Guns and Roses

Twenty One ~ Quinn

I wrap the massive jacket around me tighter as the morning chill seeps into my bones. I think Rya said it was Artie's which would explain why it was so big across the shoulders.

I have been dreading coming back to the shop for days now but I really need a change of clothes and other things that I've had to go without for the past few days.

As I approach, I see a piece of yellow police tape, attached to the door, still blowing in the wind even though there's been no police presence for a day or two.

Grandpa disappeared on Friday night or Saturday morning and there's been no trace of him. Every morning, news reporters ask for any information of his whereabouts to be sent to police but nothing has turned up.

All I know is that it's not looking good.

I walk into the shop and hear the little bell chime. Someone has cleared up inside and thrown out all of the plants that had died. The only ones left are sad and wilted.

I touch the hole in the counter where the knife punctured the wood gently. I was so certain that Rya had done it. So certain that I would confront her and she would tell me exactly what had happened.

But she didn't know. She is also no closer to knowing because of her family showing up and knocking her off course. She's like a completely different person when they're in the room. Her defences shoot up whenever anyone even mentions them.

I think I'm getting good at reading her. I've been good at picking up changes in emotions for a few years - it's a skill I picked up after Dad passed and Mum started getting sick.

No one else seems to notice the distress on her face whenever she spots a Petrov. The slight shake of her hands when she speaks to anyone in the mafia. The stands of hair wrapped around her fingers or the bite marks on her bracelet whenever something stresses her.

I still don't know an awful lot about what happened when she was little. I know that her parents were arrested and her uncles adopted her but I don't know how that all came about.

I automatically reach for my phone before realising that I still don't have it because I left my jacket with my phone and keys at Ellie's.

"Looking for this?" A voice says from behind me and I spin in fright.

Ellie is standing in the middle of the shop with my jacket over her arm. She's looking around, completely bewildered by the sight. "What happened?"

I sigh and jump up onto the counter. "I don't know yet. When I came home Saturday morning, it was wrecked. My grandfather's still missing"

Her face screws up and she runs over to me. I hate the look on her face. It's a look I got a lot after Dad died and got it even more after Mum got admitted to hospital. Pity.

"Oh babe. I had no idea. I only found your stuff last night" she strokes my cheek with one of her soft hands and I find myself leaning into the touch. So much has happened since I saw her last. "Are there any leads?"

I shake my head "There was no sign of forced entry and no DNA left here. Whoever did it knew what they were doing"

She frowns "How much did they take?"

"They didn't take anything" I tell her. It's a fact that's been boggling me for days. Who would trash a place without taking anything even though the safe is older than me? "They said they'll wait until the end of the week before they open a murder investigation for my grandfather"

My eyes burn but I won't cry. They think that the robbers grabbed grandpa because he interrupted them and then when they realised that he was no use to them, they killed him.

Ellie tucks a loose piece of hair away from her pretty face and then kissed me gently. "Let's get out of here. Ok? We'll go to the movies or something. Just let's not stay here"

I nod. I can come back later and get my things. Rya is spending the night with her parents so she won't mind if I go out for a few hours. I also don't really want to spend the night in her house without her. Lisa, Artie, Alexander and Switch have been nothing but nice to me since I got there but I still don't feel safe around the Petrovs.

Rafa appeared home this morning and he didn't look happy. His nose was going purple and he growled at Rya as we both left for school this morning. Rya seemed almost disapointed at his return.

Mika has been tolerable at school. She's fitting in well and her lying skills are impeccable. No question has tripped her up despite Rya's many attempts to throw her off.

What I've picked up from them is that the Petrovs are very skilled at what they do. They value perfection in everything they do and they are incredible at deceiving the people around them.

The Guerreiros are a little different. They're a little bit more 'shoot first, ask questions later' sort of family.

Ellie kisses me again, this time with a little more energy. I slide off of the counter to close the distance between us and one hand finds her hip while the other finds her cheek. She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me close and locks me against her.

She isn't the first girl I've kissed but she is probably the best. I find that when my lips are on hers, I can't think about anything else. My brain turns to mush and all I can think about is her.

She breaks away and presses her forehead against mine. Her lips spread into a smile that shows off perfect white teeth. "Come on. We better get going if you want to go anywhere"

I nod and take my jacket from her. She takes my hand and we head out into the night.