Still Waters (Lover's Lake)

She threw her hands in the air, her eyes locking with mine and without flinching, as if daring me, "No one touched your shit, man. Relax!"

Malik burst out laughing, being annoying like usual. "She's a pit bull, and she has the chops to back it up. Watch out for that little bang-snap, Raf, there’s a reason she’s number one.”

"Is she now?" I tilted my head, a slow smile spreading on my lips. “Who’s doing the official ranking? Maybe we should code our way out of this argument, Fio?”

So this little girl thought she was a lion, I’d have to teach her just who was in charge and it sure as fuck wasn’t her. I couldn’t help admiring how I didn’t intimidate her, normally a look like that from me would have them running, but not this one, she just stared back as if daring me.

Challenge accepted, baby hack. Let’s see who can bring the other to their knees.

I felt Malik’s hand on my shoulder, "Down, boy,” he said. He knew me, probably better than anyone else, he knew how I had the most trouble out of the three of us relating to other people. I’d always been that way. If it weren’t for my two big brothers bailing me out, I wouldn’t have made it this far. “Ladies, why don't you freshen up while I have a chat with my brother."

"We don't have any clothes, remember?" Fio said. I watched as Trudy put her hand gently on the girl's arm as a warning.

"I already picked up everything you'd need. Had my guy put the bags in the spare bedrooms," I said, still watching Tatum. “Receipts attached if the sizes don’t work.” I felt almost afraid to stop tracking her with my eyes, like she’d slip into nothingness, back into a blip on a screen as I’d known her all these years. Before she could say anything, the other woman grabbed her arm and they hurried away.

"Don't fuck with her, Rafa," Malik warned as soon as they were out of earshot. “We’re here to protect her, not eat her alive with your stare like you were doing back there. Lighten up, brother. This is a job, not a conquest or a contest.”

"I don't fuck with any girls anyway, you know me," I said walking to the fridge and grabbed two beers, handing one to Malik. "But tell me that’s not the fucking Tatum O’Geary? My mind is blown. ”

"Sure as fuck is, but lay the hell off her," he warned, taking a swig of his beer.

"You forgot I don’t do women as a whole, waste of fucking time. She’s just got some skills, and holy shit, I’d love to pick her brain.”

Malik groaned, eyes hard, "Just don't fuck with my shit, Rafa. I’m on a job."

"You taking her out?” I asked him. “That’d be a shame,” I swigged my beer, thinking about how I might have to kill my own brother if he even touched a hair on her head. I didn’t even know I had it in me to feel jealous and protective and downright possessive when it came to women, but there it was, rearing up and controlling me, making me feel things I’d never felt before. The new instinct was destabilizing, I was off-kilter and I needed to find a way to restore my equilibrium.“I don’t kill women,” Malik said coldly.

“Good,” I said, chasing my first beer with another. “Cause I’m not too hot on killing my own brother. I’m beat, think I’ll head to bed if you don’t mind. Fridge is stocked and if you need anything let me know.”

“Alright, brother.”

Chapter 2

TATUM

“You ok, kiddo,” Trudy asked as soon as we got to my room.

I tossed my backpack on the bed and sat down, heavily, making the bed bounce.

“Yep, as good as could be expected, considering the circumstances.”

The bed squeaked when Trudy sat beside me, tossing her arm around me, she brought me in for a quick one armed hug. “I know this is scary, but It’ll be ok, we’re in good hands. I think.”

I barked a laugh before turning to look at her. “It’s the I think part, doesn't really reassure a girl.”

“Sorry, I’m not sure what to say. I’ve never been forced into a safe house before.”

“It’s alright, neither have I. Hopefully we get out of this alive, and have a story we can laugh about some day. I’m pretty sure Ragnar is a good guy. I’ve seen his work online and he plays for the right side.”

Trudy sighed, nodding her head in agreement. I couldn’t help thinking that what was making her uneasy wasn’t us having to run from the mafia but a tall, muscular hit man, a floor beneath us. “He’s pretty hot, isn’t he? Seems like he’s into you too.”

“Who?” Trudy asked, trying to pretend she had no idea what I was talking about.