Frosting and Fur(in-Progress)

Chapter XIV: Apple Pie

D'Angelo stood outside of a karaoke bar in an unfamiliar part of Queens. He looked up at the sky and whispered a quick prayer.

"Heavenly Father, please let her answer. Even if it's over between us, I need to apologize. She deserves better than this. Amen."

He dialed her number and waited, reciting the words he'd planned to say. El Jefe's thugs drove them off the road. She could have gotten hurt. D'Angelo hadn't wanted her caught up in his mess, but she was. Nyssa also knew about his book. She was involved no matter what he wanted.

"Damn."

There was an answer on the fourth ring.

"Hello?" It wasn't Nyssa.

"Ummm, hi. This is D'Angelo. Can I please speak to-"

"She doesn't want to speak to you right now." It was Yaya, minus her usually chipper energy.

"It will only take a moment of her time." D'Angelo tried to keep the defeat out of his voice.

"Look. You have to stop calling."

He'd tried her almost a dozen times since he'd woke up that morning. He understood wanting space, but he really wanted to speak his piece. Testing just didn't seem right.

Take a hint, bro...

"I feel you," he said. "Just tell her I'm sorry."

There was no response. Angelo moved to end the call, when Yaya whispered, "She'll call you tomorrow."

"What?"

"Trust me. Let her brood tonight. Tomorrow she'll call you. You better have a strong apology prepared or she might bite your head off. Literally."

It was D'Angelo's turn to be silent. He assumed she turned into a wolf during the full moon as they were the most common. Imagining a wolf tearing into him made his throat dry and his palms sweaty.

"I'm just messing with you, D'Angelo," Yaya chuckled. "She told us you know."

"Yeah. I know."

A low growl filled the other end.

"Then be careful who's heart you fuck around with," snarled another voice. Zaneb, if Angelo remembered correctly.

She hung up, leaving Angelo standing on the curb with his thoughts. Music drifted out of the karaoke spot as a pair of women in jeans and matching black t-shirts strolled in from the theater up the street. Angelo looked up at the sign above the doors. Wong's. The place took up the first floor and apartments with dark windows took up the top two. It looked like a dive, but the place had steady traffic in and out since he'd arrived.

D'Angelo had never heard of the place, but it was the address Pit gave Dutch. Apparently it was Petunia's place of business. D'Angelo and Dutch were going to share a cab, but Braxton insisted on driving. Brax had parked in a guarded lot a block away. He and Dutch were already inside. Angelo wanted a little privacy so he could make his call. For all the good that did him.

He hoped Yaya was right and Nyssa would call him tomorrow. That way he could explain.

He turned to go in as a black sedan pulled up. Self preservation made him glance over his shoulder, part of him expecting to see Punisher again. His heart sank and his already gloomy mood darkened. Lucas stepped out of the car and it drove away. He adjusted the collar on his khaki mountain trucker jacket and smiled.

"Sup, Angelo." He walked over and offered his hand for a dap. He didn't get one. "Crazy how things happen. Pit, man. I haven't seen her in years. How do I look? I heard she bulked up, still cute though, right?"