Blood splattered everywhere. As I turned my head surprise and shock engulfed me as I see Erinna dropping to her knees. I am at her side quicker than a wink. What the hell did she do? How ... FUCK I scream in my head, this was not supposed to happen.
I pick her up bridal style only for her to shake herself loose from my grip.
"Put me down" she says way to calmly making me furrow my brows.
"You did nothing wrong!" she exclaims resting her hand on my cheek, staring into my eyes.
"This was my revenge to take. You won't understand just yet, I'm not some frail girl that needs protecting. I am much stronger than you realise"
I am in awe of this woman. Fuck she sounds like my perfect match. I know there is this connection between us, I wonder if she feels it too. I shake those thoughts from my mind, remembering I still have a job to do.
"Marco, get the clean-up crew in here as soon as" I say finally looking over at him. I could see the look of shock but also awe on his face as he stared back at Erinna.
"Yes boss" he says a smile playing on his lips. I finally take Erinna around the waist and lead us out of the underground chamber.
We were silent as we walked back towards my room. Now we are just standing staring at each other, her gaze not wavering from mine. Her chest heaving in expectation as she nibbles on her bottom lip. Her hands running up my chest over my black shirt. I was wondering how blood stained my shirt might be but before I could take action, he lips violently attack mine. She must still be riding the high of her actions earlier.
Our tongues fighting for dominance. The mewling noises she releases eggs me on to deepen the kiss, frantically I take control of the situation. I pull her closer, loving the feeling of her body up against mine. I lift my head from hers finally catching a much needed breath.
"It's not that I don't want to do this with you, believe me I do, more than anything... But bath, now" I say moving us towards the on-suite bathroom.
I run a relaxing bath, then turn to see her standing there wringing her hands together in nervousness. A look I find so cute on her.
"Strip" I say looking at her, but when she doesn't move, I walk slowly towards her taking her small hands in mine and lifting them slowly above her head. My eyes not moving off hers. I run my hands slowly down her arms, over the sides of her breasts, down past her hips until they reach her thighs where I take the hem of the shirt in hand an lift it over her head in a fast, swift motion.
I visibly swallow hard as my eyes scan over her beautiful chest and sculptured abs.
"Fuck, you are beautiful" I say releasing a breath. I finally put a cracker up my arse and finish undressing her, leading her towards my ball and claw tub. I put her in the bath, finally getting the clothes off of my body, so that I could get in behind her. Revelling in the feel of the hot water on my skin, I pull her towards me so that her back is lying up against my front.
"I have something I need to tell you, but I am concerned about your mental state of mind right now. I don't know ...." Erinna cuts off my chain of thought by turning around, water sloshing everywhere as she slides down my body, resting comfortably on my chest.
"Giovanni, seriously, whatever it is, just tell me"
I huff out a huge breath, knowing she has no idea yet that her best friend is dead and that the funeral is tomorrow. There is no easy way of breaking the news so I just push through the words and hope for the best.
"Ella is dead, she didn't make it. Her funeral is tomorrow".
Her body tenses and she goes earily quiet. She starts shaking a a slew of sniffels escape. She tries to sit up and move away from me but I just pull her closer to me, not allowing her the space I know she wants right now. She finally breaks down in my arms.
I dry and dress her placing her on my bed, covering her with a grey throw. I climb in behind her just holding her close, running my hand over her hair kissing her tenderly. There is a soft knock at the door, it opens slowly and Mei puts her head in threw the opening. I lift myself from behind Erinna welcoming Mei with a hug and whispered into her ear that I just told Erinna about Ella's death. She just nodded in acknowledgement and I walked out the door leaving the two friends behind closed doors.
I sit at my desk in my office sipping on a glass of whiskey, trying to unwind my mind from everything that has happened this morning so far. I take another sip savouring the flavour as it goes down my throat. I lay my head back, exhale a long, deep breath.
Memory.
Doing my first job was hard and nerve wrecking. The elevator ride felt like it was never ending. My breath heavy and very unsteady. The metal of the cool gun burning in my hand.
When the doors slid open I came face-to-face with a long barely lit corridor, looking as though it would never end. I walked towards the door, every step feeling like I was wearing concrete shoes. Everystep feeling heavier than the last.
I had no idea who the target was, or why they had to be eliminated, all I was given was a location. Now here I stand outside said perps door, nervous energy pulsating through my veins. I have never taken a life before, that thought alone scaring the pants off of me.
I can hear a noise coming from the apartment then I need to enter, hesitation and fear, finally taking over. There is no turning back if I do this, but if I don't do this, I will probably end up dead anyway.
With a shaky breath I knock on the door twice. The lodge shakes and the door swings open, revealing a man wearing a fine suit. Without thinking I clutch the gunfighter in my hand. Sweat and panic taking over.
"What the fuck do you want?" The man yells out, grabbing me by my shirt pulling me closer to him, when I never responded. Without thinking I ripped the gun from my pocket and pulled the trigger, emptying the gun of its contents into his stomach.
"Oh fuck, fuck, fuck" I chant seeing the blood ooze from his now open stomach. I look around to see if there are any eyes on me. Nothing, that I can see, coast is clear. I turn an walk away, now at ease with what I have done, seeing the life seep from his eyes.
There is a knock at my door, pulling me from my memory.
"Enter" I yell filling my now empty glass.
"Hey Boss man. Everything alright?" Marco asks sitting down opposite me lighting a joint.
"Just great told Erinna that Ella died and she broke down"
"Damn Boss man, that is one hell of a woman. The way she handled her kidnapping then the whole thing with Paulie damn....."
"I am worried, she seems fine now, but what's going to happen the next time, she might just implode. I mean you remember what it was like for me once I've done that first job"
"Yeah but she's strong Boss man, besides she has something we never had back then"
"And what's that?"
"She has us and you and all our experiences backing her" he said with a smile.
"Is that your sign that you approve of her?"
"Hell yes! if you let your slip through your fingers, you'd be an idiot. No disrespect boss man".
LYF
xxxx