Chapter Nine
” DRAVEN
What I love most about the little shop I’m in, is the prices are all pretty decent. The one that Domonic dropped me in front of was awesome too, but way too expensive. Once I got a look at their prices, I left. Luckily, there were four other boutiques on the same portion of the block, and I would still be able to see Domonic when he returned for me.
The shops weren’t too busy, a few people straggling about, but not many. After I purchasing a few essentials, one of them being a turtleneck, I saunter outside to await Domonic’s return. When I see the curb is still empty I begin to wish I bought a watch.
Spying a little cafe across the street, I shrug and walk over, intent on waiting at one of the little tables outside.
With coffee in hand, I take a seat at one of the five stone tables and sipped my mocha greedily. A large shadow passes over me and I look up startled to see one of the guys from the bar standing over me and blocking the sun.
“You didn’t leave,” he says.
It is the blond guy. The one that was seated in the bar with Domonic yesterday when I first arrived.
“I didn’t,” I grin, crossing my legs toward him as my eyes scan the street. Where is Domonic?
He laughs, sticking his hand out for me to shake. “Paul,” he introduces himself, lifting my hand up to kiss the back of it. “May I?”
I nod, kicking one of the chairs out in front of him so that he might sit down. “Draven.”
He smiles flashing a barrel of white teeth. “I know. And might I just say, I’m glad you’re still here. We get fresh faces in this place all the time, but none of them ever stay. And yours is not only fresh, but it’s terribly beautiful.”
I have to laugh at that. So they can be charming when they want to be. I wonder what changed this one’s mind. I’d hate to think Bart and Domonic have told the entire town about what I hide behind my clothes.
“Might I ask who you’re waiting for?” Paul queries.
My eyes narrow, and my gaze travels over him with mild interest. He’s trimmer than Domonic. Not as heavily muscled. “You might ask, but I might not say.”
He chuckles, the laugh lighting up his entire face and crinkling his eyes. He’s actually pretty damn cute.
Blue eyes twinkle as he studies me, taking in my hooded sweater and then locking in on my neck. Smile faltering, he swears, “Jesus Christ.”
I put up a finger, “Don’t!”
the bruises, even with
let it go. The angry tap of his foot is shakes
of there now,” I say. “So, I just
around us as if watching for someone. “So, listen, if you still need work, I own the
holding up my coffee. “So, this
“It does.”
the offer, but Bart
go wide
with a wink. “Yes, he did. And for that I will
you out to dinner. But Domonic – he’s different. I think he was more than just a little thrown off by your appearance yesterday. I mean – we were all expecting a dude. Domonic’s really intense most of
what does that mean –
it, but Bart
you, Bart is the only one with even an ounce of raw chivalry.” No wonder they acted that way when I arrived. “And here I was afraid you were all going to lock me in
why.” Leaning forward, he dips
was but apparently it needs to be renovated, so Domonic has graciously put me up in
His eyes narrow. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s weird,” he quips.
turn to be shocked.
us not to help you. In fact, he
“Is… that…right…”
DOMONIC
retrieve a copy of the marriage certificate, but I should have it by tomorrow afternoon. Her mother died two years ago. The cause of death ‘undetermined’. Last known address for Draven puts her close to the beach in Miami, in a house owned by one Marvin Ryder. At first, I thought this Marvin might be her stepdaddy, but turns out he’s too young. Marvin
“So, she’s Italian.”
“Yes, looks like it.”
her real father might still be
look into him
has
Rainier laughs, “What?”
mean – I still don’t want her here,
want her here – who the fuck are you kidding.
have beautiful skin, Domonic. Yesterday you said you wanted her gone, then this morning I got a message from you telling me to dig into her. What’s up,
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!