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“I came to talk, not to get punched.” I rub my chest to emphasize my point, even though it didn’t actually hurt. “You bruise me, darling.”
“You can’t just break into people’s apartments, you selfish piece of shit.”
“What was I supposed to do? Sit down in the lobby and wait for you?” I cock my head, trying to fight a smirk. I bet she would’velovedthat. All her neighbors would be gossiping hard right now if that had happened.
“You could’ve called like a normal fucking person.” She takes a deep breath and blows it out. “God, you scared the crap out of me.”
I kick the door shut and gesture at the kitchen. “I brought coffee and bagels, if you’re hungry.”
I can tell she wants to berate me some more, but she glances over at where I have the food waiting for her on the counter, and her expression changes. Her eyes widen slightly, and she licks her fucking lips.
The girl’s got to be starving.
Her cupboards are barren. Seriously, she’s got absolutely nothing aside from some cheap ramen. When I saw that, I went out and got her something to eat, thinking she’d need it when she got home.
Sure enough, the girl rips into a bagel without even bothering to add cream cheese. Like a fucking savage. I make a face. “That’s horrific,” I say, gesturing as she rips into it with her teeth bared.
“I was just lying outside all night watching some crappy chop shop work. I’m hungry, okay?” She drinks some coffee and I swear I think she groans. “Where’d you get this stuff, anyway?”
“Fancy little coffee shop across the street.”
“God, I love that place.” She sounds almost wistful. Because she can’t afford it anymore?
I decide not to say anything, but it’s clear she’s struggling. There are overdue bills beside her refrigerator and her cable’s been turned off. I’d be shocked if her electricity’s on for much longer too. Whatever’s going on in her life, coming to me with this job was out of pure desperation, and if I were a bad human being, I might spot an opportunity in this situation.
Instead, I feel fuckingbadfor her.
It’s hard not to start taking care of her. I’m not a fucking saint—but I find it difficult to see someone living at the edge of their means and in clear trouble without stepping in to do something. Especially a person I know, even if sheisan absolute nightmare.
That’s always been my role. Taking care of others. I take care of my cousins, real and actual, and all my aunts and uncles, regardless of blood relation. I take care of my family and my organization, and sometimes I even like doing it.
But Valentina would never let me do that for her.
That girl has pride. I’ll give her that. I’ve known her for a little while—we met through Marco a little over a year back—and from what I can tell, she’s the most stubborn human in the world. She’s not dumb, and she might take help fromsomeone, but definitely not me.
The bagels and coffee are already pushing it.
“Eat up then.” I sit at her table as she swallows the rest of the bagel whole like a python enjoying a kill.
“I assume you didn’t come here just to bring me breakfast.” She gestures at me with the coffee, her face taking on its usual hard stare. Fucking Valentina. She’s beautiful, but god damn, does she like looking at me from up on her high fucking horse.
“Oh, no, baby, that’s exactly what I’m doing here. I justlovefeeding you bagels and getting nothing but condescension in return.”
Her jaw ticks. That girlhatesme. “Maybe I’d be a little more grateful if you hadn’t broken into my apartment. I consider this an apology. And I accept.”
“Wow, how magnanimous.”
“Big word for a little pea-brained dick like you.” She says it while fighting a smile, and I like that look on her face. It’s a bit cheeky and mischievous.
“Since you’re being so kind, I’ll get down to business, how’s that sound?” She makes a littlego aheadgesture as she starts on her second bagel. “I’ve been thinking more about your proposal, and I’m starting to come around to the idea.”
She hesitates, frowning. “That’s it? That’s all?”
“You’re the one that needs to convince me, remember?” I wave at the empty chair next to me. “Come show me what you got.”
She pauses long enough to take another bite, but reluctantly takes the seat and pulls out her phone. As she tells me about the operation in surprising detail, backed up by her extremely mediocre camera work, I resist the temptation to stare at her lips. Which is far from easy. For all Valentina’s flaws—her grumpiness, her stubborn streak, her pride—she’s still an attractive woman.
But I haven’t had time for attractive women, and I sure as hell don’t have time for one that looks at me like I’m no better than a swamp leech.
