Fell In A Concrete Jungle (Nicholas Ruffilo/ Bad Omens)

12: 911.

Authors-note: The dress Gemma is wearing is in the photo above. The photo also how long her hair is. One more thing, thank you all for the input on my previous author's note, the input doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. Hope you all love the chapter!



~Gemma's POV:~



It was now the week of my father's wedding. The last three weeks contained of me having to meet with my father and pretend to be overjoyed, father even telling me to come back to my apartment which I admitted I would consider, but most likely not deliver on.
I was out for lunch with him, his men around us like hawks as we sat at a small table beside the window overlooking the busy streets of the jungle. "Gemma, you can try to be happy for me" his voice was annoyed as he didn't even look up from his newspaper.

These last few weeks I hardly slept, the dream where my mother cried telling me to stay with the Bad Omens boy's haunted me nearly nightly and when I would wake up Nicholas would be sitting in his bed scrolling his phone or reading a comic book from his shelf, he would ask me what was wrong—I told him most the time I was just too warm, which nearly resulted in him freezing me out one night from opening the window letting in the frigid air.
Unwrapping my fingers from around the cup of coffee I had, I shrugged my shoulders making sure I had that famous smile my father always requested when we were out since the media tended to follow him everywhere, and if they caught sights of me they'd follow me as well. "Happy? I'm sorry, did you forget the date of which you decided to get married on?" I kept my voice low so only my father could hear me.

He placed his newspaper in front of him as his eyes bore into mine. "Gemma."

"She would be disgusted with you, and you know it. And I find out the same time as everyone else and then you have the audacity to get mad at Noah for my choices? I finally get myself some friends and you are trying to rip them to shreds."

His face went dark as he straightened in his seat. Goosebumps littered my skin as I sensed I had said something wrong, which I was right—I had. "My sweet Gem, I don't know what these men have told you, but they are not your friends" his voice was cold, no warmth in that tone what-so-ever.

"They are."

"I didn't hire them to be your friends, I hired them to keep you safe."

Scoffing I scrunched my brows. "Safe from what, dad? From you?"

Wrong, the words were wrong. He leaned back looking me up and down before beckoning someone to fetch the bill as he handed his card to one of his men. "This conversation is over, go pick up your dress and I will see you at the wedding—do not make a scene at this event, Gemma or I will make sure there are consequences for your actions. Be thankful Noah only got an earful from me that day and nothing else" his voice sounded lethal as he headed out the door.

One of his men lingered waiting to see what I would so considering none of the Omens group were with me today.
Getting my coat on, I let out a sigh before heading into the colder weather. Looking across the street, Nicholas stood leaning against the black car he drove on days he deemed it too cold for the bike, or when he felt my father would freak if he saw me on it. Part of me missed the bike but same time with the cold sinking into my skin I was thankful to know I could turn the heat on in the car. Smiling softly, I made my way across the street looking back at my father's worker who watched from his spot, the eerie feeling of it making me rush Nicholas into the car. "You seem like you're in a hurry" he said pulling out of his parking spot.

"Oh you know, I might have pissed my father off—he expects me to be happy for him this weekend and not cause a scene, even though he did blow-up on me today, I never seen that man so on edge I swear" I said fixing my hair from my face.

Nicholas looked over at me, "what do you mean, did he harm you?" his eyes looked over my body before back at the road.

Feeling the warmth in my stomach from his eyes looking at me, I shook my head. "No, I told him I thought I was friends with you guys—he told me he didn't hire you to be my friend, he hired you to protect me."

"He's not wrong with that" I looked at Nicholas in disbelief that he was agreeing to my father's words. "We are hired to protect you; it is different than being your friend." He said as if realizing the weight of his words, "your father pays us weekly to assure your safety not to hangout and joke around."

"So, you don't consider yourself my friend, I get it" I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting a bit. Seeing Helen waiting outside the shop with the dress I was to pick up, I didn't even bother saying bye to Nicholas before closing the door—he would be finishing up whatever task Noah had him doing as Helen and I would shop around for a bit.

Helen's smile was welcoming as she linked arms with me as we entered the shopping center. "What is wrong with you?" she asked nudging me a bit.

"Lunch with my father, and then I told Nicholas I considered you guys friends which he blew off completely and reminded me that I am nothing more than a job to this group" I sighed entering the dress shop to pick up the dress Leanna had requested for me.

"Ugh- that man I swear, don't listen to him because I promise you I- myself consider you a friend and I know Noah does as well, Jolly and Nick are also those who do as well but they're easy going—Nicholas just doesn't let people in as easy, he fears people will get hurt if they get too close to him, that is a story for another day though, let's see what dress she picked out for you" Helen let go of my arm as she grabbed her own dress she had ordered for the wedding.

