A Man of Service A John Wick Fanfic

Chapter 8

T/W – adult situations, swearing

"John Wick...," the thick, heavy voice came over the phone. "John Wick. It's Alec Rouyev, your old buddy from Vegas..."

Surprise crossed John's face. "How are you Alec? How's Vegas?"

"Vegas is Vegas. Hasn't changed an ounce since Bugsy Siegel dreamt of it in the 40's. You are in New York, am I right?"

"Yes," John answered. "What can I do for you Alec?"

"Buddy, this time I'm doing for you. I owe you. You did me right awhile back and you should have held my marker for it, but you let it go. Now I'm paying you back."

"You don't have to pay me back. I did you a favor. That's all."

Alec laughed with a big booming voice. "Fine, fine. I'm doing you a favor back, okay now John?"

"What is it, Alec?"

After a bit of a pause, John could hear him lighting a cigar, Alec said, "Seems you have stolen our songbird."

"What? Who?"

"Kate Callaghan. She once was the arm candy of Anthony Tortorelli. Did you know that?" Alec asked as he took a puff on his cigar.

"I've heard something like that."

"Uh huh. Well, I hear that she's your arm candy now," he barked into the phone.

"Where did you hear that?" John asked casually.

"Mr. Wick, please. Any of the 300 people planted in The Continental at this moment could have told me. Sex information moves quickly....faster than death notices."

John thought about retorting and telling him Kate was no one's "arm candy", but #1, he didn't want to give Alec any more information than what he had already; and #2, he and Kate were none of Alec's fucking business.

"Okay. So let me tell you about Anthony Tortorelli....."

Kate was dressed in an off the shoulder, black, knee length dress for the performance that evening. She pulled her hair up into a French twist and ignored the soft tendrils of hair around her face that escaped the shiny, silver clip.

As she feared, John was no where to be found when she arrived to get ready for the show, but Winston was waiting at the dressing room door to see her when she exited.

"Hi Winston," Kate greeted.

"You look lovely," he answered in a proper tone, his powerful blue eyes looking into hers. "Are you free after your performance? I'd love to speak with you over a glass of wine."

"Thank you very much, Winston, but I'm meeting someone after the show," she answered carefully.

"John Wick, I presume?" His voice turned cold.

Kate neither confirmed nor denied. "I'm so sorry. Perhaps we could meet before a show?"

"Perhaps....," he stated flatly, then gave a sly, knowing grin. "I understand you were Anthony Tortorelli's girlfriend?"

A shock of fear shot through Kate's body. Had Anthony found her? Of course he found her. He told her he would track her down through the wilds of Siberia if he had to.

Kate tried to hide her fear and was about to answer when she saw John walking towards them at a rather rushed gait. She called to him and closed her eyes momentarily, thanking the Irish fairies for sending him to her just at that moment.

"Hi Kate," he greeted her first, then nodded at Winston.

How she wanted to throw her arms around him, to feel his strong, generous hands on her back, urging her body closer to his. To feel his insistent mouth pressed against hers, then his hands travelling down to grip her backside. Instead she held still, her hands folded together in front of her, a fake smile plastered on her face for Winston's benefit.

What the hell did Winston want from her anyway? Shouldn't he be talking to James about the band or the music or whatever the hell it was? Was he now fascinated with her, Anthony Tortorelli's former girlfriend?

As John and Winston exchanged a short conversation, Kate never took her eyes off John. She wanted him to take her away, to protect her against Anthony, but she just couldn't put him in harm's way.

When Winston nodded at her as a goodbye, she nodded back with her fake smile and John grinned until Winston was out of sight. John's face immediately changed gears to become strict, focused, then he pulled Kate off to the side out of the perimeter of prying ears.

"Get your bag and purse. Now. Don't make eye contact with anyone, just pretend you're going about your business. Now. And meet me right here."

"What's happening?" she said over her shoulder as John pushed her to the dressing room.

"Tell you later. Hurry."

Kate flew into the room and gathered her things together. As she turned to leave, Gary stopped her.

"What are you doing?" he asked her, confused at the sight of her bag and purse.

"I can't explain now, Gary. Honestly, I have to go...."

"And what about the show? You're just going to up and leave?" he asked angrily. "I can bet every cent I have that John Wick has something to do with this. How can you trust that criminal and not trust me? I've been nothing but honest with you, Kate. And this is what happens? You run off with the hit man? I guess your time with Anthony Tortorelli gave you a taste for hoodlums."

Kate's jaw suddenly felt like it was packed in cement. "Because you're my friend and I love you, Gary, I'm going to let that pass. However, I'm going to make my own decisions, make my own mistakes. I can handle the consequences. I don't need you telling me who I can spend time with. I'm not an idiot without a clue. Now I have to go. I'll call you later."

"What do you want me to tell James?" he asked in a softer voice.

"Tell him you don't know anything. You don't need to be mixed up in this."

The door flew open and John took her by the hand. "We have to go...."

Gary watched them leave and the door close softly behind them.

John and Kate walked out of The Continental quickly, acknowledging no one. They ran down the front steps and Kate jumped into John's car as the valet held the door open. Within seconds, they were in the midst of Friday night, stop and go, Manhattan traffic. He turned off the main road and weaved through side streets like a cab driver who knew every single avenue within a 10 mile radius. Before either one of them uttered a word, they were on the interstate headed west.

With room to breathe, John reached over and took Kate's hand.

"Why didn't you tell me you had been Anthony Tortorelli's girlfriend?" John asked her gently.

"I was too embarrassed and besides, I had left him and all that back in Vegas. I thought I was done with him. John, I didn't know he was a racketeer when I first met him. After I found out, it took me another year to get away from him. Is that what this is all about? The running away? Because of Anthony?"

John nodded, knowing he was probably at a crossroads with Kate. Should he tell her the truth or try to protect her from it?