9 Years Previous

Daniel took them to a part of town Fio didn?t recognize. She?d only lived in the East End in a brownstone house that was only a few blocks from the warehouses. She?d worked long hours for her family and very rarely ventured past the local bar where they all congregated. But she was familiar with the posh suburb of Buckhead, a place where a practicing doctor could afford to live, but this wasn?t it.

The subdivision was nice enough, just not what she had expected. Nor was the modest split-level house that Daniel slowed down in front of. He turned the car into the driveway and used the remote control to lift the door to the two-car garage, which was neater and cleaner than her room, with a row of gardening tools hanging from a rack on the wall. Very middle-class. So not her style.

But neither was going out with a man 8 years older than her. God, what was wrong with her? She?d changed after meeting Danny and couldn?t seem to control how she felt for him. And what in the hell was wrong with Danny? If he had a brain in his head, he would?ve dropped her back off by her house. Why was he sticking around with a sixteen year old? Probably because deep down, he was a loser. Just like all the other guys she attracted.

He inched the car forward and stopped when a red beam suddenly appeared on the wall in front of them.

?Pretty fancy,? she said.

?Ingenious, actually. You don?t want to know how many walls I?ve dented.?

?You??

?I have other good qualities,? he said blandly and pressed the remote to lower the garage door before getting out of the car.

Fio got out, too, and followerd him past two recently used dirt bikes stashed in the corner. ?Are these yours??

?One belongs to my p?? dark eyes showed his momentary hesitation before continuing. ?My brother.? He opened the door to the house, reached in to flip on the light and then let her go in first. ?The housekeeper was here today, so I?m safe.?

?We have a housekeeper, too. They?re nice, aren?t they??

Daniel smiled. ?After living in dorms and shared apartments, I?d gladly spend my last dollar on a housekeeper.?

Fiorella walked further down the hall. The kitchen was on the left, floor covered with creamy-colored veined tile. Not just any tile, but the really cool twenty-inch kind. The cabinets looked like custom-made cherry and the appliances were all stainless steel.

?You cook much?? she asked, noticing the well-equipped island under hanging brass pots and pans.

?Hardly ever.? He came from behind her and threw his keys on the granite countertop. ?Although, I make a damn good tuna sandwich.?

?Why do you have all this?? She wandered over to the bay window area where there was a scratched glass table with mismatched chairs.

?The appliances cam with the house. I would never have been able to afford them otherwise.? He opened the refrigerator. ?Gladys, my housekeeper, makes me meals about three times a week. What would you like to drink??

?Surprise me.?

?I hate that.?

She turned to him, smiling. ?What??

He held the refrigerator door open and motioned for her. ?Get your cute little butt over here and choose something.?

With an exaggerated sway of her hips, she approached, smiling seductively. When she got to him, she leaned over to look into the refrigerator, knowing full well that in this position, her short skirt hid very little.

He didn?t hesitate to mold his hand to her backside. ?See anything you want in there??

Fio closed her eyes. She?d never been touched like this, but everything was so new and exciting with Danny that she didn?t stop him.

The Return (cont.)

If it was even possible, her stare became sharper. ?You slept with him?!? Her whisper was venomous, so snake-like and angry that she herself was surprised to find herself without a forked tongue. All of what she'd known of Fio's.. adventure.. was discovered in passing and research, so this was complete news. Very rarely she lost her temper, but she's finding it hard not to. ?How could you even.. I-.. I have no words. I thought you were smarter than this, Fiorella.? A dainty hand slices the air in a dismissive fashion.

"I was sixteen!" Leaping to her feet, Fio towered over the minute form of her younger cousin. "Don't pretend to be so high and mighty, Noni. Unlike you, I didn't know what it was that my family did. I had to find out through that whole ordeal with Danny. Imagine my surprise when the man I fell in love with turned out to be a detective assigned to gather information on my family. Imagine my heartache when I learned who my father really was. Or why Danny had even slept with me in the first place."

?I'm having a hard time not saying that you deserve it right now. Sixteen year old girls aren't supposed to be running around with men eight years older than they are!?