The girl took me to the back with Helen when we were given the dress, sliding the curtain closed I unzipped the dress from the bag that kept it safe until the day of. Mentally groaning I pulled out the peach-coloured dress and began to slide it on over myself—this was a terrible colour on me, it made me look like the living dead and it muted the green in my eyes as I looked at myself in the mirror. It only went down to my knees, and it was a tighter fit dress which I personally hated, not that all dresses were bad in this design, but this one was terrible. Sliding the curtain open, Helen wore a lovely burgundy dress that suited her—her eyes widened at the sight of me before she clutched her stomach and let out a roar of laughter which had my cheeks burning. "Oh my god, what the hell is that?" she laughed wiping the tears that escaped away from her eyes.

"Apparently this is the dress I am to wear to my fathers wedding this weekend, god I feel like I am going to a stupid prom, and I never been to prom so that should say something" I tugged the bottom of the dress desperate for it to go down further but it wouldn't budge.

"She really had your skin tone in mind didn't she? The dress makes you look so washed out" Helen pointed out looking at me. "I think this is what I am going to wear tonight, I already picked the wedding dress out" she twirled around the burgundy dress hugged her frame perfectly. "Now get changed so we can pick out your dress for tonight."

"Tonight? What is tonight?" I questioned as I slid back into the changing room and changing into a robe they had so I could go view other dresses.

Helen slid her fingers along the fabrics of dresses as she pulled some off the rack most likely for me to try on. "Noah has a dinner we are all attending, it's at a nice place in town not too far from The Grey" what exactly was The Grey? I've heard them talk about it but not enough to get an understanding of what exactly it is.

"What is The Grey?" I asked pulling out a dress to try on.

Making our way back to the changing area, I slid the curtain closed and tried on a few dresses, both of us deciding they wouldn't work. "The Grey is like the guy's baby, it's home to art and it's worth a lot of money— let's just say there have been some attacks against The Grey and none of them have ever been pretty" she admitted.

Not wanting to push further into it, I slid myself into a grey dress that hugged my waist nicely. The skirt of the dress flowed out a bit which reached a few inches above my knees—if my father saw me in this dress he would scold me, the dresses he usually put me in covered me up. The neckline was comfortable and in my opinion complimented my breasts even though they were hidden under fabric, the way the fabric hugged them made me feel powerful in a way, the sleeves were long, and I could cover my hands up if I wanted to.
Stepping out to see Helen, I grinned when her mouth dropped, and a low whistle emitted from her. "Now that dress is the dress for tonight, how do you feel?" she asked making me twirl around on the spot.

Glancing at myself in the mirror, I smiled at myself and my friend who stood beside me, showing her admiration towards me. "I feel like I am ready for dinner."

Helen and myself were to meet the guys at the restaurant. They had a meeting close by there, so it gave her and I time to get ourselves ready. Helen wore the lovely burgundy dress she got today while we were out as I changed into my grey dress we had found. Sliding on a pair of flats to match I did my hair and makeup—my eyes had a soft glitter Helen insisted I used to bring out the green sparkle in them.

Grabbing my phone the Omens boys got me, I left the phone my father had given me as I made my way to the front where Helen waited. "You look amazing!" I smiled at her. Her hair was tied up in a elegant bun on top of her head and her makeup was elegant as well, it warmed her look and I knew she made her look in part way to remind Noah who the boss is in the relationship but as she said, to also leave him longing for more.

Making our way down the streets in Helen's car, we pulled into a parking spot not too far from Nicholas's and Jolly's cars. Both of us cursing as the cold air bit at our skin, we hurried inside out of the soft drizzle of rain and cold wind before smiling at the waiter who seemed to know Helen on the spot, following them to the table my eyes scanned the place—it was a lovely place, candles lit the tables and there was a fireplace which was close to our table. Eyes meeting Nicholas's as the guys stood at the table, I watched as his eyes scanned my body, once more lingering on my legs like they had the night he spent in my apartment. Feeling my cheeks burn slightly, I followed Helen as we took a seat. I sat beside Nicholas who gulped taking a seat beside me, Nick on my other side as Jolly, Helen and Noah sat across from me. Part of me was thankful for the heat of the fireplace beside us as the walk in even though it was short made me wish I had grabbed my jacket regardless even to just place on my legs. "You two look lovely" complimented Jolly who sipped on what looked like cranberry juice.

