I pull up to the dimly lit brick building an hour later. Three Black SUVs are already there. Meaning I’m late.Running my hands through my hair, I take a batted breath. This is it. The men are waiting. We could end this. It’s all on how we play the game. My hand reaches for the door, I know I’m taking my time, but the thought of telling the Don the news has me stalling. Even though he is Tati’s father, he is still a stone cold killer. Although he is older and wrinkles cover his face, he has seen more blood than a blood bank. And his withered hands have held more life in them than most. He doesn’t take bad news well. The fact that it was one of my men that put the family at risk, has me worried. I enter the solid concrete room where Vito is waiting patiently with his hands behind his back. Two men are strategically placed on both sides of him. “Bendetto, my boy!” Vito walks over to me and pats me on the back. His eyes are bright. I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I
Walking through the park, I gently caress my sweater to my sun-kissed skin. Red, brown, and orange leaves cover the ground. A light breeze blows through the air causing me a slight chill. The smell of fall invades my senses. Closing my eyes, I imagine living here and being free of all my problems. My best friend Kate lives here. I, on the other hand, live in Hollywood. Just thinking of going back home puts me in a foul mood.I know as soon as my little vacation is over, I'll be back to photoshoots, runways, and of course, the dreaded paparazzi. Setting on a park bench near a small pond, I take out my tuna sandwich. I break it in two and feed half of it to the ducks. I can hear my agent now scolding me, and she's so damn bossy. If she had it her way, I'd only be allowed water. I'm not big by all means, but I'm not considered skinny in my profession either. I'm about a size eight. Photographers consider me a dream, with my jet black hair, piercing blue eyes, high cheekbones, and plump
I reached Kate's apartment and found her in the kitchen, cutting up the vegetables for tonight's supper. My mood was a thousand times better than when I first arrived in Columbus; I couldn't help but wear a massive smile on my face." Hey Katie Bug!"Kate turned around from the counter long enough to greet me with a smile. "Tati! I thought I heard you come in. Dinner will be ready real soon!" She turned back around, busying herself plating the tomatoes.I walked over to the kitchen island and set the bag of apples down." Would you care if I baked an apple pie?"Kate washed the knife she was using and put it in the drainer by the sink. "Of course not! Help yourself to the kitchen. The ingredients you should need are all in the cabinet closest to the stove, butter is in the fridge, and my pots and pans are under the sink."My smile reached my eyes." Thanks, Kate!" I walked over to the cabinet to take out the ingredie
We sat down to make our plates. We were picking up the conversation from the living room. I found myself laughing and smiling—something I hadn't done in a while. I got the feeling Axon was perfect for me, it was too bad I just got out of a breakup, but we could still be friends, couldn't we?When the night was over, and I had walked him to the door, I found myself wishing for just five more minutes. I didn't want the night to end.He shuffled his feet at the door and ran his fingers through his short blonde hair."Well, it was lovely meeting you, Tatianna. Do you, maybe think, that I could take you out sometime?" You could tell he was nervous about asking the question.I smiled to reassure him and, maybe with a little too much enthusiasm, said, "Sure" Reaching out to him, I placed a peck on his cheek. Wishing I could turn it into more, but instead, I just said, "good night!" As I closed the door.Bracing my body against the door in a swoon-worthy pos
Axons POV I'm glad I agreed to go on a blind date with Tatianna. Aiden was right; she's just what I needed to get my mind off of Becca. She must have thought I was a desperate fool. How was I supposed to know she was my blind date? I had felt bad that I knocked her down, and I needed a woman's perspective.It's been a long time since I've been on the prowl. Becca made sure of that. She was breathtaking, from her beautiful blonde hair to her sexy long legs. Some days I miss her, I miss us, but a part of me knew we wouldn't last. I gave her my best, but my best wasn't good enough. I know I shouldn't be thinking about her; a year is plenty enough time to get over her, but I can't. I don't understand how my love for her wasn't enough to keep her clean.She had her choice, and I've made mine. It's time I move on and stop living in the past. I miss her laugh, and I miss her smile. I miss her morning kisses, and the de
Well, that may have been a dud. My first blind date and hopefully my last. I thought we hit it off. I even agreed to a second date. Yet Axon didn't call me. I guess there's a first for everything.The days are passing by rather quickly, and soon I'll be back in LA. As of now, I'm in Honolulu doing a bikini shoot. Not my favorite thing to model, but let's be honest, all women have their insecurities. At least after this photo session, I get to meet up with Kia. I haven't seen him in forever!We met in Hawaii, he was a stand-in model, and we've been inseparable ever since. He's like a total girlfriend. It just sucks he lives so far away. I've been begging him to move to LA for over a year, but he always shoots me down."Focus, Tati baby, the sooner we get this shoot done, the sooner we can all go home." The photographer calls out to me, interrupting my thoughts."Now show me beach vibes." He orders.I sit on this rock looking out at the
The sun is beating down through the window of my little bungalow. Kia has me wrapped snuggly in his arms. He truly is my rock. After I left the club, he saw my emotional state, I may entirely be over Jackson, but my heart is not.We came home and overate on ice cream. Let me tell you, Ice cream and alcohol do not mix. I'm thankful for Kia.He begins to stir. "God who turned on the light, Tati, turn it off." He's never been a morning person, especially after a night of drinking."Kia, I can't turn off the sun. Get your lazy butt up, and let's go to the beach." I say while unwrapping myself from his death grip.He yawns and pulls a pillow over his face. "In a minute, Tati, I need my beauty sleep.""If you get anymore, I'll look like the beast next to you," I say jokingly."Fine, just know I hate you, now go get ready while I try to torture my eyes to open." His voice muffled from the pillow.I get up off the bed and walk to my dresser.
They say absence makes the heart fonder, but that couldn't be true in this case. I walk in the home Jackson and I shared for a year, for the last time. The walls are white, and everywhere I look, I see him. This place was once my home, sweet home. But I can't take it here anymore. I walk through the hall into the bedroom; nothing here has changed. His dirty clothes still lay in a pile on the floor.I've been gone for almost a month, and it doesn't look like he's changed a thing. I grab all the suitcases I own and pack the rest of my belongings. I know since it's the morning, he won't be here. It's better this way. He's not ready to let me go, but I'm damn sure prepared to let him go.Before coming back to LA, I had my real-estate agent find and furnish a penthouse. That's where my best friend Kia and I will be staying. The best part is it's on the other side of the city, away from him. I finish packing and hear voices in the hall; it sounds like Jackson and a woman's v