Mafia Princess

Mafia Princess

Chapter Nine

Surprises

Her eyes were glued to Jessup’s for three full minutes. Des didn’t snap out of the trance until she saw a smirk tug at the edges of his mouth. “Oh, sorry.” She took his hand and firmly shook it.

Jessup just smirked at her. She saw a spark in his eyes and it sent a jolt down her spine. The feeling surprised her and Destiny jerked her hand out of the man’s grasp.

“Could you hurry up?” Stephanie’s tone caught Destiny’s attention. She turned to her friend and saw distaste and anger in the blonde’s eyes as she glared at her older brother.

Jessup said something to Stephanie as he passed her. Destiny didn’t catch what he said, but she did see the look that crossed her friend’s face. She didn’t look scared, but there was something off in her smile when she turned back to Destiny.

“I think we’ve done enough today.” Stephanie let out a strangled laugh and Destiny leaned forward.

“Are you okay?” Destiny’s gaze flickered back to Jessup, who was watching her calmly from the refrigerator. He had a bottle of Pepsi in his hands.

“Oh, yeah.” Stephanie was quick to reassure Destiny. She started shuffling together her loose leaf pages, “Do you have a ride home?” Destiny saw the struggle over the younger girl’s face. She seemed to be arguing with herself.

Destiny shook her head as she started packing up her schoolwork, “No. I thought I did,” Her thoughts went to Damien, “but I guess I don’t.”

“I can give you a ride.” Jessup said too smoothly.

Destiny swung her backpack over her shoulder, “That’s okay.” She wasn’t sure how Damien would react to having some guy, an attractive guy, dropping her off at home. Not only that, but Destiny wasn’t sure about this guy. She’d only just met him.

“It wouldn’t be a problem.” Jessup pushed himself off the wall.

Stephanie jumped to Destiny’s defense, “She said no, Jessup.” She quickly grabbed Destiny’s hand and they left Steph’s brother alone in the kitchen. Once they were out of his sight Stephanie let out a sigh.

“You’re sure you’re alright?” Destiny asked again.

Stephanie nodded, “Yeah, my brother and I just don’t see eye to eye on certain things.” She sent a dark look over her shoulder. “We haven’t for a while…” She trailed off as if thinking of an unhappy memory.

Destiny opened the door, “Thanks for helping me Stephanie. I really appreciate it.” She meant it.

“No problem.” Stephanie’s bright smile returned, “We can meet up again Thursday if you want.”

Destiny nodded quickly, “Sounds like a plan to me.”

Then, after saying goodbye, Destiny headed down the sidewalk. She walked silently. She’d turn around occasionally. Her eyes would scan the suburban streets. Cars were parked in the concrete driveways, the grass was an unnatural green, and each house looked just like the previous one. Everything was normal, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.

Destiny got home a half an hour later. She could have gotten there faster, but she wasn’t exactly looking forward to seeing Damien. She couldn’t figure him out, but than again, she never could. Her boyfriend had always been a mystery.

She pushed open the door and opened her mouth to announce her arrival, but stopped short.

“I can’t believe you Derek! I can’t believe that we’re sill having the same damn conversation!” Destiny shrunk back when she heard her mother’s angry tone.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Get out!” Hope screamed angrily.

Destiny gripped her backpack tightly. Her eyes darted around in confusion. She tried to see her parents, but they were too far in the parlor. She could only see the tip of a shadow from one of them. She assumed it was her father’s because she knew her mom, Hope would be pacing.

“I want you to stop what you’ve been doing and get out.” Hope had stopped screaming, but Destiny knew she hadn’t gotten all of her pent of rage out. There was an edge to her mom’s voice.

“I can’t do that Hope.” Derek’s own tone was deadly.

There was a moment of silence and Destiny waited. She was frozen in place. Her insides were panicking, but she didn’t show it.

“Can’t or won’t?” Hope asked.

“Listen,” Derek commanded, “You knew who I was when you married me. You knew what I did. It’s about time you accept it.”

Destiny slowly backed out of the doorway and closed the door with shaking hands. She was confused, worried, freaking out, and pissed. It seemed like everyone was keeping secrets from her.

