer to her closet before the police even declared a cold case.  I hoped that whoever was pulling up next to me in the loud vehicle made this quick and painless.

A familiar voice stopped me dead in my tracks. “Get in.” 

Tucker's blue eyes were a welcomed sight.  He hadn't left.  I stood stunned on the quiet street. 

“Come on.  It's freezing.”

I quickly opened the truck door and climbed in.  “You didn't leave.”

“No.”  He looked ahead and started driving.  “I was too worried about where you were going.  Alone.  Dressed like that.”

“
There's nothing wrong with the way I'm dressed,” I defended, pulling my seat belt on.

“
Julia Roberts wore those boots in
Pretty Woman
,” he deadpanned.

“
You're right,” I conceded.  “Why didn't you text me back to tell me that you didn't leave?”

“
I wasn't sure if I was going to stay,” he admitted and pulled the truck over, putting it in park.  “I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

“
I'm sorry.” I turned in my seat, unfastening my seat belt as quickly as I'd put it on. Leaning over the console, I touched his cheek.  “I shouldn't have left you like that.  But, I had...”

“
You had to take care of Nick,” he cut me off, grabbing my hand in his, pulling it away from his face, and letting his eyes cast an icy stare.

“
I know what you're thinking,” I began as I turned my hand in his and squeezed.  “I needed to to do this to get some closure with Nick.”

“
No, what you needed to do was stay with me.  You don't have to take care of Nick anymore.”

“
I know it doesn't make sense to you.  I should hate him for all this shit he's put me through, but I don't.  I still care about him.”

“
Well, do you feel better?” His tone was angry.

“
No,” I answered and lowered my head. 

“
Let me guess.  He lied to you again?”

“
Yeah.” I couldn't look at him.  I was disappointed in myself for apparently not having a brain when it came to Nick.

“
When are you going to stop putting his needs ahead of your own?”

“
I don't,” I defended.

“
Really?  Tell me again how over the past five years you and Nick have worked 'together'?  He moved his fingers in air quotes.  “Because to me it sounds like you've been the one doing all the hard work and he's reaped the benefits.  Kind of sounds like he was your pimp.”

“
That's ridiculous.” I fell back in the seat and crossed my arms.  I was angry that Tucker had even insinuated such a thing.  “We were a team.”

“
No, you weren't.  Nick needed you.  He used you, Lila.”

Was he right?  Nick was the one who pushed me into this lifestyle.  He was always quietly nudging me in the wrong direction and convincing me it was right.  But, because I was so in love with him, I never saw the truth.  “I'm so stupid.” I closed my eyes, feeling a tear sear down my cheek.

“Don't.” I felt Tucker brush his thumb across my cheek, wiping the tear away.  “Don't cry over him.”

I turned my face into his hand, opening my eyes, “I should have realized that he was using me. I'm so sorry.”

“I know, but I don't need you like Nick,” he said, bring his other hand up and cradling my face.  I was so sure that this was the moment when Tucker would end things between us.  I didn't blame him.  He didn't need me.  I'd walked away from him after he'd told me the truth about everything.  There were no more lies between us and I knew, that despite what I'd thought earlier, I did trust him.

“
I
want
you.  And, I want you to want me.”

My lashes were heavy with tears and three coats of mascara, that was surely running down my cheeks.  I stared into his eyes, knowing that there was a big difference between my relationship with Nick and the one I hoped to have with Tucker.  “Did you just quote a
Cheap Trick song?” I smiled through tears.

He chuckled, “Yeah.  Pretty lame, right?”

“Not at all,” I whispered, leaning in kiss him.  He kissed me back, his lips forgiving all of my wrong doings.  One hand slipped behind my neck as the other dropped to my waist, pulling me as close to him as possible with the console in the center of the truck.  It still wasn't close enough.  I rose up on my knees, needing to show him how much I truly wanted him.  While our lips stayed entwined, I carefully slipped over the console and straddled him.  “I do want you, Tucker,” I said between gasps before crashing my lips back to his. “So much.”  With both hands now on my waist, he pulled me down on his lap.  The heavy denim of his jeans wasn't enough to hide his desire for me.  A soft moan escaped my lips as I ground my center into him, while his hands worked to remove my jacket.  He quickly tossed it onto the other seat, returning his hands to my body and slipping them under the bottom of my sweater.  His fingertips graze my skin, the sensation sending a surge to the rest of places that longed to be touch by him.  How could I have not noticed the perfection that accompanied his touch?

I reached between us, nudging up his shirt.  My fingers found the button to his jeans.  Just as I fumbled it open, Tucker pulled away.  “Wait,” he cautioned and his hands stopped their upward momentum, just shy of my breasts.  “We can't do this.”

I should have known that he would come to his senses.  I quickly found my way back to the passenger seat and pulled my jacket back on.  “It's okay,” I told him quietly.  I stared out the window.  “You can just drop me off at the hotel.”

“
Lila,” he urged as he grabbed my hand.  I turned my head and was greeted with an apologetic smile.  “I still want you.  I just don't want our first time to be in my truck on the side of the street, while that guy watches.” He pointed out the window at the bum from earlier, now in an intense conversation with a lamp post.

“
Oh,” I breathed and bit my lips, fighting back a smile.  “You have performance anxiety?  I get it.  Can't handle a crowd?”  It may not have been the best time for jokes, seeing as how our night had been pretty dramatic, but I couldn't help myself.

“
Oh, I don't mind an audience,” he chuckled, turning the truck on. “And, I have no problems with performance.” He gave me a sultry grin. “Don't worry... you'll see,” he added, pulling back on street and heading back to the hotel.  The promise of his words, sent my mind and body into an anticipatory tailspin.  This boy could not drive fast enough.

Chapter 15

Tucker made it back to the hotel in record time and my heart was racing with the possibility of what was about to happen.  I didn't think I'd ever wanted anything as badly as I wanted him.  For the past two month's I'd been lying to myself.  I'd totally fallen for him and it felt good to finally admit it.  What was going on between us wasn't about money or tainted by lies anymore.  There was no hidden agenda.  It was simply two people who wanted nothing more than to show each other exactly how they felt.

Tucker laced his fingers through mine as we stood in the back corner of the crowded elevator.  An overhead speaker emitted a soft 80's ballad.  Eight people stood between us being completely alone in that metal box with the nothing but the sweet sounds of
Phil Collins and our raging hormones
.  Tucker leaned over and settled his lips on my neck just below my ear.  A quick flick of his tongue set my skin on fire, and I felt the blush take over my face. 

“
You taste so good.” His raspy whisper left me at a loss for words.  Was he really doing this right now?  What if someone turned around?