Page 6 of Reckless Desires

“That was back then! In this day and age, women don’t settle down until they’re in their thirties or maybe well into their forties. Why rush it?” She looks at me through the mirror. “Take it from someone who has been married twice already.”

I sigh. “That won’t work, Maria. A woman’s biological clock hasn’t caught up to feminism. The chances of having children are slimmer the older you get.”

“I didn’t know you wanted to be a mother so badly,” she replies. “Your sister Selene came in with Naomi the other day for her first haircut,” Maria smiles. “Replica of Selene.”

Nodding my head with a smile. “Yes, sweet as her too.”

“And what about your other sister? The oldest one? What’s her name? She have any kids?”

“Stasia. She and Darius are trying.” I shrug a shoulder. “I think once she’s done with her fellowship in a few months, she won’t be as stressed. She has a lot on her plate. Becoming a neurosurgeon really takes a toll on someone.”

“That’s a lot of schooling, right?”

“I can’t remember Stasia not being in school. But she’s passionate about it.”

“So, Selene is a stay-at-home mom and Stasia the doctor. What do their husbands do?”

My body tenses at the question. Telling her they work for the organized crime family of this city, the Costellos, could very easily change how she looks at me. Coming to the salon is nice because no one here knows me to be part of the mob lifestyle. They just know me as Lily. No last name, just a girl who comes from money, gets her hair done, and always pays in cash. And I want to keep it that way. It creates less pressure to be perfect.

“Stasia’s husband is in finance, and Selene’s husband, I think, is in the union?”

“Oh nice! How’s your mother? I haven’t seen her in a while.”

“She’s good,” I reply, brushing the topic off mainly because she embarrassed me last time she was here with me.

“I’m sure she isn’t upset that we got rid of your extensions after seeing how healthy we got your hair.”

Nodding, I say, “Mom just hates short hair.”

The hours slip by in a whirl of gossip and hair products as Maria works her magic until she is finally done.

"Thank you, Maria! I feel fabulous.” I look at myself in the mirror. Draping my leather handbag over my arm, I walk over to the front desk to book my next appointment.

“What a vision of elegance.” The receptionist smiles at me.

She says it every time and now I just think she says it to everyone. As I push the salon door open, the bright sunlight greets me, illuminating my shimmering aura. My Mercedes is parked right under a tree in the shade.

Right as my hand reaches the handle, a damp cloth is placed over my mouth and everything goes black.

Chapter Two

Killian

With a firm grip, I lift the chainsaw, feeling its weight settle comfortably in my hands. I turn the fuel mixture dial, ensuring the engine is primed just right. The scent of gasoline fills my nostrils. The chainsaw roars to life as I pull the starter cord, the engine sputtering before settling into a powerful growl. The vibrations shoot up my arms, and I can feel a steady and peaceful calm filling me through my veins. There’s nothing quite like taking care of your problems before the sun rises, and as I split open the dead body, cracking the ribs, I know it’s going to be a great day.

Humming to myself, I turn off the chainsaw and examine my work.

Poor Richard Burns. He was a family man. The kind of bastard who loves his wife and tells everyone how much he loves her, only to cheat on her when she’s at home raising his children and giving up on her dreams. When she’s making sure his life is comfortable so he’s free to do as he pleases, free to be who he pleases. But no angel of a woman can settle the debts of a gambling man.

I’m careful in removing each organ. You don’t want to rush these kinds of things, especially not when you plan on selling it on the black market and donating the money to his wife… anonymously, of course. After all, she’s going to need something to keep her family afloat now that good old Richard here is going to disappear without a trace. What she doesn’t know yet is how much better off her life is going to be without him.

His heart resting gently in my hand, I nod my head. Let’s show your wife how much you truly love her. I prep it for the ice straight away. The better condition it’s in, the higher price I’m going to be able to get. Revenue from the heart will go to his widow; the rest of his organs will settle his debt to me.

“You know, Dickie boy, I really didn’t want it to come to this.” I tilt my head to the side, before peeling off my gloves and grabbing my phone. “Shame that your children will grow up without their father.”

I got a cooler ready for black market auction tonight. Send someone to pick it up.

Donal: