Chapter 1

• “Yayo, yayo
• Moo la lah
• Yayo
• Bitch better have my money,
• Y’all should know me well enough,
• Bitch better have my money,
• Please don’t call me on my bluff,
• Pay me what you owe me,
• Ballin’ bigger than LeBron,
• Bitch, give me your money,
• Who y’all think y’all frontin on?
• Like brrap, brrap, brrap “
• “Jesus Christ” I shrieked when I saw the old lady that was lurking behind me, giving me the stink eye disgusted.
• “I want a copy of Macbeth, rental two weeks period.”
• I tried to slow my heartbeats and move. This woman almost gave me a heart attack. I went to the shelves to get her the book she wanted, and who buys or rents a book this late? It’s 10 pm for God’s sake. Isn’t she afraid that someone would rob her or, worse, kill her?
• “Here you go ma’am, this would be.....”
• “I know what the cost is, here.”
• She threw the money on the counter and went mumbling something about kids these days who have no shame.
• Wow, I love Sundays; they are the best start of a productive week, so that’s why people are so peachy.
• “Ariel, please clean up and close. I’ve to go. Haley just called, and she is throwing a tantrum.”
• “OK Daniel, have a good night.”
• He didn’t give me the chance to reply and left me screaming after him, ugh why me? Why did Jason have to take the day off? I went to the kitchen and checked that everything was clean and gathered the garbage bags, then went to the back door to throw them out. You see, I work at a library slash coffee shop so you can read your favorite book and enjoy your drink. Sometimes we rent books only for the regulars, so I’m sort of a librarian, waitress, and barista.
• I’m a senior. I live with my mom who is a nurse, by the way. I don’t need money actually, but I work to pay for my piano lessons. My mom works so hard to afford the college money for me. I want to be a doctor, so yeah I need a little fortune, that’s why I’m working to pay for my piano lessons. I wanted to help her. I’m not a shameless girl, as the nice lady said a few moments ago.
• I sighed and threw the bags next to the others in the alley and when I was about to leave; I heard someone groaning and froze. Oh my god, what is that? What should I do? Is this for real or just my imagination? But again I heard it. I swallowed hard and turned back slowly, then took hesitant steps farther into the dark alley. My breath hitched when I saw a body behind a big bile of garbage and again froze, staring with wide eyes. In front of me was a man clutching his stomach and groaning in pain.
• And without thinking, I ran to him.
• “Oh my god, oh my god. Sir...... Sir Are you OK? Jesus, I’m gonna call 911.”
• The man held my hand and looked in my eyes and said “D.... Don’t please, just get me out of here.”
• “But... But you are bleeding so hard, and I think you lost so much blood. You need to go to the hospital. “
• “No... NO PLEASE, just help me to get out of here.”
• I chewed on my lower lip, thinking about what to do. The thing is, I live in Queens, and..... ugh you got the picture. The man tugged on my hoodie sleeve and that did it for me.
• I put one of his arms around my neck and I slipped my right hand around his waist and started to stand up and boy, was he heavy. I held dragged him all the way inside into the kitchen and closed the door. While I was about to drag him out to my mom’s car, I heard the sound of the front door’s bell. Someone is here. I put him in the corner behind the small counter and was about to see who came, but the man held my right hand in a death grip and shook his head no.
• “It’s ok? Don’t worry, I’m gonna be ok.” I whispered.
• He dropped his hand reluctantly and let me go; I gave him a small reassuring smile and headed to the door to see who was there.
• “We are closed, sirs,” I said with a weak smile to the three bulky men who were looking around suspiciously.
• “Oh, I see. Did a man come here, or did you see him pass by?” the tallest one asked.
• “This is a library, sir; a lot of men come here to read books.”
• “This one is no ordinary man. Well built, 6.5 foot, tan skin, dark hair, amber eyes, stabbed, bleeding,” He said, smirking.
• “Oh, umm no, I don’t think I saw him. Do you want to check the cameras? Maybe he came at the morning shift. I wasn’t here sorry.”
• He narrowed his eyes and tried to see if I was lying, so I fluttered my eyelashes and gave my most innocent look I’ve.
• “Alessio, let’s go.“ One of the other two men told the hulk in front of me. Alessio gave me another look and went out with the others.
• I let out the breath I didn’t know that I was holding and slid to the ground.
• After ten seconds, I regained the ability to walk again and went back to the man in the kitchen.
• “Sir..... sir wake up, God is he dead.”
