HIS ENTERTAINER

chapter 27

          HERMANN RODRIGUEZ POV.

  She stood up and left with Dog.
I took a deep breath watching her walk away. I took a sip of my drink. "Mr. Rodriguez," a man called. I turned, a premonition of a long, tedious conversation settling over me. I frowned.

After a few minutes, Ivy and Dog returned. I didn't bother to look at her—not that I didn't want to, but I needed to deal with this other guy first.  I didn't want her to get bored, so I reached out, resting my hand on her thighs. They were thinner than I remembered, she felt foreign as i lightly touched her, then quickly pulled away.

I turned . Instead, I saw a woman I didn't recognize smirking at me, my heart pounding.  A wave of fear and worry washed over me—a fear I'd never known before. It was what I'd been dreading. I snapped instantly drawing everyone's attention. "Who the fuck are you?" I asked then, she laughed. I turned to Dog, that idiot. I throught. "Where is Ivy?" I yelled, "Lock the fucking doors! Find her! FIND IVY!!!" I roared.

"You'll never find her," she hissed, her voice barely audible. I slapped her, she fell from her chair. Bitch, I thought.
Things escalated quickly. Women screamed. My men and I drew our guns. I never knew this was a planned ambush.  There was a rival gang, far more numerous than I'd anticipated. They surrounded us, outnumbering my guards.
I refused to give up. I fired my weapon, my crew following suit. They returned fire. People fell, shot. The clever ones hid under tables, the foolish tried to flee.

The opposing gang formed a protective circle around their leader, trying to get him out. I fired again, my guards with me. A few went down, but that only fueled my rage. They managed to escape. Fuck

I ran after them, my guards at my heels. As we reached the street, their car sped off. I fired several shots into the air, screaming my frustration, "fuuckk!"
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                        IVY SILVER POV.

"We're safe now," Wilmert whispered, his gaze locking with mine.  The urgency in his voice, a stark contrast to the gentle repetition, "You're safe now," sent a shiver of relief down my spine. His eyes, usually sparkling held a depth of concern that both captivated and settled me.

"H-ow?" I breathed, the question barely audible above the tremor in my voice.  Confusion, exhaustion, and a deep, gnawing heartbreak warred within me. Tears streamed down my face, blurring his features, yet somehow enhancing the intensity of his gaze. "Sh sh, it's okay," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against the storm raging within me. He drew closer, the warmth of his presence a tangible comfort in the chilling aftermath of what I'd endured. "Can I touch you?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, his eyes searching mine for permission. I nodded eagerly, my body aching for the familiar solace of his touch, a desperate need for reassurance in this uncertain new reality. He opened his arms, and I collapsed into his embrace, my head resting on his chest as his arms wrapped securely around me. His warmth eased the tension that had knotted itself in my muscles, and I closed my eyes, surrendering to the moment, to the comfort of his presence.

     The warm sun kissed my skin. I awoke to a smile, and there he was, waiting patiently. "You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you," he said, his voice a low caress, as he handed me a steaming mug of coffee. The aroma, rich and comforting, filled the air, a welcome contrast to the lingering scent of fear that clung to me. He stood, his movements graceful, and I felt a pang of something akin to awe.  His presence, so solid and reassuring, felt like a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty.

"Wilmert," I whispered, surprised he'd even heard me. He turned, his expression softening as he met my gaze. This wasn't a dream. It was really him. The sheer reality of it brought fresh tears to my eyes, tears this time of relief and overwhelming joy.