Fancy Love

Fancy Love: Part 8

There was a knock at the door.

They both froze. Mark slowly put his finger to his lips, “Shhhh.”

Another knock. “Ailec?” came a slightly muffled voice from outside the door.

“Expecting someone?” Mark asked softly, eyes boring into her, “Don’t say a word.” The knocking ceased, instead the handle was tried, and meeting success, the door pushed open, “What the hell?” he snarled, half turning from Ailec but still maintaining his hold.

Carmen entered the small apartment, immediately spotting them from the doorway. Six foot of furious, brisling billionaire was across the living room in a blur. She grabbed Mark’s upper arm, and spun him, stumbling, away from the red head.

“What the hell?” he repeated, “You can’t come barging in here like that!”

He made to come at her, but stopped as her hand snapped up, palm out, “Do... not... move,” she uttered succinctly, her tone low and dangerous.

She never looked at him. Instead intense brown eyes captured Ailec’s, swept across her body checking for any signs of damage, and then lifted back to her face, searching. They were piercing in their concern, and it took Ailec’s breath away. Cool, steady fingers touched her cheek gently, “Are you alright?”

“I’m... yes, I’m ok,” she managed, caught in the fire of that gaze. There was a frightening energy rolling off the taller woman, filling the room. She was vibrating with it.

Carmen took a slow, steadying breath, and some of her coiled emotion subsided. She dropped her hand and turned to Mark, moving slowly towards him, as though stalking prey. “Never come near her again,” she said, her voice a low growl laced with cold fury, “Or I will end you.”

“She owes me.”

“Yes. She owes you a long stint in a small cell, with a roommate named Frank who has a penchant for young prison newbies.”

“She owes me rent money.”

Carmen looked at Ailec, noted the slight shake of her head and turned back to Mark, “It seems she disagrees.”

“We were just settling a trade. You need to get the hell out of my house while we finish our business.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Carmen said, returning to Ailec’s side, her back to Mark. She dropped her voice, “Is this everything?” she asked, gesturing at the two bags lying at the foot of the bed.

“Yes.”

“Does he have anything else of yours?”

“Just my bond,” Ailec said with a slight shrug, “I kind of need it.”

Carmen nodded, and then looked her in the eye, “Do you want me to pay him off? So he doesn’t bother you again?” Ailec could tell it took a lot for her to ask, the look in her eyes belaying the taller woman’s true feelings. She wanted to crush his skull.

“No, I doubt it would do any good anyway.”

Carmen nodded briskly, turning back to Mark, she said, “Have Ailec’s bond transferred to her account within the next two days. If it’s not there on Tuesday, I will set a team of lawyers on you so fast, your head will spin.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

Carmen’s lips quirked slightly as she looked at Ailec, “You really are astonishing, even your ex doesn’t recognise me.”

Ailec managed a shaky smile in response, “At least it’s not me this time.”

Carmen grinned at Ailec, reaching out to squeeze her hand briefly before searching through her bag, drawing out a business card. Ailec noticed it was different to the one Carmen had given her in the wine bar, it was white with more writing and what looked to be a company logo. She handed it to Mark.