• I kneeled and checked his pulse, no he’s still alive, just fainted. He’s still bleeding profoundly. I left again and closed everything, the light and the front door, then drove my car to the back alley. I looked around carefully to see if anyone was watching me, and when I was sure that nothing was wrong. I opened the back door and dragged the man to the car, and headed home.
• Thank god I was living three blocks away, other days I just walk. But today when my mom knew that I’ll be late she gave me her car.
• Again I dragged held the very heavy unconscious man to my room, which was on the second floor. Lucky me.
• My weak knees just gave up the moment I entered; the stranger and I were on the floor. I was breathing so hard and him groaning.
• “Hey wake up, please. I can’t drag you around anymore. I’m not that strong, trust me.”
• He moaned and flattered, his eyes open.
• “Where am I?” he looked around suspiciously.
• “Ah...... Um, after these three scary men left. I couldn’t let you stay at the library, so I brought you here to my house...... umm this is my room.”
• With wide eyes, the man looked at me, surprised. But actually, it was me, the surprised one. This was the first time I took a good look at his face. The first thing I saw was amber. His eyes were the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life, two golden gems with a hint of green. Red full lips, straight nose crocked a little, rough stubble dusting his sharp jawline and a cute dimple on right.
• His groaning made me snap out of my trance and remembered what’s going on. With hot red cheeks, I stood up.
• “Umm.... can you stand up? We need to go to the bathroom to clean your wounds.”
• I didn’t wait for his answer. I just ran there.
• After a minute or so, the stranger came wobbling. He lost a lot of blood; I was astonished that he can even open his eyes.
• “Hey......Would you please sit here?” I closed the toilet seat and opened the first aid kit and looked for scissors, then faced him to cut his dress shirt.
• “What the hell you think you are doing?” he growled.
• I winced when he held my right wrist in a death grip.
• “I need to check your wound. It’s still bleeding so hard, and your clothes must be sticky. It’s gonna hurt if you tried to take them off. I need to cut them.“ He narrowed his eyes.
• “And if you check it, what can you do about it? Nothing.”
• “Look, you don’t want to go to the hospital. You’re bleeding, and your wound needs to be cleaned at least.”
• He let my hand hesitantly. I helped him take off his jacket and tried to take off his dress shirt, but it was sticky like I thought. With all the bleeding and the open flesh, it was like glue. So I used the scissors to cut it open. I tried so hard not to flush when I saw his naked torso; it was a sight to behold. Broad wide shoulders with lots of muscles, defined strong abs and on his left pectoral, there was a scary tattoo of a three-headed vicious dog, surrounded by flames. And a lot of scars all over his abdomen. On his back a full back length tattoo of some sort of grim reaper, angel!
• His grunts again brought me back from dreamland. I shook my head clearing it; I gently touched the wounded area on his right, trying to understand what I’m dealing with.
• “Umm... You need a couple of stitches. I’m not a professional, but I can do it. My mom taught me, but it won’t look pretty. I’m not that expert. “
• He opened his eyes and said, “Just do it.”
• “Ok, I’ll clean it first, Um.....I don’t have any anesthetic, I’m sorry.”
• “Just fucking DO IT.”
• I flinched but didn’t say anything and started silently to clean the cut, disinfecting and stitching it.
• When I felt him flinching and biting hard on his lower lip that he draw blood, I couldn’t take it anymore.
• “Shhh, it is ok. I’m almost done. I promise it’s gonna end soon.” I cooed even though I know it’s childish, but what else can I do?
• “Ok, I’m done. I think no vital organs were damaged, but you need to check everything up. I’m not a doctor.“ He just nodded.
• “Ok... Here, let’s clean you up. I’ll bring you something to wear to get some sleep. “
• I helped him to wash his face and gave him a big shirt of mine and walked him to my bed. Then brought him a couple of Aspirins and a glass of water. When I was about to go, he grabbed my hand.
• “Why?” he asked
• “What? Excuse me. “
• “Why are you helping me? Aren’t you afraid of someone like me? “
• “Oh, I can’t lie and say I’m not afraid of you, but why not helping? I mean, you were in a bad condition and can’t go to a hospital for certain reasons, so what else can I do? Leave you to die? “
• “Do you know what I do for a living?”
• “I think I have a good idea about that ......” I prayed my hand from him “Just get some rest.”
• I took a shower and wore my pajamas and checked on him; he didn’t have any fever or anything, thank goodness. And then I headed to my chair next to my desk and tried to sleep.
• I checked the alarm clock; it was 12:01 am. I sighed.
• “Happy freakin eighteenth birthday Ariel.” Then I fell into a dreamless sleep.