She wasn’t even thinking when she started walking. Destiny wound up going around the house. She dropped her backpack on the back patio as she passed it and sat down in the lawn.

The grass was soft and tickled against her bare arms when she laid back. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift.

She wasn’t sure how long she had lain there, but soon a shadow settled over her.

Destiny snapped her eyes open and saw Ron standing over her.

“Hi.” That was all she said. Destiny wasn’t sure what else there was to say. Ron had never been a good conversationalist anyway, so she didn’t see the need to start a long chat.

“Are you alright?” He asked curtly.

Destiny nodded, “I came out for some sun.” That wasn’t entirely true, but he didn’t need to know that.

Her father’s driver watched her carefully before nodding, “Your father is leaving for the airport in two hours.” Then he left. Destiny watched him walk across the lawn and head inside. She was frowning.

She guessed she shouldn’t be that surprised. Her father traveled a lot. Sure, he and Hope were fighting, but that never mattered. Destiny remembered when he left on a business trip during Christmas Eve dinner.

Destiny stayed there for a while before heading into the house with hopes that the yelling had halted. When she stepped into the hall she was met with silence. It was like a ghost town. She couldn’t even hear the coffee maker.

She left her backpack on the patio. Even if it rained it wouldn’t get wet. With slow and overly cautious steps, Destiny moved through the house. She walked like a spy in the James Bond movies. Her back was against the wall as she sidestepped down the hall.

Half of her was waiting to see blood on the floor. That was where her week was headed.

When she rounded the corner she was shocked to see her father sitting on the stiff sofa. His elbows were balanced on his knees and his hands were the only thing holding up his head.

“Dad,” Destiny hesitated before getting his attention. She was standing in the archway between the parlor and the hall. The door was in her sight if she needed to make a quick exit.

Derek’s head snapped up. For a second Destiny saw the vulnerability in her father’s eyes, but it was gone once he blinked. He pushed himself off the sofa and took a couple steps towards her, “You’re mom’s upstairs.” He glanced at his watch, “And I’m heading out.”

“For how long?” I knew not to feel awkward about asking that. If I didn’t ask he wouldn’t tell.

“A few days; a week at the most.” Derek told her.

The goodbye was short and the hug was awkward. Destiny watched him and Ron drive away. Only when they were out of the driveway did Destiny grab her backpack and dash up the stairs. Her parents’ bedroom doors were ajar, but when Destiny reached them she stopped.

“He’s gone for three days, at the least.” Destiny heard her mom say. She inched closer to the door and peered through the gap. Her mom was sitting at her vanity. Her back was to the mirror and was facing the double doors that led out to their balcony.

Her cell phone was pressed against her ear.

“I don’t know. We got into a fight…” She trailed off as her voice began to crack, “So he wasn’t exactly in a sharing kind of mood.”

Destiny leaned her back against the doorframe and furrowed her brows in concentration.

“Yeah,” Hope replied breathily after a pause, “I know that.”

Hope stood, and Destiny stepped away from the door.

“I realize that.” Hope was getting aggravated, “But what you don’t seem to get, is that my life is on the line by doing this. And so is my daughter’s.”

Destiny tensed up completely. Then, she saw her mom’s shadow cross over the door. She bolted down the hall to her room. After shutting the door, locking it, and throwing her backpack onto the floor, she let out a long half strangled huff.

She couldn’t scream, but she wanted to.

There were so many things that people were keeping from her. Sometimes, she thought that maybe it was all connected, but she could never figure out how. She could never figure out anything.

After a failed attempt at going over her homework Destiny wandered over to her computer. That’s when she noticed that a Word Document was up on her screen.

She frowned and sat at her desk.

Leave your bedroom window unlocked.

Destiny stared at the screen for a few minutes before laughing. It wasn’t a humorous laugh, it was a ‘my life is going up in flames and no one seems to care’ kind of laugh.

She knew that Damien had written her that ‘request’. She just wasn’t sure if she’d follow it.

MP

“Des?”

Destiny glanced up from her textbook when she heard her mom’s voice. It took her a few seconds to remember that she had locked her bedroom door. She got up and slowly went over to it.