Andre felt exceptionally vulnerable ever since saying the dangerous facts; he was dressed in a gentlemanly fashion. His hair was parted stylishly lopsided, enhancing his handsome features. He hated this style. It made him look like his father when he was his age. With a modest collision that sounded the chimes, he opened and closed the door behind him. Noni's voice spoken with anger had Andre know their whereabouts instantly. Oh, not to mention terrify him. Noni always was calm. Her being spastic and emotional was explained when the first words he heard were Noni's.

Noni?s head whipped around to the door, left hand already poised above Luvvie before she realized who it was. Slowly, her fingers dropped and she turned back to Fiorella. ?So what is this offer then, Fio. You want to see him again? Do you still trust him after what he did??

"I want to find out what he wants. Then you can have him. That's my offer."

As he walked towards them, his speed was slow and receptive. Receiving every word it had his hand cover his eyes as he walked. "Ah, dios mio..." He remembered the ordeal. He was 14. With weak and dry curiosity, he would've asked something. But his questions were answered to some extent before he could utter another word.

"Though I don't know why I'm discussing this with my cousin who is five years younger than me. You pretend you know the situation better than I."

?I can't accept that.? She had begun to walk away, taking a sip from her coffee to calm herself, and had just set it down on the table when Fio spoke again. Through curly bangs, it was a wonder her eyes didn't shoot bullets too. You're discussing it with me because it's my job to make sure that your ass doesn't get killed!? Noni was aware of Andre's proximity, and it was irritating to her to know that he was seeing her like this. It was rare when it happened, but she was usually always alone.

Unintended to be of a begging fashion. Instead, its purpose was to interject himself into the conversation. "What situation?" He approached the two of them, a look directed to Noni instantly. Andre was in no mood to look Fio in the eye. "What are the developments?" He prayed to whatever god would accept him that he wouldn't agitate Noni.

Noni's attention was ultimately severed between Fio, Andre, and the new creature that had just entered. And a hand flew to her head as she felt the searing pain of split concentration.::

The first bell had sounded her brothers arrival. Though noticed, he was paid little attention. The second bell heralded a stranger and conversation ceased. Fiorella glared at the newcomer and then back to her family members. "I have some investigating to do. The rest of this can be discussed with appropriate company."

Andre frowned, lowering his chin gently. Pushed aside. By two women that were 2 years older than him and 3 years younger. As quickly as he came, he was turning to leave. Going between two women was not where he wanted to be. Any man with half a brain knew that. It meant survival.

?Fio, you're not doing it alone, I swear to god..? An idle threat coming from behind her hand as she forced the headache away. ?If I have to, I will let others know.?

This time, her anger would not be quelled. The sudden flare of rage errupted and ended with Fiorella delivering a stinging slap across her younger cousins face. "Conozca su lugar, Noni. Usted mantener la boca cerrada."

She expelled a yell as her trainwreck of a migraine combined with the momentum of the slap sent her small form back, sideways, and down. Noni spat like a wounded animal, and stayed where she was, staring at Fio's feet.

"FIORELLA!" The hand used to slap Noni was seized. Andre gave her wrist a squeeze. She wouldn't get her wrist back unless he let go of her.

"Dejado van de m?, Andre, o usted, por la que se lamenta siempre una mano sobre m?."

The hand over her eye moved to her stinging cheek, and she cupped it, breathing a chuckle. ?Andre.. it's fine,? Noni said quietly.

He shifted his daggers to point at his elder sister quickly, like a gun moving directions. About to thrust them into those similarly green eyes of hers, he looked to Noni. Shaking his head slowly, he furrowed his brows. In an anything but soft manner, he released her wrist by throwing it down roughly. Without anymore words, he stormed out of the teashop. An unwise idea, but one that got him as far away from her as possible. Fiorella was infuriating him. It was as if she pushed a button.

"Yeah, he really loves me, doesn't he, Noni." The words were spat through a mixture of amusment and contempt for the situation.

"We should go before we draw anymore attention." Fio fell silent, feeling slightly remorseful over losing her temper like that. "I'm going to look for Danny. Do you want to come with me?" It was her way of an apology.

She was in no position to say anything, but did anyway, pushing up first to all fours, then her feet. ?That's fine with me.? Without a word, she stooped for her coat and her coffee, tossing her hair from her face with a quick shake of her head.

Fio sent a glare towards a nosey customer nearby as she pulled the front door open. The bell rang happily, a contrast to her mood. Fio waited for her cousin to exit before she too slipped out, letting the door close shut behind them.