TIGER LILY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter FOUR

Frankie Xiao

Twenty minutes later, The Tiger is leading me up a series of stairs to a small apartment, somewhere on the southside of the city.. As he fits the key into the lock and pushes open the door we are greeted by an disgruntled older woman in the foyer.. With plump features, silver streaked auburn curls and ruddy red cheeks, she speaks in a sloping cadence much the same as his, except hers is a haughty huff as she buttons up her overcoat..

"This is the last feckin' time I do you a favour, River. I'm not you're personal fuckin' slave, you don't pay me nearly enough to keep me waitin' around until half past midnight!"

For the first time I hear the Tiger's name..

River.. Earthy and elemental, what a beautiful name it is, so perfectly suited to the beautiful man..

In the car on the way home he had given me his jacket to keep me from shivering, and from the second the warm leather wrapped around my shoulders and I caught the soapy scent of him, I knew..

I knew he wouldn't hurt me..

I can't explain the feeling, or how I could be so certain of it because I can't quite figure out where it comes from..

What I do know is that I have lived beneath the tyranny of evil for most of my life, I know the madness of a man's malice in intimate detail.. And the Tiger.. He is not like that.. He couldn't be..

Because nobody so kind could truly be cruel.. Could they?

"Jeezuz Mother'O'Mary, Nessa, Leave it out, would ye'! I'm a couple hours late is all.." He throws up his hands in defence, keeping his voice to a hushed growl..

"Aye, I will leave ya out if I do'nae have me' rent cheque come Friday! Useless feckin' bastard.." She huffs, stomping past him and ignoring me entirely as she exits the apartment, slamming the door..

-BANG-

"WAAAAAAAH!"

"Shite." River winces, pinching the bridge of his nose with patient practice as the sound of a woken wailing baby cries out from somewhere in the apartment..

He points me towards the living room.. "Go on, Wallflower. Sit. I'll deal wit' ye' in a sec.." The Tiger doesn't wait around to watch me, maybe because he doesn't seem to care if I run away or stay.. Instead he disappears down the hall.. Without even locking the door..

I stare at the single deadbolt that secures the apartment door for several seconds, poking it fast with my finger to see if it might be electrified, almost unable to believe that it isn't.. I can't remember the last time I saw a door with only one lock..

This apartment is a home, one that welcomes guests and keeps them warm.. Not a cage that constricts and corrodes the very will to live from anyone who dares enter..

Between two fingers I turn the peg unto the bolt slides into place, locking myself inside and breathing a relieved sigh..

Yes, that is better.. Doors are supposed to be locked.
Unlocked doors lead to trouble..
That is what Master Li would say.

I wander around the living room, breathing in the scent of sweet milk, baby powder and fresh linen.. There are some beautiful watercolour paintings in simple black frames hung on the walls.. Liquid-like images of rolling green hills, stormy blue seas and catholic churches..

There is entirely too much clutter on almost every surface.. Baby bottles and binkies, little plush teddy's and piles of pink laundry are strewn about everywhere.. Books of every sit on the floor beside the bookshelf instead of in it.. Mechanic manuals, biographies and a hardback on mountain climbing among the count..