"Thank you, you look handsome—all of you do" I noted what each of them wore. Each in dress shirt and dress pants aside from Nicholas who did wear a dress shirt, but it was tucked into dark jeans like how he was at the party my father had nearly a month ago and this time he wore a black tie around his neck as well.

"You suit that colour" Nicholas said sipping his own drink he had in his hand.

Smiling softly, I nodded my head unsure what to say to him after what he had said earlier today. "Thanks, Helen helped me pick it out" I said shyly as the others embarked into discussing their day—Nicholas and I sitting quietly in our seats listening.

"Oh my god, you should see the dress she has to wear this weekend, it's so bad" Helen laughed remembering the state of the dress as she clutched Noah's hand.

Noah raised a brow as he looked over at me. "How bad?"

"Let's just say, peach isn't my colour" I smiled sitting back a bit more in my seat, only to be startled when I felt a hand on my back, looking towards Nicholas I never noticed when he draped his arm over my seat, his eyes were on a corner of the room which had me searching to see if I could see what he was looking at. Looking I saw a group of men sitting at a table, all of them in leather jackets as most of them sipped what looked like whiskey, watching our table. "Friends of yours?" I asked.

The others seemed to note us looking over and looked over themselves, Jolly cursed under his breath before thanking the waiter who brought out our food. "What do they want?" he seemed annoyed, possibly the most annoyed out of the guys.

Noah shrugged before turning to his food, "who cares, just enjoy your food, and pretend they're not even there. They're not our concern" Noah said cutting up the steak he had ordered.

"So, what do you think of my dress" Helen asked Noah changing the subject, the guys seemed thankful about that as they all looked at Helen's dress as she sipped on her wine.

Noah's smirk told me everything, "I think it would look better on the floor of our room."

"Dude, I am trying to eat!" Nick said nearly choking on his own steak, "you need Jesus or something dude, you are always so to the point when it comes to stuff some of us don't need to know" everyone laughed at Nick's comment.

"Oh, come on, Nick you're acting like a virgin" teased Jolly cut into his chicken.

"I get more action than you, don't bring that talk to me!" Nick snorted.

My face turned red at the topic they were all discussing, Jolly seemed to notice as he furrowed his brows. "What's wrong princess? Did daddy ban this topic from your house or something?"

"W-what no, I mean, it was never spoke about, but you know. . ." what was I to say? I was the virgin of this group and before I could say more, Jolly sniffed it out.

"Holy shit, you're a virgin!" he said leaning back, somehow seemingly stunned at the treasure he just discovered.

Nicholas's eyes snapped to me; his gaze bore into me as well as everyone else's as they seemed surprised. It was Nick who spoke first, "if it makes you feel better, Gemma, I'd tap that" my head swung to face Nick who sipped his drink casually, the others were holding back their giggles and Nick looked around, "what? I was trying to be respectful; I mean if you don't mind me asking were you waiting for marriage or something? Weren't you with that guy, what's his name? Oh, I don't remember, the one the other year" I knew who he was talking about.

Gulping I smoothed down the dress near my breasts, noting Nicholas's eyes watching my hands as I smoothed out my dress. "No, that was publicity—I never spoke more then a few words to him, and we ended our relationship over text as our first actual greeting to one another, I've never been in a relationship" I looked at Nick with a small smile, "and I am not waiting for marriage, but I don't really want to just hand it out to anyone either" he nodded his head respecting what I meant.

Before I could take another bite, I was surprised when a drink was placed in front of me. "The gentleman in the leather over there asked me to bring this to you" the girl said as she pointed at the table Jolly and the others were cursing at earlier.

Looking at the table, I watched as one of the bigger guys sipped his drink, before saluting it in the air for me to see. "Thank you" I smiled at the girl who hurried away to do her job.

"Don't drink it" Nicholas said sliding the glass further away from me.

"Why?"

"It could be drugged, and we aren't risking it." He said.
The others all finished their meal and Jolly and Nick both headed to the front after paying, we told them we would catch up in a minute as we wanted to relax for a moment before heading home.

Of course it wasn't going to last long as before we knew it we heard shouting and cursing and glass breaking near the front. "Fuck's sake, they couldn't just drop it for one fucking minute" Noah cursed tossing another hundred-dollar bill on the table.

Helen and I looked at one another confused as Nicholas and Noah had us between both, Helen watching Noah as I looked at Nicholas. "Gemma, call nine-one-one and request an ambulance over a broken jaw" Nicholas said so calmy I could only blink at his request.

"There is a broken jaw?" I asked furrowing my brows.

Cracking his neck, he stepped forward, "there's going to be" he grabbed the guy off Jolly and before I could think of anything to say Nicholas's fist connected with the mans jaw sending him down to the ground. Nicholas standing himself straight as he adjusted the tie around his neck before looking over at me as my mouth hung open in shock.

