Don't call me Angel- Completed

Nineteen

"One call. That's all I need and I'll be in there. I'll be right here." 

"I'm fine Lu." I unbuckled my belt. "Go do something fun." 

"No I'm waiting right here in case you need me."

"I'll probably be a few hours. You know that right?" 

"Okay I might drive around the neighbourhood then." He smiled. "You look really good. When was the last time they saw you?" 

"My parents funeral." I raised my eyebrow.

That was a completely different kid. A sweet little black dress, hair softly curled. Innocent. That's how I was before I went up north. Something had clicked in me when I pulled the trigger all those years ago.  I tasted something that I didn't know how to deal with. A woman wasn't supposed to like the things I had discovered I did. That's what everyone kept saying. 

Not Nicky though. No. Nicky encouraged it. Forced Arlo to teach me things. He did. Pretty well. Gave me a basis to build everything I do now. These guys that I'm seeing now, they don't like it. They still want me to be that pretty little princess. 

It was probably going to be a big deal when I show up like this. My cousins understood it a little more than my aunt and uncle. The 2 boys, Zander and Ethan, were a little older. Pretty much the same age as Arlo or there abouts. I think Zander is 28 and Ethan is 26. Piper was my age, a little younger, 21 or 22. I'm not too sure. We would hang out a lot when I was down here. We still spoke on the phone a few times a month. I at least had her if I moved down here.

"Why do I get the feeling that something's not right about this?" 

"Because there is something not right about it." I shrugged opening the car door. "I'll call you if I need you." 

"So we're just skipping over the something not being right? Okay sure. You have my number right?" 

"Top of my dial list." I nodded, adjusting the gun in the back of my pants. "Don't worry. It's fine. They won't hurt me. They know Nicky would beat the shit out of all of them. The last time they saw me, I'd shot a gun 3 times. They've hear rumours about me but they don't think it's true. They have no idea who's walking into their house." He shook his head and I closed the door, turning around and walking up the drive to the house. He was still parked there. I don't think he'd leave. He might park up the road but he wasn't going to drive around like he said he would. We both knew he wouldn't. 

"MADDY." I couldn't help but smile as a preppy blonde girl ran down the drive at full speed. 

"Jesus Piper slow down." She wrapped her arms around me, sending us both crashing to the floor.  I could see him now, laughing his arse off in the car at the two of us on the floor. 

"Who's the guy?" She smirked as we stood up looking back at the car. 

"I wish I could say." I smiled her eyebrows furrowing as she dusted me off. 

"He looks hot." 

"Stop staring." I giggled and she looped her arm in mine. "Tell me no one has told Nicky I'm here." 

"No one speaks to them. I'm sure you're fine." She laid her head on my shoulder. "You're so tall now." 

"That's the heels." I chuckled. "You haven't changed. Like at all. Just a little older." 

"Yeah that happens over 10 years." She giggled. "Tell me about the guy." 

"Why?" 

"Because my life is so boring right now and last time we spoke you slept with Arlo again." 

"Oh my god." I covered my face as we reached the door. "Did I actually tell you that?" 

"Yep." I peeked through my fingers. "Have you slept with him?" 

"Who the guy in the car?" 

"No the guy clung to the wall. Yes the guy in the car. We need a name for him. Guy in the car is too long." 

"Call him Luca." 

"Luca." She wiggled her eyebrows. "That's fake right?" 

"Yeah. Inside joke." She raised her eyebrow, looking back at the car for a second. 

"Inside joke? So you've known him a while." 

"I shot him at the gallery, left him for dead but well-"  I held my hand out towards the car. "Didn't work and then I come down here and he just happens to be in the same hotel. Its a whole thing." 

"Does Arlo know about him?" 

"Arlo thinks he's dead." I pressed my lips together. "Like me if he finds out so keep your mouth shut." She zipped her mouth dramatically throwing away the key into the garden. I rolled my eyes as she opened the door. 

"SHE'S HERE." I could hear the chatter in the back of the house stop. Footsteps, followed by 4 other faces appearing in the doorway. I pulled my sunglasses up into my hair, staring at them all, waiting for one of them to make the first move. My uncle had his arms crossed, looking my outfit up and down. I turned my head to Zander and Ethan, their faces covered in small smiles. 

"Hi Maddy." 

"Hi guys. Long time no see." I put my hands into my pockets, leaving just the thumbs out. "How is everyone?" 

"We're good." My uncle spoke. "Why are you back here Maddelena?" I raised an eyebrow at him. 

"What I can't come see family?" 

"You know too damn well you're not here to see family. Why are you looking at houses?" 

"Oh so you're watching me down here then? Nicky up home, you here?" I changed my stance, showing them subconsciously I was a lot stronger than they thought I was. "I don't need people watching me. I can handle my own shit." 

"Mind your language." My aunt shook her head. "It's not very lady like. You mother-" 

"Don't you dare say my mother wouldn't approve." I laughed. "Neither of them gave a damn." 

"Angel-" 

"It's Maddy. No one calls me angel anymore." 

"Fine." He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Maddy, Why are you moving down here?" 

"I've got a name to reclaim and I can't do that from 3 states away can I?"