“See, Roman gave me a nickname,” he says, barely a whisper, and I laugh.
“You gonna be okay with the big bad wolf?” I ask.
“I’m his favorite, of course I’ll be okay.”
I give his hand a final squeeze and stand, turning to see Red waiting patiently with concern in her eyes. Roman manages to get Parker up but the minute he does he grabs my hand again.
I look to where we’re connected. It’s foreign to me, to hold someone’s hand. I have always been way too independent to want to hold a guy’s hand, and I’m not very affectionate anyway, especially not in public. Yet, here I am again unable to bring myself to say no.
I look him in the eyes.
“You are a little shit Parker Parker, don’t make me give you a mean nickname,” I warn, but inside the contact gives me tingles.
I feel almost delicate in his hands. I could get lost in this feeling.
He doesn’t respond, he just kisses me gently on my forehead, and slowly starts walking to the lift, like that light touch didn’t melt my walls away.
Like it didn’t impact my life.
I let him drag me along, with Roman and Red behind.
“Fair warning Princess, when he sucks you in, you’re screwed,” Roman whispers, as he places his hand on the small of my back.
No shit sherlock. I’m screwed already.
*****
After making it back to Ace I decide to change and head for the gym to work off some steam, so I can try and figure my head out. As much as I like the way Parker makes me feel. I shouldn’t be allowing it to happen. I don’t know what’s going on around me enough to let myself get distracted, and they are all trouble.
I change in my room, grab a water, a towel and my phone to take with me. My phone buzzes in my hand and I see Rafe flash across the screen. I don’t really want to talk to him, but if he’s getting Dot to me then it’s a necessary evil. Whilst I have him on the phone, I could mention needing something for History too.
“Hey,” I answer, as I make my way down the stairs.
“Hey Luna, how are things?”
I don’t know how to answer him, I’ve been thrust into a world I do not truly understand, and I still haven’t had time to process everything.
“I don’t know Rafe, I didn’t know anything about this place this time last week, and I haven’t had much time to process everything going on.”
“It’ll take time Luna, that’s all. You’re made for this,” he praises.
“What if I don’t want to be made for this? I don’t want this life Rafe and I certainly didn’t ask for it,” I fire back.
I take a breath trying to calm myself down. I don’t like letting my emotions get the better of me, and this conversation is just riling me up.
“I know Luna, I know. Any trouble?”
“Plenty, the Head wasn’t impressed from the moment I stepped through the door with an extra bloodline and it doesn’t help that her daughter is a first-class bitch gunning for me too.” I sigh.
“Dietrichson? She’s always been a bitch. I’ll never understand how she was given the position to begin with, always wanting more power and thinking she’s superior. If they weren’t so much alike, she would be perfect for Veronica.”
I can’t help the chuckle at that. He’s definitely on to something there.
“Rafe, did you know about West too?” There’s a pause on the other side before he responds.
“Yeah Luna, I did. There is a lot going on in the underworld, there are few you can trust, but you can trust West I swear. When you finally talk to him it’ll be clearer, okay?”
“But when you dragged me out of the Warehouse, you wouldn’t let the guys in, you said they don’t know what they’re walking into, was that a lie to force me here?”
I squeeze my temples, this is all just one big giant headache.
“No, no Luna. It was Jake and Tommy banging on the door, and they know nothing at all. When West’s fight finished, he saw a message from me telling him to get out of there, because no one knew he was with us Luna, and we couldn’t risk them finding out.”
More information for me to absorb, I can’t keep up. I’m silent for a moment as I walk through the lobby. I’ve had enough of this talk, so I try to change the subject. “What are we looking like for Dot’s arrival?” I ask.
“Oh, that’s what I was actually calling for. What time do you finish Friday? I was hoping you would be okay for me to follow the truck, maybe hang around for food...” He trails off hopefully.
“I have a free period after lunch so anytime from say 2 o’clock? As much as I’m mad at you right now Rafe, I’d really appreciate a catch up. I’m lost Rafe, I don’t know if I’m swimming or slowly sinking, and seeing your ugly mug would help, and you can answer all my questions without the presence of my mother,” I say with a smile, trying to force myself to feel more positive.
Making it to the bottom of the stairs I head towards the gym, when the lights suddenly go out and its pitch black.
“Shit, Rafe I’m gonna have to go. I'm at Ace, near the gym and the lights have just cut out.”
“What? Luna, that shouldn’t happen.”
“Well it has, don’t stress I ...”
I feel it.My senses heighten.
I’m not alone. This is an ambush.
I try to figure out how many people are here and prepare for an attack. Someone’s charging me from the front. I drop my phone, and punch straight forward. I can’t guess how tall they are but I’m going to make contact there at least. My fist meets someone’s stomach and they grunt.
It’s definitely a guy based on his body and the noise that just came out
