EVIL WAYS.

TWO

"I don't remember how we ended up here, to be honest." Jake said before taking a sip from his coffee. Honesty was something she could appreciate. "Did I ride us?"

"No, we walked." Vittoria shrugged. "I guess that's why we managed to get here in one piece, though. We were really wasted." She chuckled, adjusting herself on the chair, relaxing more and more as the minutes went by.

​They were having breakfast out on the balcony, trying to remember what happened the night before. Up until then, they concluded that Jake had approached her in the bar and it was a cliché, really... Boy meets girl and buys her a drink. Next thing they remembered were hands and mouths everywhere, clothes flying around the room and soft sounds echoing through his studio. If anything, they had created a good memory.

"Sorry about that." He pointed at her neck. The smirk on his lips proving he wasn't sorry at all. "Guess I was too caught up in the moment."

​"Well, I could say the same," Vittoria mimicked his smirk as she motioned towards his chest with a few love bites and scratches here and there. He laughed it off. She felt comfortable around him now, the hesitation from earlier completely gone. He was extremely easy-going and charismatic, the conversation never fading.

​"Were you alone yesterday?" His voice was low with a shadow of curiosity, his eyes staring into hers.

​"No, I was with a friend." She answered, shortly. She sipped from her coffee and he lit up another cigarette. The man was a chimney personified but it didn't bother her. "Can I have one?"

Jake nodded and handed her one, reaching for his lighter next. She lit it up and took a drag, breathing in deeply as the smoke traveled down her throat to her lungs, adapting to the familiar taste of nicotine she knew very well.

"I noticed your accent, you're not American." He said, making conversation.

"Italian."

"That's cool. I've been to Italy a couple of times." He said, leaning forward to the table, taking another bite of his toast.

"Really? Where?" She asked curiously, tapping the end of the cigarette on the ashtray, folding her legs on the chair and holding her still hot mug with her free hand.

"Naples." Jake answered, leaning back on his chair. "Just quick trips to visit some old friends, you know." He omitted the fact that these people were not really his friends, but targets. "Where are you from?"

"I was born in Milan." She said, not giving details.

"I haven't been there yet but I've been told it's beautiful." He said smoothly, looking into her eyes.

"The person who told you that is right." She laughed lightly, mostly at how he was blatantly flirting with her. Jake was trying to impress her and she was amused by it. He was hot, the sex was great – as far as she could remember, and the conversation wasn't dull. It wouldn't hurt to keep in touch with him whenever she was back in New Orleans and wanted to get laid.

"So, what's your deal?" He changed subjects.

"My deal?" Vittoria asked.

"Yeah, what do you do?"

"Uh, administration." She said, hesitantly. "You know, logistics and stuff..." She shrugged it off, hoping he would let it go.

"That's funny, I didn't take you as a business woman." Jake said, "No offense." He corrected himself quickly. "'Cause you look like someone who does something more badass."

"None taken." She smiled, ignoring what he said last.

"I don't really know what it is, but there's something about you that's quite unique." He said, his index finger playing with his bottom lip, as if he was trying to figure it out, figure her out.

"Well, I'm quite ordinary." She shrugged, putting out the cigarette.

"Doubt that." Jake said looking right into her eyes, as if he was trying to decipher all the secrets hidden behind her dark irises. Vittoria felt the butterflies on her stomach starting to wake up under his stare.

"What about you?" She quickly changed the subject in order to take herself off the spotlight. Jake caught her sly maneuver but didn't say anything. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. He was really enjoying her company, this was a new thing for him.

"I work at the bar." He said.

"You mean the bar we were yesterday?" She asked.

"Yep." He replied, the p popping from his lips.

"You work there?" She asked again and he nodded. "Wait, you're not going to get in trouble for leaving when it was still open?" She remembered how crowded the bar was, the infinity of bodies grinding against each other to the loud music, bottles and more bottles of beer filling up the tables, glasses of cocktails being delivered by the agile staff.

"Not really, doll." He replied. Vittoria tried to ignore the sweet way he referred to her. Maybe he wasn't doing anything and it was just a habit and his raspy voice that made everything sound flirty. "Being close with the boss has its perks." Jake smiled, proudly.

The Bar was one of the most hyped up places in Bourbon Street. Nobody would suspect that its dim lights and great music were also the perfect disguise for all the illegal activities that happened behind closed doors. That was something Jake was proud, too.

Vittoria was about to say something when her phone started to ring on the table.

"I have to take this." She excused herself and quickly answered the buzzing device, getting up and leaning on the balcony banister.

Jake took this opportunity to really look at her.

Her dark hair was falling down in a perfect wavy cascade that reached right above her shoulders, her olive skin turning golden under the bright sun. Her lower body perfectly shaped in the high waisted leather pants that embraced her curves. She turned her head to look at Jake the second his eyes reached her face. Her dark brown eyes were clear in the sunlight but clouded for the phone call. Her thick eyebrows furrowed in concern and her plump lips pressed together. Jake could sense something was up. She finished the phone call and returned to the table.

"I'm so sorry, I have to go." She said quickly downing what was left of her coffee and looking at him.

"Oh, no worries." Jake said, getting up from the chair, not asking any questions. "I'll walk you out." She followed him to the door, putting on her heeled boots and getting her black leather jacket on the way. He opened the door and she walked out, pressing the elevator button and turning back to him.

"Uh... Thank you?" She said in a short laugh.

"For breakfast or for the best sex of your life?" Jake said with a smirk, making her roll her eyes and laugh once again. "I'm joking." He gave her a quick hug.

"Alright. See you 'round." Vittoria said, really hoping they would see each other again. She entered the elevator, winking at him before the doors closed.