for love or money?

chapter four

 for money

~belle~

"Russo?" I could hear light breathing through the line. What does he want with me now? He couldn't possibly need me to go on another mission now, I mean how often does this dude get into trouble?

"Ahhh, my favorite, how are you doing Noir," he seemed lighthearted? Happy?

"What can I help you with sir? Do you need me to..." I forgot Nicole is like 5 feet away from me.

Quick think of something. Shit. Uh?

"Do you need me to... milk your snake?" I could hear Russo blink in confusion, and Nicole's head shot straight at me in curiosity and concern.

What the fuck did I just say, do snakes get milked?

"Noir? Is everything ok?" I've never heard him so concerned.

"Oh no, one second I have to take care of something really quick." I had to make sure Nicole doesn't hear any of this. I pull the phone away from my ear with Russo still on the other end.

"Snakes? Milking? What's wrong with you Belle,"

"I have to take this call outside, can you watch Sprezz," how am I going to explain this later?

"Yeah sure whatever, but you have to tell me about this snake milking process," she winked at me playfully. I rolled my eyes and walked out.

"Sorry Russo I was with a friend," I called Nicole a friend... I never thought much of it but she really does mean a lot to me. Only because she watches my cat.

Of course, only the cat.

"I need you to take care of something, I only trust you to do it. A man named Lorenzo Ricci, has gotten into a little, how do I say? Situation, with one of my colleagues. They have asked me for help in finding the best person to handle the job. I will supply you with everything you need and extra. Another identity, money, housing, anything you need I'll have it. This friend of mine is very important to me. All I want is for you to be the one who gets this job done. What do you say, Belle? Will you kill Lorenzo Ricci for me?" He seemed very adamant about having me take on this mission.

"Sir, I am flattered that you thought of me as the best person for this job. I just got home, and I'm still healing from last time. Sir I-" he quickly cuts me off and continues to try and persuade me.

"Look Noir. You are the only person I thought was fit. I hope you understand that no one can finish him off without leaving a trace like you. I expected that you would have been more than willing to take on the job. I guess I will have to find another, more worthy person," he sounded angry and disappointed.

I thought about it for a couple of seconds. I really don't want to get on this dude's bad side. Oh, the thing he could do. To me or Nicole, even Alex.

"Wait. I'll do it. Whatever you need me to do," I need to keep everyone around me safe. Especially Sprezz.

Damn cat.

"Good, as I thought. I'll tell you the details in person but you should expect a car waiting for you in front of your apartment building in about two days," he hung up. That's it? Two days?

Shit.

I open the door to see Nicole rolled up into a ball on the corner of the couch with Sprezz wrapped in her arms. What time is it? 2:00. I hope she still has leftover pasta. I clean up her kitchen while she sleeps, washing dishes and wiping the counter. Her living room is connected to her kitchen so I could keep an eye on her while I cleaned. After I finished I picked up one of her blankets and tossed it over her. I saw her blink her eyes open.

"Are you covering me?" she smirked.

"Maybe," I plopped down next to her on the couch. How am I supposed to ask her to watch my cat again? This time I don't know how long I'll be gone. What if I don't come back?

"See you put on this cold and mysterious mask but really you're a huge softie," she laughed at me and Sprezz jumped to the floor.

"Shut it," I grinned and looked at the floor. Should I tell her now?

At this point, Sprezz isn't even my cat because they stay with Nicole so much.

"Hey what's wrong?" She sat up and turned more towards me.

"I have to go again," I leaned my head back expecting to hit the couch but ended up smacking the wall because her couch was way too close to the wall.

"FUCK," I ran my hands through my hair trying to make myself feel better. I felt another hand grab mine as I held my head.

Nicole?

"You need to chill out sometimes," she chuckled. Her eyes sparkle when she laughs. She pulls her hand away. "Do you need me to watch Sprezz again? For how long?"

Right, Sprezz.

"I don't know how long I'll be gone," she looked at me and then looked at her palms.

"Hey, it'll be ok! I can watch your cat as long as you need me to. Forever if needed," she spoke like she was happy, but I could see it in her eyes. She's hiding something, but I won't poke and prod. "What do you even do for work? You're always traveling and never tell me where you go. Alex wants to know too."

How do I tell her I kill people for a living?

Hey yeah, I shoot people for some money and maybe a couple of drinks.

"I'm a-" think quickly. "Travel... agent?" oops.

"WHAT THAT'S SO COOL. How come you never send pictures of the places you go? Or take me with, you know Alex would be down to come too, when do you leave?"

"I'm not allowed to take pictures... because of my contract," hopefully that sounds convincing. "I leave in two days".

"TWO DAYS. IS THAT ALLOWED?" she looked kind of hurt.

"It's not in my control, I'm sorry you have to watch my cat again".

"It will be ok, I love Sprezz and I'm pretty sure they love me more than you," she said playfully but something was on her mind.

We sat watching the television for a while. My stomach made some grumbling noise, what time is it? I turned to look at the stove, I couldn't see it from that far so I got up to see that it was 7:45.

"Uh, Nicole? Do you have anything to eat?" I feel bad for eating everything she makes but in my defense, she shouldn't make good food if she doesn't want it to be eaten.

"I can whip up something really quick? Pasta again?"

"Yes, please!"

God her pasta is good.

"On one condition, you have to help because your fatass eats everything I make".

I rolled my eyes and we started prepping for a simple pasta. She had some homemade sauces that she stores.

Which smells like heaven by the way.

I was put in charge of cooking and draining the pasta, farfalle? I think? I turn around to peek at the sauces and seasonings but I end up 2 inches away from Nicole's face.

"Oops sorry," she quickly pulled away and maneuvered around me to grab some things from the counter. We finish making the pasta and sit down to eat, Sprezz is just sitting on her couch being lazy.

"Holy shit-" I say while my mouth is stuffed with pasta.

"What?" she peered at me.

"This shit slaps."

"What does that mean?"

"Never mind, it's just really good.