A Valentino's Life (On Hold)

Chapter One: Valentino's

Chapter One: Valentino’s

Six Months Later

Cali’s P.O.V.

An alarm near my head began to blare uncontrollably.

I groaned, throwing my arm out from the warm covers in hopes of finding the damn thing and shattering it before this headache got any worse. I knew I was really drunk last night so I was probably hung-over, but was I really dumb enough to set the alarm?

There was absolutely no luck in finding the stupid thing, just as I was about to give up hope and get up, the bed shifted and a large hand smashed into the thing silencing it for good. It was then that I realized the state I was in.

Currently, I was lying face-down in a swamp of fluffy pillows in only an over-sized t-shirt that I knew didn’t belong to me. There was a guy lying next to me, I think I met him at the party last night. His name was Peter or something? Doesn’t matter, his exposed chest was right next to me in the bed. At least he had the decency to put back on his boxers after we were done last night.

Suddenly he groaned loudly, shifting again as if getting out of bed. When I heard the bedroom door close, I decided now would be a good time to check out the rest of my surroundings. Sitting up a little too quickly, causing a jolt of pain to run through my body, I saw what appeared to be a hotel suite. It was night outside still, the alarm beside the bed read eleven p.m. “Shit,” I said aloud as it hit me why the alarm was set, we had to collect.

Quickly, I threw the covers off myself and began dashing around the room. My clothes had literally been scattered everywhere in the heat of the moment last night. Just as I was sliding on my boots, the door leading to the main room opened. My breath caught, I really wanted to get out before Peter got back.

“Jake,” I breathed out in relief, “It’s only you.” The tall guy now standing in the doorway chuckled darkly. “Of course it’s me, you don’t think we would’ve let you go anywhere with anyone last night if we weren’t prepared to cover your ass, do you?” He teased.

A smile tugged at my lips as I glared mockingly at my friend. Jake was what you could call my right-hand man, and probably the closest thing I had to a best friend. He had short, spikey brown hair and dark green eyes that reminded me of a hawk. He was a tall guy, well built, a skilled fighter, tracker, liar and shooter; all good skills for the mob.

Yes, I did in fact say the mob. More specifically, Jake belonged to the Valentino mob and worked under the control of my jackass of a father, Sal. Now he was practically dedicated to taking care of me, which was evident with his giant water bottle and aspirin in hand.

“Come on now Cal, we’ve got places to go. Cody has the car out back already but we got to move now before your bed-buddy comes back,” Jake told me. I nodded once before snatching my jacket off the bathroom door handle and following my best friend out.

In the main area, another member, Hunter, sat waiting for us. He sprung to his feet and fell into step behind me, only giving a slight nod of acknowledgement that dropped a few strands of dirty blonde hair into his grey eyes. I returned the gesture but never stopped moving.

Rule number fifteen in our world, never stop moving. Moving targets are proven to be harder to get over those that stand still, in any sense even.

We walked briskly through the hall, down three flights of stairs and out the back parking lot door. Ahead, the faint glow of an escalades taillight directed us towards Cody. The car itself was jet black with deeply tinted windows, a safety precaution Sal always seemed to take. Jake reached in front of me and yanked the back door open while Hunter leaped into the front. I slid across the seat and felt the car lurch forward right as Jake pulled his door shut.