“Okay. Okay. I won’t talk to her again. Let’s just go back and think things through,” he says pathetically. He’s a liar. First chance he gets, he’ll be back sniffing on Dani’s trail like a predator.
I pull his face close to mine. “There’s no going back,” I whisper.
I grab him by the throat and slam his head into the passenger-side window, the force shattering the glass as he falls to the ground, unconscious. I pull my gun from my holster and aim it at the back of his head. As my finger touches the trigger, I hear a shrill scream come from his house. I look over and see a frantic old woman dressed as a maid eyeing me with fear.
Shit. I put my gun back in its holster and hastily walk back to my bike. I’ve gotten sloppy; Dani has made me unfocused and careless at what I do best. I look behind me before pulling off and see the little old lady running out to Parker’s limp body.
Dani
A week has gone by, and I haven’t seen Parker. He also hasn’t picked his daughter up from ballet or called me.
I grab my bag and leave work. A prospect named Tom usually shows up to take me to work and picks me up after. I’m not sure how he even knows my schedule; I don’t know if he even speaks. He is always waiting outside on his bike with sunglasses and a helmet on, wearing a Devil’s cut and blue jeans.
“Thanks, Tom!” I yell over my shoulder, entering the apartment after a long day of teaching girls to dance en pointe. When I enter the apartment, I see Bobby sitting on the couch watching T.V.
“Oh, hello,” I squeak, shocked by Bobby’s presence. I haven’t seen him in about a week, either.
“Hey,” he answers, lifting from his relaxed position.
“You’ve been gone,” I say, pulling my keys from the door.
“Yeah, been on a run,” he replies.
I set down the bag containing my leotard and head for the fridge.
“Shadow knows,” Bobby tells me calmly.
“Knows what?” I ask, but I already know. Bobby opened his damn mouth about Parker and me. I bet that’s the reason why I haven’t seen him around.
“He knows about you and Pretty Boy,” he informs me.
This catches my attention, I walk back into the living room and sit beside him.
“How’d he take it?” I ask.
“Not well; trust me,” Bobby smirks.
“So, what happened?” My tone urges him to tell me more. He looks at me, holding my gaze for a moment before standing from the couch.
“You guys really need to work shit out. Just fucking talk to him.” He grabs his cut from the couch and leaves.
I fall back against the couch with a sigh. The last time I talked to Shadow it didn’t go too well. This world is not for me; I can’t handle the life of being an ol’ lady. Any place where the love of your life takes the side of men who may kill you and cheat on their women on a daily basis is not something I have in store for myself.
***
It’s late at night and I just finished soaking my sore feet on ice while watching sappy love stories. They seem to be the only thing on anymore. I start turning lights off and head to bed when the door opens. I pause from turning off the last lamp in the apartment. Shadow walks through the door, making my mouth part with fear. He’s wearing ripped jeans; a snug white shirt; and of course, his cut, making him look badass. I gulp at the sight of him.
His eyes lock with mine, the torment in them holding me still. He scowls, his eyes narrowing with anger, reminding me Bobby told him about Parker and me. With that, I forget the lamp and start toward the bedroom quickly. Fear rides up my spine, hoping I can get to it and lock the door before Shadow can reach me. He leaps across the coffee table and grabs me by the hair, making me yelp in pain. Then he pulls my head back toward his face, the smell of grease and cologne arousing me as the hairs on my neck lift in fear.
“Heard you were with someone else. Thinking about leaving me, Firefly?” He speaks softly into my ear, but his tone is anything but gentle.
“Like you haven’t messed around on me?” I seethe, my teeth clenched. My choice of words is not helping my situation. Shadow jerks my hair tighter with anger, making me whimper.
“Parker won’t be bothering you anymore, trust me,” Shadow declares, his words sharp and fierce. I try to turn in his grasp to see his face, to see if he is serious, but he pulls me close.
“You’re mine, Dani” he whispers, the smell of alcohol strong on his breath. His words anger me; I refuse to let him own me and use me only when he sees fit.
“Like hell.” I raise my voice as my fingers try to pry his hands from my hair. I wanted to be Shadow’s, to be his everything. I came at him hard when we first met. There was no denying our connection but after recent events, I’m not so sure of anything anymore.
“You’re my property until I say so,” he says roughly. I can hear his teeth grit with anger as I defy him.
“Fuck. You.” I annunciate each word hatefully.
Shadow laughs maliciously.
“Did that already.” He says it like I was nothing, hurting me more.
I scoff at his remark, trying to act like his words don’t affect me.