Renai, my girl

Renai, my girl- Chapter 2

"I was initially thinking that I might make a peace treaty with the neighbours" Renai told me, twiddling with the olive stick in her martini.

The place was packed with couples holding hands and crooning little love songs to each other. Renai sat opposite to me, looking more beautiful than ever. Her sandy curls were swept over one shoulder, and she was wearing a small silky black dress. Diamonds glinted in her earlobes. I suddenly felt conscious of the fact that I was wearing the casual jeans and tee-shirt combination that I'd been wearing earlier on in the day. The jeans had been customised with a few more tears on the knees from my encounter with Rhodes. I flicked the bubbles in my glass, and watched them rise to the top.

"They didn't react well. It's a shame, but I think they will get the idea when I go in there with a Glock  and shoot up the ceiling"

I have finally found the perfect woman.

I grinned and leaned back into the chair, crossing my arms behind my head. "Buncha assholes. I know for a fact that they are drug rendering. I'll fuckin' get them done"

She smiled, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "How do you know?" She asked. Shit.

I chose my words carefully. "How can't you know? They get high, they get violent, bastards have the police 'round there more or less five nights a week"

"Very true. Many an evening blown to smithereens as a result of their ridiculous antics"

"Oh, bloody hell, how many head shaped holes have we got in our living room now?"

Renai laughed gently, placing a hand on mine. I hoped that she wouldn't notice the slight tremor in my hands. People generally underestimate how it feels to be shot at, to have it pointing at you. I'd had a bullet clip my shoulder and one lodged in my forearm before, and trust me on this. It's unpleasant.

“I'm still kinda pissed off that you were late today”

“I'm sorry, man”

“Woman” She corrected me.

“I'm sorry, woman”

“Don't get smart”

“Do I need to?”

She smiled again, shaking her head. “Robert, you are a genius. You are a genius. There. I said it. Now say something nice about me”

I rocked back in my chair, stroking my chin.

“Well, where do I start? Hey, you're sexy, talented, artistic, and your boyfriend is a genius”

“Ha ha. Now tell me something bad about me.” The front legs of my chair hit the floor again. I considered her. “Something bad?” I said. “About you? Come on, you know this is impossible”

Renai burst out laughing, waving a hand at me. “Robert Bradley Hudson, master of flattery”

“Master of awesome and truthfulness” I corrected her. “Have a nice day?”

“Not really. Like I said, neighbours. How was...” She stopped. Her eyes, for the twelfth time this evening, rested upon my cheek. “What?” I said.

She brushed a weary hand on her black dress, her hazel eyes meeting mine. I didn't even ask to know there was something wrong. The restaurant was wide and spacious, but I suddenly felt cramped, and the air was stuffy. Renai had dropped her hands from under her chin, and leaned in toward me. She said nothing. I continued to tap the bubbles in my glass.

"Robert" Renai said suddenly, her voice serious.

I looked up from my glass. "What?"

"Your face. What happened today?"

That thought that I hate came into my mind. That thought that I really fucking hate.

Does Renai even know me?

It sounds simple enough. Almost stupid. No, scrap that. Really stupid. I sat there, stalling, hesitant. I slid my hand up my cheek. It felt bruised. My fingers strayed on a piece of glass from the street lamp, and I hurriedly plucked it out, wincing inwardly.

How in fuck's name was I gonna cover this one up.

"Oh, yeah, got in a bit of shit with one of the guys at the pub. It's cool now, we're cool"

I couldn't help the feeling that maybe I'd said that a little too fast.

I felt my heart pounding in my chest as her eyes narrowed. There was a few seconds of silence, before her face softened and she slowly nodded.

"Oh, okay. It looks terrible! No offence or anything"

"None taken" I grimaced. "You got a mirror?"

Her eyes stayed on my cheek whilst her hands rooted through her clutch. "Yeah, yeah, here" She passed me a small round mirror. I raised it to my face.

"SHIT!"

* * *

"After you" I held the door open for her, putting on my most gentlemanly expression. Renai giggled, sauntering in drunkenly. I closed our apartment door, and pulled her into the kitchen and into my arms. Typically, the posh restaurant had got boring, and so we had joined the pub'n'club crawl.        "I think we can get the neighbours back" I whispered.

"Oh?"

"Let's make some noise of our own"

I leaned in to kiss her, but was interrupted by a sharp bleeping noise from my mobile.  I sighed, and reached into my back pocket. I looked up at Renai apologetically, but it was too late. The mood had totally been killed. She pulled away, raising a single delicate eyebrow. I hesitated before flipping the phone open. "I have to get this" I told her, and walked into the hall.

"-Lo?"

"Robert?" Came the whispery response.

I sighed again, irritation leaking into my voice. I walked into the living room, shutting the door behind me.

"Yeah. What is it, Michaels"

"Rhodes. Got some inside info. I've found another drug den that he's connected to. I want you in there, stat"

"Fuck it Michaels, I'm busy!" I heard Renai cough in the other room.

"Robert, shut the fuck up and listen, you dumb piece of shit. I need this doing now. I've found something out. I need you there now. You will find three people, and you will not kill any of them. However. There is one person I need back to me, in one piece. Got that?"

I Didn't answer.

"Robert. There's one other thing"

I waited. Studied my fingernails.

"I need you here first. I'll give you what you need to carry this out, and I need you to see some pictures. Tell me you'll do this, there's a lotta money in it for you"

I let out a long whoosh of breath and tipped my head back. "Okay, what ever" I said reluctantly. "By a lot of money, I hope you mean a fuck of a lot"