Damned: Chapter 28) Alliances
“What’s wrong?” I heard Moe asked from behind.
“It’s nothing.” I gave the cliché response back but this was more than nothing. Never in my life had I thought I would be in such a position. I literally got involved with the Mafia. Hell, I killed a woman. This was not nothing.
Moe snapped his finger in front of me to bring me back to reality.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“What?” I answered, genuinely confused.
“I’m starved too. Let hit the casino while we’re at it as well.” He grinned as he guided me inside towards the receptionist.
“Hello,” she beamed quite friendly, “Reservations?”
“Yes actually my lovely- ”
“Brother-” I inserted in his sentence before he told her I was his wife and booked us a room with a single bed.
He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head which made the girl giggle a bit, “Yes my sister, she’s a handful sometimes.”
Joining in their awkward laughing, I slapped Moe playfully on the shoulder to focus, “My brother keeps forgetting what he came here for. You see, he normally gets distracted by pretty girls.”
“Oh.” She blushed.
“Yes,” Moe cleared his throat and read her nametag, “My apologies, Sasha, sweetie, we actually came here to meet someone in particular.”
Giving her a piece of paper which I noticed had James handwriting, she nodded, “Oh yes. At the moment he’s not available however he did mention to me to ensure your stay here is comfortable. And don’t worry, he wanted me to assure you that you are safe here.”
“See baby sister, there is nothing to worry about, now is there?” Moe smugly smiled patting me on the head.
As he collected the room key from Sasha, I walked ahead, “Hurry before I tell daddy how irresponsible you are Moo Moo.”
“We can’t live to please everyone, piranha.”
Entering the elevator, I took his words into consideration. He was right. We can’t live to please everyone. Some of us don’t even get to live that long anyway. It really made me think about our time on this earth. Why cause so much suffering? So much pain? What did Vitaly get by doing this? And what was in that folder that he so wanted from my brother? Things were not adding up. My thoughts shifted towards James, I hope he’s fine.
Moe’s loud humming of the elevator music brought me back to reality.
“This isn’t our room floor.” I pointed out.
“I know.”
“Where are you going?”
“Where are we going.” He corrected with a wink.
“Moe, what are you even-”
“Relax, you seem so tense. We’re going to have some fun, get a little drunk and smile.”
“Usually I would agree but I’m really not in the mood, Moville.”
“Why? Is James on your mind? He’ll be fine, piranha.”
“Call him okay?”
“I will.” Moe smiled and came out of the elevator as I followed, entering the casino.
He was right, being in a lively atmosphere did lighten my mood. This place was enormous now that I mention it, lights chandeliers, the service was divine. As Moe, continued his game of pool, I sat munching on a snack. To be quite honest, I can’t remember the last time I ate anything. Yet, for some odd reason, I couldn’t help but feel like I was being watched. Maybe it was all in my head? So many things happened in the past few days, I must have just been exhausted. The feeling was eating me. Moe had been looking in my direction ever so often to ensure I was safe. Needing to use the washroom, I signaled him to which he nodded.
The place was huge, so finding the washroom seemed like a task on its own. But I was smart, so I asked an employee who escorted me to one. After peeing, I looked at myself in the mirror and I almost couldn’t recognize myself. My hair fell flat and looked greasy while my eyes seemed to show dark circles. Damn Vitaly.
I washed my face and ran the water over my hair. If it was one thing I hated, it had to be gross greasy looking hair. If only I had something to dry my hair to give it back that volume now. My eyes fell upon the hot air blower.
No.
I internally laughed at my stupidity and defied my inner sense, sticking my head close to the air blower to dry my damp hair. Thank god no one was here at the moment. That would have been something to talk about. After I was finished with my nonsense, I looked at my hair in the mirror and was thoroughly pleased with how voluminous it was. Now I was feeling much better.
Playing with my pearl earring as I walked out, it suddenly fell off and began to roll away to my demise. Now, I wasn’t a materialistic person but I just really loved that little earring, and the thought of getting one other than this one was not an option. I scrambled myself after the little drop, not realizing I had stumbled and tripped into a private pool room. My elbows grazed against the carpet and I almost felt like my right ankle had twisted. The pain swallowed me.
“Are you alright?” I suddenly heard an alarmed yet concerned voice of a man, who aided me up to face his gentle blue eyes and soft blonde hair. He seemed almost mesmerizing to look at- very French-like.
“Miss?” he sweetly yet worriedly asked again.
I noticed he held one of the pool sticks in his hand yet there was no one else in the room.
“You play alone?” I questioned quite confused.
He seemed a bit taken back by my response, yet he recollected himself to a smile, “I’m glad you’re okay. Can you walk properly?”
“I’ll learn if I can’t,” I assured him as I steadied myself and took a step away yet I felt hell yank my right foot down.
“Maybe you should sit.”
“Uh, no it’s fine. My brother must be waiting for me outside, besides my mom did tell me to be wary of strangers.” I smiled sweetly recollecting that most beautiful men play the dirtiest games.
“Oh, I understand.” He said almost hurt.
For some reason, my heart couldn’t leave like this. There was something about him, so genuinely sincere that I couldn’t just walk away from it. I wanted to ask him why he was alone in this room or why was there a tremble in his voice when I was about to leave. In that instance, thought to myself, why not ask him? Life was too short to walk away with questions unanswered.
“Why are you here?”
“Sorry?”
“Why are you here? Why are you here alone?” I asked again.
There was a sort of comfort in his eyes.
“If one aims to be wary of strangers, then perhaps one finds comfort in his own presence.”
I smiled at his response, “Yet my presence doesn’t bother you?”
“Even if it did miss, I’d rather be kind and respect you and your wishes. You are a lady after all.”
I blinked at that a few times.
“You’re not real.”
“Pardon?”
“There is no way I can buy that bullshit. Respect a lady. Be kind to a lady.” I scoffed and walked around the room, ignoring my aching ankle, “Bruh, the place I just got out from those words don’t even exist in their heads.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that. If you’d like help, my friends and I could assist you. I assure you, you won’t have to step foot in such a place again.”
His gesture seemed genuine- like he actually cared. Did he? He oddly made me feel safe.
“It isn’t that easy.” I sighed to myself.
Within that moment there was a knock on the door, a man dressed in security attire asked permission to interrupt, “Mr. Harrison,” he began as he address the man with me, “Mr. Evans and Mr. Perez asked to meet with you.”
I had expected him to excuse himself but he just nodded, “Please tell them I’m with a friend, I’ll be there shortly.”
With that, the man dressed in black left.
“You didn’t have to stay,” I said feeling a bit uneasy at his gesture.
“No, you said that it isn’t easy for you to go back. Please allow me to help you if you are in danger.”
“I hadn’t expected you to hear what I said.” I honestly replied.
“I’m a good listener believe it or not.” He said with a soft awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I appreciate it but- ”
“At least get the police involved if it is serious.” He interrupted.
“Why do you care?” I frowned, “You barely know me.”
“Because my conscience doesn’t allow me to walk away from someone who could possibly get hurt.”
There was this agony about the way he said that. I almost felt his honesty seeping out of his soul.
“What if the police can’t help me?” I answered softly. Saying that brought this frown upon his face which was now plagued with concern.
“Then you came to the right place.”
Within that moment he looked at me with his newfound confused expression, “Wait,” he frowned as he took a step back to look at me again, “Katherine?”
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