Dark Sensations

Round Two

I passed on answering the phone call, knowing exactly who it was with a simple glance at the clock. I was already on the outskirts of Paris, leaving Massimo with no hope of finding me. It made me smirk to myself. I knew that I was playing with fire baiting him like this, that if it came down to it that man would probably have no issues with killing me, much like he mentioned. Was he really a man that would kill a woman with no qualms? I always assumed gangsters such as himself held some kind of morals when it came to women and children. Perhaps times had changed.

Ms. Victoria greeted us when we pulled up and I hopped from the car quickly and met her halfway. If Gabriel was the closest thing to a father, Ms. Victoria was the closest thing to a mother. She was an elderly woman who had a sweet southern accent and took no shit. She was the one who taught me about clothes, make up and how to act like a lady, though she wasn't always happy with my manners. When I arrived she was already working for Gabriel, knew exactly what he did. She didn't mind, as long as people didn't get hurt.

"My Mina! Home at last! " She exclaimed, wrapping me up in a tight hug.

She smelled of fresh baked bread and expensive perfume.

Home.

"Careful, Ms. Victoria. I'm hurt."

Pulling away she gasped loudly and finally noticed the wrap around my shoulder, shaking her head and muttering something about brutish men. "Let's get you cleaned up then."

At the top of the stairs by the door lingered Xavier, head of Gabriel's security team. One glance at the bandage and his eyes shot to mine, anger burning in them. Smiling tiredly, I tapped his shoulder on the way past him, following Ms. Victoria into the kitchen. She sat me down and proceeded to fix me a plate of dinner, telling me everything that happened while I was gone. I just sat there listening, letting her rant on about whatever she wanted to.

Yeah. It was good to be home.

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After wishing everyone good night I made it to my room and flopped face first onto my bed, groaning into the satin duvet.

"Fucking shoulder."

It didn't take me long to undress and grab my joint tray, starting the large dark marble tub and slide in. The warm water encased me and I let out a dreamy sigh. As I was lounging, relaxing to the full extent, my phone rang and I glanced at it on the bathtub caddy.

Placing it to my ear, I exhaled a plume of smoke. "You're interrupting my relaxation period."

"And you're making my anger continue to rise, neonata." (baby girl)

I laughed quietly, gently tapping off the ash from the joint before taking another pull. "That's your own fault. You should have just left me alone."

"Left you alone?" He paused, no doubt rolling his eyes at such an outlandish statement. "You stole from me. If you didn't want me to find you, you would have turned that job down the minute it was offered to you."

"So you think this was some kind of ploy to... what? Get your attention?"

"Perhaps."

I choked on the smoke in my lungs laughing and snubbed out the joint, adjusting myself in the tub. What an outlandish thought to have. It had nothing to do with him, but instead the money that came from the job that had my attention.

"Are you in the bath?"

Pausing, I raised a brow and leaned back against the marble and chuckled softly. "Don't concern yourself with what I'm doing. Why are you calling?"