Valente

The Kiss

I am kissing Adrian Valente. He pulled his lips away from mine and using his hand that was in my hair he pulled just enough to tilt my head back exposing my neck to him which he quickly began kissing along. I let out a small moan which immediately shook me to my senses. I pushed on his chest and reluctantly he stopped and took a step back. His lips were redder than before, and he was smirking.

"there- uh- there will be none of that-not here- no wait not ever" he laughed at me and I wish I had collected myself before trying to talk and just stuttering like a mess. "Not ever huh?" he asked and crossed him arms. "No, I've decided you are not my type" his eyes seemed to cloud over with anger.

"not your type? Tell me what your type is?" "not a jackass who thinks that just because his family has money, he can order someone to go on his date for him like what kind-" "I am going to stop you right there. He was simply picking you up and I was going to meet you at the restaurant. Also, my family doesn't have money. I have money. And I have power. Do you know what having power means Gianna?" he had taken a step towards me and even though I could see anger in his eyes, he had uncrossed his arms and put both on either side of me. My back was up against my door again and he was leaning down looking right into my eyes.

"it means I get what I want. Do you know what I want Miss Gravino?" his tone lowered just a bit and I gulped and shook my head. "I want you." I blinked up at him not sure what to say. "So, I will make you mine. From this moment on you belong to me. Consider your dating life over because every man in this city will be warned to stay away from you." This made me laugh. Who does he think he is?

"oh, and every man in the city has to listen to you?" a smirk returned to his face. "they do if they value their lives" and he pushed off of the wall, so he was standing up right and took a couple steps away from me. "What do you think you're a gangster?" I scoffed at him and rolled my eyes. "No baby, I'm the leader of the most powerful mafia. I'll be here tomorrow night at 8 to pick you up for dinner. Wear a dress." And he turned on his heels and walked away. I watched him go and he stopped at the end of the hall. "Oh, and next time, don't open the door practically naked. Never know what kind of danger could be on the other side and I need my princess safe." And he was gone.

...

Katrina was staring at me in disbelief. I had just finished filling her in on what she missed while she slept on the couch last night. I stared back at her and we both just stared at each other for what felt like forever. Of course, I left out the part about him being the boss in the mafia. Somehow, I felt that something like that was not meant to be shared. Although, I could not entirely wrap my head around it myself. I know this means he is to be feared but somehow this just excites me. "I told you he was a gangster, I mean the guy he sent, not having time, and then showing up all dark and demanding. I think I'm horny." Trina laughed and got up from the couch, walking into the kitchen. "its not funny Trina, I could have died, and you were sleeping soundly. You need to not be such a deep sleeper" I rolled my eyes, actually annoyed with my best friend who would sleep through an earthquake.

"somehow, I sense that you were not in any danger" she winked at me. "no but you might be if you don't stop" I groaned. Time to get ready for work.

...

The time on the clock read 7:23pm. How am I still at work? I had gotten a job at a law firm doing receptionist work in second year and have been working here ever since. Unfortunately, having been off for graduation these last few days meant that I had a lot of catching up to do. I picked up my phone and scrolled to Adrian's number and quickly typed out a text.

'Stuck at work, looks like no date tonight. Sorry. Xo.' I reread the text and decided not to send the Xo., he doesn't deserve it.

My phone pinged right away.

'not happening' what the hell? Screw this guy. Men are always trying to be so controlling, tell me what to do. I decided to not respond.

...

I woke to a bang. What the hell was that. I lifted my head from my desk, I must have dozed off. I looked at the clock that read 9:03pm. Damn it. I hate being here when its dark out, this is not a good side of town. I heard another bang and realized it was coming from inside the building. Someone was in the hallway on the other side and by the sounds of it throwing doors open to which they were crashing against the walls behind them. I am the only one left at work which means someone has broken in and I need to get the hell out of here.

I picked up my phone and made a beeline for the back exit. Before stepping into the hallway, I took a look into the hallway and seen two men dressed in all black slamming doors open one by one. I turned and looked down the hall towards the exit door, I was going to have to run because the moment I step out these men are going to see me. My heart was beating so fast. I took off running and I heard the men yell at each other to get me.

I threw my body against the exit door and pushed it open and tripped on my way out. I braced myself for the landing I was about to do on the pavement, all the while telling myself that no matter what kind of pain this was going to cause I would have to get up and keep running. It's not like places in this neighborhood haven't been robbed before. It's just that none of those robberies have left a witness alive to tell the tale.

I never hit the ground. Instead, I was enveloped in someone's very muscular arms. "Bella, I've been looking for you all night" the man said and pushed my hair out of my face. I locked eyes with a pair of very blue ones. "Adrian? We have to go! They're coming for me" I could tell I sounded scared and I hated that he was seeing me so weak.

"Sh, sh no they are my men. I sent them in to find you, I thought something might have happened to you when you didn't pick up your phone and you cancelled our date" he stood me upright on my feet and the two men exited the door behind me. "Boss" one of them spoke and Adrian nodded to them and they both climbed into the black SUV behind us. "Shall we go on our date?" he asked and I looked up at him. "I cancelled that, plus I still have so much work to do" I said and he raised his eyebrow.

"didn't look like you were doing work, by the mark on the side of your face im going to guess you were sleeping and by that mark probably on your arm" well isn't that embarrassing. "I fell asleep, that doesn't mean I don't have work to do" I remarked and turned to go back inside. He grabbed my arm and turned me around. "Come" and he started gently pulling me into the back of the black SUV.

"Adrian my car is here and my purse is inside and I'm wearing a damn pencil skirt. This isn't a first date look." I whined and he climbed into the back of the SUV behind me. He knocked on the glass separating us from the front seat and the black tinted glass rolled down. "Boss" one of the men spoke, "Joseph, go back inside and find her purse. Then use the keys to lock up and drive her car back to her place. Her roommate is there, give her the purse and tell her that Miss Gravino will not be home tonight" he nodded and exited the vehicle and we sped off down the street.

"Not coming home tonight. What are you going to kill me?" I felt the panic rise. "kill you? Not yet" he laughed and leaned back in his seat, pulling out his phone which now had all his attention. I don't know why but I felt jealous, pay attention to me.

"So, you drag me on this date so you can be on your phone" I scoffed and crossed my arms. "the fact that I just said I wasn't going to kill you and added a yet at the end of it and the only thing you're concerned about is me giving my phone more attention than im giving to you tells me that you are not being dragged to anything" I rolled my eyes. He's so cocky.

"yes, I am, and you need to work on not saying everything you're thinking. In my line of work that can be very dangerous, and I don't need you saying something to the wrong person and next thing you know I have to take out an entire family who's decided to come for your head" is he trying to scare me or just warn me? I couldn't tell but I would take it as both. I will work on it.

"Or no one could die" I smiled, and he laughed, "if someone put a target on your head there would be a lot of deaths Bella, just not yours" he smirked and put his phone away. "No one wants me dead" I laughed, and he seemed to get a bit more serious. "they will." What? Why would someone want me dead? I mean I can think of one person, but he is very much behind bars at this very moment.

"We're here."