“What?” Destiny asked hesitantly.

“Can we talk?” Hope didn’t sound mad, so Destiny quickly unlocked the door and stepped out of the way when her mom opened it.

Hope was in her pajamas with a cup of coffee in her hand… what a surprise.

“Listen, I know you heard your dad and me.” She started. “But don’t worry. When he comes back we’ll work it all out.” There was some reassurance in her eyes, but Destiny still didn’t believe her.

“I don’t think it’s that easy.” Destiny told her, “You guys are obviously having some problems. It’s going to take more than just another argument for you guys to agree on whatever you guys were fighting about.” Destiny started fidgeting, and had to lace her hands together so she’d stop.

Hope let out a long sigh. Destiny thought that her mom was going to say something more, but her hopes were dashed when her mom said, “I’m going to bed. Do you want a ride to school tomorrow?”

I shook my head, “No thanks.”

When I heard my mom shut her door I plopped back on my bed. “I wonder if all teenagers go through this.”

A series of small taps on her window brought Destiny out of her thoughts a few minutes later. She sat up, peering through her curtains, and saw Damien holding himself up on her window sill.

She couldn’t help but laugh. Destiny quickly rushed over to the window, unlatched it, and pushed it up.

“Didn’t you get my note?” Damien asked gruffly as he climbed down off the sill.

There was no point in lying so she said, “Yeah.”

He gave her a questioning look, but didn’t say anything. All he did was look over her choice of clothing; jeans and a shirt. “You might want to change.”

“Why?” Destiny got a rush of adrenaline when she heard his tone. He was up to something.

Damien smirked, “Just go change.”

“You’re not going to give me anything to go on?” Destiny shook her head as she went into her closet. As she changed into black jeans and a silver silk halter top she thought over her boyfriend. She only came up with questions.

Minutes later Damien was balancing on a tree branch with one hand extended out to Destiny. She stared at him from the safety of her room and glared at his hand. “I always hated this window.”

Destiny sat on the edge and studied her options. She could stay in her room and make Damien leave like a good little girl… or she could do something daring.

“You’d better not let me fall.” Destiny warned him. Damien let out a light chuckle and gripped tightly on her hand when she slipped off the sill.

The two climbed down the tree easily. They used to spend a lot of time climbing up and down that tree when they were younger. Sneaking out had always made the date more fun, and a lot more eventful when they got home… especially if Derek was home. It was a rush and Destiny found herself smiling as her and Damien got onto the bike.

“You hung up on me today.” Destiny chided him; trying to hold back her smile.

Damien tensed in front of her as he pulled on his helmet. Destiny already had hers on and was waiting, impatiently, for an answer.

“Des,” He turned so he was facing her, “I thought you liked when I played the bad boy?”

Destiny smacked him, hard. “You don’t have to play. You are a bad boy.” Then she put all the jokes aside, “Whatever you’re planning had better be good, because you have to make up for all the crap you’ve done this week.”

A smirk tugged menacingly at Damien’s lips. “Don’t worry. It is.”

They drove for a while and Destiny started to relax. She hugged Damien’s waist and watched the city fly by them in flashes of color.

Finally they came to X Waltz. It was probably the most prominent and exclusive clubs in town. Destiny had been inside once and that was with her dad. He knew the owner and took her along on a business trip. It was fun. The waitresses were awesome and Destiny hadn’t gotten a chance to get bored once she started helping out.

A crazy grin had taken control of Destiny’s features. She pulled off her helmet and placed it on the back of the bike. Damien grabbed her hand subconsciously and held her close as they went up to the front of the line.

The bouncer was a huge man with tattoos over half the percent of his body. Destiny was scared at first. When he saw them a smile slid over his features. “Go on in.” He opened the rope.

Destiny squeezed Damien’s hand questioningly, but Damien only laughed and led her through the crowd.

The club was packed full. Destiny held tightly to Damien’s hand and he did the same. Finally they came to a booth and Destiny saw Hanz sitting on the end.

“Finally!” Hanz was a tall man, who was the size of the bouncer because of all his muscles, and had bleached blond hair. He stood up and embraced Destiny as soon as his eyes landed on her. “What took you so long?”