Helen snapped me out of the shock state as she dialled nine-one-one and began the instructions on who needed an ambulance. Tugging my arm, Nicholas waved himself off from the group as we headed towards the door to leave, Noah needed to stay with the others to clean up the mess that happened. Passing by the guy in a leather jacket, he smirked down at me as we passed by—not being able to help it, I looked back at him to see he was still watching me, only he was watching the lower half of me.
Heart picking up I held the skirt down with one hand as the wind threatened to lift it up to flash the world. "Where are we going, why are we leaving them?" I questioned as we stepped closer to his car.

Pulling my arm from his grasp, he looked at me. "Because the media will be swarming that place within minutes and we don't need your face plastered in the news, come on" he opened the passenger door but saw I wasn't moving. Rolling his eyes, he slammed it shut making me take a step back from him. "Gemma, now what?" he asked, annoyed clearly.

"You expect me to just get in your car after I just witnessed you punch a guy twice your size like it was nothing?" my cheeks burned at the memory of him fixing his tie after, his black hair tied in a loose bun on top of his head didn't help either.

"What?" he rubbed his face with one hand, I could see how clearly tired he was from working so much these last few weeks, and whenever I woke up he was already awake. "Gemma, I told you—it is my job to protect you" I hung my head down as the breeze blew my hair and the bottom of my skirt, Nick stepped closer as I felt his warmth near me, "but maybe we can try being friends at the same time, I just don't warm up easily and you need to understand that I will put you as a job before friendship, but doesn't mean I won't try to be your friend as well. . . Now, I am asking as your friend, can we please leave before the media show up?" he asked softly.

It was hard to hear that I was still just a job to him, but I suppose it was nice to hear him say he would try to be my friend as well. Nodding my head, I opened the car door sliding myself inside.
Nicholas didn't take long as we drove home.
Getting inside the compound, I rubbed my thighs that were exposed from the wind as they were red from the cold, Nicholas noticed as his eyes lingered for a moment. "So, you really are a virgin?" he seemed to doubt me.

Looking up at him as he stood in front of me, he turned on the fireplace in the main room of the compound, it wasn't a real one and it was mainly an electrical heater, but it got the job done. "Yeah, I am—hard to lose your virginity when you're being bossed around by your father and never have time to meet people" I said still rubbing at my legs, "why, what age were you when you lost yours?" was there supposed to be a certain timeline before you were deemed sad and pathetic?

Nicholas chuckled as he opened himself a beer from the minibar. "I was fourteen, it wasn't as romantic as you'd think, and I think both of us were left more un-pleasured rather then pleasured" he snorted at his memory. He caught my glance, "what's on your mind, you can talk to me—I am trying to be your friend after all" he said taking another long drink of his beer.

He was right. "With me being a virgin, and me being out of my early years does that make me pathetic. If someone hears that, are they going to turn and run the other way screaming I am a virgin? Seems like people my age have lost it way younger, and I feel weird knowing I haven't?" hugging myself, Nicholas looked at my chest that seemed to be squeezed by my hug.

Putting his drink down, he cursed. "No, Gemma—it doesn't mean a bad thing, if you want my opinion I think it's better you waited, or are waiting, sex as fun as it is—you want that spark with it as well, or else it is just meaningless sex and I don't think as your first time you want that, you'll find someone who will take care of you during that experience, and it'll be amazing for you" his jaw tightened as he looked me over one more time. "You do suit that dress, it brings out the Nyx part of your name, which I need to show you something" he pulled out his phone showing my contact's name in it. It was a photo of me when I was helping Helen in her green house a while back, the name caught my attention as it read Nyx "what do you think?" he asked sliding his phone back into his pocket.

Smiling I wanted to hug him but didn't want to cross over any boundaries he may have. "I love it, thank you Nicholas."

"Nick."

"What?"

"You can call me Nick, or Ruffilo, or the other Nick you can call him Folio—but you can call me Nick" my heart swelled at the gesture he was putting out.

Why was he becoming attractive in a way to me, was it his sense of danger or how he was. Usually, people ran the other way when they saw someone like him in his state of danger, like a panther ready to pounce any given second or snap their jaws at any sense of danger. "Well Nick, I will say—thank you, the talk did help and when time is right I'll be sure to remember our talk about my non-existent sex life" he laughed at that, the smirk showing on his face made me ache more. "I think I am going to go relax for a bit, thank you again" turning I swear I could feel his eyes burning on me as I walked away.
Maybe today wasn't so bad after all.