Locked Hearts

Chapter Fifteen

RAELYNN POV

I woke up before Grace the next morning. Getting up, careful not to wake her, I walked out of the room. I checked my phone to see five missed calls and a message from Danny.

The news!

Frowning, I put the t.v. on the news channel.

"Mafia leader Vincent Milano, is back in the city. The police came to the conclusion that the recent murders that took place, were of his men. Milano is now here to-"

I shut the news off. I didn't need to hear anymore.

"Why are you up so early?" Grace voice came from behind me.

I turned around to see her wrapped up in a blanket. She beelined to me and I took her in my arms.

"Good morning, cara mia." I whispered in her ear.

"It's too early, come back to bed." She murmured.

I smiled as her small arms circled my waist, mine around her shoulder and back. "You go back, I have to go." I told her.

"Where? It's Sunday." She tilted her head upwards to see me.

"I have to check on Lena and go handle some things with Danny." I swayed our bodies slightly.

"Who the fuck is Lena?" She pulled away entirely.

I chuckled and brought her back to me. "A seventeen year old, who was passing as a twenty one year old at my club. I found out and took her to my place, because she was sleeping in her car." I explained. I watched as her stone expression, slowly softened. "She had no where else to go."

"Oh." She muttered quietly. "That was sweet of you."

"You don't recall me saying I bought a kid home last night?" I asked in amusement.

She shrugged with her palms resting on my chest. "I guess my mind was a bit foggy. I heard you say it but I didn't comprehend it."

"I see." I stared down at her.

Her eyes were staring at her hands where they laid. I kept quiet, trying to figure out what was going through her head. She had a tendency of drifting off sometimes, and I found myself wanting her to take me with her. I wanted to know what made her smile, laugh or even cry.

"What are you thinking?" I asked quietly.

Those blue eyes met my hazel ones. "I'm not sure." She whispered back, laying her head on my chest.

I did have to leave but I didn't want to. I would much rather spend the entire day with her. Internally groaning, I moved away.

"Would you like to come with me?" I could kick myself right now.

Looking up at me, she looked so damn precious. "I thought you had to see Danny."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "It's a work thing, I could have him to do it and you come with me."

"If you're sure." She whispered.

"I'm sure." I assured her.

●●●

"How did it go?"

"No show but his men were nice to play around with." He replied dryly.

I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "I'm getting tired of this game we've been playing." I sighed.

"Soon, Rae. Just a little more work and we're free." He comforted.

"You better be right." I replied looking back at Grace and Lena.

We hung up and I walked back to them.

"She offered me a job." Lena said with an excited grin.

My eyes drifted from her to Grace. "You did?"

She smiled with a nod. "Yeah, she's interested in journalism and I could talk to Kelly. She could come on as a sort of apprentice." She turned back to Lena. "The pay isn't that great, but it'll be flexible for your schooling and gives you experience for the real deal."

"That'll be awesome. Thank you so much." The girl squealed.

It honestly annoyed me. Why did she have to make that stupid sound?

"Can you do that?" I asked after Lena went into her temporary room.

"It wouldn't be a problem honestly. Kelly is always looking for fresh meat, she likes to encourage young minds." She informed me.

"That's actually really nice of her."

Grace's giggles filled the silence that had fallen. "I can't believe you brought home a kid. I didn't take you for the type."

I wasn't. I liked my personal space and Grace was the very first person I allowed to intrude on that. Not even Danny visited me here and he's been in my life for years. We always had this boundary that we never crossed. We'd meet for little get togethers either at the club or some restaurant.

Yet, here I was, with this woman who was no doubt the reason for my changes. Her, along with a seventeen year old child. I was being thoughtful and kind to people. She was a fucking witch, she had to be. This wasn't normal.

"I'm full of surprises, cara mia." I smirked.

She bit her lips seductively. "Oh, I know you are." Her voice lowered.

It was then that I realized, we weren't jumping each other's bones. Even last night, we slept. No fucking, just sleep. Usually we were always going at it like animals. Now here we were, talking and acting like a normal-

I didn't allow myself to finish that thought. I didn't even notice, I usually fucked someone almost every night. But with her it was obviously different, I was satisfied with just being in her company.

"Wanna go back to your place?" I moved closer to her.

She laughed and leaned in for a kiss. I reciprocated in a heart beat. "Did you get worked up that quickly?" She teased after she broke the kiss.

Making her sit on my lap, I answered. "Yes, just looking at you gets me going." I admitted.

"Later." She whispered against my lips before pulling back.

"Don't tease me." I groaned.

Lena's voice interrupted what she was going to say.

"Shit sorry. I wanted some water." She briskly walked to the kitchen, face turning red.

"Well, this puts a spin on things." Grace openly laughed at my irritated face.

"Can I throw her out." I half joked. She frowned, narrowing her eyes at me. "I was only kidding." I quickly added.

"Uh huh." She muttered while her fingers played with the hair behind my neck. "Stop acting like you're not a softie on the inside."

"I'm not acting. People genuinely irk me." I grumbled out.

She tilted her head to the side. "What about me?" She asked with this twinkle in her eyes.

"You're the only exception, tesoro." I replied looking into her mesmerising orbs.

I watched in delight as her cheeks turned crimson at my endearment. "Such a smooth talker." She mumbled shyly.

"The smoothest." I squeezed her ass playfully, gaining a surprised gasp.

-E