“We climbed out the window.” Destiny answered.

Hanz gave them a look, but after a second must have decided not to ask, because he changed the subject.

“Are you excited?” Hanz still had his arm hanging over Destiny’s shoulders. After a few more seconds Damien nudged the more built man, and Hanz suddenly tensed.

“About what?” Destiny frowned when Hanz’s arm suddenly lifted off her. Normally he’s arm was glued to her shoulders whenever they were out together. She glanced over at her boyfriend, but he was taking a seat in the booth.

Hanz scoffed, “Don’t tell me he kept this whole thing a secret?”

Damien was smirking openly now.

Destiny took a seat next to him while Hanz sat across from them.

“Collective Soul is playing here tonight!” Hanz had to yell over the noise.

With wide eyes she turned to Damien. For the first time in a while, he looked happy. Destiny squealed in excitement and threw her arms around him. Collective Soul had to be her favorite band ever!

MP

When he parked the bike Destiny had no idea where they were. She tightened her grip around his waist and let the warmth comfort her. “Where are we?”

“Don’t make me ruin the surprise.” Damien seemed to be having a good time.

He took her hand once she had her helmet off and led her into the building. Destiny continued to search for something she knew, but came up empty handed.

“Wait,” Destiny pulled on his arm. Damien stopped and turned so he was facing her. His hand was so warm that she clung to it. “You’re not going to lead me to the elevator, start talking about your grand master plan, and try to kill me, are you?” She joked as she described what happened in the first episode of Charmed.

Damien pulled her closer to him and pressed his lips firmly against hers. “No.” He told her breathlessly when he pulled away.

“This had better be a good surprise.” Destiny warned him. He chuckled lightly and Destiny grinned at the sound.

They climbed the stairs in silence. Destiny was almost afraid to break the silence, so she didn’t ask the questions that were swirling around in her head. She just held onto Damien’s hand as he guided her through the building.

Finally they came to the top floor and she watched as Damien pulled out his keys. He glanced at her through the corner of his eyes. He was as serious as ever, but she noticed a small spark of delight in his eyes.

Damien pushed open the door and stepped inside.

“Where are we?” Destiny was rigid as she followed her boyfriend in the dark room. Then, in a flash, Damien flicked on the lights.

She and Damien were standing in a fully furbished apartment. “I got this a few while ago. I finished it up a last week.” Damien took a few steps back so Destiny had room to walk inside.

“But what is it?” She played dumb. She was praying that she was totally off in assuming that he got this apartment for them.

“It’s my apartment.” He paused before adding, “And half yours.” Damien looked proud of himself as he walked further into the apartment. Destiny followed him.

She waited for him to continue before freaking out.

“You’ll be starting college soon, Des. It wouldn’t make sense for you to drive two hours to get to campus from your house. We’re just down the road from main campus.” He glanced back at her when they reached the kitchen. He gestured to the hallway behind him, “There’s only one bathroom, but we’ll both be going to class fulltime so that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. And there are two bedrooms.”

Destiny scanned the apartment. It was nice. The furniture was black leather, and looked comfortable. The floors were wood. There was a fireplace, and a flat screen above it. Pictures aligned the walls and made her feel comfortable, but she wouldn’t let herself smile.

“What are you upset about?” Damien watched her closely.

Destiny mentally cursed herself. She hated that Damien would read her so well, when she never knew what he was feeling.

Destiny gritted down on her teeth as she readied herself to respond, “I’m not going to let myself get excited about this.” She hated saying that, but she needed to tell him the truth. “I mean, the way we’re going, our relationship could be over in a few weeks.” At that moment all she wanted to do was slap her boyfriend. That couldn’t have been normal.

“What the hell does that mean?” Damien’s anger flared as he whirled around on her.

Destiny’s anger flared along with his, “You can’t possibly be telling me that you haven’t noticed how bad things have been between us!? This week you’ve practically been bipolar.” She wanted to scream!

He closed the space in-between them in three long strides. She found herself trapped between him and a wall. “Destiny…” He was practically growling.

“You know what,” Destiny crossed her arms over her chest protectively, “you need to take me home. Right now.”